Anabela Arrieta was inspired by her uncle to pursue a career in medicine, a pursuit made less financially stressful thanks to the generosity of donors. 
 

Among the scholarships Arrieta has received is the David and Karen Nargis Student Scholarship in Biology, a scholarship focused on junior and senior level biology majors who have transferred from a community college. Arrieta attended Waubonsee Community College before entering NIU. She plans to graduate in 2025.

“As a first-generation college student, these scholarships are confirmation that my hard work is rewarded and noticed,” she said. “I am motivated by these scholarships to keep working hard in my studies and pursuing my goal of becoming a doctor.”

Arrieta, who was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, ultimately wants to be a healthcare provider who advocates for patients who struggle to receive crucial care, and travel to developing nations to provide care there.

“I want to become a doctor to create an impact, to not only educate communities about the importance of healthcare but advocate for those who are denied medical care because of their status and income,” she said. “Not only would I be speaking out for my future patients but also for myself, as I have personally been refused medical care due to my status.”

Arrieta is inspired by her family members who have attended college but were unable to complete their education. She cites her uncle as an example of a family member who worked hard but was unable to attain his dream of being a doctor.

Arrieta was raised by her mother and grandparents in Quito, and during the first 10 years of her life, also lived with her uncles. 

Her uncle Alvaro, the youngest son in the family, signed up for classes at Universidad Central del Ecuador and was the only sibling to go to school because of the financial hardships of the family. Her grandparents took out a large loan to cover his college costs, because her uncle had a high admission score for the university’s medical program. 

However, despite her uncle’s hard work, he failed one class during his fourth semester in school. 

“Sadly, this situation was not only a setback for him but also it destroyed every single opportunity for him to become a doctor,” she said. “From my former self point of view, I was surprised and angry at the radical decision of my grandparents; however, now that I am a college student, I understand that people with financial hardships cannot afford to fail a class.”

Arrieta remembers the heartbreak in her uncle’s voice as he told her grandmother that he failed the class and had to drop out. 

“I remember the day he got his class report like it was yesterday. My grandmother and I were playing with a doctor play set while waiting for him to come home,” she said. “When he got home, he sighed and said, ‘Mom, I failed you.’ That simple sentence crushed my heart. I remember he went to the garden and started to cry while looking at his white coat; he knew it was over. I was angry at every single family member because I used to sit with him while he studied from his big book of anatomy. I used to sneak into his room to steal his big and heavy anatomy book since I loved observing the pictures of the structure of the human body. I was his biggest supporter, and I still believe he kept that anatomy book on his shelf for me.”

Arrieta said she wants to dedicate her degree to her uncle when she one day becomes a doctor.

“When the time of choosing a career was coming, my family was surprised to know I was going to study to be a doctor,” she said. “The only person that was not surprised was my uncle, he looked at me with a subtle sparkle in his eyes, he was proud. I will one day dedicate my degree to my uncle since he has been my inspiration for choosing to pursue a vocation as difficult as medicine. I will accomplish our dream.”