Major: BS Biology

Projected graduation: Spring 2027

 

Tell us why you chose the University of Washington (UW)

When I was first choosing between schools I knew I didn’t want to sacrifice my college experience or my academics. As someone growing up in a relatively small town, I wanted to ensure I could have a plethora of opportunities and could pick and choose what was going to be a part of my higher education experience. The academic vigor of UW stood out to me especially with all its various majors and areas of study. When I came here, I still was unsure about what I wanted to study but I just knew that I wanted to make a difference. Though it took some time to find what I wanted, I knew that pharmacy was the right path for me after taking PCEUT classes and being welcomed in by the pharmacy community upon showing interest.

 

What led you to study your major?

Coming into UW I was still deciding what I wanted to do and so I signed up for a wide variety of classes. After exploring multiple avenues, I found that healthcare and helping people in general was a big goal of mine. Though I first began pursuing dentistry I quickly found that I wanted a more versatile career and one that I could personalize. Not only did pharmacy mean I could focus on the body as a whole rather than one specific portion, but it also means that I can find a specialty that speaks to me. The biology degree also helped me achieve these goals by allowing room for exploration.

What experiences at the UW have been the most influential to you?

One of my most influential experience within my time at UW has been the Nelson Mendenhall Summer Scholars Program (NMP). NMP helped me break out of my shell and find a way to put what I was learning in class to use.  By being paired with a pharmaceutics lab I was able to get a glimpse into possible careers and was also able to get valuable hands-on experience I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. I will always be grateful for the NMP program as it helped me make lifelong friends with those in my cohort and opened the door for me to continue research at the University of Washington. NMP pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible, teaching me to expand my horizons and be passionate.

What do you want to following graduation?

After I graduate, I would love to continue down the road to pharmacy. Though I’m not sure exactly what that may look like for me at the moment, I hope to keep traversing the world of higher education. As of now, I want to go to pharmacy school and learn even more about what the world of pharmacy is like. Now that I have some research experience, I hope to pair that with more education on drugs and drug uptake after research is published and drugs are approved for the market.

 

What are your future aspirations or goals?

When I look at the best version of myself 10 years down the road, I see someone who is helping people and challenging themselves to improve each day. Though I may not know exactly how I’m going to get there now, as an indigenous woman I would love to use the education I receive to better my community by making healthcare more accessible. Whether it is opening my own clinic or working behind a different pharmacy counter, I hope to make a difference for my community in whatever form is best.

Tell us about your in-school activities

UW is an amazing place to get a wide array of experiences. Though I am working towards healthcare, it’s not the only thing I do. As a sports enthusiast, I currently sit on the Dawg Pack Executive board where I attend various UW sports and set up exciting events with athletics for all UW fans! I also do a lot of work for the Native American community across campus. My work with the Burke meadow is a really fun cross section with pharmacy as I take care of my plant relatives and learn about all their uses including those in modern medicine!

What is one piece of advice that you have for potential new students or one thing you wish you knew before beginning your studies?

My biggest piece of advice is to say yes and be open to something new. Being somewhere new can be super intimidating but by opening yourself up to different experiences you can find your own communities and customize your experience. Not everything will stick, but those that do will be very worth it. Make sure you believe in yourself even on days when it’s hard. Many opportunities are out there so believe in yourself, take the leap, and live in the moment!

What is a fun or interesting fact about you?

I am a huge animal lover and have a cat named Jinx who has heterochromia! I also love to travel, my favorite county that I’ve visited so far