SNAPSHOTS
Favorite artist: The Neighborhood
Most memorable class: AP Chemistry
Favorite app: TikTok
Best concert you’ve attended: Bruno Mars
Go to the Moon or Mars: Moon
ZOOMING IN
Q: What college will you attend? What is your intended major, and why that major?
A: “I plan to attend the University of Texas at Austin on a pre-med track. I initially applied with the intention of studying engineering, but as I worked through my applications and reflected more seriously on my future, I realized medicine is what I truly want to pursue. In the past, I would always tell myself I could never pursue medicine because I either didn’t have the stomach for it or the path would take too long. Looking back, I realized I was only making up these excuses because I was too scared to commit and end up failing after investing so much time. Now that I’ve reached a point where I have to make a real decision, I’ve chosen to follow what genuinely interests me regardless of how long or difficult it may be.”
Q: What extracurriculars have you been involved in throughout high school?
A: “My biggest extracurricular has been Students Against Period Poverty (SAPP), where we make feminine hygiene kits for women who don’t have the resources to look after themselves. I commit myself to SAPP the most because its cause and the impact we make are worthwhile of my dedication. I’ve also been part of National Honors Society, StuCo, Interact and Academic Decathlon. Outside of school, I play the piano, work two jobs and I’ve been learning how to play the guitar.”
Q: What was the most challenging aspect about balancing extracurriculars and academics?
A: “The hardest part about balancing extracurriculars and academics wasn’t necessarily being busy, but rather having to constantly switch mindsets. I would go from focusing deeply on academic work, to suddenly needing energy, creativity or teamwork for an extracurricular. That shift made it difficult to stay fully present in either one because even though I would be doing one of my extracurriculars, I would be constantly thinking about my academics and what work I have due. Even when I had time, my attention felt divided and I had to relearn how to focus each time I transitioned. During my hardest times, there would not be a single day where I went to sleep without thinking about the work I had to do and other obligations I had. Over time, I saw balancing both was just as much about managing my hours as it was about managing my mental energy and staying adaptable without losing consistency.”
Q: What class was the most challenging for you? Why?
A: “AP chemistry was so challenging for me, not because of the content necessarily, but because of the load of the coursework and how much we had to do. I took it for a full year but there was still so much we had to cram, and it often felt very overwhelming. Fortunately, my friends and I had a very understanding teacher who helped us get through the class. If I didn’t have her as my support system, I don’t think I would have made it.”
Q: Who has helped you the most throughout these last four years? How have they helped you?
A: “Brooke is my best friend, and we’ve had every single class together since sixth grade. She’s always with me and supports me when we do our work together. She is the person who gave me so much motivation and pushed me to be the best I could be throughout my high school career.”
Q: What has been the most memorable part of high school?
A: “The most memorable part of my high school experience has been the moments when I chose to be spontaneous and step outside of my routine. Whether it was buying near front-row tickets just minutes before a Bruno Mars concert or simply saying yes to last minute plans and staying out late, those experiences brought a vibrant, exciting energy into my life. They reminded me how much I value spontaneity and helped me fully enjoy the present instead of just focusing on responsibilities.”
Q: What advice would you give to your freshman self?
A: “I would tell my freshman self to open myself to new opportunities, meet new people, do new things [and] go to new places. I want to do everything I can and learn what I like and don’t like. I would tell her to never waste too much time because at the end of the day, it is our most valuable and most neglected commodity.”
Q: What are you most excited about regarding college?
A: “I’m excited to explore new opportunities and meet new people. College is a place where you’re supposed to make a lot of connections and networks. Since I’m not going for the path I originally planned for, I’ll have the opportunity and time to really decide what I want to do. I’m excited to go where the wind takes me and live in the moment.”
Q: What would you change about your high school experience?
A: “I would stop limiting myself and dismissing incredible opportunities before even fully exploring them. I spent a great deal of my life telling myself I couldn’t or wouldn’t do certain things. I said I would never go into medicine, yet now I’m pursuing the pre-med route. I said I would never stay in state, yet now I’m proud to be a Longhorn. I said I would never work in the food industry, yet I’m about to start my second job as a server. Time and time again, I’ve ended up doing the very things I once avoided and actually enjoying them. Had I not limited myself before I ever even tried the experience, then I would have been able to discover my interests and passions much earlier on. I spent so much time dismissing all that comes toward me when I could have spent that time taking in all that comes toward me. If I could experience high school again, I would try to do as much as I can and say yes more often. I would explore every opportunity, and learn from every one of them. Had I done that, I would now be able to say ‘I can’t believe I did that,’ instead of ‘I really wish I did that.'”
Q: Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?
A: “In 10 years, I hope to see myself established in the medical field, continuing along the path I’ve chosen through the pre-med track. I aim to have completed my education and be training in residency, where I can directly care for patients. I want to be in an environment that challenges me and allows me to make a meaningful impact on lives. Beyond my career, I hope to have built a life that feels balanced and fulfilling. I want to maintain strong relationships, continue exploring my interests and make time for the things I enjoy outside of work. Through my experiences so far, I’ve learned the importance of staying open to growth, so while I have clear goals in medicine, I also hope I’ve continued to evolve and take advantage of opportunities along the way. Ultimately, I want to feel confident in the path I’ve chosen and all the other opportunities I have taken that have strayed from that path. In 10 years, I want to feel proud of not only where I’ve ended up, but also of how I got there.”
