Academics
As my undergraduate career ends, I believe it is good to reflect on the challenges, successes, and opportunities I dived into. Before starting college at SSC, I believed that attending a community college would be frowned upon by medical school admission teams. Community college is perceived as easier than a 4-year university and creates doubt about the type of applicants accepted. At first, this idea worried me, but my reasons for staying local were not because of the lesser challenge but because I wanted to complete the degree that I started in high school. Fortunate enough to graduate from a school that used the Advanced Placement Program and the Dual Enrollment Program, I earned almost enough credits to graduate with an A.A. degree.
My time at Seminole State College was my first taste of college-level courses. General Biology II required a level of study that challenged the way I studied before. Utilizing memorization techniques and time management with tutoring gave me a feel for undergraduate learning. After graduating from High school and SSC in the same year, I transferred to UCF the following year.
The transition from a community college to a public university was not easy. Adapting to the massive class sizes, campus, and lack of parking was overwhelming. However, my first semester at UCF made me feel comfortable with my decision to transfer. The first upper-level course I took was Immunology. the professor was so passionate about the subject, and it made me love the subject too. Going to his office hours and checking my exams earned me my first A of the new semester. The wave of success continued in more complex classes like Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Neurobiology, and Microbiology. Also, getting into programs like NSLS and Knights of Distinction and maintaining my Bright Futures scholarship with a GPA of at least 3.75 reflects my persistence in doing well and seeking ways to be something other than average.
These courses challenged me in ways that made me adjust the way I studied. Cramming information before a test and coming out with an A was not viable. Juggling my rigorous coursework with hospital volunteering, organizations, and church responsibilities felt overwhelming. But through it all, my calendar and reminder app became my best friend. Organizing things by color and planning kept me afloat during stressful seasons in my life. Pushing on and not falling behind in lectures let me leave each class knowing that I tried my best and can be proud of my achievements. I know that these skills will continue to help me succeed in taking the MCAT, applying to medical schools, and studying in graduate school.
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Seminole State College
My first accomplishment outside of high school came months after graduating. Earning my A.A. degree seemed insignificant at the time, but in retrospect, I am proud that I didn't give up and found a way to complete a degree and lessen the time and money spent in university. I made connections with professors that I couldn't do with large class sizes, and it showed me the value of personalized feedback from a professor who truly desires to see me prosper.
These are a few of the posters that I created for the club to use in fund raisers and events.
P.A.C.K.
I attended several webinars covering clubs and organizations at UCF. UCF is a large campus with thousands of students, and because of that, finding like-minded people was difficult without putting yourself out there and joining an organization. I saw the Pediatric Association of Caring Knights and wanted to join instantly. PACK focused on volunteering at events that served children and mothers as well as inviting doctors, nurses, and other roles in healthcare that care for children. As a secretary director, I assisted the secretary in posting events, creating flyers, taking photos, and planning joint events.
NSLS
The National Society of Leadership and Success is an organization that focuses on creating leaders for the future. I was referred to the NSLS by my U-LEAD coordinator and their goals piqued my interest. To become a distinguished and active NSLS member, you must participate in leadership training. The leadership training day helped me identify my passions and purpose to reach my goals and keep me accountable. Over a few weeks I discussed with my NSLS peers how far along I came towards my goals and the new challenges I may encounter. This experience taught me how to create SMART goals that were specific, measurable, actionable, rewarding, and time-specific.
SI Leader
SI stands for Supplemental Instruction, and it is led by students who have taken and passed well-known difficult classes with an "A" grade. My role as an SI leader is to facilitate discussions and help my peers reach answers independently by applying study skills and resources to practice for exams. I have been to SI sessions for my general chemistry course, and their model is to never give you the answers but show the way. The philosophy of the program drew me in and the added value of helping someone succeed tied back into my goals. This experience gave me a new skillset and approach to helping someone learn how to help themself.
Knights of Distinction
KoD is a program I joined near the end of my final semester at UCF. With all the workshops, events, organizations, and awards I accumulated from my three years in undergraduate college, KoD helped me organize them. Through five main milestones: Planning and self-assessment, Citizenship, Leadership, High-Impact Learning, and Knights of the World, I wrote detailed summaries of each activity I had while in university. The reflections I completed for each milestone made me slow down and see my growth and the purpose I fulfilled in my experiences. This program allowed me to see how far I've come and how much effort I have put into building my character and competitiveness in my medical application. At the end of the program, I was awarded a scholarship winner for the very e-portfolio that you are reading right now! This was such a rewarding experience and has kept me organized and concise.
