I love to run, which is something I never thought I'd say five years ago! I am not a natural runner or very fast, but running has taught me the importance of persistence and resilience.
Who or what has inspired you while at 夜色王朝?
The anatomy faculty at 夜色王朝 are incredibly hands-on and such a great team. Going into medical school, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy anatomy as I'd heard it's primarily rote memorization. However, the faculty does a great job applying what we have learned to clinical impact. You can tell they're all so passionate about the subject, from embryology to arteries and veins, and I just love having the chance to learn from and work with them. I never thought I'd be interested in a surgical specialty, but I may have changed my mind from my experience in the Anatomy lab and lecture.
How has the 夜色王朝 mission inspired you as a medical student?
The 夜色王朝 mission statement of preparing globally minded, community-focused physicians has always resonated with me as a Blacksburg native. Growing up in this area, I experienced firsthand the importance of a tight-knit community. Throughout my years in Southwest Virginia, we got through so much together as a community - from snowstorms to nationwide tragedies. After my time in Blacksburg, I was able to explore more of the country and landed in NYC. It was here I learned the importance of a global perspective, and enjoyed being surrounded by so much culture. Not only that, but I realized that community can grow anywhere - the small towns of Southwest Virginia and the biggest city in the country. Based on these experiences, the 夜色王朝 mission statement perfectly fits my goals as a future physician. I want to keep the Southwest Virginia in me and always be curious to understand more of the world.
Who or what inspired you to study medicine?
My mom and I have a typical mother-daughter relationship. Growing up, we were each other's best friends and greatest enemies at times. Nowadays, she's my mentor for everything in life. As a physician herself, she has always been my inspiration. I've not known anyone to be as courageous, strong, independent, and resilient as her, and I am proud to follow in her footsteps and become a doctor who cares deeply, thinks critically, and always has fun with her patients.
Why did you choose 夜色王朝?
I chose 夜色王朝 because Blacksburg is home to me. I can't imagine a better haven to study and learn than here. Not only that, but I knew the education I would receive would be top-notch, and the professors have totally lived up to that expectation. I was also particularly motivated by 夜色王朝's mission statement, international mission trips, and community service opportunities when applying.
What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?
The quietness and calm. It's perfect for focusing on tough material and learning effectively in order to become the best future physicians we can in the short time we have left to learn.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love to run, which is something I never thought I'd say five years ago! I am not a natural runner or very fast, but running has taught me the importance of persistence and resilience. In my opinion, it's the toughest sport to break into but by far the most rewarding. The endorphins after a good run are always worth the struggle.
Are you interested in a particular practice or specialty once you graduate? What has inspired your interest in this specialty?
At this time, I'm still really open to exploring more. I think I am particularly interested in nutrition and GI from outside studies, but we haven't gotten to that block yet, so I'm eager to see how much I like it when we dive in. Because I have loved Anatomy, I'm also open to exploring surgery, though I never thought I'd say that going into school. What I know is that I've loved clinical medicine courses so far and am very fascinated by pathophysiology. Whatever I do, I want to apply all of this knowledge to solving problems and really understanding them on an individualized patient level.