Erica Maya
Erica Maya
Class Year
’27
Hometown
East Chicago, Indiana
Major(s)
Nursing
From an early age, Erica Maya ’27 knew she wanted a future in the medical field. As a first-generation student, Erica is extremely grateful to be given the honor of receiving the Presidential Scholarship from Carthage. With the scholarship, she can follow her dreams of becoming a nurse without restrictions. “Being a first-generation Latina, this is a huge accomplishment and has allowed me to receive a degree in a major I love.”
Drawn to the College because of the opportunity to play women’s lacrosse and study nursing, Erica found her place on campus through her lacrosse teammates. “They inspire me every day when we play together and have made my college experience better than I imagined.”
Learn more about athletics at Carthage
Why Carthage?
“I chose to come to Carthage because of its nursing program and small class sizes, which helped me get more one-on-one attention in the classroom. Carthage also allowed me to play lacrosse with a great group of girls. Lastly, the location of Carthage is excellent for me since it’s not too far from my family.”
Favorite class
“My favorite classes are my clinicals. I love getting hands-on experience in my major, and my professor has genuinely made me love my work. I am learning skills critical to being a great nurse, and I walk out knowing that I am growing every day that I come into practice.”
Career goal
“At the moment, I would love to get an internship in a hospital back home for the summer. I want to gain more hands-on experience while serving the community I was born and raised in.”
Favorite memory
“Most of my favorite moments at Carthage have been spent with my teammates. They are truly amazing and so incredibly hardworking. They inspire me every day when we play together and have made my college experience better than I imagined.”
Biggest surprise
“My biggest surprise so far has been how much I have grown. College is a whirlwind of experiences, but they have all collectively made me stronger and more motivated to continue the process.”
Advice for other students in your major?
“My major is tough and comes with so many challenges. Anyone in our program knows that, but the end goal is what we are all striving for. Being a nurse is a very rewarding job that only some people can do. However, if you do it, you’ll have no regrets. My advice would be to embrace the difficulties of it but also enjoy the fact that you get to be a huge asset to a field that is limited in numbers. Focus on the end goal; no matter how many doubts you have, keep going. It’ll be worth it!”
What would your 8-year-old self think of you now?
“I think 8-year-old me would think I am cool, and she’d think I’d be very much everything she’d think I’d be. I knew early on that I wanted to end up in the medical field, so if she knew I was currently in that process, I think she’d be proud.”