How/Why do you want to change the world? 

As a pre-med student, I hope to one day become a physician and change the world by saving lives. Specifically, I want to revise our healthcare system to ensure that those in need will have the same access to care. I want to use my future knowledge as a physician to educate legislators and lobby for change in order to fix the current flaws within our healthcare system.

What are you proud to have been involved with at University of Oregon? 

I am proud to be involved in undergraduate research at the University of Oregon. Ever since I finaled in the state tournament for speech and debate for my expository speech about CRISPR, a gene-editing tool, I wanted to use CRISPR and conduct my own experiments like the researchers I talked about in my speech. Therefore, I am very proud to work in the Guillemin lab under Cathy Robinson to investigate amino acid-modulated motility of the zebrafish bacterial isolate, Aeromonas veronii.

Who is your biggest role model and why? 

My biggest role model is Dr. Russell. He has sadly passed away, but when he was alive, he practiced medicine in the rural outskirts of Illinois. Dr. Russell was going to work as a cardiologist in a big city but returned back to his hometown when there were no longer any residing doctors. He served his community until the age of 87 and only charged five dollars for a visit, even waiving the fee for several of his patients. Dr Russell sacrificed his dream of living in a big city with a lucrative job for those in need. His humbleness and dedication to others is why I want to become a physician and lobby to change our healthcare system in order to honor Dr. Russell.

What are your goals after college? 

One of my biggest goals after college is to attend medical school, specifically the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). I plan on taking a gap year in China in order to learn more about my family background in herbal medicine to apply it in the future, hopefully as a physician.

Which fictional character is most like yourself?

For anyone who has watched Gravity Falls, I relate to the fictional character Mabel Pines the most. We both have intensely quirky personalities, are absolutely obsessed with cute things such as chubby piggies, have questionable fashion sense, love our brothers to death, and love solving mysteries.