Pre-Med Student Inspired by Single Mom’s Educational Journey

Jeff Wilson, a biological sciences student who aspires to become a physician, and his mother, Katrina Wilson, who raised five children while achieving higher education goals. 

“SHE’S A ROCK STAR.”

April 2025 / NEWS STORY
by By Nick Wilson

Jeff Wilson describes his single mother as a survivor, a mentor, a success story and an inspiration because of her personal commitment to higher education later in life and her unflinching support of her five kids.

Wilson is a third-year Cal Poly biological sciences major from Bakersfield who plans on becoming a physician.

He credits his mother for her resilience and strength during difficult family times, and modeling academic achievement as Wilson pursues his Cal Poly degree and career goals.

The youngest of the five kids, Jeff and his siblings were raised by his mother, Katrina Wilson, a sole provider who initially lacked a high school diploma before starting a family.

Katrina escaped a difficult relationship with Jeff’s father, who has been out of the family picture since Jeff was a pre-schooler.

Over the course of several years, Katrina Wilson juggled single parenthood and her pursuit of a college education.

“She’s a rock star,” Jeff Wilson said. “I love my mom a lot. We’re super close. She is one of the hardest workers that I know. There are many ways that she has influenced me. She came from such a crappy situation, and she just continued to persevere.”

The Power of Education

After deciding to go back to school after children, Katrina resumed her education through community college, and then continued her education at California State University, Bakersfield, where she earned a teaching credential.

Katrina’s career in the Bakersfield school system started as a teacher at an elementary school before she became a district administrator, working on grants for schools. Katrina then was appointed to become a principal at a low-performing elementary school that was funded by the grant she helped work on. Katrinia specializes in providing guidance for academic success at schools in need of improvement. Currently, she is a principal at a junior high.  

“Her educational motivations were rooted in the freedom that it could provide her,” Jeff Wilson said. “She sought an escape from the relationship that she was in with my father, and she wanted to ensure that me, and my brothers and my sister, all had the necessities, like health care, food and clothing and to have the chance to go on to live productive lives.”

Jeff Wilson recalls attending Berkshire Elementary in Bakersfield, the same school where his mother taught sixth grade for eight years. Jeff and his siblings would kill time after school in her classroom, hanging out by her side, as she lesson-planned for the day ahead.

Jeff said to help make ends meet, his mom also took on a “lot of side hustles because kids aren’t cheap.”

“She sold beauty control products and did a lot of tutoring in her free time,” Jeff Wilson said. “She worked horrendous hours. It was always go, go, go. She was working an intense amount just so we could survive.”

Now thriving in her professional life, Katrina will soon start working toward her Ph.D. in higher education, yet another step in her journey.

Two of Jeff’s older brothers serve in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, respectively, and a third is working toward a degree in nursing. His sister is in veterinary school in Tennessee. His mother’s dedication helped instill for them a sense of achievement and pride in one’s work, as Jeff strives to become a doctor.

“She has been living perseverance,” Wilson said. “She wasn't a single-step success story. She's been taking it day by day, working towards her end goal and now she’s about to start her Ph.D. program. I realize that I don’t have to instantly be a success story.”

Jeff Wilson Chooses Cal Poly, Pre-Med Pathway

Influenced by his mother to choose a major that he was passionate about, Wilson instinctively leaned into biological sciences and a pre-med academic track. As a child, he recalls being curious about the causes and diagnoses of various illnesses.

Biological sciences student Jeff Wilson

“I would always go to the doctor and say, ‘I think I have this or that’ and the doctor would explain how the symptoms that I was experiencing didn’t align with what I thought I had,” Wilson said. “I was an avid WebMD user, and I think that's what initially pushed me into wanting to pursue a degree in medicine.”

At Cal Poly, Wilson has enjoyed the instruction of chemistry Professor Scott Eagon, noting the challenge and overwhelming workload in organic chemistry.

“Dr. Eagon is one of my favorite people on campus,” Wilson said. “He really goes above and beyond to develop relationships with students and makes O-chem interesting, which can be challenging in many ways.”

Biological sciences Associate Professor Nathaniel Martinez, who has a medical degree and a Ph.D. from the Weill Cornell is his research mentor and has provided Wilson advice on his pre-medical path and consideration of attending a blended doctoral and medical degree program after graduation.

“Dr. Martinez is just such a genuinely smart guy, and he took me under his wing for research,” Wilson said. “He offers so many learning opportunities, especially as an MD, that I can use to prepare myself. He’s just a great mentor.”

Wilson has conducted research through the Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program on work related to HIV and study of the development of diagnostics related to metabolic disorders.

“I think undergraduate research has been enormous in my undergraduate career,” Wilson said. “I'm so happy that I am working closely with Ph.D. faculty and getting to use highly technical and expensive machines on a daily basis, which is so insane.”

Wilson said he was drawn to Cal Poly because the university’s “super strong sense of community.”

“It led me to activities that I do now, including volunteering to address needs in overdose prevention and sexual violence prevention in Greek life,” said Wilson, who’s a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. “And I also work as a resident assistant on campus to help culture that same community that drew me here.”

As he pursues his degree, his mother’s example continues to bolster him to succeed as a student and future professional.

“She’s still just trying to move up in her career, which I think is so great,” Wilson said. “She’s not complacent. My mom was a teacher, a principal, and helps shape people’s education. Putting yourself towards the acquisition of knowledge is a process that is not only bettering for you, but it gives yourself more opportunities to help other people. I want to be a doctor and help people the same way.”

 

Biological sciences student Jeff Wilson on Baker Lawn.