As a native of Texas, Alexia Velazquez did not have Saint Mary’s on her college radar during the beginning process of deciding where she would spend her time for the next four years. However, things quickly shifted once her father had the opportunity to explore Saint Mary’s. 

Choosing the Right Future

Although Alexia had her heart set on attending school elsewhere, when it came down to the final decision, there were no doubts that Saint Mary’s would not be in her future. She was thrilled at the fact that Saint Mary’s would allow her to explore and experience new adventures beyond her community in Texas. 

“I know that Saint Mary’s is what I needed to succeed. There was no need for me to give up here even when classes were difficult or exams did not go the way I planned. I knew I could still stay here and make it work and it did work.” 

Alexia was very hopeful attending Saint Mary’s because she could sense the community actually cared about her education and who she would become in the future. 

“Even the alumna community wants students to be here and make a difference in the world.The alumna network here is amazing and will help students so much!”

Finding Passion in Biology

Alexia’s interest in biology began in high school but did not reach its full potential until college. Her father was very supportive and encouraging when it came down to a college decision and discovering what to study for her future career. 

“Within studying biology my concentration is towards epidemiology. I plan to go to graduate school for Data Science and Public Health so I can work in research labs to pursue the prevention of infectious diseases.” 

Alexia said the professors in the biology department were extremely helpful when it came to pursuing her work in epidemiology. She said Saint Mary’s gave her bigger and better opportunities which she would not find elsewhere. 

“I never thought I would be capable of getting a masters degree without my close relationships with my professors and the community here at Saint Mary’s.” 

Unforgettable Memories 

While Alexia worked hard for her academic goals, she did take a break when it came to Notre Dame game days. Her absolute favorite memory of Saint Mary’s was during her freshman year when Notre Dame played against Michigan. 

“My father came up for every Notre Dame game my senior year. He saved his money so I could go to every game with him, including the Shamrock Series.” 

Experiencing game days with her father made every game day moment a little more special and meaningful. 

Written by Natalia Speedon '22