Where are you from?
I’m from Portland, Oregon.
What drew you to psychology and business as your fields of study?
I’m a pre-medical student, which is really nice because it means I get to study any major that interests me as long as I fulfill pre-med prerequisites. I’ve always been really interested in psychology and declared it as my major during winter term of my first year, because I had such a great time in my classes fall term and also really appreciate the faculty in the program. I’ve also always wanted to obtain a business minor no matter what my field of study is, because I think knowing how businesses work and how to manage money is a useful skill in any career.
What has been your experience as a student of both the College of Liberal Arts and the Honors College?
I’ve really enjoyed my time in the CLA and Honors College so far; I originally thought that there wouldn’t be many research opportunities as a liberal arts major, but I got to participate in some really cool opportunities even in my first year. I’ve also found that many of the professors in this college are also really receptive to students, which makes for a positive class environment. Being in the Honors College has been really helpful for getting research opportunities and meeting professors, as a lot of the honors classes are smaller and allow you to build closer relationships with professors. The Honors College also has so many little events that are available to honors students that are really good for learning about niche topics and meeting new people in fields that you’re interested in.
Have you started your honors thesis? If yes, what’s the topic and/or focus of your research? If not, are you considering any ideas so far?
I haven’t started my thesis yet, but am considering using a research project that I did last year as a starting point for my research. I’m Native American, and was interested in researching how labeling people as Native American impacts people’s perception of them, and I’d like to follow this line of research and see how it applies to healthcare since that’s a field that I’m passionate about. I’d like to eventually conduct research that examines racial bias in healthcare and can serve as a building block to reduce racial disparities in patient care.
What have been some of your favorite classes taken?
I really enjoyed my Intro to Psychology class (PSY 201). It felt like a good pace and the professor was really engaging, and that’s what made me want to become a psych major. I’ve also really enjoyed all of the honors colloquia I’ve taken, as it’s really fun being in a small class with people where you’re studying something that’s generally more out of the box than what you’d encounter in normal coursework. Also, the fact that most colloquia are pass/fail really helps take the pressure off and allows me to fully enjoy the classes without having to stress about them.
What are you hoping to do after you graduate?
After I graduate, I’ll be applying to M.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs. I hope to get my Ph.D. in neuroscience and complete a psychiatric residency. After med school, I want to primarily work in patient care and research, and hopefully contribute research that will help improve our healthcare systems.
How do you feel that your experience in CLA and HC is setting you up for success?
I think that the Honors College specifically has helped me meet a lot of faculty and students who are involved in my future field of study, as well as guide me throughout my years at OSU. I’ve also been able to take advantage of research opportunities in the College of Liberal Arts that have helped me gain early experience in research and have solidified my interest in it. Additionally, my CLA pre-med advisor has been very helpful in helping me plan and prepare for medical school applications and figure out how to organize my schedule to fulfill my major requirements and my pre-med requirements.