Utah Tech University freshman. Earner of SIX scholarships. Curious question-asker in the dentist’s chair.
It’s no surprise that Amy Nava, new Trailblazer and young woman determined to make the most of every opportunity and illuminate what lies beneath, plans to study radiology.
“I learned about X-rays at the dentist. Every time I went, I was curious and asked the X-ray people, and they talked about it with me.”
Amy plans to use the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license she earned as a senior at Park City High School last year to get a job near campus. The great wages will help as she works her way through college. After she earns her degree, though, she’s got other plans…
“My sister Ashley just graduated with a Bachelor’s in nursing, and for a second, I considered it, but realized it’s not for me.”
As far as what she does want to do, she’s got a little while to decide.
“I want to go into ultrasound, maybe. Or MRI,” she says, a big smile glowing in the Zoom frame. Amy, the middle sibling in a family of five children, paused for a moment.
“I like working alone.”
TRAILBLAZER
College move-in brought excitement, tears, and nerves. Amy may like to work alone - but she is going to miss her family… a lot.
“What made me most nervous was being away from them. I’m so dependent on their company. And I’m always babysitting. I’m nervous to not be near them - and they are nervous to not have me nearby!”
Her nerves were calmed as she stepped out into her dorm hallway. She started making connections on her first elevator ride. “I didn’t know ANYBODY—but we are all in the same boat. Everyone is so friendly and I’ve made new friends already.”
BRIGHT FUTURES
Bright Futures, Amy said, has already really helped with the transition. “They gave us a laundry basket filled with stuff - so I didn’t have to buy a lot,” she said. And the preparation runs far deeper than the physical items…
“I wouldn’t be here without Bright Futures, LIA, and Dream Big. All of that work was so hard in the moment, but now, I’m thankful I took all those hard courses and did that work! Without them, I would not have been able to earn the scholarships I did, which allowed me to be able to get what I needed for college.”
True to form, Amy also relished finding the details below the surface…
“I liked how Bright Futures brought college students to talk with us about their career goals and what they’re studying. The idea of college became so much more accessible when we heard about their majors and what college is really like.”
Bright Futures informed Amy - it also motivated her. “They pushed me to go for opportunities. And, personality-wise, I’m pretty different from the rest of my family, but all of us have the same goal: to keep bettering ourselves.”
“When I think back about high school,” she continued, “I think I had more potential academically, but I’m still happy with what I accomplished.”
Amy, by the way, graduated with five cords and an honors cord. She also earned the following scholarships:
- Park City Board of Realtors Community Scholarship
- Jose Ceballos Scholarship (LIA)
- LIA Scholarship
- Bright Futures Scholarship
- Opportunity Scholarship
- Utah Tech Dean's Scholarship
Amy said it’s her parents who get credit for her relentless drive. “They’re pushy about good grades, and I’m glad. I became a good test taker and have a good memory. My parents are immigrants—they came here to provide me with a better future. I want to do my very best for them.”
Looking ahead, Amy wants to get involved on campus, just as she was in high school. She doesn’t expect her radiology studies to end anytime soon. “I want to specialize and explore—to find something I like. I see myself working, traveling, and eventually returning to Park City. That’s where my family is.”
No X-ray vision is necessary to see that Amy Nava’s curiosity and determination will drive her to meet every goal she sets her mind to. And she’ll illuminate every path she blazes along the way.
