School of Science
Figure 1:
This figure is a photograph taken in Otavalo, Ecuador. A city with one of the only hospitals containing a midwife clinic alongside modern gynecological practitioners. I learned a lot in my week rotation through this city and the remaining 5 week rotations in Quito, Ecuador, during my Child Family Health International study abroad experience.
Growth in the IU Honors Program
“Todos aprendemos sin palabras las más importantes lecciones de la vida.”
"We all learn the most important life lessons without words"
― Alfonso Barrera Valverde, El país de Manuelito
Figure: 1
Figure 2:
My induction into ALDPES in the spring of 2023. An honors society that values service, community involvement and academic success.
Figure: 2
Get to Know Me
Starting at IU Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI) in the fall of 2022, I was thrilled to be accepted into the class of 2026 and pursue the extra challenge of earning an honors diploma. Starting, I had the expectation that the honors college experience would be similar to graduating with honors in high school, taking the same classes as others, but with extra rigor. I quickly learned, through my experiences and talking with others, that this is not what it would be like. I have had the opportunities to work with professors to research, travel abroad, engage with my community, and build strong relationships I can use in my professional career.
Does anyone recognize the streets of Florence, Italy?
The Original Personal Statement
I am a curious, motivated, and adaptable person and am passionate about helping others and doing meaningful work. I am currently involved in the TEDx IUPUI planning team and involved in Christian Student Fellowship. It brings me joy to understand and build connections with others while pursuing my own aspirations and passions.
I see my life as an opportunity. An opportunity to do meaningful work both in my own life and in the lives of others. I am curious and love to learn about others and the world around me. Learning can be intimidating and overwhelming for me because of the vast amount of knowledge that is available. Nonetheless, I try to be as present in the moment as I am in looking ahead and behind to learn about the world around me.
As a hardworking student, I plan to pursue a successful academic career. Having goals that are far away like applying to medical school or doing well on the MCAT can be overwhelming to focus on. I try to focus on many manageable goals that will encourage, and not deter, me from having the motivation and enthusiasm to continue.
Although it is tempting to drown myself in schoolwork and my classes I also want to pursue bettering myself and the community. In that, I hope to get more involved in the community as far as working at a job and volunteering at an organization I am passionate about. I hope to be someone who catalyzes good ideas and is easy to work with. Part of that is getting involved on campus as well. I hope to put into school as much as I can get out of it. In my organizations, this can look like becoming a student leader or in chemistry becoming a recitation leader. This way I can help others who may struggle with similar things.
I hope to become the best version of myself always focusing on my future and present goals. Trying new things and not being afraid of a challenge so that I never miss the next big opportunity is important to pursuing my definition of success. In pursuing my goals I hope to make a difference in the world and the lives of others around me.
"I want to become an empathetic and educated physician caring holistically for a diverse group of patients."
Revised Personal Statement
I am a senior majoring in Biology and Neuroscience, with a minor in Spanish. I value leadership and service, and am dedicated to understanding other cultures to better communicate with the world around me. I am involved in the Christian Student Fellowship, pathology research, organic chemistry, and the pre-med club, and I also serve my community through elder-life volunteering. I hope to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me while pursuing excellence in my future as a physician.
As a senior honors college student at IU Indianapolis, I am preparing to end my time in college and can reflect on how my experiences have informed who I am and whom I want to become. Having the opportunity to work closely with professors on honors projects has helped me form connections with faculty who can guide and prepare me for future education and professional opportunities. Having the time to include a Spanish minor within the School of Liberal Arts, I was able to explore a new level of cultural understanding that I utilized in my study abroad experience in Ecuador. I have pursued excellence in the academic field through my grades, experiences, and research. My presentations at numerous research conferences, including the AACR, will help me become better at presenting my findings in the future, working in the field of medicine. I want to become an empathetic and educated physician caring holistically for a diverse group of patients.
Reflection
Reflecting on who I was freshman year I can confidently say that my aspirations were realized. I knew I wanted to get involved with research and have now been working at my pathology lab for almost 3 years. I also have pursued my love for people and culture through my Spanish minor and study abroad experience in Ecuador and future gap year in Costa Rica. Many of my dreams have been realized but I am still working towards my goal of becoming a physician. I am sure that these experiences will help me to realize this dream.
From Just Graduated to Almost Graduated
My journey through college started with an ending. An ending of my time in high school, living with my family, feeling comfortable in a familiar setting. Now, nearing college graduation, I have successfully found independence, taken on a lot of challenges, and explored my passions for science and culture. I have a lot of excitement and anticipation for what I will accomplish in the future and an appreciation of what I have experienced in the past four years.
Old to New
In creating my first journey map, I wasn't sure that I would get to accomplish all that I wanted to during my 4 years at IU Indianapolis. One of my goals was to do research, which I ended up starting that same semester. The photo on the right depicts a poster I created from my pathology research. The new journey map reflects how I have gained experience and knowledge through my accomplishments.
