I met Jonathan on a sunny Sunday afternoon at a café in my local hometown—we were set up by mutual friends, a rare occurrence in the day and age of dating websites and apps. I shook his hand and our conversation started with casual small talk - the typical "get to know" questions.  I didn’t want to overwhelm him immediately with my Latina exuberance so I kept my enthusiasm at bay initially. It was quickly apparent that we could connect on a deeper level as we shared our family values and upbringing. I left our date knowing I wanted to see him again. Two years later, we are preparing for our festive summer wedding: a weekend blend of Mexican flair with Chinese honoring traditions. 

I was dressed a todo lo que daba in my puffy cream colored satin dress, and I felt like a princess; ringlets of brown curls cascaded down my waist and my make-up was flawless! I was finalizing my prom look when my father called me to the kitchen. He asked me to sit with him at the table and, in a serious Spanish voice as he placed his hand on my leg, said, “If your date puts his hand on you like this, tell him to stop.” And then the conversation was over.

Time yourself as you get ready for bed tonight—including how long it takes to change into your pajamas, wash your face, brush your teeth, etc. Statistics indicate that the time you spend as part of your nightly routine might be longer than your next visit to the physician. Specifically, a study in 2013 revealed that newer physicians spend an average of eight minutes with a patient. Perhaps you can attest to this reality, and have experienced the feeling of just walking into a physician’s office when the visit is already over.

Over a decade later, I still recall the feelings of defeat and frustration as if it were only yesterday...

I recently marked two years at City of Hope, and as I noted this personal milestone I began to reflect back on the journey that got me here. As a Latina, as a woman, and as a daughter of immigrants from humble beginnings, it was not exactly preordained that I would be working in strategy and planning at City of Hope one day.