Nancy Perez Flores used to think that college wasn’t in her future. Now the OSU sophomore dreams of becoming a bilingual pediatrician. A nutrition sciences major, Nancy is one of six children and says she was born with “an inner drive.” And she knew she had brains. A 2007 honors graduate of McMinnville High School, Nancy was active in volleyball, dance team and academics…and at home helping her family. “On school days I worked from 4:00 – midnight or 1:00 a.m. then would go home and do homework, go to bed about 3:00 a.m. then get up at 6:30 to get my younger brothers get ready for school.”
Her parents Carlos and Sara are agricultural workers. Nancy wants to make them proud and set an example for her brothers and sister. “My parents only had an elementary education and always had to work to help their families. My dad came from a family of nine and my mother from a family of thirteen,” she explains. “Most of what I earned at work went to helping pay our family’s bills, but I saved what I could.”
Bright, articulate, and committed, Nancy says all of this made her a stronger person. “I learned to be responsible at school and work, to be punctual and to give back to my community.” During her senior year in high school, Nancy did an internship at the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center…and there she found her passion for medicine. “I was able to help the Hispanic community by translating, helping them find their way, and just supporting them when they needed it. I felt like I made a difference in their health care experience.”
A CAMP advisor from OSU, a subsequent scholarship from the program, and an award from Monrovia Growers helped Nancy get to OSU. She’s been a successful candidate for scholarships since then and is thankful for the generosity of alumni and organizations who believe in her. There’s no doubt Nancy believes in herself. “I know that being dedicated and strong willed, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. I will reach my dream, no matter the obstacles I face and one day, I will help the Hispanic community by reaching out to the ones that need it the most.”
