Jessica is a freshman majoring in pharmaceutical sciences on the pre-pharmacy track at the University of Michigan. A few of her accomplishments include receiving the PHEAA Certificate of Merit, the College Board Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, and winning the District 6 Team Championship for tennis. Outside of academics, Jessica enjoys playing tennis and badminton, baking goodies for her family and community, and spending time with friends. Due to growing up with parents who cooked American-Chinese cuisines frequently, Jessica has developed a deep appreciation for how culture’s food is a great way to connect with heritage.

Combining her skills of innovation and her desire to contribute to the welfare of others, Jessica worked with a university and nursing home during high school on a research project involving therapeutic gardening by creating a geriatric-friendly sensory garden to elevate residents’ mood and motivate their wellness and flexibility. There she noticed how plants, especially the ones that can be taken as food, could promote conversations and social connections that anchor back to fond memories and traditions. 

In the future, Jessica hopes to become a pharmacist who not only focuses on educating patients and responding to their needs, but also one that finds ways to enhance the quality of life in our society as well as the global community.