McNair Scholar

Sun Valley High School
Wesley Chapel, N.C.
BARSC-MD

Career plans: I will graduate from the UofSC School of Medicine in 2025. My ultimate career goal is to be a student, colleague and physician with whom others enjoy working. I aspire to be trusted and respected as a professional who genuinely cares, who makes personable connections and who approaches each scenario with preparedness, knowledge and experience.

Most impactful experience: Learning from my "first patient" in the gross anatomy lab was the most humbling and rewarding experience of these past four years. What an honor and a privilege it is to be trusted with the vulnerability of others. After studying so many lectures, it is an incredible, exciting feeling to apply that knowledge to the real world.

Best part of being a Top Scholar: I take pride in my membership in a community of talented, thoughtful scholars who are nothing but supportive of one another's goals and achievements. At an enormous university, it was a relief to have a smaller community of classmates and friends. Today, many of my closest friends are the same friendly faces I met four years ago at Top Scholar events!

UofSC Story: College helped me understand that no one has all the answers or all the kinks worked out in their professional or personal lives… and no one expects me to either. This lesson continues to challenge me in medical school as I am learning that a well-prepared leader is not perfect but is willing to show up with enthusiasm. USC has given me opportunities to practice setting reasonable expectations for myself, expectations to embrace challenges and to be resilient. My past four years of growth here are characterized by lessons in patience with myself and with others, because, as much as we love to plan for the future, life is happening right now!