As a Califf Endowed Scholarship recipient, Malia Cortes ’28 uses her opportunity to pursue biology and the pre-med track to the fullest. With over 400 volunteer hours and an internship at Alamance Eye Center, she hopes to one day work and support Alamance’s Dermatology Practices.
Having grown up in Alamance, North Carolina, only two minutes away from Elon’s campus, Malia Cortes ’28 has been admiring the campus’s beauty every time she leaves her house. Initially, she was drawn to Elon because of the proximity to home, the small class sizes and the opportunity for community connections.
Cortes has always been community and family-oriented, so when the opportunity to commute only two minutes to a beautiful college campus while still living at home with her family arose, she took advantage.
During her college application process, she expressed feeling discouraged when hearing back from schools.
“It seemed like I was either getting accepted, but with no scholarship, or being denied,” she said.
Upon her first early action application to Elon, she was deferred. However, her determination to be a part of the community drove her to try again. As she is dedicated and persistent in nature, she submitted another application a couple of months later, this time getting the Califf Endowed Scholarship in recognition of her hard work.
“When I tried again at Elon, I saw that someone believed in me, and this was the path I was supposed to take; it was meant to be,” said Cortes.
She notes the transition from her high school, Walter M. Williams, to Elon was a shock. In high school, she was considered advanced, but the academic rigor of Elon’s biology courses caught her by surprise.
“It was definitely a change, but we have so many resources at Elon to guide me through a successful path,” she said.
For Cortes, her passions have always been focused on biology and entering a pre-med track.
“It’s always been plan A for me. I haven’t thought about doing anything else. I’ve always been so headstrong about what I’ve wanted to become. Since I could remember, I’ve always wanted to be a doctor,” she said.
Cortes is excelling in the pre-med track, with plans to pursue a dermatology path through medical school. Growing up in Alamance and having such a strong connection with her roots, she wants to come back to her county to serve as a dermatologist for the people of Alamance.
“I’ve always loved this county, and dermatologists are running very slim here,” she added.
Several members of her family have struggled with skin conditions like melanoma, drawing her to the dermatology field.
“I’ve spent a lot of time at the dermatology office myself, and I want to give back to the community and hopefully provide dermatology care here someday,” said Cortes.
Already gaining hands-on experience in her career path, Cortes has over 400 volunteer hours with Alamance’s Hospice program. Her extensive work has developed her experience in the medical field through patient interactions and working alongside nurses in an emotionally tough environment, all while making sure the patients are well cared for.
“Unfortunately, there have been a lot of patients that I’ve gained connections with that have passed,” explained Cortes. “It’s been really hard to cope with that, but it’s a part of life and something I have to consider when being a doctor.”
Grateful for her experience in volunteering, Cortes also completed a summer internship program with Alamance Eye Center. Furthering her experience in the medical field,
“Through my internship, I gained new friendships, met new doctors through shadowing, was able to have patient interactions and was able to take part in the work of taking pictures of patients’ eyes,” she said.
Cortes recently took a moment to reflect on her experience at Elon. Under the warmth of the sun, leaning back in one of the white Adirondack chairs in Young Commons, without her phone or music, she took a moment to think.
“I just wanted to sit and enjoy the sunshine. In that moment, I was thinking, ‘I’m at Elon, in this amazing place. I’m a part of this community, this is where I belong and where I’m supposed to be, I’m doing it,'” she said. “I was once stressed about if it was going to work out, but I’m really doing it.”
Reflecting on her donors, Cortes said, “I have to remember, during hard times, that I must keep going because I have an opportunity to pursue my dreams. I think about my scholarship all the time, and how I have people in my corner supporting me, without even knowing me.”
Her Califf Endowed Scholarship has allowed her to pursue her dreams to the fullest on Elon’s campus.
“My scholarship has been truly impactful on my life path, and it’s made me want to give back to Elon,” she said. “I want to give back to Elon for everything they’ve done for me. Hopefully, one day I can support someone like me who couldn’t financially pursue their dreams without a scholarship.”