When he learned of Missouri Southern’s Healthcare Administration program, Alex Gomez knew that was his future.
“Growing up in Joplin, I had always heard about MSSU but wasn't sure what university I would be able to attend,” he said. “It wasn't until my advisor Melinda Brown came and discussed the Healthcare Administration program that I realized I wanted to pursue that field.”
Through funding from organizations such as the A+ Scholarship Program as well as foundation scholarships Gomez was able to pursue his dreams.
“As a first-generation college graduate, this meant a lot to me and my family.”
Gomez’s MSSU experience expanded beyond campus. During his sophomore year, he embarked on a class trip to the Czech Republic to the university’s partner school University of Hradec Králové.
“It was such an eye-opening experience for me and opened the door to the possibility to studying abroad for a full semester,” he said.
Through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), Gomez did just that in Pamplona, Spain. Although his family is from Mexico, and he spoke Spanish at home, Gomez strove to further develop his fluency and step out of his comfort zone during this experience.
“That was the idea, but so much more came from this trip than I expected,” he said. “When I arrived at the airport and said goodbye to my family, it was the most terrifying feeling, but I’m so grateful I did it. It helped me grow in so many ways.”
Gomez studied at the Public University of Navarre, where he learned about different healthcare systems from fellow students from countries like Spain, Germany, and even Singapore. These friendships are bonds that he will carry with him forever.
“This exposure reinforced my desire to improve our system, starting by educating myself with the best global practices,” said Gomez. “If I could leave a message for any student interested in studying abroad, I would tell them the experience 100% worth it and now is the best time to do it. I never thought I could afford to study abroad, but MSSU helped make that into reality.
After graduating this Saturday, Gomez is excited to pursue healthcare consulting to help healthcare organizations achieve their goals.
“I welcome the chance to develop my skills as a healthcare administrator and want to further my education to equip myself with the skills needed to produce change in the field,” he said. “I am looking forward to being able to give back to the people and institutions who graciously provided me with this opportunity.”
