What’s it really like being a student in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences? As Duke welcomes its 100th class, we’re launching a four-year documentary series that chronicles the experiences of student life at Trinity — the good, the bad and the (hopefully) not so ugly. We’ll be telling stories and sharing photos, videos and social media updates as we follow four of our undergrads from move-in day to graduation, and everything in between.
"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."
