Paola Seguil and Dr. Hugo Melgar-Quinonez.
Commitment to community, leadership, service, family and scholarship could define her, but Paola Seguil defies definition. A 4th year student majoring in Nutrition with a minor in Spanish, Paola is intelligent, socially conscious, and radiates promise for herself, her family and her community.
Born in Lima, Peru, her family immigrated to New York City when she was four years of age. Her father, a metallurgical engineer, came to the United States for a position which dematerialized. For more than a year, he was unemployed. Paola, her older brother César and her parents found refuge with her paternal family in Queens.
Paola’s educational journey began in the public school system. Nurtured by a stay-at-home mom who acknowledged that education was critical to success and always encouraged Paola to do her best, and nudged by her father, who encouraged her with high expectations and jokes, she loved her public school education. She marveled that her English as a Second Language classes in Queens, New York were not filled with native Spanish speakers like herself, instead a spectrum of cultural and ethnic diversity including blue-eyed blondes. Young Paola wondered, “Why can’t they speak English?” This early experience increased her appreciation of cultural diversity that has marked her life.
For employment, her family relocated to a very small town in Wisconsin, the only Latino family. A schoolmate said to her, “I don’t like Latinos.” Paola responded, “I am Latina.” The schoolmate replied, “I don’t mean you.” Her ideas about diversity and identity were challenged, but through the love and support of her family, she defied the stereotypes, succeeding and enlightening those around her.
Her middle school and high school years were spent in Lima, Ohio, and when it came time to select a college, Ohio State offered much to Paola. It was close enough to home and family, but not too close. Her older brother, César, graduated from Ohio State, clearing the path for her. César is now an academic advisor in the Office of Academic Services School of Teaching and Learning at Ohio State.
“I have always been interested in science and math. I knew I wanted a career in science but I had to find the right field,” Paola states. She sought strong undergraduate programs in the sciences. Being an in-state resident plus scholarship support made the decision easy for coming to Ohio State.
Beyond pure academics, Paola was motivated by the Mount Leadership Society. As a Mount Scholar, she became part of a community of scholars and leaders. With an early arrival and unique orientation program, Paola found a home in the diversity of students, disciplines and interests, along with an emphasis on service to others. The core of the program is EDUPNL 271, a course focusing on social justice and the ability of individuals to make change. Paola was tasked with other demanding science coursework and was not sure her time was being well spent. Yet when experience meets interest, a new passion is born.
One requirement of the course was a service experience. Having volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Paola decided to try something different, Project Open Hands — a food pantry for people living with HIV/AIDS. Here, through the service and inspiration provided by director Lori Weltlin, Paola connected her science, service and scholarship into a career path with passion.
“A healthy diet is so powerful,” Paola states. “Medicine, science, and modern technology are important to our well being, but what we eat, how we eat contributes as well. Becoming more fit can allow people not only to lose weight but to decrease or eliminate need for medication.” Her interest in biology, chemistry and medicine all combined in the field of nutrition.
She continues to connect her interests in her extracurricular activities, as well. She is president of the Weddington Society for Future Healthcare Professionals, serves as a nutrition and math tutor for the Student-Athlete Support Services Office and will soon begin tutoring math to 1st graders at Centro Esperanza Latina. Paola is a dancer in the Folclor Hispano, and teaches tennis at the RPAC through Age Group and the camps.
Participating in the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) last summer supplied Paola with another connection. “I was thrilled to meet people like me. It was great because I was no longer with only ‘white science students’ I got to meet students interested in so many different fields from so many different backgrounds. SROP made me feel like a grad student,” Paola said. Her research paper, Impact of Healthy Latinos Program on Food Behavior, mentored by Dr. Hugo Melgar-Quinonez, will soon be submitted to the Journal of Undergraduate Research for publication. “The story behind the Healthy Latinos program motivated me and I was excited to present not just the ‘cold data’ of my research but also the story of the Latino community in Columbus,” Paola added.
She has only one regret about her undergraduate experience. Paola proclaims: “Everyone should study abroad!” As she plans her graduate study, she wants to find opportunities to experience more of the world. She is looking into a Committee on Institutional Cooperation program which would allow her to spend the summer working in the Dominican Republic. While studying abroad, Paola will combine independent research on health and nutrition issues of the local population with excursions to community health centers, hospitals and clinics, and a reforestation project.
As to her aspirations, she laughs, “A Nobel Prize, just kidding! My dad always jokes with me and says I have to win at least the Nobel Prize in chemistry.” Paola’s goal is to earn a Ph.D. “I’d love to be a professor and work at a university. I love the university environment and I love to teach. I’d like to publish tons of articles.” She is committed to working with and for the Latino community, but feels that wellness and good nutrition benefit all ethnicities.
Paola ultimately wants to settle down and have a family. Her life will always include commitment to community, leadership through service, family and scholarship for the betterment of all.
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