Profiles in #URiMedPhys: Soleil Hernandez
My parents made countless sacrifices so that I could have the opportunity to pursue an education. Growing up it was never a matter of if I was going to college, it was a matter of where.
My parents grew up in El Paso, TX and after graduating high school (an accomplishment in and of itself), they moved to Dallas to start their careers and a family. My parents' have always been the epitome of hardwork. For as long as I can remember, they have made sacrifices so that my sister could have an opportunity to pursue an education. As a result, I predominately grew up in the suburbs.
Growing up where I did meant that I was often surrounded by friends whose families lived well above our means. I first realized that my famliy was different when I started competitive cheerleading. I started off in simple tumbling classes and eventually made my way to a team. In order for me to continue, I had to be put on a scholarship because it was so expensive. I remember girls on my team would land a new skill and get a new purse or cell phone. When I landed a new skill, my mom would take me to McDonalds for an ice cream cone. At competitions, my teammates would stay in the fancy hotels and I would stay with family. My experience motivated me to always pursue hardwork for me, not for any prize or recognition.
When I was 10, we moved to Olathe, Kansas. A town that is almost 90% white. It was here that I experienced racism for the first time. It was here that I learned the definition of 'wetback' because a 'friend' called me one under his breath. In high school, I worked really hard to white-wash myself to fit in with my friends and their beliefs. I would say things like 'I'm not a real mexican. I'm a coconut. I don't even speak spanish.' I would shy away from my culture because it was different. My high school was so blatanlty racist that we once a fiesta themed football game and my friends dressed up as construction workers. Olathe, Kansas forced me to change my identity.
After I graduated, I enrolled in Texas A&M's college of engineering. It was my first time being away from home and as an out of state and first generation college student, I struggled. I finished my first semester with a 2.6 GPA and was certain that I wanted to quit. My parents forced me to stay and I ended up graduating with a 3.7 GPA, multiple internships, research opportunities, honors, and life-long friends. Being the only Mexican and female in most of my engineering classes drove me to prioritize DEI efforts to diversify STEM.
After graduating from Texas A&M, I knew that I wasn't done with school yet. I wanted to reach the highest level of education that I could. I thought, my parents made all these sacrifices, I need to take full advantage. So, I started my PhD at UTHealth Houston MD Anderson Cancer Center. I am now a 4th year Medical Physics PhD student working under Dr. Laurence Court to increase global access to high quality radiation therapy. In my time at the graduate school, I have earned over $50,000 in external funding, I have traveled domestically and internationally to share my research, and I have had the opportunity to serve as an ambassador and mentor for other URM students.
I will be the first in my family history to earn a PhD. That is my driving factor to keep going. While the system is not made for someone like me, I'm planted and I'm growing. I am actively trying to change the environment by prioritizing mentorship.
I want to show students from my background that the door is heavier for us, but we can still open it. My life goal is to take what I've learned and apply it to others' success so that I can help diversify academia. My dream for this network is to introduce Hispanic students to a community that will help them push open these heavy doors.
@SoleilHernandez
@SoleilHernandez