This Sacramento high school senior’s nursing goals honor generations of Mexican women

Liena Contreras calls herself a proud product of three Mexican women — her grandmother, mother and aunt. The women, and the opportunities not offered to them, motivates the 17-year-old to pursue a career in nursing that will help bridge inequality gaps in health care.

Each one immigrated from the Mexican state of Michoacán, with goals of pursuing higher education, Contreras said. Economic costs and lack of citizenship led them all to let go of their dream.

“Because my family wasn’t able to seek further education, it has pushed me to do so,” said Contreras, who graduates next month from Sacramento’s Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School.

Contreras, who maintained a 4.2 GPA while working 25 hours a week, assured she did not forget her Mexican roots or her family while at school.

As a junior, she helped to found the campus’ Latino club, which provides a space for students to embrace and share their culture. The club has also held fundraisers in which they’ve sold pan dulce and hot chocolate.

“It’s healthy to have a place where you can relate to one another and talk about similar experiences,” Contreras said. “And just to have a safe haven.”

This year, Contreras became the campus’ yearbook editor and was one of the students chosen to be a “school ambassador,” which consists of recruiting middle school students from the Sacramento region. Teachers say the role is reflective of Contreras’ reputation among students and faculty.

“She’s just one of the most remarkable students that I’ve had in my 27-year public teaching career … and it just makes me excited that she’s going out into the world,” said Katie Hull Sypnieski, Contreras’ English teacher for four years.

Contreras will begin at Sacramento State this fall and major in nursing — the dream career of her grandmother. She is determined to give back to her community and do her part in tackling deep-seated inequities in health care for communities of color, specifically Blacks and Latinos.

“The mistrust patients feel on a day to day basis with their nurses has inspired me to hopefully be the one who can create a safer environment for my future patients and for the hospitals that I may be working in,” Contreras said.

Ojo: About 43% of public higher education students in California are Latino.

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