Navigating Innovation and Mentorship: Cultivating my Path through UF Innovation Academy

By Aracelly Valdes

Hi, my name is Aracelly Valdes. I’m a senior-year Pre-med Psychology and Biology major with a minor in Innovation here at the University of Florida. I come from a town called Miramar and a Peruvian and Cuban immigrant family with a military background. For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be a doctor. Growing up in an immigrant household, I often bridged the gaps between my loved ones and healthcare. These early experiences exposed me to the complexities of healthcare and fueled my desire to make a difference.

My path took an exciting turn when I joined the UF Innovation Academy (IA). At the time, I was a 17-year-old navigating the complex world of college during a pandemic. Innovation Academy truly felt like a home away from home – a small community in a big sea of academia especially through hard times. Initially, I didn’t understand the true definition of innovation and thought it only applied to fields like business or engineering. However, I was so wrong. Innovation is all around us, even in everyday problems. It helps us identify creative solutions to daily challenges. IA provided me with the tools and mindsets to think outside the box and learn from different perspectives, which is necessary in any career because it fosters creativity, resilience, and adaptability. Learning these skills allows us as professionals to tackle complex problems from multiple angles, innovate solutions, and navigate diverse professional environments effectively. Whether in healthcare, business, or research, the ability to think innovatively and embrace diverse perspectives is crucial for staying ahead in an ever-evolving world.

Additionally, the classrooms and environment at IA provided a refreshing contrast to my other pre-med courses. Here, I interacted with students from diverse majors, exchanging insights and learning collaboratively. The proactive classroom environment nurtured a culture where ideas of all kinds were encouraged and explored. It’s where I learned to fall in love with the problem, not the solution. This experience motivated me to join the Innovation Academy Ambassadors, allowing me to actively promote and share my passion for IA with prospective students and parents alike.

As a Mental Health Technician at a Psychiatric Hospital, I witnessed firsthand how disparities affected individual well-being, such as the frustration of a Spanish-speaking patient struggling due to language barriers. These experiences ignited my passion to tackle healthcare inequities even more, leading me to focus my research on the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) population. Innovation Academy has equipped me with crucial skills in creative problem-solving and interdisciplinary collaboration, which I apply daily as a research assistant. These skills enable me to develop innovative approaches that enhance support for individuals with ASD, emphasizing my commitment to bridging healthcare gaps and improving patient outcomes through innovative solutions.

To those considering or currently navigating the UF Innovation Academy, I encourage you to embrace every opportunity it offers. You never know where the best experiences will lead you.

“Living in the present moment creates the experience of eternity” – Deepak Chopra.

Therefore, engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, leverage the resources available, and don’t be afraid to tackle big challenges.

And to my fellow students, I know the path to our prospective careers can be long and difficult. I urge you to take your time and do it at your own pace. Talk to others, seek out mentors, and build your network because they can contribute to your development and open the door to new opportunities you never thought possible. I was once in your shoes scared to seek out mentors and build a network, but I’m glad I did because it gave me opportunities in the field I dreamed of. Eventually, when that job offer, acceptance letter, or internship/volunteer position comes through, you’ll realize you did it! Your hard work paid off, and you never gave up and took that first step forward. With the skills learned at Innovation Academy, you’ll be among the best innovative individuals you aspire to be!

GO IA Gators!