For Santos, this quote is more than just an inspirational message. It speaks to the experience of her own journey — one shaped by challenges, self-discovery, and embracing the unexpected.

Leaning into past struggles

Santos remembers one of her very first assignments as a freshman. It was in Introduction to Agriculture, and her professor, Dr. Robert Bevacqua, tasked the class with interviewing a professional in a field they might be interested in. Having previously struggled with an unhealthy relationship with food, Santos was paricularly interested in studying nutrition. So she chose to interview Dr. Tanisha Aflague, an associate professor, extension agent, and registered dietitian nutritionist. And in learning about her work in nutrition research and community education and how she chose that path, Santos found inspiration that set the course for her next four years.

“What I ultimately learned from that interview was that my past didn’t have to define my future," Santos said. "I could find healing and self-empowerment in learning the science of nutrition.”

Santos declared her major in Agriculture & Life Sciences, specializing in human nutrition and food science, and a second major in psychology, to explore the psychological influences linked to diet. And as she continued in her courses, taking nutrition, anatomy, and physiology, she said she couldn’t help but be in awe of the intricate physiological processes that allow the human body to function.

“Ultimately, I gained a deep respect for my body that made me rethink how my unhealthy dietary pattern was jeopardizing my health and well-being,” she said.

She found that what she was gaining from her studies was not just knowledge to pass a test or earn a degree, but empowerment — empowerment to look for answers herself with science-based evidence, and eventually, to discover answers through research of her own.

“I truly think that, in my case, knowledge was my power that I gained to take back control of my health,” she said.

Leaning into the less familiar

Santos entered UOG as a nontraditional student, in that she never attended public or private school. She was homeschooled from first through 12^th grade. Those years of learning by video lessons and often having to be her own teacher proved beneficial to her college studies, which she began right as the pandemic struck. “To me, taking classes online just felt like homeschool all over again,” she said. 

Eventually in her classes, however, she encountered some things that were a little less familiar and little more daunting coming from a homeschool environment and being a first-generation college student. She had not experienced large classes or live lectures or conducted academic research before. But instead of allowing the unknown to intimidate her, she leaned in. She trusted her professors’ guidance and embraced the many opportunities to gain experience that they brought her way.

Santos worked as a research associate for UOG’s extension food scientist, Dr. Jian Yang, where she assisted with a first-time assessment of health properties in local honey and helped develop recipes for food products using locally grown dragon fruit. She also participated in a food safety summer internship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she conducted a survey of food producers in Guam to assess compliance with proper manufacturing processes.

“I can’t count the number of opportunities — conference presentations, volunteer opportunities, off-island internships — that I’ve been able to take advantage of, thanks to my professors,” she said.

Leaning into personal passions

The research she conducted for her agriculture and psychology capstone projects became the highlight of her undergraduate experience and helped shape her goals of researching nutrition-related issues in Guam. For her agriculture degree capstone project, she looked at the effect of medical nutrition therapy and pharmacotherapy on glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes. And for her psychology capstone, she looked into the impact of social pressure on appearance on disordered eating behaviors.

“Looking back, I’m not sure how I was able to conduct both studies simultaneously within the same semester, but I think it was passion that drove me,” she said. “For the first time, I was able to conduct research on topics that I was truly passionate about. Although the process was difficult at times, I still found excitement in discovering significant findings and exploring topics that haven’t been well-researched here on island.”

Santos plans to obtain her master’s and doctorate in nutrition, in addition to her registered dietitian nutritionist license, so she can research nutrition and nutrition-related problems in Guam’s population. In particular, she would like to study medical nutrition therapy as a means to control prevalent health conditions in Guam and also how diet can build a healthy gut microbiome. On the psychology side, she would like to expand scientific studies about eating disorders in Guam and the resources available.

“Ultimately, what I hope my future research can do is fill current knowledge gaps and make discoveries that could hopefully help Guam’s people heal with food as their medicine,” she said.

Leaning into unexpected changes

While her path is clearly defined now, it wasn’t what she initially set out to do. After graduating high school, she had been accepted to New York University, where she planned to study applied psychology and become an occupational therapist.

When life led her to stay in Guam instead of attending NYU, she moved forward with full force — getting involved, seeking guidance from professors, and taking classes of personal interest. In the process, she created an “immensely fulfilling” journey for herself that she said just felt right.

“In off-island schools, I think I would have been so detached from the real health issues that are going on in Guam,” she said. “But by studying in Guam, I have been made aware of the impact of noncommunicable diseases in Guam, the power of nutrition to heal our health, and critically important cultural considerations that I will need in my practice as an RDN. In the end, I think the connection to my roots and my island has triumphed over the prestige of any school.”

She describes her professors and fellow students in the agriculture and psychology programs as her “found family” — providing unconditional support but also challenging her to push herself and grow personally and professionally.

“I am so grateful that I stayed on island and specifically majored in human nutrition and food science,” she said. 

‘Know that you can handle anything’

Santos’s undergraduate journey serves as a reminder that the path to fulfillment doesn’t have to be linear. There may be personal struggles or changes outside one’s control. There might be fears and unfamiliarity. But those things can be the strongest foundation for moving forward.

Santos encourages students to keep an open mind and stay receptive to potential paths. Above all, she said, establish trust with yourself and know that you can handle anything that comes your way.