Natalie Vargas ENG'06 is currently working for a pharmaceutical/biotech consulting firm in New Jersey. Previously, Natalie worked as a long-term substitute teacher at her old high school teaching chemistry and earth science.
Below is what Natalie has said about the ALA scholarship and its impact on her life:
"The ALA scholarship has everything to do with where I am and why I do what I do. When I received the scholarship I was very aware that there were other Latino students that probably had better grades than I did but I was (and still am) very dedicated to the Latino community at Penn. I volunteered much of time in addition to working part-time, trying to stay afloat in the engineering curriculum, and keeping my sanity. I was so thankful for the scholarship; it really helped me in a time of need. I had a good financial aid package but it really wasn't enough since I couldn't rely on my family for my everyday expenses.
When I took the teaching job, I really took on an 'ALA' mentality towards
all of my students, but especially the Latino ones. I reached out to those
who needed it the most; those who needed someone to say 'I've been where you
are and I'm here to help." I have the same attitude towards the students I
meet every summer at a diversity awareness camp. As I am finally getting started
with my career, I hope to become a role model like the ALA members I have met:
exciting, down-to-earth, successful Latinos."
