Manuel Estrada-Felix III

Growing up, I was always a big extrovert; I loved talking to people and just singing all the time with a huge smile on my face. I loved being outside, running, playing with other kids, playing soccer, and just enjoyed myself being a kid. I am the third youngest of four children in my family, which meant it wasn’t my parents’ first rodeo of having kids! My parents were always looking out for us and putting us before themselves in every situation even though both of my parents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico at a very young age and only received some high school education their number one priority was and still is to take care of their family. While taking care of us I unfortunately became very ill.

I was diagnosed with stage three Ewing’s sarcoma, a very rare type of bone cancer, on my right femur at three years old. This put my family in a position that no family is ever ready for. This illness was not consuming just me, but my family as well. I have had many procedures, about 16-18, performed throughout my life. My illness completely switched my life upside down. I felt alone, depressed, and overall, I felt like an outcast. I wasn’t able to take part in many things growing up; I stopped playing soccer, running around, and became an introvert. The chemo and radiation therapy both affected my physical and mental attributes. I had a very hard time learning and processing different subjects in school; some of the medication I was taking for my illness had these mental side effects which I still struggle to this day, altering my brain chemistry. Throughout school, I was assigned many aids and a case manager who helped me throughout my education; elementary through high-school. They all helped me become more independent and figure out ways to make my life easier, but it wasn't until high school, specifically my Junior year, where I thought about what I wanted to actually do in my life.

I joined this program called EAOP (Early Academic Outreach Program) and from there I could experience many school trips to certain colleges and see what I actually was interested in and what might be my gateway to further my education and start my career. I struggled for a bit on finding what I wanted to do but I will never forget the best experience and class I have ever taken in high-school which was my Biology class so I based what I wanted to do with my education with that class and the teacher who actually showed me a lot of guidance throughout high-school; she was always there for me when I needed her the most. I told her I was nervous about going to college simply because I felt like I wasn't meant to go to college based on my ethnic background, disability, and those side effects from the medications which make it harder for me to learn. I once again felt outcasted, depressed, and alone, I put myself down so many times and I was becoming my worst enemy. I felt as if I was drowning from the inside while others would see the facade on my face smiling and pretending I knew what I wanted. It was senior year now and I just kept going and had that goal of going to college and chasing a dream I had. I applied to many UC and CSU colleges and was accepted to all of them and yet I did not choose to go to any single one. I decided on going to community college first because I felt a lot of pressure going to a University, I felt like I wasn't supposed to be there as if I could not relate to anyone.

My first year at Cabrillo Community College was rough, I took way too many units and could not handle my classes. I started getting used to the workflow and slowly added more and more units each semester. Each semester was a new learning opportunity on how to manage time, work, and many other responsibilities I had. While I was on a roll that is when COVID-19 struck and all colleges and public areas came to a halt and classes were all online. I took some classes here and there but I wasn’t able to grasp, learn, and process anything without me being physically in a classroom. I started doubting myself and took about 1 semester off school because of COVID-19 and well I did horribly in my Inorganic Chemistry which made me really rethink going to college. As I summoned up the courage to go back to school I started to take other classes and save that chemistry class for when we were able to go back to a physical classroom. While COVID-19 cases were going down, we were receiving notifications from Cabrillo College stating we might end up going back to physical class. I unfortunately had to have another procedure done on my right leg once again. I had a limb lengthening procedure done to my tibia and fibula of the right leg. This would help me with less back aches and would make it so that I was a bit more evened out when walking and standing. I was unfortunately on bed rest for about a year and took two semesters worth of online classes and that within itself challenged me mentally. I was frustrated because of being on bed rest and not being able to actually be in class. I started to love learning more and more and developed ways for me to learn and process things much more efficiently.

Once I came out of my recovery, the next semester I took inorganic chemistry again with a professor named Francisco Jimenez and he changed my mindset about how to view the world and not limit myself forever. He cares about his students and wishes them the best in their educational goals, career paths, living life, and ultimately in chasing your dreams to be able to make them become a reality. He introduced my classmates, a study group comprised of Rene, April, and Naomi, and myself to SACNAS and LSAMP and he showed us how there are many different people involved in STEM and how they have all gone through roughly the same challenges as we have and how they stand by us by supporting us the best they can. My professor Francsico Jimenez asked us if we would like to participate in the SACNAS conference held in Portland, Oregon in October 2023. We were all nervous to go but we went and took that chance to be able to see and experience what our professor was talking about. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made. We finally found our community, we are not alone. There are many people just like us wanting to achieve the same goals to be able to reach higher levels of education and find their career path. This is for everyone and this experience has opened up my eyes and in all honesty has changed my views about everything and myself forever. I have limited myself many times over before and at times felt like a failure, but now going through this experience I have not limited myself once since being part of SACNAS. I will continue to reach my endeavors and climb new heights to make my family, high-school teacher (Maya Murphy), chemistry professor (Francisco Jimenez), everyone who has supported me throughout life, and ultimately make myself proud for the accomplishments I have and will achieve in all due time.