Stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone
I have been lucky enough through my time at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ to experience a variety of research and internship experiences.
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Major: Neuroscience and behavior major; minor
Campus involvement/activities: Chair of the ; specialty programs director and DJ with WMHC radio; board of ; Harriet Newhall Fellow with the Admission office
What are you most proud of accomplishing at MHC? Stretching the boundaries of my comfort zone and learning how to be critical about the things I love while staying in love with them! I’ve spent most of my time at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ straddling the line between science and humanities. And although I knew that I could study both, it took me a while to learn how deeply these two disciplines inform each other. I’m proud of how willing I am to still be learning and unlearning, and to sit in the discomfort of not knowing the answer, because I think it is an endless process.
In addition, I performed some independent research in a small town in Chile that greatly challenged my introverted self but also taught me a lot about being a researcher and about the best ways to listen to people’s experiences. I learned a lot about good intentions not necessarily being enough, and how to navigate being uncomfortable. I’m really proud of producing a body of work in Spanish that was the culmination of many of my ¹û¶³´«Ã½ experiences.
Favorite course you thought you might not like: Honestly, I’ve been pretty excited about all of my courses here, but Cell Biology was a course that surprised me by how much I enjoyed it. I had a pretty mediocre biology experience in high school and thought that I would be bored studying cells, but Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Amy Camp’s enthusiasm and engagement completely brought to life the tiny mechanisms that cells are performing all the time. I became enthralled by how much there is to know about cellular function and all the connections there are to bigger-picture systems. It also was a very comprehensive course that laid a strong foundation for the rest of my biological studies at MHC.
Best takeaway from internship or research experiences: I have been lucky enough through my time at ¹û¶³´«Ã½ to experience a variety of research and internship experiences that have challenged my conceptions of how to be involved in science and health care. My first year, I spent the summer doing research with Professor of Biological Sciences Gary Gillis, who studies the biomechanics of toad locomotion. Even though watching toads hop did not become something I wanted to study for the rest of my life, it was an incredibly hands-on way to learn about doing research and Professor Gillis was very passionate about involving us in all aspects of the research process. The lab became an important and supportive community that I still am connected to as a senior.
After my sophomore year I interned at the National Women’s Health Network in Washington, DC. This experience taught me a lot about the struggles of an office job, but also invigorated my interest in health communications and education as I responded to women’s health concerns over a hotline and immersed myself completely in reproductive justice. Standing with other activists on the steps of the Supreme Court the day the Hobby Lobby decision was released was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had. It was so empowering to simply listen to stories surrounding people’s health experiences and to validate them.
Postgraduation plans: I’m currently interviewing for research and fellowship positions in public health, with a focus on women’s health care and neonatal health. Beyond that, I’m looking toward becoming a nurse midwife with a strong background in community health systems so that I can empower people to be confident in their bodies.