Real Story: Jaelene Amaya Perez
Jaelene Amaya Perez
CSM Class of 2023, Electrical Engineering
Transfer Institution: University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland
Accolades, Accomplishments, and Highlights: Winter 2023 student representative for the School of Professional and Technical Studies
I’m someone who’s grateful for what I have, but I want to keep growing and growing—academically, and as a person.
My background is a mix of cultures. I was born here and lived part of my life here, but I’m also from Mexico. I was born in Denver, moved to Mexico at age 12, moved back to the United States at 17 to finish high school.
When I came back, I was by myself, and I didn’t have money to afford college, so I was looking at my options when I was leaving high school. My school guidance counselor recommended CSM, and I liked what I saw.
I’m someone who communicates better in person—I feel like it makes a stronger connection—and since my time at CSM has all been during COVID, it’s been hard to engage as much with teachers and other students. But all of my instructors have been really professional and understanding, and I’ve been able to learn a lot.
It just goes to show that it’s important to have a plan, to have in mind what you want, but life can be hard to predict, and it’s just as important to be able to look for the positive and make the best of it when things don’t go your way.
I want to get experience in my field, acquire knowledge, and little by little develop myself into a professional engineer.
Last updated: 1-6-23