Year 1

Upon graduating high school, I wanted my college experience to be entirely transformative and different in terms of my involvements, my interests, and the people that I connect with. While I was initially nervous, I was also excited and looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people and making valuable friendships which I hope would last the entirety of my college experience. While I discovered my passion for healthcare and my aspiring profession towards the end of my high school career, I hoped to embrace the opportunities that I come across as a pre-med student. Being in a competitive major, there was a relative amount of stress that came with the academic workload, but finding a group of friends whom I can rely on, and becoming closer with the students in my learning community allowed me to navigate the challenges that I came across. While initially daunting, I realized that taking the first step in initiating a conversation, a simple greeting, or even a smile can form a lasting impression and create a valuable connection. 

A significant shift in my identity that I've come to realize and slowly embrace is being an international student, which I initially felt separated me from the rest of my friends and isolated my chance to partake in various opportunities that could potentially hinder my educational journey to Medical School. However, I've quickly come to realize that changing my mindset and perspective can drastically shift the way in which I see myself and specifically view the opportunities that I do have, rather than linger on the limitations that I am unable to pursue. 

Instead, I focused on the experiences and opportunities that are available to me and embraced the personal and academic challenges. I strived to perform well in all of my classes and formed connections with my professors and advisors, while engaging in various volunteering opportunities and establishing a strong research background. I've also stayed involved throughout campus and joined student organizations that aligned with my interests while also taking up various leadership positions to expand my dedication. I'm also happy to have reignited some of my old passions and hobbies as I joined a Medical Symphony Orchestra which gave me the opportunity to play my instrument again as I established a new network of friends and performed to raise money for non-profit organizations.

As I've come to reflect on my freshman year, I am grateful to have had a very rewarding, educational, and exciting first year in college and I'm so thankful to my friends, mentors, and advisors who have invested their time and efforts to my achievements. While I continue on this journey, I hope to continue this momentum and establish a strong purpose for my career goals and prioritize my personal and academic pursuits of success.