Cambridge is next stop on Citrus alumna's incredible journey
Paulina Pimentel-Mora, a Citrus College and Yale University alumna, will soon be attending the University of Cambridge in England.
A recipient of the Sidney Hellman Ehrman Fellowship, Paulina will pursue a Master of Philosophy in Health, Medicine and Society degree at King's College, Cambridge, one of 31 colleges that make up the University of Cambridge. Her research will focus on the nuances of women's reproductive autonomy across diverse cultural backgrounds.
"Having previously studied abroad for a semester at the University of Oxford during my undergraduate experience, I developed a deep love for the country. I can't wait to return to the U.K.," Paulina said.
As an Owl, Paulina excelled academically, earning three associate degrees in political sciences, history and Spanish in 2021. In addition to serving as a student assistant in the Student Wellness Center, Paulina was also involved in the honors transfer program, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and the Associated Students of Citrus College.
"I could genuinely speak for hours about my time at Citrus College, and I can't think of a single negative aspect of my experience there," Paulina said. "In fact, I wholeheartedly advocate for attending community college whenever the opportunity arises."
Paulina said she is grateful for the help and support she received from Citrus College faculty and staff. In particular, she highlighted the efforts of history instructor and former honors transfer program coordinator Brian Waddington.
"He kindly pushed me to consider applying to a few Ivy League institutions and offered to write me a letter of recommendation for those applications," Paulina said. "I had never thought of Yale as an option — not even in high school — but Professor Waddington saw that as a possibility for my future."
For Paulina, the initial transition from Citrus College to Yale University wasn't easy.
"It was marked by sleepless nights before paper deadlines and moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome," she said. "In fact, when I initially set foot on Yale's campus, I immediately wished I was back at Citrus. I was incredibly nervous and apprehensive about what lay ahead of me."
But over the course of two-and-a-half years, Paulina began to feel more at home, exploring a variety of subjects and working at the Yale University Art Gallery, which holds approximately 300,000 objects and is the country's oldest university art museum. In addition, she spent a summer at the University of Michigan working alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a semester abroad at the University of Oxford. In 2023, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science.
As for her advice to current Citrus College students, she has plenty to share:
"One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can offer to current students, often dismissed as cliche, is to embrace your authentic self," she said. "Every decision I've made in my life, whether enrolling in classes, joining clubs or seizing opportunities, has been guided by genuine passions and interests."
"Remember: a person's educational beginnings do not determine their ultimate destination," Paulina added. "Trust in yourself and your abilities, for your journey is uniquely yours to navigate."
This article originally appeared in the June 2024 edition of the Citrus View.