My first year at the University of Florida was amazing! I have met many incredible people and have had wonderful experiences as a Gator. 

 

In the fall, I began my undergraduate studies as a Business Administration Major on the Pre-Med track. I was able to meet people and take classes relating to both business and medicine to determine which field of study best suited me. Throughout my first semester, I began to realize how much more I enjoyed my courses relating to medicine. My favorite class turned out to be General Chemistry 1, which led me to become a Biochemistry Major. Along with navigating my decision of business versus medicine during the fall, I was also enrolled in a Research and Creativity course for the University Research Scholars Program (URSP). I gained valuable insight into skills needed for future research, including an end-of-year research symposium for poster presentations. I was able to select my top choice for a CURE class in the spring semester through URSP and I was selected to be on the URSP Student Advisory Board Mentorship Committee. I also joined a UF organization called Passionate Musicians On Call (PMOC) and enjoyed using music to serve individuals in the nursing home communities here in Gainesville. 

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The spring was full of amazing opportunities and experiences! I was able to be a General Chemistry 1 undergraduate teaching assistant for my favorite professor, and loved helping other students learn to both enjoy and succeed in the course. For my classes, I continued working towards completing the pre-med prerequisites, as well as my minor in Classical Studies. I began my Biomedical Engineering CURE class in the Murfee lab studying Cell Dynamics during Microvascular Growth. My research partner and I spent three hours each week dedicated to learning about stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and how it affects lymphatic structures in mouse mesentery tissue. Both Dr. Murfee and his graduate student Frankie made this such an incredible learning experience and helped me gain research skills such as taking images with a microscope, writing an abstract, data collection, and presenting findings at a research symposium. In Passionate Musicians On Call, I began an acapella group with several other members, which the nursing home residents loved. I was also selected to be the upcoming PMOC Recruitment Coordinator for my second year, and I am extremely excited to begin my term. 
 

Moving forward, I am excited to begin a new research opportunity starting this summer. I was accepted in the University of Florida Health Cancer Center's University Scholars Program for my sophomore year, specializing in Cancer Control and Population Sciences. I was fortunate enough to hear back from Dr. Lisa Spiguel, the Section Chief of Breast surgery, who will be serving as my research mentor. I am eager to begin working with her and to learn more about breast cancer prevention and intervention. 

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