Tell us about your military service. What did you do? Where did you serve? What do you value the most about your military service?
For nearly seven years, I served as an active-duty Dental Laboratory Technician in the US Air Force taking on key leadership and technical roles across clinic, squadron, and group levels. Throughout my service stationed at Scott AFB, IL, Misawa AB, JP, and Laughlin AFB, TX, I found deep fulfillment in restoring patients鈥� confidence and health through the custom fabrication of gold and porcelain crowns, dentures, implants, and acrylic appliances. Beyond the technical craft, what I value most from my military journey is the privilege of instilling hope through intentional interactions.
What are your thoughts on mentoring other students while at Vanderbilt? As a role model, what values do you want to share?
I feel deeply privileged to mentor fellow students at Vanderbilt and share the unique experiences, values, and perspectives that shape who I am. I carry my military service, Filipino heritage, familial roots, and personal beliefs in everything I do. As a mentor, I hope to embody the resilience, compassion, and dedication instilled in me by the incredible peers and leaders I have served alongside, serving as an authentic role model for fellow students as they navigate their own paths.
While at Vanderbilt, what will be the focus of your studies and how do you plan to use this knowledge in your future career?
Prior to starting at Vanderbilt, I faced a challenging period that made me doubt my purpose and goals. Thanks to the strong support of my peers and leadership, I was able to navigate that difficulty and rediscover my direction. That experience showed me that my true purpose is paying that support forward especially to fellow veterans who are struggling and have not had the same access to hope and guidance. I am committed to pursuing my studies diligently so that I can provide compassionate care as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner to those who need it most.
What would you tell other veterans about the Bass Military Scholars Program?
While stationed overseas and in remote locations, I often felt like I lived in a military bubble focused on joint-service and dual-national exercises. Transitioning out has been a major adjustment, and day-to-day civilian life can still feel overwhelming at times. However, the Bass Military Scholars Program is not another bubble, but a bridge. It expands our connections and opens doors beyond our military background, and I am incredibly proud and grateful to represent this program as a Bass Scholar.