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From Farmworker to UC Davis

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Hi everyone! My name is Alex Villegas and before diving into my background I would like to clarify that all proceeds will be going towards my tuition for the UC Davis School of Medicine Postbaccalaureate program. This is a one-year pipeline program that assists students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds obtain admission to medical school. More information about the program can be found in the following link.

https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/diversity/postbaccalaureate/about_postbaccalaureate.html

            I was born in Modesto, California and raised by two farmworkers. As a child, the idea of college was foreign to me so considering medical school was inconceivable. In retrospect, my interest in medicine began at a young age without me even knowing.  It began with seeing how my parents struggled to take my sick brothers to the hospital because we did not have health insurance. As a teenager, I continued to witness these health disparities working in the fields. My coworkers and I worked with dangerous pesticides that often made them sick. Without health insurance and in constant fear of deportation, many of them avoided visiting a doctor. At the time, I was not sure how to obtain a college education but I was determined to succeed to help my community.
           In 2016, I received my bachelors in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Davis. During my undergraduate years I volunteered at the Knights Landing One Health Center where I continued to learn about the perils that underserved communities face. This non-profit student run clinic provides free medical services to the rural farming community of Knights Landing. With the help of my colleagues in the clinic, we were able to address some of the issues in the community. Through the Youth Enrichment program, I learned the importance of empowering the youth through higher education workshops just how my mentors empowered me. We also started the first free dental clinic, a service the community had long been asking for. At this point, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a physician but realized this would not be feasible right after graduating.
          I moved back to my hometown after finishing college and began working as a Physical Therapy Aide at Doctors Medical Center. I continue to give back to my community through Doctors Medical Center Sports Medicine Program where I help conduct physical screenings for high school students and raise money for their athletic programs. After working here for two years, I applied and was accepted to the UC Davis Postbaccalaureate Program for the upcoming year. The program does not allow students to have jobs in order to ensure their academic success. I have been able to save up for an entire year of rent through my current job. Despite this, I still need $13,896 for tuition alone. I am hoping to raise $2,500 to alleviate some of the financial stress. As a small gesture of my gratitude, I plan to keep every donor updated with my progress.

 Donations between $25-50 will receive a personal handwritten thank you letter.

 Anything above $50 will also receive the letter and some baked cookies made by yours truly.

Any amount is sincerely appreciated, thanks in advance!
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $40
    • 6 yrs
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Organizer

Alex Villegas
Organizer
Turlock, CA

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