Celyn's educational journey began at the Honors College at Miami Dade College, where she graduated with Highest Honors and Distinction. She later transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Carolina Covenant Scholar, a distinction that ensured her debt-free undergraduate education. At both institutions, Celyn actively participated in community service, mentorship, and research initiatives, receiving several accolades for her academic achievement and community impact. Her dedication to scientific research culminated in the completion of a senior honors thesis in chemistry, poster presentations, and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. After graduating, Celyn spent a year as a research fellow at the National Institute of Health.
As a medical student at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Celyn further cultivated her passion for research, patient care advocacy, and mentorship. Her clinical and scientific endeavors in the areas of health equity and cancer care resulted in multiple oral presentations at the national level, peer-reviewed publications, and awards for her outstanding achievements. Concurrently, she remained steadfast in her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in medicine by mentoring underrepresented students and actively contributing to the medical school admissions process.
Celyn's leadership and dedication to admissions work led to her invitation to serve as a voting member of the admissions committee during her final year of medical school, an honor extended to only 12 senior students in the class. In this role, she served as a primary student interviewer during the admissions cycle and reviewed, evaluated, and presented candidates at committee meetings. Before this, Celyn spent three years interviewing candidates and served as the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) admissions representative, leading dialogue between current and prospective URM students during interview day activities.
As an admissions coach, Celyn encourages students to break down the application timeline into manageable steps, recognizing that a systematic approach is pivotal for reaching milestones without burning out or feeling rushed. She enjoys helping students tell their stories and highlight their strengths through their personal statement narratives, providing constructive feedback, and engaging students in reflection to identify and develop underdeveloped areas.