“Échale ganas.”
It’s a Mexican Spanish saying that Karina Jimenez has heard from her family all her life.
And it’s the foundation in which the Stonewall resident completed her biological sciences bachelor’s degree from LSU Shreveport and will continue on to pharmacy school at UT Tyler.
“It’s a phrase that means to give it your all,” said Jimenez, a first-generation college graduate. “I might be stressed out or frustrated with school, but with my family’s support, I never had a doubt.
“This is a reflection of not just my hard work, but theirs as well. You never want to disappoint your family with everything they’ve done for me, and I am so happy that I am leading the life they wanted to give me in the first place.”
Jimenez walked across the graduation stage May 15 as a first-generation college student and eldest granddaughter in a family where she hopes her example will be followed by younger siblings and cousins.
She graduated with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology, and her dual interest in organic chemistry/biochemistry and public health steered her toward a pharmacy career.
Jimenez remembers taking an interest in science from an early age, and she excelled in North DeSoto High’s Project Lead The Way Biomedical Science program.
“I loved science since I was a child, and I wanted to be a doctor or a vet growing up,” Jimenez recalls. “But then I learned that vets put down dogs, and I didn’t want to do that.
“I fell in love with science around the first grade. I was particularly interested in the human body in our textbooks and books from the library, and I knew I wanted to do something in this field.”
That love affair continued in high school, and her participation in the Biomedical Program solidified her desire to work in healthcare.
Her introduction to pharmacy came in her senior year of high school when she worked in retail pharmacy, something she continued throughout her college career.
Jimenez said she was waitlisted by larger universities, deciding to stay close to family by attending LSUS. She stuck by that decision when the original schools eventually accepted her.
But what she found at LSUS were attentive faculty members who helped shape and encourage her decision to enter the pharmaceutical field.
“Professors like (Dr. Stephanie Villalba in biological sciences) and (Dr. Adrienne Davis in public health) were extremely important,” Jimenez said. “I couldn’t decide between pursuing physician assistant school or pharmacy school, and Villalba thought I’d make a great pharmacist.
“I love organic chemistry, organic biology and anatomy and physiology — those classes really influenced my understanding of the human body.”
Villalba, who taught Jimenez in four different classes, said she is an inquisitive student in which pharmacy school was a natural next step.
“Karina’s interest in learning the mechanisms of medications in the human body was evident in the kinds of questions she asked in and out of class and in discussions about her future career goals,” Villalba said. “She brought meaningful real-world experience from working in a pharmacy setting for multiple years, and her experience as a pharmacy clerk and pharmacy technician candidate not only provided her with practical insight into the responsibilities of pharmacy professionals but also deepened her commitment to serving patients in such a setting.”
Jimenez found other ways to put that knowledge to work this past summer by volunteering at the MLK Health Center, which offers primary healthcare and pharmacy services at no cost to uninsured patients.
“I translated for our primarily Spanish-speaking patients, communicating about medications and things they had going on with their body,” Jimenez said. “I applied to pharmacy school because of that experience, and it opened my eyes that I wanted to be alongside the physician providing care.
“Retail pharmacy is too chaotic, so I want to work in an in-patient setting directly consulting with physicians. My dream is to go to a big pediatric hospital in Dallas, and maybe one day even work in rural medicine by opening my own pharmacy.”
Not only did Jimenez find supportive professors, she made connections with fellow students as they pursued professional medical schools.
Her best friend Lianne Kho was one of three LSUS students to be accepted to Occupational Therapy school this past December, a pathway more students are finding through LSUS.
“Lianne sat by me in class one day because it was the only chair available, and she’s been the greatest support I could ever have,” Jimenez said. “I was able to talk to her about my frustrations, and we studied at each other’s houses.
“Any time I would doubt myself, she would support me and tell me we’re going to succeed.”
A role Jimenez will play for future siblings and cousins as the first in her family to cross the graduation stage.
Villalba also wants to continue her role in the recent trend of LSUS students pursuing professional medical schools.
“LSUS plays a vital role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals, and this mission is more important than ever as the demand for skilled, compassionate practitioners continues to grow, especially in the Shreveport-Bossier area,” Villalba said. “The Department of Biological Sciences is at the forefront of this effort.
“We are maintaining strong, consistent numbers of students pursuing and gaining acceptance to health professional programs, reflecting our ongoing commitment to student preparation. This is achieved through rigorous coursework, hands-on laboratory and student research opportunities, and intentional advising and mentoring tailored to pre-professional students.”