By John Robert Morton, Scholar and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Hector Morales, AMU Graduate
AMU public well being graduate Hector Morales hasn’t all the time had a straightforward life. He grew up in a tricky neighborhood that made private development troublesome. However via the assist and encouragement of his relations, Hector remodeled his life and now protects public well being as a genetics researcher on the Yale Faculty of Medication (YSM).
Hector aspired to attend faculty. However as a single father, Hector knew he couldn’t decide to spending time on a bodily campus.
He started looking for the correct college, noticed numerous choices and ultimately selected American Navy College (AMU). “AMU match my academic wants with the bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma in public well being,” says Hector.
He loved the flexibleness of AMU’s programs and having quick access to assets reminiscent of ebooks, the College’s Library, and educational advisor assist and steering. Hector additionally turned a College Ambassador, eager to assist different folks within the College neighborhood.
Getting into the Subject of Public Well being
Hector’s beginnings in public well being occurred accidentally. He utilized for what he thought was a pc operator job at Dia-Foot, however his job really entailed the personalized pc design of diabetic foot inserts for ambulatory sufferers.
Hector labored for Dia-Foot for nearly 9 years. Throughout that point, he realized that the variety of Sort 1 and a couple of diabetes instances had been nonetheless rising each domestically and nationally, which aroused his curiosity. Hector turned fascinated with epidemiology, which examines illness patterns amongst sure populations.
In 2014, the corporate was bought and Hector determined to additional his training with the assist of his former CEO. He later earned a bachelor’s diploma in public well being adopted by a grasp’s diploma in public well being, each from AMU.
Working His Method Upward
Whereas incomes his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels, Hector labored as a ground cleaner within the Yale New Haven Well being System. Later, he moved on to lab technician work however had the aim of changing into a full-time researcher at YSM.
As soon as the chance turned obtainable, Hector utilized and joined the YSM full-time as an inside drugs researcher. At the moment, Hector is a genetics researcher on the YSM.
Recommendation to Different College students Looking for Profession Alternatives in Public Well being
“Alternatives are all over the place. What it’s good to perceive is you’ll get out what you place in so far as work,” observes Hector. “Individuals will imagine in you for those who present them that you’re keen to place within the effort and time to get the place you need. Something you need to do and obtain is inside attain. Imagine in your self.”
Somebody as soon as advised Hector to embrace failure. Though he didn’t perceive this recommendation at first, it’s one thing he now tells anybody who asks him for recommendation.
“You’ll fail. It is going to be lots quite a lot of instances. You will need to each settle for it and embrace it. For those who do, your worry of constructing your self uncomfortable will disappear. The worry of failure will paralyze you. However not attempting is even worse. For those who embrace failure, you’ll succeed,” Hector says.
Future Targets
Hector has been concerned in martial arts since childhood and would ultimately wish to receive a black belt within the Korean martial artwork of Tang Soo Do. He received two gold medals on the Tang Soo Do World championships in Orlando, Florida, in the summertime of 2023.
Moreover, Hector is looking for a doctoral diploma in public well being via Walden College. His long-term aim is to proceed to present again to the individuals who have poured a lot into his path to success.
In regards to the Writer
John Robert Morton is a Scholar & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the College for 14 years. His bachelor’s diploma in European historical past is from Troy College in Troy, Alabama. He additionally accomplished grasp’s levels in political science and sports activities administration from American Navy College. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys serving to college students and alumni obtain their private {and professional} targets.
About Our Division
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Workplace is devoted to sustaining lifelong relationships with college alumni by offering participating alternatives to remain concerned and related. We work carefully with numerous stakeholders to strengthen the alumni expertise and provide quite a few advantages, companies, actions, and occasions all year long.
As a staff, the Alumni Affairs staff works to construct and maintain relationships with alumni alongside their private {and professional} journeys. We actively search for methods to acknowledge and showcase alumni, telling their tales to inspire and encourage college students to pursue their targets.
In case you are a member of the alumni neighborhood and are in search of methods to stay actively concerned, please contact alumni@apus.edu and converse with a member of the staff.
