My Public Health Journey
Victoria Ximena Rojas
Victoria is an undergraduate scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University whose public health work focuses on substance use and its relationship to cognitive health. Grounded in her Colombian heritage and experiences with her family, she is passionate about understanding the lived experiences behind the data and exploring approaches that can improve health and quality of life. Her work is driven by a commitment to community, advocacy, and creating more sustainable approaches to health and care.
Tell us about your current public health work.
I work on substance use and the risk factors it creates for cognitive decline. I hope to rehabilitate the brain and create and change available treatment modalities from mediciation to Rehab programs to create lasting sustainablility and improve quality of life and health span. I was lead to my work through personal experience with my father. Learning from class and talking to him about his life experience showed me that it is more than just numbers in data but a story to every person's life and circumstances.
How has your heritage shaped your public health journey?
My heritage shaped my public health journey by showing me what community is. What it is to give, help and pour into others and to not stand by and watch but to do what we can for those around us. It showed me the difference of my upbringing here in the U.S in comparison to my family and others who were raised in Latin America. It inspired the responsibility I feel that I have for communities I lived in and am a part of. It has made me loud, proud, outspoken and confident as a researcher and a young woman so I'm not afraid to take up spave or speak my mind.
What advice would you give to a fellow Latina/o who wants to pursue a career in public health?
Do it afraid, do it scared, do it nervous, do it unsure, do it no matter what you feel because you will figure it all out on the journey. That's the whole purpose of the journey! Diversity brings new perspective and experience, we couldn't work towards making it a better place if we all thought and lived the same. Go for all your dreams and desires because they are possible even if others say they're unrealistic.
What is your favorite family tradition?
A family tradition we have in my household is making arepas from scratch, instead of gingerbread cookies, around Christmas together as a family. It was a way we connected and talked with my nana about her life in colombia as she grew up. I always learned more and more about her through this tradition and it feels rich not only in culture but in her life history. I've gotten amazing morals, values and gems from the women in my family. This traditions made anywhere feel like home.
My Graduations
High school advanced & IB diploma class of 2022