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Valerie Valle

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Finalist

General information

Age
26
Gender
Female
US Citizenship
US Citizen
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latino

Hobbies & Interests

  • Swimming
  • Biking And Cycling
  • Reading
  • Spending Time With Friends and Family

Reading

-

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Hi, my name is Valerie, but you can call me Val for short! I grew up in an eight-person household if you include myself. I learned that if you want the last cookie, you better run for it, but I did learn a lot about health. I enjoyed the cookie and candy binge-like any other kid, but I quickly learned the consequences of having too much. My great-grandfather was a veteran that served in the special forces and completed missions such as crossing the Bermuda triangle and sleeping in the jungles of Panama. Unfortunately, he had one mission he couldn't finish, type 2 diabetes. I remember being there with him to help organize his pills and hand him his daily insulin shots. Even though I knew he struggled with this condition, he was my biggest hero, and I never saw him differently. As he got older, I made sure to help him around the house with cooking and cleaning. Before he passed, I made sure he knew I would fulfill my dream of becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist and show my patients that their condition does not define them. Did I also mention he was a paratrooper and used to disarm live bombs? And that's just the beginning... Thank you!

Education

Santa Clara University

Master's degree program

2025 – 2028

Majors:
  • Psychology, Other

San Jose State University

Bachelor's degree program

2018 – 2023

Majors:
  • Psychology, General
GPA3.6 GPA

Santa Teresa High

High School

2014 – 2018

GPA3.8 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Santa Clara University
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Starbucks Barista

    Food & Beverages · Starbucks

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • Lifeguarding

    Hospital & Health Care · City of Morgan hill

    Jan 2022 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Mental Health Care
Dream career goals:
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
Bold Great Books Scholarship
Growing up I was an avid reader. My great grandfather used to take me to the library every day after school. I felt like it was a dream come true since I had a goal to read every single book in the library. As a kid, I had big goals and once I got older I realized that my goals would become even bigger such as striving to become a physician as a first-generation college student. One book I looked at was Mindset by Carol Dweck. I needed this book after I had failed a class and felt my confidence slipping. Mindset is a book focusing on growth. This book matched my situation about how I want to grow from failing my class. Dr.Dweck reflected on the "Somebody Nobody Syndrome". If a person doesn't win they are nobody but if they do they're somebody. She talked about Iciss Tillis, a basketball player whose father was the first to go 10 boxing rounds with Mike Tyson. Her father didn't make it to ultimate fame but had great stats, Iciss felt otherwise. I learned that champions are not created from the anxiety of becoming a nobody but by determination. I want to close the chapter of stressing about becoming a nobody. I am a first-generation college student who is earning my BA in Psychology, minor in Transformative Leadership, President of a Psychology Honors Society, got a 4.0 for two semesters during the COVID-19 pandemic, earned a spot as part of the top 10% of undergraduates in my campus and now working two summer jobs to pay for expenses living in the Bay Area. Above all, I am a great sister, daughter, and friend. Those are the traits that make me a somebody. Mindset was the book I needed to keep moving forward.
Empowering Women Through Education Scholarship
Education VS Student Loans Everyone hates student loan debt. Even the term "debt" may be a harsh reality for students, especially ones in college. Even former President Barack Obama didn't pay off his student loans until he was in his 40's. He also mentioned to the news outlet, CNBC, that he wished he could've saved for his daughters Malia and Sasha's tuitions but was still paying off his own. I realized that just like former President Obama, I did not come from a wealthy family but realized that my education is an investment towards financial security and overall stability. I will be the first in my family to graduate but, I don't want to be the only one. I want my younger brother to have the chance to attend college without the financial burden of taking out student loans and realize that his heart should be the first to decide his career path, not the money in his wallet. By graduating college, I can achieve my goal of becoming a physician, and with the help of the Empowering Women Through Education Scholarship, graduate debt-free. I plan to apply to medical school after I graduate. I want to work in socio-economically disadvantaged areas where I believe individuals should be seen and heard, especially in the medical field. I'm striving to become a Psychiatrist where I can meet younger individuals who may be struggling mentally or physically and provide them with the care they deserve. Growing up in the Bay Area, I was lucky to have mentors and family that believed in my goals and, I want to empower my future patients that they are future leaders.
Valerie Valle Student Profile | Bold.org