This is an archived UW-P news item,
originally posted: 11/6/2007.
Commitment and Dedication Pays Off
A friend threw down the gauntlet and Saul Hernandez picked it up. "I had a friend in high school who said to me, 'if it wasn't for me, you'd never get through this math class,'" Saul said. While it was true that he called upon his friend to help him with every assignment that came along, a switch just flipped inside of Saul the day he heard those words. "I just knew I was as smart as this kid. I realized I was just not applying myself." That's apparently all it took because now, at the beginning of his fourth year as a recipient of UW-Parkside's Modine Science and Mathematics Endowed Scholarship, Saul has to think hard to remember the days when he was less than fully committed to his education.
Starting his college studies as the underdog, Saul recalled, "I was the 015 math kid in a room full of AP students. I was so overwhelmed. I decided that all I could do was take things one day at a time." Those days must seem like the remote past, now that Saul is one of UW-Parkside's highest ranked students.
Saul is the first in his family to attend college. He credits his family's support and the good reading skills he's always had. "The UW-Parkside math department got me up to speed, but good reading skills are the essential foundation," Saul said. "Read, read, read everything," that's his advice to his fellow students.
Last summer was another turning point for Saul when he had the opportunity to participate in Vanderbilt University's Clinical Research Program. Under the tutelage of the Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, Saul gained some insights into medical research. "I gained so much from this program and the contacts I made," Saul said. "One thing I learned is that my heart is firmly planted in medicine. I couldn't have been so assured of this without a first-hand look at the research side of things." Even so, Saul counts Drs. Thomson and Higgs as major influences. "They have such passion for their research and teaching. You know, I planned to do a year at Parkside and then move on. But I met Dr. Lewis and everything changed. I realized everything I needed to prepare for medical school was right here," Saul said.
So if you want to talk to Saul, you'll have to look for him in one of the labs or in the library as he prepares for the upcoming Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). "Yes, I'm nervous," Saul said. That's probably a healthy attitude to have, Saul, but you'll understand if we don't feel the same.
Publish date: 11/6/2007
