Amylyn De Paz-De Paz sits on a bench in Duke Gardens.
Amylyn De Paz-De Paz said her sophomore year at Duke has been a year of clarity. (John West/Trinity Communications)

Trinity in Four Acts: Amylyn De Paz-De Paz

Elizabeth Richardson, Trinity Communications

Sophomore year is when things start to click, and the unknowns become the familiar. Classes feel more purposeful, friendships run deeper, routines develop and campus becomes home. As our four Trinity students return, the series picks back up to follow their next chapter focused on exploring new opportunities, choosing majors and finding momentum. Through stories, photos, videos and social updates, we’ll capture the energy as they lean in, step up — and hit their stride.

 

Finding Her Stride: Spring Semester

Amylyn De Paz-De Paz’s sophomore year at Duke has been a year of clarity. After arriving on campus with a strong interest in science and medicine, she spent the past year reflecting on what subjects truly excite her and how she wants to approach her future in healthcare. 

Amylyn poses outside at Duke Farms.
Beyond the classroom, De Paz-De Paz has found meaning and connection in her work as a student coordinator at the Duke Campus Farm. (Courtesy of De Paz-De Paz)

This spring, along with the rest of the class of 2028, De Paz-De Paz officially declared a Psychology major with a Chemistry minor, a combination she says better reflects both her interests and the kind of physician she hopes to become. 

“At the end of the day, my passion has always been psychology,” she says.  

Early on, she considered pursuing a more traditional “hard science” major, something she says often carries prestige in pre-med spaces. But over time, she began questioning whether that choice reflected her genuine interests or outside expectations. 

“I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to do something considered a hard science, to be respected or to be considered more seriously in med school applications,” she says.  

Ultimately, De Paz-De Paz realized that psychology aligned more closely with both her intellectual curiosity and her personal experiences growing up. 

“My mom always taught me to see the world through a psychological lens, and to be considerate of others,” she says. “I feel like I’m carrying a part of her with me by choosing psychology.” 

Her decision also reflects how she hopes to interact with future patients. 

“I hope it’ll help me be able to understand them better,” she says. 

That realization didn’t come from a single class but from a broader process of self-reflection through the year. 

At first, letting go of other academic paths felt uncomfortable. De Paz-De Paz says she has always been drawn to challenging coursework and worried that changing direction meant making things easier for herself. 

“I enjoyed the challenge and the rigor of biology, but I didn’t enjoy the subject itself,” she says. “Choosing psychology at that time felt like I was betraying that part of myself.” 

Over time, however, she came to see the decision differently: “I’ve come to terms with it and acknowledge that, no, I’m not making it easier for myself. I’m actually just trying to explore what I love.”

“I feel like there’s a lot of pressure to do something considered a hard science, to be respected or to be considered more seriously in med school applications. At the end of the day, my passion has always been psychology."

Outside the classroom, De Paz-De Paz has continued volunteering as a medical interpreter at community clinics, an experience that has only strengthened her commitment to medicine. 

“Translating is what makes me sure that I want to go into medicine,” she says. “I’m seeing how I’m making an impact right now.” 

This summer, her passions will take on an international dimension. De Paz-De Paz was selected for the Laidlaw Scholars program, a fellowship focused on ethical leadership, research and community engagement. Through the program, she will travel to the United Kingdom to conduct psychology-based research on gender-based violence at the University of Leeds. 

“The whole purpose of this program is to create leaders who know how to do ethical research,” she says. 

The opportunity will also be her first time traveling to the U.K. “I’m really excited about the mission and purpose,” she says.  

As she looks ahead to her junior year, De Paz-De Paz says the biggest lesson she’s learned so far at Duke is the importance of listening to her own instincts, even when outside expectations feel loud. 

“Don’t betray your inner voice,” she says. “It’s hard not to lose yourself in getting caught up in things.”