Cyndy Solis-Cruz

Cyndy Solis-Cruz changed her plans as to where she would attend college, from Georgia Tech to the University of North Georgia (UNG); her major, from engineering to chemistry; and volunteering changed her life.

Solis-Cruz is, by her account, a natural at math. She was a dual enrollment student, taking classes at East Hall High School and UNG with an eye toward an engineering degree. Her plan was to transfer to Georgia Tech after a couple of years at UNG to enroll in their engineering program — until she found out how much math it took to pursue a degree.

"I like math and I'm really good at it, but it’s meaningless to me," Solis-Cruz said. "I realized the engineering program at Georgia Tech was almost all math. It just wasn't fun for me."

Fortunately, she has an even greater love of chemistry. So, she changed her major, and in doing so, found her life's calling.

Solis-Cruz, 19, is a sophomore in the Honors Program at UNG. One of the requirements in the program is a commitment to community service. Through an Honors Program partnership with the United Way of Hall County, Solis-Cruz was trained as a reader-mentor with the Read Learn Succeed Pediatric Program, helping elementary school children improve their reading and language skills. Once a week she visited New Holland Knowledge Academy in Gainesville, spending an hour reading to kindergarten girls.

"I chose this because I wanted to be around children, and I found that it's very rewarding work," she said.

The program also sharpened her focus on a career. Solis-Cruz plans on becoming a pediatric cardiologist once she graduates from UNG.

She said some family members have a history of heart problems. Last year she spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta with her 3-month-old cousin who had a blocked artery to his heart. Her aunt didn't speak English, so Solis-Cruz served as intermediary between the doctors, nurses, specialists, and her aunt.

"A lot of people talk about the state of health care in this country," Solis-Cruz said, "But I lived it."

Dean of Honors Tanya Bennett says Solis-Cruz cares deeply about her newfound calling.

"She has strong feelings about investing time in children to allow them to blossom and it keeps our community connected," Bennett said.