Alex Juarez

Hometown: Oxnard, California

Major: Environmental Sciences & Resource Management 

Graduation Date: Spring, 2022

Career Plans: End global warming 

Hey, what’s up! My name is Alex Juarez. I’m an Environmental Sciences and Resource Management major, and I’m from Oxnard, California. I chose my major because I feel a responsibility to protect nature, animals, and our ecosystems. In my free time I love to cook vegan food, workout, hike, go thrifting, surfing, and sing my heart out at rock and hip hop concerts. I’m also an adrenaline junkie, so I enjoy going on roller coasters at Six Flags. I plan on skydiving and swimming with sharks in the near future.

Being the son of two immigrant parents, I have seen how hard they struggled and broken their backs for a minimum wage check. This is the reason why I have decided to go to college. I’ve seen my parents sacrifice too much for me to succeed and live a positive life. Growing up we’ve always had financial hardships, and in the past I’ve sold flowers in the street, worked long weekends at a flea market, worked in construction, and even for a mechanical bull company. All these jobs required physical labor and didn’t make me happy. By going to a university I feel as if I have opened the doors to new experiences and careers where I will be helping others and doing things I love. Money isn’t my priority anymore, happiness is. 

By becoming a peer mentor, I hope that I can inspire the hearts of other people around me and lead others in a positive path. I especially want to help those in underserved, low income, and underrepresented communities join the STEM field. My biggest responsibility is to help others, and I plan to do whatever I can to do so.