Hometown:
Puno, Peru
Hi! I’m Nicole, an international student from Puno, Peru. I’m studying Psychology and hope to attend medical school. As a transfer student, I jumped into exploring my options at BYU. While I believed God has something better prepared for me than I could ever imagine, I realized it was up to me to seek out additional information and campus resources to make an informed decision. This type of exploration continues to open pathways I would have never considered. I’d love to share what I’ve learned about exploring and hear your story!
Exploration Experience: When I first came to Utah, all I knew was that I wanted to study something in the medical field. I didn’t fully understand the wide range of majors available at BYU or even how the U.S. education and career system worked, so figuring things out has taken time, curiosity, and a lot of dedication. I explored psychology, neuroscience, and dietetics before realizing psychology was the major that best fit my skills and interests. Now I’m working toward my bachelor’s in psychology and preparing for medical school.
Exploring matters to me because it reminds me that God always has a plan, something greater than we might dream for ourselves. Each step in my journey, even the confusing ones, has been part of discovering what He prepared for me. Especially as an international student, figuring out career paths can sometimes have different considerations. Looking back, I wish I had known more about BYU’s resources for students and who to talk to; it would have made the path feel a little less overwhelming.
Why is Exploring Important to Me? Exploration turns uncertainty into direction. It helps us grow, connect with others, and see how God can use our curiosity to guide us toward our purpose.
I’ve also learned that God is best able to help me if I seek out information. This led me to research majors online, talk to academic advisors, chat with professionals in fields I’m considering, and reach out to faculty, which has made all the difference. Consistently checking in with my academic advisor has helped me to make sure I’m on track towards my goals and has given me confidence moving forward.
Looking Back: I wish I had taken advantage of more resources earlier and stressed less about “figuring it all out” right away.
Favorites:
- Book: Wuthering Heights
- Movie: Arrival or The Road to El Dorado
- Food: Peruvian ceviche
- Animal: Jellyfish
- Color: Beige
Does Pineapple Belong on Pizza? No way, that’s a dessert, not a pizza. If I wanted pineapple on dough, I’d just eat a pineapple pie.
Boring Fact About Me: I almost always order the kids’ meal instead of the regular one - it’s a perfect portion, has a drink, and sometimes even a toy.
Hobbies: Photography, cooking Peruvian food, hiking, learning new languages, creating social media content, and exploring new ice cream shops.