People always say that the four years of high school fly by. For most of high school, I never completely understood what they meant.
Now that I have graduated, I do.
I still remember my first day of freshman year. I remember walking through the building, trying to understand my schedule, paper map in my hand, and hearing the bell ring after first period for the first time. I remember the morning announcements, the assemblies, and meeting people during that first semester who would later become some of my closest friends.
After months of applications, essays, interviews, decisions, and campus research, I have officially committed to Loyola Marymount University!
This fall, I will be moving to Los Angeles to major in Health and Human Sciences as I continue preparing for a future in medicine. I am excited to experience a new city, meet new people, and begin the next chapter of my education.
Seventeen Acceptances and Seventy-Six Essays
By the end of the admissions process, I had been accepted to 17 colleges. Getting those decisions was exciting, especially after remembering how much time and effort went into every application.
After months of writing essays, tracking deadlines, and repeatedly checking application portals, I am officially done applying to college.
My original list included 29 schools, but after researching programs, reconsidering my priorities, and narrowing down my options, I ended up submitting applications to 22 colleges. The list included traditional premed programs along with several BS/DO and BS/MD opportunities.
Finishing the last application felt like lifting a huge weight off my shoulders.
Senior year has officially begun, and it already feels different from every other year of high school. There are still classes, homework, tests, and activities, but now college applications are constantly running in the background.
This fall, my original college list included 29 schools. The programs ranged from traditional premed pathways to combined BS/DO and BS/MD programs. I also planned to submit many of my applications through Early Action, which meant that senior year began with deadlines arriving much faster than I expected.
This past week at HMS MedScience Clinical has been one of the most exciting and meaningful learning experiences of my life. Each day challenged me to think like a doctor, not just in terms of medical knowledge but also teamwork, empathy, and handling pressure. Here is what I experienced:
Day 1: Not the First Time in Scrubs
On the first day, I was placed in a group of ten and introduced to Stop the Bleed training. We then moved into two patient simulations, including one with asthma, where we had to divide up roles, communicate clearly, and keep track of everything on the whiteboard.
This July, I had the incredible opportunity to spend part of my summer at Johns Hopkins University for a college level course called the Medical School Intensive. As a high school student dreaming of a future in medicine, being accepted into the program felt surreal, like I was taking my very first steps toward the white coat I have always imagined myself wearing.
Stepping Into Hopkins
Walking onto campus for the first time was exciting and intimidating all at once. Johns Hopkins is world famous for medicine, and I could almost feel the weight of history and discovery in the air. Knowing I was learning in the same place where so many groundbreaking medical advances happened made me even more motivated to give my best.
This week I wrapped up my fifth round of finals in high school. Out of eight total, I’m officially past the halfway mark. And while finals are never easy, this isn’t my first rodeo — and that makes all the difference.
From Stress to Strength
The first time I faced finals, it felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Every test seemed like a do-or-die moment. But five rounds later, I’ve learned something powerful: finals don’t define you — how you prepare, persevere, and bounce back does.
Last week in my Anatomy and Physiology class, we dissected a pig heart. It wasn’t my first time. Over the summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a clinical internship at Stanford, where I also got to work with pig hearts. While the internship gave me a deeper, more technical understanding, this recent dissection felt more relaxed and easier to follow.
This time, I could appreciate the heart’s structures without the pressure of complex clinical terminology. Seeing the atria, ventricles, and valves up close again made it clear how the heart functions as a pump. I remembered the way blood flows through each chamber and how the valves prevent backflow, things I had learned in detail at Stanford but could now explain in simple terms to my classmates.
As an 11th grader, being the Junior Guild President of Emerald City Angels at Seattle Children’s Hospital has been nothing short of an incredible experience. Leading this amazing group of people has not only taught me about leadership and collaboration but has also allowed me to make a tangible impact on the lives of children and families in our community.
A Mission to Warm Hearts and Homes
Emerald City Angels began with a simple but powerful mission: to bring comfort and support to children undergoing treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital. From handmade blankets and hats to financial contributions, our efforts aim to ease some of the challenges families face during these difficult times.
Junior year is no joke. The second school starts, it feels like you’re buried in homework, tests, and prep for standardized tests like the SAT and PSAT. With college on the horizon, the pressure is intense, and managing everything can feel overwhelming.
First Week Chaos
The first few days of school are a whirlwind. You start thinking you’ve got it under control, but soon realize that the workload is insane. Between AP classes, extracurriculars, and daily homework, it’s hard to even catch your breath.
