About Ingrid

I grew up as a first generation Pilipino-American and was born and raised in San Jose, California. Growing up I went through a lot of struggles and faced a lot of obstacles that have helped me become the strong and independent woman I am. Even through the bad times I knew that I was meant to do something big and make a difference in the world.

I am the first person in my immediate family to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from a University. Every day I am thankful for the people who have supported and guided me throughout my life because without them I would not be the person I am today. I am not afraid to take opportunities and always remain optimistic no matter how sticky the situation may be. Based on my life experiences I have developed a passion for giving back to the community in any way I can with the goal of helping those who are in the pursuit of happiness just like me.

My Future

In the near future, I envision myself working as a health educator teaching community members about various topics such as alcohol and drug usage, sexual education, violence prevention, stress management, suicide prevention, body image, or chronic diseases. I want to work in under served communities in the Bay Area, particularly with the youth or college students because I feel that is where I can make the most impact. Eventually, I would like to develop an after high school program that gives students the opportunity to build leadership skills, gain knowledge about health prevention methods, and inspire them to pursue higher education.

Working in the public relations field for a non-profit organization is something I am also highly interested in. After gaining more experience in the field and gaining a better understanding of what I want to do, I plan to apply and obtain a Master’s in Public Health to help me in my reaching my goals of giving back to the community.

About My Major

When I first entered college I wanted to find a major where I could help people and work directly with the community. I knew that I wanted to be involved with the health field, but I also was 100% sure that going in the medical field was something I did not want to do. After taking a few general education courses in health science, I realized that this was the major for me.

The Health Science department at San Jose State University helps students gain the skills necessary to work in the public health profession through community health and by collaborating with community partners. This major is a multidisciplinary study of community health, health services delivery, disease prevention, and health promotion. A degree in Health Science shows that students have obtained the knowledge and skills to assist in examining health issues from cultural, scientific, global, ecological, and multigenerational perspectives, while also gaining valuable career skills.