We recently asked one of our alumna Victoria to give us an update on her collegiate experience. Here is what she had to say …

“My name is Victoria Quiroz and I am currently a second-year biochemistry major at UC Riverside. I attended sessions at Taking the Reins throughout high school, which strengthened my connection to animals and motivated me to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I learned so much about animal care, and participating in sessions made me more comfortable around horses and other animals. Because of these courses, I now have a unique experience with handling animals that would have been difficult to acquire elsewhere.

As I was applying to high school, I participated in Taking the Reins’ YES program. This program was particularly helpful for my college application process. In these workshops I narrowed down my options for college, drafted essay topics, and had mentors who helped me throughout the process. This support gave me the confidence to apply to schools that were a right fit for me and strengthened my application essays overall.

Through Taking the Reins, I was also introduced to scholarship opportunities that I otherwise would not have found on my own. These scholarships helped me fund a portion of my tuition which helped reduce the financial stress of pursuing higher education. Having that support allowed me to focus on my studies and goals, and reinforced the importance of seeking out scholarships.

Additionally, I was the secretary of the junior board at TTR for two years where I gained confidence and organizational, leadership and interpersonal skills. These skills have been invaluable to me in college, helping me balance academics, manage my responsibilities, and making it easier to connect with others. I am grateful to TTR for giving me the foundation to grow personally and professionally. I will forever carry the lessons I learned here with me as I continue working toward my goal of becoming a veterinarian.