MESA host science night in Fillmore

By Mitchell Weiss, Alia Tsang, Tyler Jones, Mary Krevenas and Gardenia Zuniga

VCNC reporters

Hoping to inspire the next generation of scientists, members of the Ventura College chapter of Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement hosted the first Science Night, or Noche de Ciencias, at Fillmore Middle School Feb. 19 as part of National Engineering Week.

The event was also planned to advertise Ventura College’s East Campus in Santa Paula.

High school and college-level MESA members held workshops and demonstrations in the scientific fields they are studying. Those fields included civil engineering, computer engineering, science, nursing and medical paths.

Guest speaker Martha González, M.D., M.P.H., opened the event, telling participating students and family members in English and Spanish about her journey to becoming a doctor.

González said she was born in Juarez, Mexico, seventh of a family of eight children, to parents who wanted their children to achieve more than they did.

Due to her parents and a neighbor who worked at a publishing house, she said, she grew up surrounded by books and the importance of education.

She said her career goal was originally fashion designer or teacher, but it changed to doctor after she translated between farmworkers and doctors.

After describing how rude the doctors were to non-English-speaking patients, González said, "I realized I was as smart as they were and I could become a doctor. And yet, I could treat my patients better....

“What encouraged me was I realized that I could make a big difference in someone's life."

González is the current director of the Women’s Comprehensive Osteoporosis Center and is on America’s Top Doctors list.

Throughout the evening parents were encouraged to participate in each activity with their children. Alexandro Vasquez, a former of the Fillmore school system student himself and now the father of two daughters, was very interested in the event. Vasquez said he wishes he had an opportunity such as Science Night to learn about various career paths in math, science and engineering.

Now holding a degree in engineering himself, Vasquez said he encourages his two daughters, who are currently enrolled in Fillmore’s elementary and middle schools, to set a career goal early in order to maximize their time and money spent getting an education.