Degrees: B.A. in Global Health Studies and a minor in Chemistry
How did the Stamps Scholarship help shape your undergraduate experience?
The Stamps Scholarship helped contribute to getting one of the best undergraduate education experiences a person could ask for. From traveling to NYC, Dubai, and Cape Town, the enrichment funds from Stamps helped supplement my education in the most unique and impactful ways. Of course studying and books are a crucial part of the journey, but Stamps helped to remind me that some experiences that make the most positive impact are outside of the classroom. Stamps definitely made it possible for me to make the most of these 4 years.
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give your freshman self?
I would tell myself to remain focused on the goal ahead as always, but to also remember that it’s okay to go through a less traditional pathway to reach your goals. We can’t be an exact replica of anyone, and therefore someone else’s journey may not be the best route for you. So it’s okay to follow my own individual path that’s curtailed to my own personal strengths.
Who has had the greatest impact on you throughout your college career and how so?
My professors have all been fantastic, especially my advisor Dr. Amy Nichols-Belo. She has been one of the most, if not the most, influential person for me at Mercer. She’s definitely a huge factor in the reason I decided to pursue my major in Global Health Studies and grow into the student I am today. And of course, my family and close friends have always been an irreplaceable support system throughout undergrad.
What’s your favorite Stamps Scholar memory?
The Stamp Conventions are always a good time; for example, during my freshman year we were able to get together again with our friends from U of I Urbana-Champaign who went on Outward Bound with us (a summer trip funded by our schools from Stamps) and catch up. We were also able to meet a lot of new people and enjoy ATL.
What comes next?
Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in the fall of 2018.
Please share your favorite inspirational quote.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Confucius