Carla began her journey at DSA in 9th grade and immediately felt at home in a community that valued both faith and friendship. Her fondest memories include gathering with friends in the media center each morning before school. She took on meaningful responsibilities, built her confidence, and discovered a love for service through the Bookworms Program, where she helped kindergartners with their reading each week. 

After graduating from DSA, Carla went on to Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, where she earned a degree in Biomedical Engineering. DSA had equipped her to think critically and approach her studies with discipline, and that foundation carried her well. Through a co-op internship program, Carla joined the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and after graduating, they brought her on full-time! Today, she works as a Senior Research Laboratory Technician in a cancer research lab, studying how tumors respond to treatment in clinical trials. It is demanding and meaningful work, and Carla approaches it as a form of service.

Outside the lab, Carla enjoys the beauty of her surroundings in Boston, taking nature walks and spending time near the beach and in local parks. She stays close to the friends she made at DSA, a testament to the lasting bonds formed in those hallways. 

Carla, we are so proud of the way your faith, curiosity, and love for others continue to guide everything you do!