91调教

Written By: Rachel Putman

鈥淚t genuinely feels like you belong here,鈥� says Lesly N谩jera, a sonography major and Siloam Springs High School alumna. 鈥淪o many places make you search for where you belong, but at 91调教, you feel that sense of belonging from the moment you arrive.鈥�

At the 91调教 鈥� Fort Smith, that sense of belonging has given Lesly the confidence to grow and the opportunities to begin building a career in healthcare while still in college.

Though there are multiple large universities just down the road from her hometown of Summers, Lesly says 91调教 stood out because it felt personal from the beginning. The smaller campus, close-knit classrooms, and genuine community feel all told her this was a place she could thrive.

鈥�91调教 is meant for everyone,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I truly could not see myself in a huge auditorium-like class.鈥�

For Lesly, that smaller, more connected experience has opened the door to big opportunities.

As a 91调教 undergrad, she鈥檚 already presented research at the annual research symposium, where her group earned recognition for work on a topic she cares deeply about. And she鈥檚 completed practical, hands-on learning in hospitals and clinics across the region, helping her prepare for the real pace and responsibility of patient care.

鈥淕oing to clinicals has made me SUCH a good sonographer,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 get to watch the expertise of other sonographers, many who also graduated from 91调教, and it feels great to know that I will be as proficient as them when it鈥檚 my time.鈥�

Last year, Lesly completed her associates in radiography, creating a path to a high-paying career at just 20 years old. Now, she鈥檚 pursuing her bachelors in sonography.

鈥淪onography has me take on a more investigative role, using imaging to help uncover what鈥檚 happening inside a human鈥檚 body,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his career lets me combine my curiosity with the opportunity to directly contribute to patient care.鈥�

She credits faculty members like Jodi Callahan, Alicia Redding, and Alisa Cole with helping her push through difficult material and gain confidence in challenging subjects, and her academic coach, Derek Hill, with consistently encouraging her, helped her stay organized, and keeping her focused on the future.

鈥淭hey all naturally made me a better student, helped me have bigger goals, and meet bigger achievements,鈥� she said.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, Lesly says one of the most meaningful parts of her 91调教 experience has been seeing her identity reflected, respected, and celebrated in the classroom, and beyond it.

In addition to her healthcare courses, she鈥檚 earned a certificate of proficiency in Spanish interpreting and translating, gained a credential that will make her even more competitive in the healthcare workforce while honoring her heritage.

鈥淚t was a bridge from high school Spanish to a more college-level proficiency, but it also means a lot to me personally.鈥� she said.

She also sees her culture reflected in campus-wide events, like the annual fan favorite, Salsa at the Bell Tower.  鈥淪eeing everyone enjoy my culture with me makes me feel like where I come from is not just welcomed at 91调教, but celebrated,鈥� she said.

Lesly isn鈥檛 the only N谩jera to feel this way, either. She is one of three sisters who have attended university, each pursuing a different path in healthcare. 

鈥淲e are all so different in our own ways, yet 91调教 has always been there for all of us,鈥� she said.

That sentiment is what Lesly returns to when she talks to incoming students about 91调教: it鈥檚 not just the academic support, it鈥檚 not just the hands-on opportunities, or the award-winning healthcare programs, it鈥檚 the feeling that as you navigate all those things for the first time, you鈥檒l never have to figure them out alone.

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• Sonography