My name is Veronica Estrada. I attended Life Academy High School and the FACES program at Children’s Hospital which I graduated from in 2008. I completed my Medical Assistant and Administrative Medical Assistant degree at Merritt College in 2014. Currently, I work as a Clinic Supervisor at La Clinica de La Raza’s Fuente Wellness Center. I am working to complete my Associate Degree in Science so that I can later attend a nursing program and become a Registered Nurse.
As an immigrant, I did not see a lot of future for myself. I didn’t believe that all that I wished for could become a reality since immigrants can face many obstacles and the opportunities are minimal. FACES opened my eyes and made me see things with different eyes. I realized that even if many obstacles were in my way, I couldn’t give up and I couldn’t stop dreaming. I experienced many things that made me realize how much I loved helping others and how rewarding it was to make a change in somebody’s life. From the moment I started my clinical rotations with FACES, I felt motivated and inspired to be in the medical field. I decided in that moment that nursing was what I wanted to do. FACES helped me to visualize it and actually gave me the resources I needed to motivate myself and to fight for what I wanted. Dr. Magaña has been a great support in my life. While in the program, I always dreamed that I wanted to become a RN so that I could go back to Children’s and work with Dr. Magaña and let him know that all his efforts paid off. Now, I work with Dr. Magaña at La Clínica de La Raza’s Fuente Wellness Center, and I know that I have accomplished some of my goals. I also mentor and supervise current FACES students at our clinic and I encourage them to accomplish whatever they have in mind. I share my story with them so they can know that despite the obstacles, their dreams and desire to grow always have to be bigger. I now feel that I have the chance to return a little of all the good things that FACES FOR THE FUTURE brought to my life.