Ana Fonseca, a junior at Florida International University (FIU), has credited merit-based financial assistance for making her college education possible. Fonseca, who moved from Colombia to the United States during high school, said she was unsure how she would afford tuition. “I knew my parents wouldn’t be able to support me in terms of covering…tuition,” she said.
After enrolling as a junior at Ronald W. Reagan Doral High School, Fonseca pursued information about higher education opportunities by researching and meeting with her advisor. She joined the Cambridge program, which allowed her to earn college credits while still in high school. As a result of her academic achievements, Fonseca received the Florida Academic Scholars award through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which covers 100% of tuition. According to Fonseca, this was “a completely life-changing opportunity.”
Initially interested in becoming a lawyer, Fonseca reconsidered her career path after arriving at FIU. She said, “I knew I loved science, and I loved reading and writing. But in Colombia, a career in science is not an option unless you want to become a doctor, which I didn’t want to be.” At FIU, she found new possibilities: “FIU has an insanely incredible biomedical engineering program,” she explained. The program allows her to combine her interest in medicine with practical experience and gives her the tools needed if she chooses to pursue a PhD.
With many general requirements already completed and financial support easing her path, Fonseca decided to maximize her time at FIU by concentrating on tissue engineering within biomedical engineering and minoring in chemistry. She also participates in the Honors College and the College of Engineering and Computing.
Fonseca is involved in several extracurricular activities: she is developing her writing skills through the Advanced Research and Creativity in Honors program; serves as outreach coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers; and is Vice-President for the Undergraduate Research Society.
“The hardest part is always trying to get into the room,” Fonseca said about accessing opportunities. Once involved, she quickly began networking and learning from mentors. Through these connections, she joined Joshua Hutcheson’s Cardiovascular Matrix Remodeling Lab where she researches therapeutics’ effects on vascular calcification. This led to awards such as the CURE Program award and selection as a Biomolecular Science Institute of Undergraduate Research Fellow—positions that provide financial support and guidance for graduate school applications.
Fonseca recently received another scholarship—the Opportunities for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship award from FIU’s College of Engineering and Computing—which supports students conducting research with funding, hands-on experience, and faculty mentorship.
She attributes her progress to perseverance, community support, and financial aid: “I take a lot of pride and motivation from knowing that I already [received] help to get here.” Now focused on giving back through outreach efforts herself, Fonseca said: “If I can help people, I will. This is why I became very actively involved in everything to do with outreach.”
