Search | Menu A student's perspective: Thriving in Madison College Early College
Meet Camila Alcantra Perez, a Verona Area High School senior and Madison College Early College STEM Academy student. Through her college classes and a summer internship—made possible with a Madison College partnership with Maydm—she’s discovering a passion for helping others and gaining confidence in her future.
How did you discover the Madison College Early College opportunity?
I almost missed it. I didn’t even know what the STEM Academy was until a high school advisor stopped me and said, “Are you going to apply?” She wasn’t going to let me leave the room until I did. I was thrilled when I was accepted.
You landed a Maydm internship spot at UW-Health. What was that like?
I was lucky to get a research-based internship in healthcare. We interviewed people in the community about food scarcity and nutrition. We then created a slideshow with all the data and presented it to stakeholders.
How did the experience shape your career goals?
I interviewed a registered nutritionist at UW Health, and she talked about how nutrition, fitness, and culture affect people’s ability to eat healthy, since nutritious food is often more expensive. Talking with her opened my eyes to how much people struggle with access to healthy food. It made me realize that I want to make coaching affordable and accessible, especially for lower-income people who need it most.
What inspired your career path?
I had a bad relationship with food and exercise for a long time. It could’ve been avoided if I had taken better care of myself and listened to my body. But there’s so much pressure in our culture to look a certain way. I know how hard it is to be stuck there — overwhelmed, not knowing where to start — and I want to help others through that.
You said you didn’t think college was right for you before this experience. Has that changed?
Yes, this experience has really taught me that college is right for me; I’m challenged and also thriving. Getting to see what college is really like is extremely beneficial because you don't really know.
How do you stay balanced, being in high school, taking college classes, and still having a social life?
My dad was worried that I’d sacrifice a lot socially to pursue this academic field early on, because he knows I'm a hard worker and an overachiever. But I still go to high school football games and homecoming. Yes, it is different because you're not fully at your high school, but it's nice to be at Madison College, surrounded by people who have these big goals. I think that also pushes you a bit more than it would if you were just in high school.
What advice do you have for students considering early college and applying for the Maydm internship?
Just don't sleep on this opportunity — jump at it if you can. This is honestly one of the best things that's ever happened to me.
Learn more about Madison College Early College opportunities.
