My name is Nicholas Gonzalez, but I go by Jonah. I was born and raised in Pasadena, California. My parents were both born in Mexico and moved to California later in their childhood. They got divorced when I was young, so my siblings and I moved down to San Diego with our mom, and our dad stayed in Los Angeles. My siblings and I attended school in San Diego, and my dad slowly became more involved in our lives. Because my mom was the only one around for most of my childhood, I grew very close to her. Our relationship became the strongest when the recession hit, and she got laid off and started spending more time with us. She ended up getting a job with the school district that gave her the same breaks as us, making it a lot easier to spend quality time with her, especially over the summer. My mom is my best friend. She's always been there, and she's just a very self-sacrificing woman. She inspired me to work with special needs individuals because she works as a bus aide for children with special needs. Working with those students has driven me to my current job. I have worked in hospice care for adults with brain disabilities, and now I am working at the Melisa Nellesen Center for Autism at UVU.

As I said, my dad was also very active in our lives over time. I remember sitting and listening to him talk about his surgeries and the cases he was a part of as a cardiothoracic physician's assistant; hearing about heart and kidney transplants implanted the seed for my love of medicine.        

After the divorce, my mother, siblings, and I lived in a smaller home where my siblings and I shared one room. I think we got a little tired of each other, and our relationships started to fracture. We all had our own independent lives. It wasn’t until we grew older that we all got a lot closer as we began to deal with our struggles. We learned to open up and rely on family. This process helped shape my support system and the person that I am today.

When I was in my senior year of high school, I decided to apply to many colleges. In the end, it came down to where money was the most accessible. I did not want to be a financial burden on my family. Surprisingly, the University of San Diego ended up being my choice. They are a private school, but they offered so much that I decided to go there. I enjoyed my time at the University of San Diego, but I felt too close to home. I wanted to grow more and push myself in a less familiar environment. While I loved the beautiful campus at the University of San Diego and the amazing people I met there, I felt like I was not pushing myself in the ways my friends were. Many of my friends were from other states and were coming to San Diego to experience new things. I have had the blessing of exploring San Diego all my life. I was jealous of how they could make an unfamiliar location their "home away from home" and wanted to have that opportunity for myself. I love my family, but I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. I had already been to Utah before that and loved it. I decided that it would be an excellent place for me to pick up and start something new, which is how I found myself at UVU.

At UVU, I have had so many excellent opportunities. I was a part of the English Conversation Club right before COVID-19 hit. It was an awesome opportunity to interact with international students here. I have also been involved in research with Dr. Eddy Cadet in the Earth Science Department. I have had the privilege to lead a project, which has been amazing and taught me so much. Working with Dr. Cadet has sparked my interest to continue pursuing research even after my time at UVU.

 

During my time at the Center for Autism, I started as an educational coach, helping other UVU students with goal planning, accountability, and general life skills. I've had a great time meeting other UVU students in this program. Through that program, I understood the reality and struggles for individuals with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I have learned so much at the center, and I was thrilled to be a part of setting up the conference they held in March, right before Spring Break. Everyone should have some learning experience with autism because it is such a diverse disorder. Hearing the parents' struggles was overwhelming, and I saw how important it was to learn about the challenges that individuals with ASD and those around them face every day. I have now shifted from working as an educational coach to working at the front desk, which allowed me to work on the Autism Conference and assist in developing their new Wolverines Elevated Program. It's a program that mirrors the Aggies Elevated Program at Utah State. This program helps individuals with intellectual disabilities get college experience that they may not have obtained otherwise. It has been a fantastic experience to watch that program slowly grow.

If I had to sum up my experience at UVU, I would use two words: "culture shock." Having been raised in San Diego with little exposure to the LDS culture, coming to Utah was a shock — but I have loved it, and it has taught me so much about other people. It was interesting to go from my freshman year at the University of San Diego to my sophomore year at UVU. Attending organic chemistry classes with many people who were married and starting families felt strange to the 19-year-old me who was debating which Top Ramen I would have later that night.

My major is in biology with a minor in Spanish translation as well as a general Spanish minor.  After graduating from UVU, I hope to attend medical school. I am currently investigating whether I want to apply for a dual M.D.-Ph.D. program. One day I hope to return to Southern California and utilize my Spanish as a medical professional. Hopefully, I will have an opportunity to be immersed in a Spanish-speaking country because I know that's the best way to learn. I want to improve this skill that I have gained from the Spanish classes I have been taking. In the end, I want to use Spanish not only in my day-to-day life but also in my career.

Utah Valley University is a place that allowed me to interact with communities that I initially never thought I would have the opportunity to connect with. This experience has shaped me to be a better, more understanding person. I now know that when I leave UVU, I will have become a better student and an overall better person because of the time I've been able to experience those different communities. Because of this, I would recommend UVU to anyone looking to experience adventure surrounded by exceptional individuals.