Oak Knoll alumna Amanda Vera ’19 embodies the spirit of determination and resilience. 

Her transformative journey began with a pivotal moment at a soccer practice when a family friend advised her mother to consider private education for her daughter’s future. 

As an emigrant from Ecuador, Vera’s mother, a single mother and nursing school graduate, prioritized education and pursued this aspiration with unwavering dedication. 

“It was a huge sacrifice for our whole family,” recalled Vera. “It took a village for me to make it through those four years of Upper School.”

At Oak Knoll, she found support from faculty members like former mathematics teacher Selma Hannan and Spanish teacher Veronika Zavaleta-Tejeda, who helped her feel included and recognized her potential. 

“I hope (Ms. Zavaleta-Tejeda) knows she had such an impact. She saw me for the person that I was, which was important at that point in my life,” said Vera.

Eager to give back, Vera aspires to provide mentorship and scholarships for future generations of students of color. 

Her perseverance led her to explore the field of Biomedical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Brown University. There, she excelled in entrepreneurial ventures and pivoted her focus to bio-finance, merging her scientific knowledge with finance. 

“My team covers over 34 biopharmaceutical stocks, ranging from big pharma giants to small-cap, single-asset companies,” Vera explained. “It’s gratifying to know that our research and coverage can garner well-deserved attention for and investment into life-changing pharmacotherapeutic innovations.”

Her faith and gratitude remain central to her success, affirming, “My overarching belief is that everything I understand, perceive, read, and study is only a symptom of the ability that I get through God. How joyful I am is one hundred percent a testament to the sacrifices my family made, the sacrifices I could make, and the guidance I got through faith and finding joy. The core of who I am and all those sacrifices that I had made in college, in high school, and even prior paid off because, beyond all the accolades, I’m just genuinely happy and healthy, which is  the most important.”

Ultimately, Vera’s journey underscores Holy Child founder Cornelia Connelly’s wisdom: “Be yourself, only make that self all that God wants it to be.”