Post by UC San Diego

"My parents immigrated to the United States from Armenia hoping to create more opportunities for our family, and their journey has shaped so much of who I am today. Growing up in an immigrant household taught me resilience, gratitude and the importance of community from a very young age. Watching my parents adapt to an entirely new life while carrying so much responsibility gave me a deep appreciation for education and the sacrifices that made my own opportunities possible. A lot of my passion for healthcare comes from personal experience. My father struggled with serious eye conditions and later lost much of his vision because he lacked access to proper eye care earlier in life. Seeing the impact that had on him and our family inspired my interest in medicine, public health and health equity. It pushed me to think about how culture, education and accessibility shape health outcomes, motivating me to work toward improving care for often-overlooked communities. I became involved in public health research focused on vulnerable populations, including a project evaluating domestic violence support services in post-conflict Armenia through interviews with providers and community organizations. Through this work, I was selected as a Triton Research & Experiential Learning Scholar (TRELS). One of the experiences I’m most proud of has been co-founding NextGen Scholars, a mentorship initiative created to help students access educational guidance, mentorship and opportunities that many first-generation students often have to figure out on their own. Building something rooted in support and accessibility reinforced how meaningful it can be when someone simply believes in your potential. Your background and experiences are not weaknesses; they are often the very things that allow you to connect deeply with others and create meaningful change. Don’t let fear stop you from pursuing opportunities you care about. Some of the most meaningful experiences in my life came from moments where I doubted myself, but I took the chance anyway." -Stella Ghevondyan (she/her), Public Health Major (Concentration in Medicine Science), Class of 2026 #TritonStories #UCSD2026 #FirstGen #UCSanDiego #UCSD #UCSDAlumni