Joy Hallare / The Collegian

After her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer and her younger brother had surgery, sophomore Anabel Gonzales knew she wanted to pursue a career in nursing.

Gonzales said her curiosity with nursing was sparked when her younger brother was in the hospital for a week after his appendix burst. She said she wanted to learn what was wrong with her brother, and what the hospital staff was doing to treat him.

Her decision to go into nursing was solidified when her grandfather was diagnosed with cancer six years ago. Gonzales said it was very hard on her, because no one in her family had ever been diagnosed with cancer before.

Gonzales said she goes to doctor appointments with her grandfather and translates what the doctor says, because her grandfather only speaks Spanish. Gonzales speaks Spanish fluently and lived in Mexico for part of her life.

She said she hopes to return to Mexico to work as a nurse after gaining experience in America.

Gonzales said she is planning on volunteering at Community Regional Medical Center and shadowing a registered nurse.

Q: What is something interesting about you?

A: My parents decided to come to America to have more opportunities, to get an education, which they didn’t have before, so I could continue in college. Over there you can do it, but it’s not as easy as it is here.

Q: What do you miss about Mexico?

A: Here everything is multicultural; there are a lot of cultures. I still have family [in Mexico], like my uncles and my grandpa. Those are the kind of things that I miss, but mostly the traditions.

Even though they are followed here, [Mexico] is a more traditional city that follows my culture.

Q: How did you pick your major?

A: First I thought I wanted to do business. I went to Duncan Polytechnical High School where you pick a career you want to pursue while you are in high school. I took a [business class], but I hated it. So then I went into nursing. I was curious about what happened in a hospital, so I decided to take a nursing class to see if I liked it. I started volunteering at the U.S. Veterans Hospital and I loved it. It was very interesting to me, learning about the patients, about health care and about how your body works inside.

Q: What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?

A: The weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten is squirrel. I tried it in Mexico. My dad killed it and my grandma cooked it. They were insistent that I try it. They fried it like in the old days over a fire.

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A: I would like to go to Machu Picchu. It’s in Peru. I did research on it, and it’s amazing how people sustained life there and how the Incas built everything perfectly. I would like to see that in person. I would like to be there, especially when the sun aligns with the pyramid there.

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: I am very passionate about my career. I want to be a nurse, but I want to be a nurse who explains to her patients what is wrong with them. I speak Spanish so I also want to handle the patients who don’t speak English. I was in Community Regional Medical Center one day and I remember a patient asking the nurse what was wrong with him in Spanish, but she couldn’t tell him. I want to be the kind of person who helps the patient and tries to save a life. I’m really passionate about learning how the body works, getting my career and helping save lives.

Q: What are you most afraid of?

A: I’m afraid of death. I’m not afraid of the act of dying, but of what comes after. Does it all end? I know there are a lot of beliefs in different religions that think different things happen. But if you start to think about it, what really happens? Does it all just end there? I am afraid of me or one of my family members dying, because I’ve never lost anybody. I’m not ready for death.

Q: What did you want to be when you were younger?

A: I really wanted to do photography and modeling. It was interesting to me. I liked dressing up, wearing my mom’s high heels and doing my hair. I’m the only girl, so my mom always dressed me up. She bought me big dresses and everything matched. I really liked taking pictures of things, places and people. I wanted to take pictures of nature. It’s very beautiful. I love flowers, the outdoors and waterfalls. They really attract my attention.

Q: What do you do in your spare time?

A: I like to spend time with my family, my mom, my dad and my two younger brothers. We like to go to church together and go to the park. We like to have reunions; we make a lot of food and eat and be together. Back in Mexico we used to ride horses together. We lived by the mountains, so we mostly did outdoor things, like go to the river.

Q: What is your favorite thing about Fresno State?

A: I like all of the services offered. If you have a problem, there are many ways you can get help. I’ve had problems, and the University has helped me in every one of them. It’s not just a one-way thing that you pay and you only get classes. You get more than just classes and an education; you get a lot of help with all of the services that are offered.