Activities: Pre-health Club co-president; Sustainability Club co-president, MEChA publicist, Member of Korean Student Association, Indigenous People’s Club, Haven, Black Student Union, Pike Place Community Dinners for Urban Involvement at the John Perkins Center
Hometown: Renton, Washington
What is something you wish everyone knew about your major? I double majored in nursing and applied human biology. As a nursing student, I wish everyone knew how much nurses can do. The scope of critical thinking skills nurses possess is much broader than I thought I understood, despite attending nurse camp during my senior year of high school. Nurses can make recommendations, advocate for different patient treatments, chart patient information, and administer medications. It’s been a great experience for gaining a realistic perspective on health care and shedding light on both the aspects I am optimistic about and the areas I hope to change in the future of healthcare.
As an applied human biology major, I wish people knew that you should stick with your major even if it's hard. There will be hard days when you're up until 1 a.m. practicing various mechanisms for organic chemistry or memorizing the Citric Acid Cycle for biochemistry. It can be frustrating, but once you break through that initial struggle, you'll feel an incredible sense of accomplishment. Basically, don't quit your major because it's hard, if you are still passionate about your future career, keep at it.
What was your most impactful class or professor? My most impactful professor is Dr. Tenlen. She was instrumental in my double major plan and believed in me when many others doubted my abilities. From serving as the co-chair of the Biology Department to running BioCORE, she always goes above and beyond to make the biology department the amazing place that it is.
What are you excited for in your future career? I'm excited to provide health care to underserved communities and to be the kind of nurse I would hope to receive care from. Becoming a new member of the health care team means having the opportunity to enact the change I wish to see, striving to make health care more inclusive and holistic. Thanks to my double major, I hope to keep the door open to applying to a graduate program whether in medicine, genetics, or physical therapy.
What advice do you have for incoming students? Get involved at SPU! Before making judgements or saying "I'm not that kind of person that does that [activity, club or event]," go anyway. You'll be surprised at what you're truly capable of. I never thought I'd be the publicist for MEChA, plant trees for Sustainability club, or take voice lessons..
How have you grown during your time at SPU? I am much more focused on growing intrinsically. The extracurriculars, hobbies, and grades I work to achieve happen because of my personal goals and the skills I want to acquire. It's now not so much about the titles or what I thought others wanted to see from me. So, when I work to get good grades or a high test score, it’s more about proving to myself that I’ve mastered a skill or topic.