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Raquel Lopez
Graduate Student
Email: rlopez14@asu.edu
Office: PSA 434
As I was writing this personal biography, I was trying to find the best way to introduce myself. Something that was different from the usual but I could not escape that route; Naturally, all that comes to my mind is to say the usual sentence: My name is Raquel. Now that you know my name I want to share a little bit about my background and why I am here. First of all is that I emigrated to California from the southwestern state of Jalisco,Mexico (Teocaltiche,Jalisco close to Guadalajara) twelve years ago with my parents and siblings. During those twelve years in California, I lived periods of my life in Los Angeles, Stockton, Yuba City and Sacramento. I never thught about it, but now that I am older I have come to realize and I have no doubt that I have a better life in the US than I did in my own country, considering my family's past poor economical situation. More than that, I truly believe that I would not have had the education and oportunities I have now. Presently, this is my first year of graduate school in ASU at the mathematics department, and I am grateful that I am part of it. I came here with a goal and a vision: to succeed. It is the begining of my long journey in search of the Ph.D in mathematics.
I also want to share, my love for mathematics and why it is so important to me. The complexity, logical flow and overlap of concepts in mathematics have always intrigued me. Since my first experience with even the most basic math problem, I have been fascinated by the beauty of its complexity. Whether in my classroom study or in my independent study, math has captivated my interest in part because I find myself revisiting previously studied concepts yet approaching them from a different angle. After five years of college, I am eager to continue my education not only for my personal enrichment but also that I may help my community by educating, encouraging, and opening doors for others. Growing up in a poor, low socioeconomic suburban area of Mexico and then coming into a wealthy prestigious private college as an undergraduate student has made me realize the importance of an education. Far more than being a key to success, education for people like myself is the only tool for survival. Many times an education is the only way to overcome poverty because it empowers and allows us to help others achieve their goals. Understanding this while at the same time realizing my love for mathematics has led to my great desire to teach mathematics at the university level in the future. By holding such position, I believe that I will best be able to contribute to my community and youth in general. Through this long journey, three things have always kept me going even through discouraging difficult times: discipline, determination, and dedication. That's what it takes to overcome any obstacle.
On a last note, I want to share that I have an immediate wonderful family of 12 siblings, thirteen including myself, totalling 15 including my parents. Moreover, I am fascinated by nature and what it has to offer us. For instance, I am often involved in many outdoor activities such as hiking, snowboarding, swiming, biking or whatever keeps me active. I love to run, but due to an injury two years ago, I had to stop running for a while. Now I am back to it, and I run every morning; I would eventually love to run a second half marathon here in Phoenix. Among my hobbies are hand drawing portraits of real people or just things I see, singing, listening to music and watching a movie when time permits. Passing qualifyers this first year is a personal goal, and a must. I have become very interested in Math Biology, and I would eventually love to present research not just in this country, but all over the world, because I love traveling and learning from other mathmaticians and their cultures.