First-year undergraduate nursing student Valeria Rivera knew she would be studying at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
After moving to Cleveland from Puerto Rico as a child, Rivera said she had always been aware of the university.
“Since high school, I knew CWRU was one of the top schools for nursing,” she said. “After transferring into their amazing nursing program, I decided that they were the right choice all along.”
Like most Clevelanders, Rivera isn’t shy about singing the city’s praises.
“Cleveland is known for its parklands, vibrant art, culture, musical history, medical centers and more,” she said. “We have several popular sports teams and we’re the birthplace of rock and roll!”
Locally, Rivera participates in events and programs through Esperanza, a Cleveland-based organization dedicated to improving academic achievement of Hispanic students throughout Greater Cleveland.
“They have a mentor mentee program that I really enjoy doing,” she said of her scholarship program. “When CWRU La Alianza does events and I can make it, I also like going to those. I am also spending time at the LatinUs Theater Company doing various things and getting to know the community.”
Get to know Valeria
What is your favorite Hispanic food(s)? My favorite Hispanic food is either mofongo or sancocho. I can’t choose one because they are both super good!
Who is your favorite band/musical performer? I have a lot of interest in music and listen to a lot of variety not only in genres but in language, too.
What is your favorite book? I used to be a bookworm when I was younger, but nowadays I don’t read as much unless it’s for school. But a quick comic doesn’t hurt once in a while!
How do you spend your free time? In my free time I enjoy cooking, baking, crafting, and photography. While I don’t exactly call myself an expert in any of these, I just do them for fun.