From Cuba to McMaster: Drive and determination key to Math grad’s success

Almost a decade ago, Yisell Bravo Clavero’s parents left behind their native Cuba and came to Canada as political refugees, hoping to give their daughter a better life.

“I felt a responsibility to my parents,” says Bravo. “They gave up everything and started from scratch so I could have a solid future.”

Now the sacrifice is paying off.

This week Bravo is graduating from McMaster’s Actuarial Science and Financial Math Co-op program and will soon start a full-time job at Manulife Financial, a position she was offered after a successful co-op placement.

“My parents provided me with a lot of guidance,” says Bravo. “My mom told me, ‘whatever you’re doing, do it the best you can so you can be proud.’” It was advice that Bravo took to heart.

At an early age, she discovered she had a natural talent for math and began entering competitions – winning a national math contest in Cuba three years in a row.

After arriving in Canada, Bravo began to map out her academic and professional future, looking for a way to pursue her love of math and intent on landing a job by the time she graduated from university.

“Starting in grade 10, I did a lot of planning,” says Bravo. “ I said, ‘I’m going to find a career that has a good job market, where I could use my skills.’ When I learned about the Actuarial Science and Financial Mathematics program at McMaster, and found out it had co-op, I knew that was what I wanted.”

Once on campus, Bravo threw herself into her studies, taking as many math courses as she could, even as electives.

“I love the challenge math gives me. There’s always something else you can learn, there’s always a next step, a next level of difficulty – whenever you want a challenge in life, just look at a math text book and you’re going to find it,” she laughs.

Focused as ever, Bravo landed three different co-op placements, each of which, she says, confirmed her passion for her chosen field, and taught her valuable lessons about how to work in a professional environment.

She recently accepted a full-time job offer from one of her co-op employers, Manulife Financial, a position she starts at the end of June.

“When I look back to Grade 10, finishing university, getting this job, it seemed like this would be the end of the road, but right now I see that the road keeps going. I’ve finished a chapter, but now I’m beginning a new one,” she says.

Bravo says she feels fortunate to have accomplished her goals so far, and hopes one day to pay it forward.

“I want to give back to society,” she says. “ My dream is to work for many years, gain a lot of experience and then come back and teach. I want to find students with this passion and potential and make sure that they keep going and don’t give up.”