Hometown: Spokane Valley, WA
Major: Biology
Minor: Psychology
Fun fact: If I wasn’t pursing a career in medicine, I would want to go into sports journalism and eventually become a sports analyst/commentator.
Favorite Honors Class: COPE Health Scholar Internship
The honors program allowed me to set up an internship partnership between Whitworth University and the COPE Health Scholar program here at MultiCare Deaconess and Valley Hospitals. After the completion of my internship, this opportunity gave three other students on campus a chance to earn internship credits towards their major as well. While at the internship site, I was able to work with my program coordinators and the hospital staff in the emergency department at Valley Hospital to create a new scope of practice for the health scholars. I worked with the Vice President of COPE Health Solutions to get this approved and now it is implemented in our Emergency Department for all future scholars. This class gave me the opportunity to think about what clinical experiences would be valuable for pre-meds and how undergraduate students can better facilitate patient care within the Spokane Healthcare system. I have worked to teach this new scope of practice for all new health scholars in the emergency department.
Favorite Honors Experience: Within the Honors program, I began with Honors Seminar I with Dr. Bert Emerson. I didn’t realize at the time but it was a class that I really needed. I transferred into Whitworth University in the Fall of 2018 as a junior. I had been a part of the honors program at my previous university and I wanted to continue with the honors program here as well. Honors Seminar I centered around the book, “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. It is a fantastic book for incoming college students to help recenter their approach at life. The Honors Program is designed to help students apply what they learn at Whitworth for years to come. This book talks about how reframing our mindset and identifying our passion and happiness are keys to building a successful life. I encourage all freshman to read this book and slowly watch as your unknowingly apply what the book says throughout your collegiate career. Now, this book shouldn’t be limited to just freshman college students; I think this book is applicable for people of all ages. For me personally, I use the concept of reframing to find the positive moments through the toughest of moments. Very rarely does anyone go through college without difficulty (academically, socially, mentally, physically, spiritually, or personally); as a result, it is important to realize that every experience is a learning opportunity that cannot be taken away from you. Honors Seminar I helps students reframe their mindset about college and life to get the most out of every experience.
The second honors class I took was for research credit as an undergraduate research assistant within the Microdevices Lab at Whitworth University under the guidance of Dr. Philip Measor. This class allowed me to further my summer research and put together a presentation for the Whitworth STEM Night and the Murdock Conference. At the Murdock Conference I gave an oral presentation on “A transparent UVA-1 biocompatible photoresin towards 3D printed lab-on-a-chip.” I won the John Van Zytveld Award for the Best Oral Presentation in Physical Sciences at this conference.
The third honors class I took was for internship credit with the COPE Health Scholars program. I have mentioned my experience in this program for my answer to question 3 (see above).
The fourth honors experience I had was during my time working at the Jovenes de Maria Clinic in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. At this clinic I had the opportunity to practice my medical spanish and work as a scribe in the clinic. I would get to ask questions in Spanish and obtain a history of the patients that came in to visit. We would get patients of all ages (toddlers to elders). This opportunity allowed me to gain a cultural immersion while experiencing medicine in another country. I helped translate medicine written in English into Spanish and taught patients how and when to take their medications. During this experience I also attended language school to help facilitate my working Spanish. I lived with wonderful host parents that challenged me to continue speaking only in Spanish. This was a life-changing experience that I felt would not have been properly experienced without the honors program’s philosophy. I combined my knowledge of science with my desire to understand a different culture; this mind and heart approach helped me feel as though I understood the Quetzaltenango people’s approach towards medicine. Part of working in the clinic was taking ownership of our roles; I had to step-up and teach people how to take medication that people in America have known how to take since they were kids. Wearing those scrubs made me realize that people viewed me differently; however, it was up to me to embrace my role and not overstep my boundaries. This opportunity helped me understand the difficulty yet beauty of leadership. Lastly, this experience was done in the service of others. Many of these people just wanted to get their blood pressure checked or understand how to take their medicine. Many places would charge them for these things, but I enjoyed being able to teach these people. Knowledge is meaningless if it cannot be shared.
Value of Honors: The honors program holds a special place in my heart because it has given me the opportunity to help set-up a foundation for students that come after me and to build a presence within the Whitworth, Spokane, Washington, and Quetzaltenango communities. Looking back the Honors Seminar I class helped set me on the path to further discovering why I love medicine and what I can do to help further the communities I am a part of. I got to apply my knowledge in research, an internship, and an abroad experience. The honors program is what helped me gain hands-on experience and realize how many opportunities are out there waiting for me.
To the incoming freshman I have a couple reasons why I would recommend it. First, they have probably been told at some point in their lives by someone older, “just do it because I’m telling you it is good for you.” Well, if they haven’t yet, I am glad to be the first person that has told them this: “Do the Honors Program because I’m telling you it is good for you.” However, I’m not going to be mean and just leave it at that; the reason I say the Honors Program is good for you is due to three reasons.
(1) You are the next leaders of the United States of America. We are part of the generation that will have to figure out many of the problems that will come by the time we are middle-aged: social security, health care, another pandemic?, immigration, the economy, and education. We do not just become leaders overnight; the honors program will help students gain the foundational knowledge of what makes a good leader and then apply that knowledge during internships, research, and off-campus programs. The opportunity to gain this valuable experience will help make students stand out for years to come; I hope we build a network that stretches across the United States and people get to know that Whitworth Honors Students are people they should hire.
(2) The world is huge and you need to be prepared for what comes after undergrad. Many Freshman that come into Whitworth and join the honors program were exceptional students at their high school. I have no doubt that many of you will continue to have success even here as a Pirate. But you are one of millions of students that are exceptional, that work hard, and that feels as though they are good enough to do whatever interests them. This eventually will bottleneck for summer internships, graduate school seats, and jobs. What the honors program allows you to do is gain a presence on campus, in the community, and at companies that prepare you to become a competitive applicant. Part of being successful is understanding the competition and what other people are doing to set themselves apart. Gain these valuable experiences that the honors program will help you set-up.
(3) Who are you? I encourage you to write yourself a list or a paragraph of who you think you are coming into college. Open that on graduation day four years later and see if you are the same person. I hope you aren’t and that you have developed and grown wiser. The honors program helps expedite you on your journey to identifying who you are and what you should go on to do. In psychology, Erikson’s Stage of Psychosocial Development for those that are around 18 years old falls within the conflict: Identity vs Role Confusion. You all are trying to figure out who you are and what you want to do. Listen it is okay if the picture doesn’t become clear until your senior year. However, you should continue to make progress every year. The honors program will help you in this endeavor.
The immediate benefits of the honors program include leadership positions, academic challenge, and societal connections; however, the long-term investment with the honors program is priceless. Part of living for today is helping set yourself up for tomorrow. I hope these words do not completely scare you but instead excite you for the bountiful opportunities that lay awaiting you these next four years. Best of luck to all of you and I cannot wait to see us Pirates plunder the riches across America.