Trinity in Four Acts: Amylyn DePaz-DePaz
As their first year at Duke winds down, we’re checking in with our Trinity undergrads to see how they navigated the challenges of campus life, coursework and newfound independence. Four common themes emerged across their individual experiences — balance, adjustment, connections and growth — shaping a year defined by new beginnings and meaningful discoveries.
Beginnings and Discoveries: Spring Semester
May 19, 2025
“I’m figuring out how to make all the things I care about fit together.”
Amylyn DePaz-DePaz hit the ground running when she arrived at Duke. Between joining clubs, forming friendships and juggling two campus jobs, she’s spent her first year diving into everything Duke has to offer, while also learning some important lessons about balance, identity and what it means to adapt.
Coming to Duke, DePaz-DePaz felt confident in her academic skills. Despite being at the top of her class in high school, college brought on new challenges that didn’t always respond to her tried-and-tested high school strategies.
“I came in thinking, I know what to do, because I was top of my class,” she says. “But then I applied the same thing here, and it didn’t work in the same way. Having that adaptability and being able to take a step back has been a skill that I wasn’t used to employing as often because I had my own systems.”
That willingness to reassess and adjust has helped DePaz-DePaz stay grounded while navigating Duke’s academic intensity, and she’s still firmly committed to her long-term goal of becoming a doctor.
“Nothing has changed there,” she says. “I don’t want to say it’s locked in, but I think that, if anything, last semester has shown me that I have potential to pursue that track.”
Beyond the classroom, DePaz-DePaz has found meaning and connection in her campus jobs, especially through her work at the Duke Campus Farm. As a student coordinator, she organizes events that bring other students out to the farm to learn more about sustainability and the history of the land.
“I love working at the farm because it's a good way for me to connect with my culture and my parents,” she says. “My parents were farmers, and I love that it helps me go back to my roots.” The role has also expanded her community, introducing her to peers she might never meet in her courses. “I’ve made a lot of friends through the farm. It’s a different kind of space — calmer, more collaborative.”
This summer, DePaz-DePaz will stay in Durham to participate in Duke Engage, where she’ll be working with students of color in the Durham Public Schools system. Through mentorship and hands-on STEAM projects, she’ll help young students see how science, technology, engineering, arts and math can connect to real-life issues in their own communities.
As she looks ahead to sophomore year, DePaz-DePaz knows the pace won’t slow down, but she’s finding her rhythm now.
“I’m still busy,” she said, “but I’m figuring out how to make all the things I care about fit together.”
Amylyn Depaz-DePaz waiting for Natasha Beddingfield at LDOC
Amylyn Depaz-Depaz at her on-campus job at the Duke Farm.
Beginnings and Discoveries: Fall Semester
December 17, 2024
"As a first-generation student, I don't have a lot of people to go to, so I have to be very inquisitive, and, so far, the community has been incredibly supportive."
As a first-generation college student, Amylyn DePaz-DePaz knew she had a lot to consider when choosing a university. After weighing her options, Duke stood out as the best fit for pursuing her professional dreams. "Duke was one of my top choices," she said. "It's a hub for students interested in medicine, and I needed a lot of support as a first-gen student."
DePaz-DePaz, who grew up in Hickory, NC, has academic interests in Chemistry, Biology and Neuroscience. After gaining valuable experience shadowing medical professionals in high school, she’s hoping to major in Biology, and then go to medical school to become a surgeon.
She is also passionate about addressing language barriers in healthcare. "I've seen how language barriers impact patients, including in my own family, and I want to use my bilingual skills to help underserved communities," DePaz-DePaz explained.
DePaz-DePaz is excited about Duke’s opportunities, from the FOCUS program to campus life involvement. While she anticipates challenges — like imposter syndrome — she feels optimistic about the supportive community she’s found.
"Everybody at Duke has been very open to the possibility of forming connections," DePaz-DePaz said. "As a first-generation student, I don't have a lot of people to go to, so I have to be very inquisitive, and so far, the community has been incredibly supportive."
Amylyn's family joined her for move-in day for her first semester at Duke.
Amylyn plans to major in biology and is interested in a career in healthcare.
You never know who you will run into at Duke, including Duke President Vincent Price.
Between classes, she still finds time to cheer on Duke football from the stands.
