Natalie Avila plans to major in chemistry at Harvard. Her end goal is to be an anesthesiologist. Photo courtesy of Dallas ISD.
Natalie Avila, a senior at Bryan Adams High School, didn’t plan on attending Harvard, but that changed once she gained acceptance from one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Looking towards the future, Avila credits the guidance and education she received from Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy for her success, according to Dallas ISD.
“I know that no matter where life takes me, I’ll always carry the lessons and values instilled in me at Bryan Adams High School,” she said in a statement.
During her years at Bryan Adams, Avila was an academic hustler, balancing the National Honor Society, National Academy Foundation, the chess club and serving as her senior class‘ council historian. She managed all these while being a full-time student and working a part-time job.
In addition to her extracurriculars, Avila participated in the South Korea Study Abroad program with CIEE K-Pop Immersion in Seoul, a “transformative experience” that inspired her to apply to Harvard.
“Seeing the beautiful culture of South Korea, sparked an interest in meeting people from other cultures,” Natalie said in a statement. “I needed to branch out from my neighborhood to experience that, and that is what I kept in mind when I started exploring my higher education options.”
Avila will pursue a major in chemistry with the goal to become an anesthesiologist. Her mother, a medical assistant, inspired her to choose a path in the medical field.
The Bryan Adams senior says her goal is to become a physician and make a difference by providing healthcare representation for the Latino community. She hopes to encourage Latino individuals to confide with medical professionals and seek assistance, a significant medical disparity within the community.
“I hope that I can be a sense of relief to those that come to seek medical assistance by seeing someone that looks just like them,” she added.
