Elizabeth Ashley Lopez

I had always lived in Miami, so attending Florida International University made sense. The school also offered a lot of opportunities in regard to scholarships and financial aid. I had a Hispanic background and no one in my family had graduated from college, so it was important for me to have financial support. I wouldn't have gotten those opportunities if I had gone to another institution. I grew as a person and as a nurse. I learned to be patient, attentive to detail, and resourceful. The friends I made became my lifelong friends. FIU was such a multicultural institution, and the school really expanded my knowledge and education. I met people from different backgrounds who I wouldn't have if I hadn't gone to FIU. I was the first in my family to graduate from college.