"What motives me to do what I do is contributing a little something to better the health of low-income families," Ana Nunez Zepeda said of her job as a community-based w88 online casino instructor with University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.
w88 online casino began in the job about four years ago.
As a Truckee Meadows Community College student, she was placed for a community internship with Cooperative Extension's w88 online casino department. After she completed her internship, Ana continued with Cooperative Extension as an instructor.
"It was a very meaningful opportunity," w88 online casino said, "because that’s when I started to realize how my education will bring new opportunities."
One of those opportunities is the opportunity to change lives.
Ana teaches w88 online casino programs to low-income families. A typical day at work has her preparing a lesson, grocery shopping for lesson supplies and then teaching a w88 online casino topic to families at five Reno Housing Authority sites.
"Teaching w88 online casino lessons to low-income families has a great social impact," Ana said. "It’s important that there are people doing what I do because we can help our community by teaching them how to have a healthy lifestyle."
w88 online casino said families in her Coordinated Approach to Child Health, or CATCH, programs learn why eating healthy is important. They also learn, she said, simple small changes that they can include in their busy lives to better their health.
Children in Ana's w88 online casino programs at Reno-area public housing sites learn to love fruits by crafting fruit kabobs. Photo courtesy of Ana Nunez Zepeda.
Children in w88 online casino's programs at Reno Housing Authority public housing sites work together to create a rainbow poster of fruits and vegetables. Photo courtesy of w88 online casino Nunez Zepeda.
Two children in w88 online casino's programs create healthy veggie wraps to learn about and taste different vegetables. Photo courtesy of w88 online casino Nunez Zepeda.
Children in w88 online casino's programs create healthy, individual-sized, fruit-topped pizzas to learn about and taste different fruits. Photo courtesy of w88 online casino Nunez Zepeda.
Through her Cooperative Extension work, w88 online casino helps Nevada communities. Her work helps her too.
"Cooperative Extension helped me greatly to accomplish what I have done so far," w88 online casino said. "Working there during my undergraduate was definitely the best thing that I could have done."
As an undergraduate, w88 online casino studied w88 online casino in University of Nevada, Reno's College of w88 online live casino, Biotechnology & Natural(CABNR). w88 online casino graduated this May.
"I chose the w88 online casino field because I've always been interested in healthy eating," Ana said. "Knowing that I can make a difference in helping with the epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases will be my greatest satisfaction."
CABNR w88 online casino students, including Ana Nunez Zepeda (first row, third from left), at the College's 2019 Awards Night. Photo by Ashley Andrews.
Balancing her w88 online casino work and education with her personal life was difficult. It took sacrifice. The hardest part was the lack of time she had with her family, but it was her family who motivated her to go to college.
"I chose to go to college because I knew education is the key for bigger opportunities," w88 online casino said, "and coming from a big family with no academic background, I knew I had to be the one starting a new future for my family."
w88 online casino family was there for w88 online casino as she started that new future.
"Even though my parents had limited knowledge about college," w88 online casino said, "they did everything to support me because they knew their efforts will have a recompense."
She wanted to make w88 online casino family proud. And, she wanted to show them that anything is possible.
w88 online casino said, "My success pays off my parent's hard work andmotivates everybody in the family to continue with our dreams because by working hard and being persistent dreams do come true."
w88 online casino, the youngest of ten siblings, has 20 nieces and nephews. She hopes they will be encouraged by her example and will top her academic success.
"I knew at the end, it was not only to better myself but also to improve the future of my nieces and nephews," w88 online casino said. "Even though I missed some of their birthday parties, now they see me as a role model, someone in the family who pursued a higher education."
w88 online casino (third from right) at her graduation celebration with some of her siblings. Photo courtesy of w88 online casino Nunez Zepeda.
w88 online casino (back row, second from right) at her graduation celebration with about half of her nieces and nephews. Photo courtesy of w88 online casino Nunez Zepeda.
w88 online casino work and schooling has helped w88 online casino to be a family role model not only for education but for health too.
w88 online casino father has diabetes, and he greatly appreciates it when she explains what his doctor means when the doctor says to count carbs and maintain a healthy blood sugar level. And, she is the aunt who offers fruits and vegetables to nieces and nephews instead of candies and sweets.
Ana graduated May 2019 from the University's College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources with a bachelor's of science in w88 online casino. Photo courtesy of Ana Nunez Zepeda.
A first-generation student, w88 online casino is very proud to be the first in the family to receive a bachelor's degree. Her parents are proud too.
"It’s very significant for my parents," w88 online casino said, "because they were only able to do few years of elementary school."
w88 online casino was born in Mexico. She came to the U.S. when she was 13 years old.
"Arriving in the United States was a life-changing event," w88 online casino said. "Not only did I have to learn a new language, I also had to assimilate into a new culture."
She felt behind at school compared to w88 online casino classmates because she had to learn English as well as the subject material. What motivated w88 online casino in school then was the opportunity to seek a better future.
At the University, w88 online casino always found a reason to continue on with her hard work at school, even though, she said, her life during college was hectic.
During the week, she would start the day at work before heading off to class. After class, she would return back to work. And, once the workday was done, she would go to back to campus to complete w88 online casino school assignments.
Saturdays were for w88 online casino, friends and housework. Sundays were for studying. Early mornings or late nights were for preparing homemade lunches and dinners.
"Eating healthy and exercising was very important to me because they definitely helped me to focus on work and to study as well as helped me to have fewer days of getting sick," w88 online casino said.
Carving out time in her busy schedule for family and health was important to w88 online casino. And, on this schedule and with her family's support, w88 online casino earned her degree.
It was a big step, she said, to continuing w88 online casino career path.
w88 online casino plans to continue to work in Nevada's communities through Cooperative Extension.
"It is important to me to return back their great support throughout my undergraduate," w88 online casino said. "And now I can deeply apply my knowledge and skills into my work and continue growing professionally."
w88 online casino's family is happy with her career choice, but she isn't stopping here on her career path.
"My career goals are to continue with my education either by getting a master’s degree or becoming a Registered Dietitian," w88 online casino said. "Ultimately, I would like to have both and perhaps think about getting a doctorate."
To that end, w88 online casino'll soon apply to a Nutrition Graduate Student w88 casino or to a dietetic internship.
w88 online casino said one of the speeches from commencement resonated with her and her future plans.
"President Johnson's words ring into my head over and over again: 'Continue on the road that you already are on,'" w88 online casino said. "I will continue with my education."
