Aspiring Physicians Joselle Garcia and Nicole Pineda Graduate As Valedictorians

Joselle Garcia and Nicole Pineda graduated as valedictorians of the University of Guam (UOG) Fañomnåkan (Spring) Class of 2025, earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology in the Biomedical Track. Both moved to Guam from the Philippines at a young age, where they would push themselves to achieve their highest academic potential and demonstrate excellence in all their endeavors.

Joselle’s educational journey spans UPI Elementary School, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, Simon Sanchez High School, and UOG. Nicole spent her middle and high school years at St. Paul Christian School before continuing her studies at the UOG. 

Now during this essential period of growth, Nicole has chosen to remain on island, focusing her efforts on medical school preparation while embracing significant leadership roles. She also actively contributes to many community initiatives through Chålan Åmte and the Guam Community Health Center while simultaneously participating in her local church ministries. Meanwhile, Joselle is a post-baccalaureate researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine through the Doctoral Development Program, where she is honing her research skills while strategically preparing for the upcoming medical school application cycle.

Their remarkable academic performance, wide-ranging experiences, and upbringing in Guam, combined with a devotion to service, leadership, and research, reflect a shared dedication to returning home to care for and give back to the community that nurtured and shaped them.

Motivation to Pursue Success at UOG

Growing up as a young child in the Philippines, Nicole was constantly exposed to her mother’s work ethic and sacrifice, ensuring that she received a quality education. “I perceived learning as something incredibly valuable - it’s still the mindset I continue to carry today,” she says. For her, she actively cultivated an open mind, asking questions that sparked her curiosity. All while pursuing her educational goals at UOG, Nicole carried this perspective with her into every classroom and opportunity she partook in, making the most of the resources available and seeking additional ways to grow. 

As the daughter of Joselito and Janet Garcia, Joselle strives to make them continuously proud as they molded her into the person she is today. Her parents’ resilience, perseverance, and selflessness embedded a powerful influence on her and her siblings. “Growing up in a close-knit family has always been my sanctuary. Whenever I was overwhelmed with assignments and exams in school, I knew that spending time with them would provide some sort of escape, allowing everything else to fade away even for a little bit,” she mentions. Overall, her family continues to be her greatest inspiration and strength to keep going, not only during her four years of undergrad but throughout her whole life.

Beyond the unwavering support of their families, Joselle and Nicole have been profoundly inspired by the professors and brilliant minds at UOG’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), whose genuine passion for the sciences and dedication to teaching fostered their academic growth. Equally influential was the camaraderie of their biology cohort. Their shared ambition and endless words of encouragement, helped them handle the obstacles of grueling science courses and laid a strong foundation for their academic success. Close friends, too, played a significant role, offering essential support as they tackled the challenges of college and the transition into adulthood.

Their milestones belong not only to them, but to their families, friends, professors, mentors, and the close-knit community Guam creates. 

Beyond the Classroom: Finding Meaning Through Extracurriculars

To engage more broadly with opportunities at UOG, Nicole made the conscious effort to participate in varsity athletics and join various student organizations. On top of that, she explored marine biology research and supported students as an Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant. These allowed her to develop a well-rounded university experience and a diverse set of skills. Additionally, in response to staff shortages and a lack of student engagement in community medicine, Nicole co-founded the Guam Community Health Center Volunteer Coalition and currently serves as Co-Director to help address these long-standing challenges on island. Through leading projects and working alongside healthcare professionals and volunteers, she has attained worthwhile experiences interacting with her local community to strengthen health education and promote healthier lifestyles, all while learning about health disparities, geographic barriers, and social determinants of health that affect many Guamanians. As she learns more and more about our community health needs, she cherishes each outreach as an important way to establish lasting community connections and spread health awareness.

One of the most rewarding experiences of Joselle’s undergraduate journey as a premed was her involvement with the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). From being an active member her freshman year to serving as the Public Relations Officer her junior year to becoming Co-Vice President her senior year, this incredible organization filled with ambitious individuals led her to acquire valuable internship experiences and exposed her to countless opportunities to serve and become an exceptional leader in her community. Aside from AMSA, she was heavily involved with several student organizations at CNAS, such as being Secretary of the Chemistry Club and Historian of the Biological Sciences Club. All in all, these roles allowed her to connect with like-minded peers outside the classroom through collaborative events and service opportunities, making her time outside academics truly impactful. Throughout undergrad, she was always inspired by the leadership of upperclassmen and appreciated the importance of mentorship, where she learned to follow their lead and pay it forward herself. She saw Chålan Åmte as a true reflection of these values and felt grateful to be able to contribute to its mission.

Looking Ahead: Advice for Students

At first, Joselle was worried that attending UOG might limit her opportunities, but it ultimately became one of the best decisions she made. She states that being part of a minority did not hinder her growth; instead, it opened doors to internships and meaningful experiences. “It helped me believe that even as minorities, we can be among the majority,” she says. Joselle emphasizes the importance of building friendships with classmates, as familiar faces and shared challenges make difficult moments more manageable. She also highlights the value of creating a strong support system, whether through family or friends, recognizing that success is rarely achieved alone. Most importantly, Joselle learned to believe in herself by taking chances despite self-doubt, often finding that her fears were unfounded. Through these experiences, she came to see rejection not as failure, but as redirection. 

When moments feel overwhelming, Nicole encourages students to ground themselves in their purpose, asking who and what they are working toward: their future, their family, or their community. She reminds them to expect the road ahead to be demanding, filled with moments of doubt and difficulty. Yet, it is through choosing perseverance in those moments that growth occurs. Each challenge builds resilience, sharpens skills, and shapes individuals into stronger and better versions of themselves.

A glimpse into Joselle and Nicole’s story traces the trajectory of their journeys of transforming personal and academic challenges, familial influences, and formative experiences into drive that has uncovered their passions and purpose. Beneath the hard work, late nights, and countless setbacks, they ultimately achieved the highest academic honor as valedictorians and aspire to someday become doctors serving their island community.

Written by: Kayla Paguio | January 31, 2026