When they moved from Mexico, to Fresno, Calif., in 1997, Jose Arrezola’s parents couldn’t read or write, but they strongly encouraged him to become educated.
Arrazola joined a college assistant migrant program.
There he worked with a mentor who provided additional support, encouragement, and opportunity, and eventually he became his family’s first-ever college grad, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health from California State University, Fresno.
To seek new ways to expand his desire to prevent disease among Mexican Americans, Arrezola applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which offers a five-day summer institute and internships to encourage master’s-level students and health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and a cancer research career.
Arrezola said the program helped direct his ongoing career choices.
“Attending the [Éxito! Summer] Institute has given me the tools to pursue my future career in research, cancer, and academia,” he said. “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Éxito!”