FACES for the Future Coalition

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Maria Segura, Class of 2004

10945550_10152775323524531_2719028740487451730_nMaria Segura, CMI-Spanish, graduated from FACES Oakland in 2004. Maria shares that her life journey after high school was not an easy one, struggling with the tremendous obstacles that her immigration and low income status created for her. She soon understood that these obstacles were not going to allow her the college journey that she wanted. She shared that “the hardships of being an immigrant from a low income family continued to slap me in the face even harder after graduating. Every time I tried to pursue my goals, I was reminded that there were walls I couldn’t get through.” However, Maria eventually secured employment as a Spanish medical interpreter, and after rigorous training and testing, became officially certified. She shares, “It was such a defining moment when I realized I was good at something using a talent I already had. I feel that my medical training at FACES, along with the few college classes I had taken, and being fluently bilingual certainly allowed me enough knowledge to be good in this field from the start.”

As a result of her hard work and dedication, she now works at two clinics in the Bay Area, “helping to bridge the communication gap between doctors and patients so that patients can get the proper care they need.” Maria loves what she does, and says she has “learned a great deal about the language disparity between doctors and non-English speaking patients, and the adverse effects bad communication leads to in regards to health care, therefore I know my role is important.” She also shares, “I love the challenge of expanding my medical and cultural vocabulary every single day because it feels so good to be using my intelligence.” Maria has returned to school and is working to complete her bachelor’s degree in biology, with the ultimate goal of enrolling in a graduate Physician Assistant program. She shares that, “I am absolutely motivated and more determined than ever to reach my goals.”

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