Ready to Help Others
A desire to help others was instilled in Yenifer Umana Alvarez as a teenager.
After her family moved from El Salvador to Fremont when she was 10, Yenifer found adjusting to a new life, a new town, and a new language was filled with challenges.
“I didn’t know any English, so it was hard to communicate with teachers and classmates. It made me feel alone.
“When I got to middle school, more students like me started arriving in Fremont. I wanted to make an environment for them so they did not feel what I felt. I thought that was the best way to help them.”
Now in her senior year as a Biology major at Midland University, Yenifer is planning on a career as a pharmacist, where she can continue to help others.
“I’ve always been interested in healthcare, but I didn’t feel like being a doctor or nurse was my calling. When I started looking at other careers, I realized being a pharmacist would allow me to help more people, and people of all ages.”
She has worked as a pharmacy technician at Walmart for three years, giving her a head start on what her eventual career will look like. “I wanted to have that feeling of what it would be like to work in a pharmacy. It’s taught me a lot and I really love it.”
It has also set her up for pharmacy school as she will start at the University of Nebraska Medical Center this fall.
When it came time to choose her first college experience after high school, a scholarship opportunity at Midland opened the door for her to remain close to home.
“My Spanish professor in high school made me aware of a scholarship opportunity that I ended up receiving. At first, I thought I might want a bigger school and I didn’t know much about Midland. But a big thing for me was making connections and friendships with my professors, and I’ve been able to do that here.”
With four more years of school ahead, Yenifer is prepared for the next step of her journey. After that, she’s preparing herself for a new adventure.
“I’m not sure what lies ahead after I graduate from UNMC, and I might be ready to experience a bigger city for a few years. But I think at the end of the day, I’ll be back in Nebraska.”
For now, she’s focused on the final six weeks of school and enjoying the time she has left with friends and faculty at Midland.
“I’m trying to enjoy my last couple of months and make connections with people I might not see for a while. I love it at Midland, and it was a great decision for me to come here. I know I’m doing the right thing.”
Yenifer Umana Alvrarez is a senior Biology major from Fremont, Nebraska.
