2026 Senior Spotlight: Francesca Tero

Hi! My name is Francesca Tero. I am graduating from UD this May with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a minor in Spanish for Healthcare. You may be wondering what I am going to do with this. I am applying to medical school to become a doctor! My desired specialty changes by the day, and I am sure it’s going to change more once I gain more experience. But for now, I am heavily considering neurology, OB/GYN, and psychiatry. 

When I moved to Delaware 4 years ago, I didn’t know anyone in the state besides my mom. This was an exciting opportunity to branch out and meet new people, but an equally nerve-racking one where I would be socially and professionally starting from scratch. This was intimidating because the university presented endless opportunities and student groups to join. At first, it was difficult to feel like anything more than a small fish in a big pond.

However, I slowly made my way through, or I guess more figuratively, I learned how to swim. My freshman and sophomore years were mostly me discovering the APIDA sphere and gaining my first semblances of leadership. It was inspiring to meet other students with similar interests and cultural backgrounds. Through my connections to APIDA organizations, I discovered ways to learn about my culture and engage with it, such as performing in FSA’s Culture Night, being the Event Coordinator for the organization, and later becoming a member of the FSA Core Dance Team. 

My cultural connection to the campus was strong, but my upperclassman years presented a stronger urge to develop professionally. I became more serious about pursuing medical school post-grad, and with that came a lot of responsibility that turned into defining experiences. I entered the world of undergraduate research, working in social neuroscience and developmental psychology labs. I volunteered with both pediatric patients and geriatric clients. I mentored over 90 first-year residents as a Resident Assistant. I worked in both physical therapy and medical office settings. It has been a lot to balance, but it has been the honor of my life to be able to experience it all.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the ability to rely on the connections I made to APIDA at the beginning of my college career. AAPC came along at a time in my upperclassmen years when I experienced intense burnout from chasing career endeavors. As an intern, I began writing for monthly editions, using it as a creative outlet and stress reliever from my STEM curriculum. Writing was a passion of mine that had taken a back seat in the midst of all the chaos, so AAPC came at the perfect time. In my senior year, I became the Writing Editor, where I was able to encourage others to join in on the creative and cathartic experience of writing. 

So my final message to you is that you can and should do it all, but keep that one thing that grounds you close. Amidst all the chaos and change, there will be something that sticks. For me, that was APIDA, more specifically FSA, and then AAPC. The people I’ve grown close to due to a shared cultural identity and the opportunity to express myself freely through writing and dance have been there for me through it all. It’s important for you to find whatever this is to you, and to hold onto it tight. This has been my experience at UD, and I hope it can inspire and encourage others who may still be finding their own ways.