Reasons for My Choice

I remember sitting at the back of my 8th-grade classroom one day as we were introduced to university research. I knew from then on that UCL is where I can see myself being. At first, I planned on becoming a doctor; however, due to my concerns about commitments in time and money, I reconsidered. I asked myself: if my purpose is to save lives, is being a doctor the only way? I changed my plan. Rather than cure, I can focus more on prevention. I do not have to be a doctor to be able to dive further into research in the medical industry with the promise of enabling access to treatments or healthier lifestyles, especially for the less fortunate. In the end, I chose to give up my dream of pursuing medicine as a broader scope of expertise so that I could pursue another degree that is more niche and relevant to my interests. With this will, through mountains and valleys, I managed to work my way up and achieve my dream of coming to UCL for Nutrition and Medical Sciences (BSc).

 

Ongoing Bachelors Degree in UCL

My first year in the integrated Medical Sciences (iMS) program mainly consists of the foundations of human anatomy and the study of diseases. If I had to pick one module that has piqued my interest the most, that would most certainly be the Cardiovascular & Respiratory Function in Health & Disease. In the near future, I am hoping that I will be able to involve myself in projects that can bring together both my interest in nutrition and the cardiovascular system. In addition, I also have my proudest work displayed on the Project Showcase page of this site; you are most welcome to take a look.

 

Faculty Transition Mentoring

I was in my high school graduating year when I heard of my acceptance to UCL. I remembered being so thrilled, not knowing that a pandemic was going to strike terribly that I would have to defer my intake to the next year. I came to London after the pandemic not knowing a single soul; I walked into UCL with a heart full of doubts about my abilities as a have taken a gap year from my studies. In these times of uncertainty, I could not imagine having to push through my first year without any guidance from the warm-hearted strangers I now call my friends. I am sure the following year will consist of a few newcomers who are as curious, confused, and in need of help; hence, I want to be that stranger for them—holding up a light to walk them through their most worrisome and proudest moments throughout their first term, at the very least. 

 

Past Experiences & Volunteering

Through my high school, gap year, and my first two years in university, I would say that I have contributed vastly in volunteering and other experiences.

I started my first volunteering in 7th grade when my seniors held a project with Habitats for Humanity to supply building materials and build livable, comfortable homes for families in need. I picked volunteering back up in 11th grade when I joined a generous community—Little Princess Trust—as an external member to show my support for children suffering from cancer. Since then, I have been contributing to this cause by organizing a hair donation program in the city where I reside, raising funds, and raising awareness for cancer as it has been far too misunderstood by many. In February 2020, I successfully transported around 40 bundles of hair to the organization’s headquarters—located in Hereford, England—from Medan, Indonesia. I am currently still carrying out this project with the hopes of being able to make more impact each year.

Due to the accumulating uncertainty COVID-19 had put us through, I had to take a gap year. As I took the first few months of that year to observe what was happening around me, that was when I realized that many were giving away more sacrifice than I was and than they should. By the end of 2020, I started hunting for more volunteering and internship opportunities that could serve as a platform to help those in need.

A brief visual, summed-up portfolio I constructed can be found here.