Home is where the opportunities are

Growing up in Hickory, Jesica Trejo-Trejo ’24 has grown to love being from a smaller city. After earning her associate's degree from Catawba Valley Community College, she transferred to Lenoir-Rhyne to pursue a degree in biology and continue to live in the city where she feels a deep connection. 

“I have always lived in Hickory, and I was attracted to the community that LR interacts with. I admire the engagement that LR has, and I wanted to be a part of that,” she shared. “I also love that LR has smaller class sizes than other bigger schools. I feel like I can engage better with my classmates and professors.”

With a passion for the sciences, Trejo-Trejo is pursuing a biology degree in preparation to attend medical school in a few years and reach her career goal of becoming a pediatrician.

“I have always wanted to become a doctor, and the sciences have always interested me. I love learning about the environment and the nature of life. I love learning about how the body functions and the interactions at the molecular level. I love learning in organic chemistry about how molecules interact the way that they do.”

As a transfer student, she has found support from her professors, fellow classmates and the admission office.

“Initially I struggled with finding my next step and how to achieve the goals that I wanted. As a first-generation college student doing all the applications for FAFSA and picking which school would be the best fit for me was difficult,” she said.

“The LR staff helped me a lot in deciding whether I really wanted to attend. They got me through the transfer process and figured out what paperwork I needed to fill out and submit. Morgan Logan was a huge help in my transfer process and going over my financial aid packet when I received it.”

Trejo-Trejo credits a lot of her success in her first months at LR to Logan, assistant director of undergraduate admission.

“The resources available and Morgan were a huge help when I transferred, they really helped me get my bearings additionally attending the events planned for incoming students to get a feel of where classes were was really helpful.”

For others thinking about transferring to LR, Trejo-Trejo shares the following advice.

“I would tell them that LR is a really great school. Everyone was helpful and the transfer process was not hard. Someone will help you go through the process and figure out what you need and how to get that information.”