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Mark Al Joseph Vela

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

General information

Location
West Chester, PA
Age
25
Gender
Male
US Citizenship
Permanent Resident (Green Card)
Ethnicity
Asian
Religion
Christian
Church
Catholic

Hobbies & Interests

  • Violin
  • Orchestra
  • Music
  • Music Composition
  • Music Theory
  • Forensics
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Chemistry
  • Teaching
  • Chess
  • Singing
  • Stocks And Investing
  • Finance
  • Acting And Theater
  • Gaming
  • Choir
  • Gardening
  • Tagalog
  • Mental Health
  • Guitar
  • Drums
  • Band
  • Calligraphy
  • Animals
  • Astronomy
  • Board Games And Puzzles
  • Karaoke
  • Percussion
  • STEM

Reading

  • Fantasy
  • Magical Realism
  • Mystery
  • Literary Fiction
  • Childrens
  • Cultural
  • Academic
  • Adventure
  • Adult Fiction
  • Novels
  • Humor
  • Juvenile
  • Short Stories
  • Action
  • True Story
  • Young Adult
  • Thriller
  • Science Fiction
  • Sports and Games
  • Science‎
  • True Crime
  • Music
  • Comic
  • Medieval

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Mabuhay, and welcome to my profile! My name is Mark Vela, and I currently go to West Chester University of Pennsylvania to study Forensic and Toxicological Chemistry. Since growing up, I have had a passion for forensic science since I watched and read many true crime documentaries. At the same time, I wondered how I could make my dream of becoming a forensic scientist a reality. Sadly, only a few colleges offer a forensics program in my country of origin, the Philippines, due to its unpopularity, lack of faculty, and government funding for this expensive program. I also have a passion for music and the performing arts. Even before I moved to the US, I sang in my high school choir and played the violin in my spare time. I came to the US as a petitioned immigrant back in 2016 to have better opportunities for my passion and hobbies. I finished my secondary education, performing in many musical and theatrical productions compared to before moving here. When I finish my education, my goal is to return and give back to my home country by teaching forensics in high schools and starting college programs in many more universities. Unfortunately, the Philippines currently has a slow justice system due to what I have previously said, lack of funding, but most importantly, a lack of faculty for this college program to produce crime scene investigators and crime lab scientists. And I aim to help fix this issue! Hopefully, with the help of scholarships, I can graduate with less student debt and help my country as soon as I can. Thank you so much for stopping by! :)

Education

West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Bachelor's degree program

2024 – 2028

Majors:
  • Chemistry

Phoenixville Area High School

High School

2016 – 2019

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, Arcadia University, Temple University, Rutgers University-Camden, West Virginia University, Towson University, George Mason University
Majors of interest:
Chemistry
Medical school interest:
No
Homeschooled:
No

Career

  • Cashier/Food Prep

    Restaurants · Wendy's

    Jan 2026 – Present

  • Cashier/Food Prep

    Restaurants · KFC/Taco Bell West Chester

    Jan 2026 – Jan 2026

  • Cashier/Food Prep

    Restaurants · Amore Pizza West Chester

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2024

  • Cashier/Food Prep

    Restaurants · Phoenixville Taco Bell

    Jan 2018 – Jan 2020

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Chemicals, Chemistry, Forensic Science
Dream career goals:
Forensic Scientist/Chemist/Toxicologist, Crime Scene Analyst, Faculty of Forensic Sciences, Lawyer
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Mark Al Joseph Vela Student Profile | Bold.org