During my time at Montgomery College (MC), I discovered that I was strong in social sciences, but I also enjoyed studying biology and health-related disciplines. At the time, I was unsure what kind of major would offer a combination of these studies, but after some exploration, I became interested in the field of public health. Public health was the perfect blend of all my strengths, and offered skills that could lead me into an exciting and dynamic career field.
My very first introduction to the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) was at a transfer event I attended in the cafeteria at MC. I came across a table and noticed the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) logo on it, but was completely surprised to learn about the existence of UMCP programs being available in Montgomery County, on the USG campus. I immediately inquired about UMCP’s public health major and was thrilled to find an undergraduate-level public health program being offered by UMCP at USG, as there are not very many options for studying this major in Maryland.
The student support, shorter commute, additional scholarship opportunities and financial assistance really met the needs of a working student like me. Looking back, I’m so glad that I decided to take my classes at USG, and additionally, to be involved in student organizations like Women in Tech, as well as clubs on the main UMCP campus.
My future career goals revolve around knowing how to navigate policy, public health and research. I have gained experience in Prostate Cancer Research and Genomic Policy, but I’m looking forward to challenging myself in other opportunities. In the future, there will be a significant focus placed on the synthesis of these areas, and I look forward to USG being the place where I continue to grow and be a part of the solution.