Marcus Olivares-Perez

Biochemistry, B.S. '15

The beautiful intricacies of God's creation weave faith, science, reason, medicine and the human condition into a wonderful tapestry. The skills and perspectives that were shared with me at Biola are invaluable.

How did your program at Biola prepare you for your career?

My professors had the ability to really hone in on the individual needs of students. This allowed them to strategically walk us through the curriculum in a way that had us fully engage the material without drifting too far from the primary objectives. This fostered an attitude of curiosity and commitment to excellence that will continue to serve me throughout my medical education and beyond.

What did you appreciate most about your time at Biola?

By far what I appreciated most about my time at Biola was the mentorship relationships I developed with my professors. Besides caring for our academic development, our professors made it very clear that they were also invested in our personal and spiritual development. The conversations that stemmed from these ongoing relationships have meaningfully affected my worldview and deeply enriched my experience in undergrad.

How did Biola equip you to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ?

At the onset one of the deciding factors for me choosing Biola University was my curiosity as to how one could reconcile being a faithful follower of Christ with being a thoughtful, rational thinker. I was relatively new to the faith when I enrolled at Biola. I had come from an upbringing that was rooted in a worldview that depended heavily upon scientific dogma that rejected anything that could not be a testable fact. My new faith was important to me, but I did not have any bearings in how to reconcile my faith with my desire to be a critical, rational thinker. Over my time at Biola, the instructors and mentors I had taught me that these two elements are not mutually exclusive. The beautiful intricacies of God's creation weave faith, science, reason, medicine and the human condition into a wonderful tapestry. The skills and perspectives that were shared with me at Biola are invaluable.

What advice would you give to students considering your degree program?

Biochemistry is a challenge, but it is a worthy one. At Biola you will have plenty of support to help you along the way as long as you are willing to take advantage of it. If this is truly the path you want to take, the struggle is worth it. With all that said, it's not all bad! It is really an awesome experience being taught a challenging curriculum by professors that care to know you and encourage you in your personal, spiritual and academic endeavors. Don't feel like you are making a trade off because the curriculum is on par with prestigious institutions and it will more than adequately prepare you for steps you take beyond Biola.