Crystal Cuevas

Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Major: Undecided
Class of 2009

Learning, growing and recreating…

I think I’m a pretty hard worker. Doing well in school and achieving my goals are really important to me. I’m proud to be a National Hispanic Scholar and to have come all the way to Michigan from New York for my college years. Since arriving on campus, I’m learning new things about myself everyday. Being so far away from things and people that I am normally used to being around has given me a chance to learn, grow and recreate myself for the better. I am half Puerto Rican and half Ecuadorian. When I came to campus I was glad to find all the different types of organizations to join, which helped me to make friends. Right now I’m involved in two Latino student organizations: Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan and Culturas de las Razas Unidas.

Medical school bound…

I’m in the Lyman Briggs School of Science, which is a residential living-learning program for students interested in the natural sciences. We all live in Holmes Hall, which feels like you’re living in a big apartment complex full of scientists. All of our science and math classes are in Holmes, our labs are in the basement and our professor’s offices are here too. It’s really convenient when you wake up 10 minutes before class to just run down to your classroom! It’s also good because I can easily study with friends who are in the same class. I’m still deciding on my major (probably human biology), but I do know I want to go to medical school.

Working in the plant lab…

I work part-time in the plant nematology/entomology lab in the Natural Science Building. I’m a lab aide and have been trained in basic lab procedures, such as root staining, soil extractions, plant care (greenhouse watering and fertilization) and tending to the lab environment. Challenges are definitely there, because while you want to gain work experience (and let’s face it, money) you also need to make sure that your work is not interfering with your studies or your classes. School is what I’m primarily here for and sometimes I have to remind myself of that.

Move in day – me, mom and dad, and my sister.

Here’s me and a bunch of students who all live on my floor. This is when we first got to campus and were getting to know each another.

Me and my friends from the Chicano/Latino Studies Program in Chicago on a group trip.