This is the 117th article in Bears Doing Big Things, a weekly column celebrating the stories of notable M-A alumni.
“M-A was a special place for me, it holds some of my best memories, friends, and experiences,” Francisco Sanchez ’20 said. Sanchez is currently enrolled in a master’s program at UC Santa Cruz, designed to strengthen his medical school application. Sanchez plans to pursue a career as a radiologist.
Sanchez transferred to M-A from Aragon High School before his junior year, after his family moved to Menlo Park. He immediately became involved in both football and track. Due to transfer rules, however, Sanchez was unable to play football during his junior year. However, in the spring, he joined the track team as a sprinter, competing in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4×100-meter relay events.
One of his standout moments occurred at the 2019 CCS Top 8 meet in Los Gatos, when he ran his first-ever 10-second 100-meter dash. “We were surprised, and it was a really special moment because it was a long wait for that to happen,” he said. Sanchez also credits his former coach, Deon Hawkins, for supporting him throughout his high school career. “He had the utmost support and love, he pushed me to my potential even when it got really, really difficult,” Sanchez said. “He taught me to use what I learned on the track in other avenues of life.”
During his senior fall, Sanchez was allowed to play football as a running back. One of his most memorable experiences came during the 2020 Homecoming game against Sacred Heart Prep, a historic match that ended with an M-A win. “Being on the team with all my friends and winning a big game like that was a ton of fun,” he said.
Aside from athletics, during Sanchez’s junior year, he took AP Psychology with Lisa Otsuka, a class that made Sanchez interested in the complex world of science and medicine. “I really enjoyed it because we got to dive into different parts of science and medicine, and it really grew my passion for that,” he said. “She was an amazing teacher and was really engaged with everyone and supported us.”
AP Psychology with Lisa Otsuka ignited Sanchez’s passion for medicine by showing him how mental and physical health are intertwined, ultimately guiding him toward pursuing a career in healthcare.
Following his graduation from M-A, Sanchez attended UC Davis, a school he had wanted to go to since his freshman year of high school. “It was close to home but far enough to feel like a new experience,” Sanchez said. Sanchez applied to Davis as a Psychology major, hoping to join the pre-med track. He also liked Davis because of its strong athletics, allowing him to continue his track career at the collegiate level. “I liked that it was a Division 1 and UC school,” Sanchez added.
At Davis, Sanchez continued to sprint and eventually became the team captain. “Having the whole team look up to me was a really awesome experience,” he said. During his senior year at Davis, Sanchez and his team traveled down to CSU Long Beach to compete in the Long Beach Classic meet. “It was really fun because the girls and guys team went together and we got to bond and hang out throughout the trip,” he said.
Aside from athletics, Sanchez also joined Davis’s Black Student Union (BSU). “It was great to connect with others of the African diaspora,” he said. The BSU organized a variety of events to support African American students, including several networking opportunities. “It was for black student athletes like myself where we got to meet tons of people from lawyers to firefighters, who all looked like me,” Sanchez said. “It was really special.”
During Sanchez’s junior year, he took a Health Psychology class that became one of his favorites.“It was cool to see how the mind really influences the body,” he said. He believes this knowledge is often overlooked and is crucial for his future in medicine. “I hope to carry this understanding with me into my career,” Sanchez added.
Sanchez now attends UCSC, completing a master’s program before he applies to medical school. He chose to pursue a post-baccalaureate program at UCSC because it offers a unique opportunity to strengthen his medical school application. “I chose UCSC because it’s a fairly new program, so I’d be one of the first to complete it,” he said. “The program provides students with fresh opportunities to work alongside passionate individuals, allowing them to be part of something innovative in the heart of Silicon Valley.”
Sanchez believes his passion for medicine stems from his athletic career, where a desire to understand his injuries and how the body works sparked his interest in the field. “Whenever I got injured, I just wanted to know why, what had happened to my body, and what the recovery process would look like,” he said.
With this in mind, Sanchez hopes to become a radiologist. “I want to be the one behind making a diagnosis and understanding why injuries happen,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez’s advice to current M-A students: “Take advantage of the resources M-A has to offer. I believe M-A set me up for success going into college. Ask teachers what they did and don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
To those interested in pursuing a career in medicine: “If it’s something you’re passionate about, don’t let others influence what you want to do. Don’t compare yourself to other pre-med students, have tunnel vision, and focus on why you want to help people and become a doctor.”
