First-Year Medical Student and Dean's Scholar at the University of Michigan Medical School
About
Why did you choose to major in Psychology and how has that affected your career thus far?
I explored many different areas of study in college, yet I was most intrigued by the interplay between the biological and social aspects of the brain, mind, and body. My interest in psychology led to a student fellowship with the Department of Neurosurgery at Michigan Medicine, my certification as a yoga teacher, and to teaching younger students the material tested on the Medical College Admission Test through Kaplan Test Prep.
What was your career path like?
For my year-and-a-half gap year, I have had multiple part-time jobs. Though my work in undergraduate admissions as an application review specialist might not seem as relevant to my application for medical school as my employment as a standardized patient for the university health system, I have found that all of my experiences as an employee have added to my social and intellectual knowledge base, preparing me for the variety of characters and circumstances that I will encounter as a medical professional.
What advice do you have for students getting a degree in the UM Psychology Department who are considering your profession?
Choosing to pursue a psychology degree will not make you a weaker applicant to medical school. If psychology is what attracts your attention, give your time generously and avidly to the subject.How do you use your psychology undergraduate experience in your work? As a future physician, I am learning how to interact with patients appropriately, refining and acquiring a myriad of communication skills that demand some understanding of human behavior and interpersonal relationships. Psychology is critical to the care of patients!
What is the best career advice that you have received?
If you want to do something , you have to not simply want it. You have to go after it with a relentless and vigorous demeanor that continues regardless of disappointment. The setbacks will be small, large, and many. You must keep going.
What has contributed most to your career success?
The mentorship I have received from professors, supervisors, and my family has been invaluable to my success. These people have chosen to invest their time and energy in me, and I hope to do the same for others as I start to advance in my own career.
