Why did you choose to pursue a career in healthcare?
I really enjoyed working with others and found a passion for serving others, both by addressing food insecurity in my local community and by supporting access to education internationally. At the same time, I also really enjoyed biology classes and wanted to express my artistic side more. Essentially, I had seemingly too many varied interests, but they all seemed to work beautifully in the field of dentistry.
What wre some meaningful extracurricular activities that you were involved in while at UConn?
I volunteered at Open Table, which is a food pantry in MA. Over school breaks, I would distribute the food in-person, but during the semesters, I would make phone calls every Saturday morning to the older clients to collect their food orders for the week. This allowed me to make personal connections with members of my community. I was involved in Asha for Education, which is an organization that supports schools in rural South Asia. I gained leadership experience here, as well as continued to focus on the mission to increase access to education, which is something I have been interested in since high school; in high school, I was involved in a similar organization that supported a school in Cambodia. I was an undergraduate research assistant at a Psychological Sciences lab since freshman year, and this allowed me to appreciate the creation of scientific knowledge and ultimately, enabled me to want to pursue research opportunities beyond UConn.
What were some challenges you have faced along your healthcare journey so far, and how have you overcome them?
I didn't know that I wanted to pursue dental school until the beginning of my sophomore year of college. I was super stressed at that time because I didn't know what I wanted to do after college, and this was during the pandemic so I couldn't easily shadow professionals in various fields. I resorted to face-timing different healthcare professionals and watching Youtube videos of different providers.
What are some ways that you take care of your mental health and overall wellbeing?
I watch reality TV (Love Island UK!) and go for walks outside. I also really enjoyed having a pet fish during undergrad! I also like to read and journal.
What advice do you have for aspiring pre-health students?
Find something that you are passionate about and throw yourself into that! Look for different ways that you can exhibit this passion. I think this is one way you can set yourself apart from all the other amazing candidates out there.
What’s something that you wish you knew when you were in college?
It will all work out! As long as you are a kind and hardworking person, who genuinely wants to do good in the world, there will always be a place for you. The world always needs more people who want to make a difference, so as long as you do your part, you will find your way, whether that is in healthcare or not.