Alicia Perez

Opportunities in a hometown

Being the first in your family to attend college is never easy. For Sioux City native Alicia Perez, attending Briar Cliff not only allowed her to stay close to her family, but also to explore various opportunities. With a major in nursing and minors in psychology, gerontology, and Spanish, Alicia credits BCU for preparing her well for her nursing career. 

"As a first-generation college student, you come to college clueless and not knowing what to expect," Alicia says. "I believe our advisors really take the time to get to know you one-on-one and provide the best advice. They encourage you to work harder and continue to provide opportunities for you to be successful."

Throughout her four years, Alicia participated in Women of Color, where she worked on a variety of projects on and off campus. She credits this organization as being 'a small family you can always count on.' Within these projects and coursework, Alicia has learned how to be independent and work hard.

"No one is going to get the work done for you," Alicia says. "You have to put in the work in order to achieve all your goals."

After graduation, Alicia plans to pass the NCLEX board exam to receive her Registered Nurse license and become an Aesthetic nurse. She's also exploring her options and hopes to obtain her Masters as a Nurse Practitioner.

"I would advise students to branch out and explore new things," she says. "You will be amazed how much you will learn about yourself during your college years."

Alicia Perez | Nursing '22 | Sioux City, IA