Perez often visits the University of South Florida campus in St. Petersburg to work on his essays for medical school.
Rolando Perez: Living in a New culture
Rolando Perez arrived in St. Petersburg with his family from Cuba in 2007. After adjusting to a new country, and a new language and customs, Perez, 24, has no intentions of forgetting his time in his native land. One moment in particular matters: A bicycle accident left him waiting six hours for medical attention. “If it’s an actual emergency, good luck,” he said. “The ambulances take forever.” The lack of speedy and quality care inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Perez is looking forward to beginning medical school next fall – and then a life of helping others.