Nuria Rosa: the impossible dream
Chris Pepple |
In February, e-mails began circulating within the Lipscomb community: “Nuria Rosa has been accepted into the class of 2009 at Indiana University!” The word spread quickly – an impossible dream was now one step closer to coming true.
“God made this possible. I am nervous about going, but I feel very prepared,” said Nuria. “I don’t know what to expect so it makes me nervous, but I know I will succeed. I definitely feel that my studies at Lipscomb have given me a very good comprehensive education. My work here will help me when I study at medical school. It’s exciting.”
“It has been quite a journey for Nuria to make it into medical school. I saw firsthand the challenges someone who is not a permanent U.S. resident faces getting into med school. Generally, state schools such as Indiana University prefer in-state applicants. Most state schools and many private schools do not accept international students such as Nuria. While Nuria is a very bright young lady with a high GPA, she did not test well on the all-important MCAT. Nuria’s challenge was how to overcome the low MCAT score and make the med school want Nuria. She succeeded,” said Dick Peugeot, a former Lipscomb board member and a sponsor with his wife for Nuria’s studies in Nashville.
In January 2006, Nuria Rosa journeyed to Nashville from Catacamas, Honduras, to begin her pre-med studies at Lipscomb University. In Honduras, Nuria’s mother had struggled to make sure her three children could be educated in a bilingual Christian school. Nuria studied diligently to keep up her grades and maintain one of the two scholarships awarded each year to promising students. After completing high school, she wondered if her dream of an American college education would come true. She studied for one semester at the local state university but found only discouragement and despair there.
“There weren’t even enough chairs there for the students,” Nuria recalls. “There may be ten chairs in a room and sixty students. I took notes standing up most of the time. There was also a lot of corruption in the school. Teachers would ask us for money. It was hard to keep your faith there and do the right thing. Some teachers said bad words in front of the students. Some teachers were atheists and made fun of you if you were a Christian.”
Nuria never gave up her dream of studying in a Christian university, however. The hope and love of others opened doors for Nuria to begin the journey of following her dream. “Our stories are woven together,” says Dick Peugeot. Peugeot still marvels at the way God brought so many people together to help bring Nuria to Nashville. She had already met John Pettit, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Lipscomb, and his wife Linda in Honduras. They had been instrumental in encouraging her mother to allow her to study abroad to deepen her educational experience.
Peugeot met Nuria when he traveled to Honduras on an engineering-based mission with Lipscomb. Because she attended a bilingual school, Nuria was eligible to serve as an interpreter for mission workers who came to her community. Peugeot had hoped to go on a mission trip through Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, but had been unable to travel due to health complications. His wife, Mary Ann, suggested that he travel with the Lipscomb team. Nuria served as an interpreter for his group. While on the trip, he heard Nuria talk about her educational dreams. He found out that she wanted to study medicine and come back to her country to serve others. The Peugeots wrote letters hoping to officially sponsor her studies.
“I want to be an ob-gyn,” Nuria states with certainty. “I definitely want to go back to Honduras to work when I am out of medical school. I want to go into the mountains and help women there. I want to help the women physically, but I also want to tie my work into finding ways to encourage the women there. I want to motivate young girls to have a vision for their lives. In the mountains of Honduras, it is rare that the girls go to college. They don’t see their choices. I also want to be involved with global health issues. I believe these things can happen. I think it is the Lord’s will, and no one can stop Him.”
“The Good Lord has blessed us materially,” the Peugeots acknowledge. “It’s wonderful to be able to give back. She has blessed us more than words can say. It is a privilege for us to sponsor her. This is a life for Nuria.” They realize that by sponsoring Nuria, they are not only giving her a chance for an education, but they are giving hope and love to all of the people in her community. They are both sponsoring someone who will in turn give back to hundreds of people in her own way.
“We are hoping we can find ways to help her fund medical school so her dream of serving others won’t be delayed. Honestly, we all know the high financial costs related to medical school. If Nuria graduates with large student loans, she will be forced to enter the medical profession in this country to pay back her loans,” added the Peugeots who opens doors for thousands of people around the world when they open doors for Nuria.
“Nuria is like a daughter to me. She has worked so hard to get to the point where she is. The Lord has opened so many doors, and Nuria has had the faith to walk through those doors. We have seen God working through everything during this relationship. God moves in mysterious ways. He has moved mountains. I have witnessed how few medical schools will even talk to an international student. I saw how challenging it was for Nuria to even get a student visa to study here. Nuria’s story is amazing,” said Mary Ann Peugeot, who has worked tirelessly to assist Nuria with the medical school application and interviewing process.
Nuria adds, “This is a blessing for me. It is a dream come true. I never really thought it would happen.” She courageously accepted the opportunity to come to a city that she had never seen before and study at a campus that she had only dreamed of. Many people at Lipscomb have heard her story and been inspired to become a part of her journey through prayers and financial support. Their love and faith have become woven together with her courage and hope. Together Nuria and those who support her in her dream have joined together on a journey from Catacamas to Nashville in an ongoing mission for Nuria, for her family, and for her community. Now the journey continues … Nuria Rosa has been accepted into the class of 2009 at Indiana University!