WHAT I'VE DONE

1. The experience of being a sophomore advisor is probably the one that has colored my sophomore year the most. Being in this position has made me unlock my potential in a way that I had never imagined possible. I became exposed to a host of different people from different backgrounds, and learned so much from their perspectives. I also encountered peers who were open to talking about mental health struggles, which validated my own and pushed me towards seeking resolution and help for my own issues. I also was put in the position to care for and listen to students seeking answers for their own issues, many mental health related, and this was a role that I felt I was meant to fulfill. It was challenging, but fulfilling to me on so many levels. And it changed my notion of how humans should interact with each other in order to create meaningful, authentic connections.

2. I learned that while I would enjoy reading about ground-breaking research, or writing a scientific article about research, I am not super interested in doing the actual research. The boring parts were too boring for me and the interesting parts not interesting enough. For a while I was too ashamed to admit this because every science major is supposed to like research, right? I am here to say that it’s okay to not like it. Even if it was a topic that suited my interests more, I am certain I would not want a career in research nor would I want to spend my undergraduate years conducting research for the sake of a resume. I guess my purpose lies elsewhere.

3. I had taken a lot of coursework in anthropology and I finally added it as a minor. It is something that deeply interests me, and no matter what field I go into later, I feel that it is worth my time to pursue this interest.

4. Philosophy is another topic that is deeply interesting to me. I am considering adding it as a double major, though there is some coursework and degree restructuring I must complete before I can do so. Studying philosophy is a big part of figuring out my why.

5. At the beginning of sophomore year, I began to experience severe mental health issues (anxiety, etc.). I had to cut some activities out of my life. And the dance team was one of them. Doing so was liberating because the interpersonal relationships that I was holding in that team were negatively affecting my life. It wasn’t until months after I had left that I began to realize how badly I allowed others to treat me, and what kind of harmful behavior I thought was normal. It started me on a journey of understanding and advocating for my own boundaries.

Other Things of Note: I led TAGS (the environmental club) for a year before quitting it during the Pandemic. There was very little support for the club and I was not up to the challenge of building a club from the ground-up during a global pandemic while also managing my own personal issues. I also began seriously considering careers outside of medicine. I became exposed to many areas of study that made me feel a deep passion, and so I acknowledged that it may be time to reevaluate my current career trajectory.