NEWMAN – Cheyenne Bueno will be starting her junior year at Orestimba High School with a new perspective about her education, thanks to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity she experienced during summer break.

Bueno was one of 24 students selected from Northern and Central California to attend the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP), a five-week course designed to encourage and enhance student interest in science and medical professions through health and medical lectures, labs and practicum, hospital internships and mentoring from Stanford medical and graduate students and staff.

Bueno had her sights on becoming a pediatrician before attending the program and returned home even more confident about attaining her career goal. “I didn’t know exactly what (pediatricians) did. This program opened my eyes to the different medical fields available and confirmed that a pediatrician is what I want to be,” she stated.

The OHS junior also experienced tremendous personal growth, as a huge component of the program was the interaction with other teens, college undergraduates and counselors.

The best part of the whole experience was meeting people and gaining a new outlook on college and a new perspective of school, according to Bueno.

Although always a good student, Bueno realized she hadn’t given her full efforts to her studies in the past. Her education was something she took for granted; something she did because she had to. She admitted she didn’t push herself as much as she could have and never really studied hard. “Now I know what school means and why it is so important and I appreciate it more,” she said. “Now I want to learn as much as I can and I know I will make studying a priority.”

Each day of the program, which ran from June 22 through July 27, was rigorously scheduled for the high school students, keeping them busy with classes, workshops, labs, lectures, work and social activities.

Monday and Friday mornings a slate of doctors delivered lectures in their area of expertise and in the afternoon the students attended anatomy pathology class, which Bueno found exceptionally fascinating. “I hadn’t heard of that subject before,” she explained.

Students spent eight hours in the classroom each Wednesday in an SAT prep class learning helpful tips and strategies for test taking along with developing study skills.

Each Tuesday and Thursday students reported to a hospital intern assignment for an eight-hour shift. Bueno was assigned to the Neurology Lab at Stanford Hospital where she worked with epilepsy and stroke patients. She shadowed a team of nurses including RNs and a clinical nurse specialist.

When she spoke with the staff about being a pediatrician she learned that many doctors don’t choose that field because children are difficult to understand, especially babies who can’t tell the specialists what is wrong or what they are feeling. “I found it interesting and inspiring to discover what is a challenge to others is something I can and want to do,” Bueno shared.

“It really meant a lot to me when the staff told me they believed I could do it,” she added.

The focus of the five-week program was the studying and hands-on experiences but the personal interaction with a variety of people is what made it all connect for Bueno. She experienced tremendous insight and motivation for her future through their outreach of support.

Each evening, following a full day of classes and/or work, the group of 24 students participated in activities that ranged from casual fun to serious talk which Bueno found to be inspiring. “By the second week the barriers had been broken and we were able to share openly with each other,” she explained, something she hadn’t experienced before.

Bueno formed strong friendships with the other students and gained a network of continued support from the counselors and her assigned mentor. “I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a mentor,” she said. She feels very fortunate to have the ongoing support and guidance as she continues towards her goal.

She also discovered she has a tremendous support system at home.

The evening before graduation, students were given an envelope with letters and cards from their hometowns. “I was handed the most letters of the group. They were from my family, friends, neighbors, teachers, church group…it really meant a lot to me to read how they cared for me and supported me,” Bueno reflected.

The program concluded with group presentations of final research projects. “Social Factors Causing Depression in Today’s Youth” was the title of her group’s project. 

A shy person by nature, it was a personal triumph for Bueno to deliver her section of the power point presentation to the crowd of visiting families and school staff. “I was hyper-ventilating just before my turn but then gained my confidence and I did it!” she exclaimed with pride.

The graduation ceremony that followed was an emotional one, a culmination of what the students learned and experienced as well as the bond they developed.

Bueno is starting her school year at OHS next week with a new sense of self confidence and a positive outlook overall. She said she is starting her junior year with vigor and is especially looking forward to taking chemistry this year. She can’t wait to tell others about what she learned and encourage others to apply to this or similar programs.