I have a lot of family history of diabetes,
so I've always been interested in entering
the medical profession.
And coming to Wesleyan I really thought the best way
to do that was to sort of start taking some science classes
and explore the premed coursework.
So I was able to really latch onto the molecular biology
and biochemistry major, because the classes seemed really
interesting, and there was a lot of overlap
with the premed requirements.
So something I'm really interested in
is sort of the humanistic side of medicine,
and approaching science and medicine from a lens other
than of natural science.
And I think the best way I've been able to really cater
to that is by engaging the science and society program
curriculum.
So science and society is a dual major
that I'm doing along with molecular biology
and biochemistry.
And the classes really combine elements of economics,
sociology, literature.
So in your science and chemistry classes
you might understand how a certain molecule works,
but you don't really understand how health insurance works,
or how Medicare is funded.
And these larger issues that underlie the health
care system.
And I think that's been a really eye opening process for me.
You can see how science actually is applied in the US,
and really what the field of health
care that us as premed students will be enduring in the future.
In terms of getting involved with research
at an undergraduate level, I think
most of the researchers and professors in the sciences
are very open to having students come in and work
in their labs, or just sit-in our lab meetings,
and I've had the opportunity to work
with a professor in the molecular biology
and biochemistry department.
And that's been really amazing in helping
me understand the coursework material in a more
hands on approach.
And I think that's really what a lot of students
value about research, is engaging
with the concepts of learning in class in a more hands on
and active way.
And I think as a science major I never
felt that I was only confined to the sciences,
or could only have friends that were in the sciences.
And I think something about Wesleyan
is that you're constantly encouraged
to really expand and move out of your comfort zone.
I think here, just by interacting
with people that are so different from you
or have interests that might not be the same with you,
you really get to grow and learn.
And I think Wesleyan is a place where there's so
many people with so many passions
that it's really easy to get involved with someone,
or learn from someone that's in a different major,
or go to performance with someone
who you might not be similar with.
And I think that's really where you grow and learn.