Today, as part of our Hispanic Heritage Month #PROFspective series, we feature senior Esteban Nieto (he/him), a Biological Sciences major and Neuroscience minor from Morris County. Esteban tells us about his major, being a first-generation college student, and gives advice to future students considering the major.
Why did you decide to attend Rowan University?
I wanted something different, something far from home. A new community, you know? Getting out of my comfort zone.
What has your experience as a student been like?
It’s been pretty good, honestly. Overall, I do enjoy it here. It’s very different.
What attracted you to the Biological Neuroscience?
My brother used to work at a hospital, so he would always come home with stories of the ER. It kind of inspired me a bit.
Do you have an internship? If so, could you tell us about it?
I do, at Cooper. It’s really interesting, I really enjoy it. It’s opened a lot of new doors, a lot of new connections.
What advice would you give to a Hispanic/Latinx high school student considering your major here at Rowan?
You need a lot of discipline, a lot of time management [skills]. You need to have your priorities set straight, and you just have to know what you want. You can’t go into it not knowing what you want to do.
What are your professional goals?
I’m taking a gap year after I graduate to study for my MCATs and then go into med school at Cooper.
If you are open to it, could you share a little about your Hispanic or Latinx heritage?
Of course. I’m fully Colombian. I’m a first generation. My parents were born there [and] they came here in the mid-80s, I would say.
How would you describe inclusion? How should an institution like Rowan promote inclusion?
I like what they do here, honestly. I like all the different clubs that they have for all different types of ethnicities, backgrounds, interests. I think that all brings people together and makes you fully included, along with meeting other people with the same roots and background.
Is there anything we didn’t ask you about that you’d like to mention to readers?
[Coming to Rowan was a] big culture shock. I come from a predominately Hispanic community, and I was really thrown off the first year. It was crazy. Far from home too.
Are there any things that you do on campus to make you feel more at home?
Constant communication with family.
Editor’s note: We featured Esteban as he began his journey here at Rowan. Read that article here.
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Story and photography by:
Joseph Conte, junior community and environmental planning major