Press Release:
Valeria Cordova-Guerrero is graduating from Beaufort CCC at age 16 and plans to pursue radiology after completing a bachelor’s degree in biology, which she may be able to earn by the time she turns 18.
WASHINGTON, N.C. When Valeria Cordova-Guerrero learned that her neighbor had died from overexposure to radiation during cancer treatment, she reacted differently than most teenagers. Instead of accepting the loss, she became determined to make an impact. That drive led her to discover the field of radiology, and it has guided her academic path ever since.
"I had always known that I wanted to do something in the medical field, but I did not know exactly what," she said.
"After I found out what caused my neighbor's death, I started looking into radiology, and I knew that was something I wanted to do. I want to understand what the patient actually needs."
Today, Cordova-Guerrero is preparing to graduate from Beaufort County Early College High School and Beaufort County Community College at only 16 years old. She is earning both an Associate in Arts and an Associate in Science from Beaufort CCC, along with a Community Spanish Interpreter Certificate. She hopes to major in biology at a four-year university, with UNC Chapel Hill as her first choice, before applying to medical school to specialize in radiology or radiation oncology.
"UNC Chapel Hill is my number one," she said.
"I feel like their pre-med programs and everything about the school align with what I want."
Her path has required determination. As a first-generation college student, she has had to navigate financial aid processes and academic planning largely on her own.
"My parents do not really know anything about this either," she said.
"I have been relying on the college and the early college high school, and they have been really good at helping me." She credits her college liaison, early college staff, and Beaufort CCC's advising and financial aid resources.
Along the way, Cordova-Guerrero has developed skills that will serve her well in medicine. She entered Beaufort CCC as a talkative student, but she had not yet discovered her strength in public speaking. That changed once she began participating in campus life.
She took public speaking as a sophomore and joined several organizations. She has served in Student Government Association since ninth grade and is now SGA president for the early college and vice president for the college's SGA. As a Beaufort CCC ambassador, she assists at events and gives campus tours.
"After I entered here, that is when I became the most talkative person," she said.
"All of the clubs, the ambassador program, and SGA helped me improve my communication. I want to take those skills with me everywhere."
One of her favorite experiences was giving a tour to visiting students from Denmark. She bonded with several guests and even took them out for ice cream after the tour.
"Seeing someone from another country was really interesting," she said.
"Being able to explain everything I have grown up with was really fun."
Cordova-Guerrero grew up in Belhaven, where she attended the same small school from pre-K through eighth grade. The opportunity to connect with new people at Beaufort CCC helped shape her approach as a student leader.
"In Belhaven, I saw the same faces my whole life," she said.
"Coming to Beaufort and being able to see new people and new things made me want to talk to everyone I could."
At a statewide SGA conference, she learned strategies for listening to and supporting others.
"When people come to you with issues, they are not always looking for a solution. Sometimes they just want to be listened to and to know they matter," she said.
Her Spanish interpreter coursework has also strengthened her interest in patient care. As the bilingual daughter of Spanish speaking parents, she has often interpreted at medical appointments without having the full vocabulary she needed.
"There are times when there is no translator, and my parents need someone," she said.
"Sometimes I do not know what to say, and it is a tough situation. A language barrier makes it hard for families to understand what is happening."
She hopes to use her language skills in health care and plans to learn more languages, including French and Dutch.
Balancing college courses, high school classes, and leadership responsibilities requires careful planning, but she has learned to prioritize academics and ask for help when needed.
"I get the academic side out of the way first, and clubs are second," she said.
"I know how much I can take. If I feel like I am pushing it, I know I need to stop. Finding your own balance instead of trying to do everything is what you need to do."
If her early accomplishments are any indication, Cordova-Guerrero will continue to pursue her goals with the same curiosity and determination that guided her from the beginning.
- Attila Nemecz
- Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator
- Beaufort County Community College
- 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East
- Washington, N.C. 27889
- Ph: 252-940-6387
- Cell: 252-940-8672
- attila.nemecz@beaufortccc.edu
