user profile avatar

Rosemarie Valenzuela

6,395

Bold Points

17x

Nominee

2x

Finalist

Bio

I am a proud daughter of Peruvian immigrants and currently attending UCONN as a nursing major in the honors program. Beyond my academic pursuits, I enjoy volunteering with friends, playing video games, and expanding my personal book collection in my free time. In addition, I am actively involved in several extracurricular activities that allow me to give back to my community and pursue my passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion. One of the organizations I am most proud to be a part of is Future Nurses for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As a member of FNDEI, I’m committed to promoting cultural competency in nursing and advocating for underrepresented communities in healthcare. Additionally, I participate in the mentorship program with PRLACC. As a result, I receive support from more experienced upperclassmen dedicated to mentoring and guiding students throughout school life or classes. I challenged myself academically during high school by taking various advanced courses, such as 6 AP and 4 ECE classes. I also participated in various extracurricular activities, including robotics, debate, Model UN, and the math team. During my time as a member of NHS, I dedicated my senior year of high school tutoring underclassmen and organizing community service events in collaboration with local organizations, and I participated in blood drives and heritage nights.

Education

University of Connecticut

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
  • GPA:
    3.6

Academy Of Aerospace And Engineering

High School
2015 - 2022
  • GPA:
    3.6

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      L&D Nurse

    • Merchandising Associate

      Kohls
      2024 – Present12 months
    • Game Day Staff

      Hartford Yardgoats
      2022 – 2022
    • Apparel Associate

      Walmart
      2021 – 20221 year

    Sports

    Mixed Martial Arts

    Intramural
    2017 – 20203 years

    Kayaking

    Intramural
    2016 – 20182 years

    Jiu Jitsu

    Intramural
    2017 – 20192 years

    Kung Fu

    Intramural
    2017 – 20181 year

    Muay Thai

    Intramural
    2017 – 20214 years

    Karate

    Intramural
    2009 – 20123 years

    Research

    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

      UCONN — Researcher
      2024 – Present
    • Political Science and Government

      Model UN — Delegate
      2019 – 2020
    • Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields, Other

      Capstone — Lead Researcher
      2021 – 2022

    Arts

    • Robotics

      Design
      Technical sketches and designs of robot
      2018 – 2020
    • Designing Minds

      Graphic Art
      Your Life Matters, Detengamos La Violencia Armada , Protect Kids From Vaping
      2019 – 2020
    • Digital Engineering

      Design
      2015 – 2019

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      PanCAN — Volunteer
      2022 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Miles for Migraine — Volunteer
      2022 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Easter Eggspress — Easter Bunny
      2022 – 2022
    • Public Service (Politics)

      32BJ SEIU — Lead Advocate
      2009 – 2015
    • Volunteering

      Hartford Public Library — Volunteer
      2017 – 2018
    • Volunteering

      YMCA — Volunteer
      2017 – 2017
    • Volunteering

      National Honor Society — Member
      2021 – 2022
    • Volunteering

      Autism Speaks Walk — Volunteer
      2021 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Latinas in STEM Scholarship
    As a kid, I was scared of my grandmother. My parents would tell me to go to another room when she came to our house or walk around downtown Hartford, and my parents would tell me not to listen. I remember how much my dad pleaded for her to get help; my dad brought her to a nursing home one day. When I first heard of schizophrenia, my grandma was diagnosed with it. I didn't know what it was, but all I know is that the nurses took care of her and gave her medication. As the years went by, the scary image of my grandma was no longer there. She was kind, constantly calling me "Rosita" and holding her arms out for a hug. She called my father "Carlito." But we later found out she had Alzheimer's; my father would take me to visit her every week in hopes that she'd remember us for as long as possible. When I became a teenager, my grandmother couldn't recognize my father or me, and she could barely see me. She was diagnosed with Glaucoma in both eyes. Every time I visited her, I would ask her how old I was, and she would always say "12." The last time I asked her that question, I was 16. Even though my father wouldn't admit it, I knew her conditions were worsening, and we couldn't do anything about it. When the pandemic hit, we couldn't visit her anymore. The nurses, staff, and social workers would mail us every week to tell us how she was doing and if she was safe. They tried everything they could to ensure her health and let us talk to her. It started with the occasional calls to my grandma and later became a nursing home visit. We weren't allowed inside. They would slightly open the window and bring my grandma in a wheelchair while we were 6 feet away from the window. That's when I noticed how badly my grandma's condition worsened. I couldn't recognize her. She was skinny, and her hair was completely white and slightly balding. She couldn't walk or see anymore. That was the first time I saw my father cry like that. He tried to hide it and smiled through his tears. He wiped his tears off with his hat and talked to her like always. Asking her what she wanted to eat so he could bring it to her, it always ended up being fruit regardless, and he asked her if she could see him. Later that year, she passed away. We went to the hospital to find out she died 20 minutes before we got there. They let us in the room, and we saw her. My dad cried while asking, "you're gonna wake up right?"... "mom?" The nurse brought us tissues and assured us they did everything they could do to save her, and they comforted us. I want to be what those nurses were to my grandma and my family; they gave us time to be with her and talk to her. They saved her, from a scary woman to a kind woman I always visited with my father. I hope to use my college experience to give somebody else that opportunity or comfort. I want to be that positive impact that other workers in the medical field were on me, for others. That's what I wish to accomplish with STEM by saving the futures and lives of families.