Retrospective Essay
As I prepare to enter medical school, I recognize that my path to becoming a physician has been shaped by more than just academics. Through my experiences in the Honors College, I have developed a strong foundation in academic excellence along with a commitment to engaged learning, personal and social responsibility, and inclusion. From my early Honors contracts to my leadership roles in peer mentorship and student organizations, and my study abroad experiences exploring healthcare systems in different countries, I have grown into a more confident, adaptable, and community-focused individual. These experiences have prepared me to approach medicine not only as a science, but as a field centered on understanding and serving diverse populations.
First Honors Contract - Fall 2022
Most Recent Honors Contract - Spring 2025 (Linked to image)
Growth Through Honors Contracts
My Honors contracts reflect how I have grown from a timid first-year student in H-200 into a more confident and creative learner. As a freshman, I often stayed within my comfort zone and approached assignments in the most traditional way. My first Honors contract, a research paper on biomedical 3D printing, challenged me to engage more deeply with academic material.
Beyond strengthening my academic skills, this first Honors contract also marked the beginning of a mentorship that has been incredibly influential in my college experience. What started as a classroom interaction developed into a supportive and encouraging relationship that pushed me to challenge myself academically and personally. Having a mentor who believed in my abilities helped me move beyond the hesitation I felt as a first-year student and become more confident in sharing my ideas and pursuing new opportunities. This guidance played a key role in my willingness to take creative risks in later projects.
This growth is especially evident when comparing my first Honors contract to my most recent work. While my initial project followed a more traditional research format, my study abroad e-portfolio represents a shift toward more creative and reflective learning. Through this project, I was able to integrate academic content with personal experience, using visuals, writing, and analysis to present a more comprehensive understanding of global health. This transition reflects not only an increase in confidence, but also a stronger ability to think critically about how I learn best and how to communicate complex ideas in more engaging ways.
Over time, my approach to learning became more independent and innovative. While many Honors contracts take the form of traditional papers, my most recent contract (a public health study abroad e-portfolio) allowed me to present my learning through photos, reflections, and interdisciplinary connections. My willingness to move beyond a standard paper and create a more dynamic project is evidence that my work achieves the IUI Honors College goal of engaged learning, as I actively sought out new ways to connect my academic experiences to real-world contexts. Together, these projects demonstrate not only my academic growth, but also my increasing confidence in taking initiative and shaping my own learning.
Growth Through Opportunities
My involvement in Honors opportunities has allowed me to grow into a confident leader and mentor while deepening my commitment to supporting others. Through the Honors Peer Mentor Program (HPMP), I experienced this growth firsthand as I transitioned from a mentee in my first semester to a mentor, and eventually to a mentor leader. What began as a program that helped me adjust to college became an opportunity to guide others through the same transition. One of my most meaningful experiences was watching one of my own mentees grow into a mentor and eventually a mentor leader, reinforcing the impact of mentorship and the importance of fostering supportive communities. As a mentor leader, I further developed my leadership skills by guiding a group of mentors and presenting our program to university leadership, including deans and the chancellor.
In addition to HPMP, my role as an H-200 teaching assistant for five semesters allowed me to take on a more direct role in shaping the first-year Honors experience. Through leading class sessions, mentoring students one-on-one, and helping organize programming and training, I developed strong communication and leadership skills while creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment. My involvement in Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma (ALDPES) further strengthened these skills, as I served as vice president and later as a student advisor, helping guide other students into leadership roles.
Through these leadership experiences, I also began to develop my own approach to mentorship and leadership. I learned that being an effective leader is not just about providing guidance, but about creating an environment where others feel supported, heard, and confident in their own abilities. This became especially meaningful as I worked closely with both my mentees and fellow mentors, adapting my approach to meet different needs and personalities. Presenting the impact of HPMP to university leadership further reinforced the value of these experiences, as it allowed me to reflect on how mentorship contributes not only to individual growth, but to the strength of the Honors community as a whole. These moments pushed me to step further outside of my comfort zone and take on responsibilities that I would not have initially seen myself pursuing as a first-year student.
My continued commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community-building is evidence that my work achieves the IUI Honors College goals of personal and social responsibility and inclusion, as I have actively worked to support, guide, and create opportunities for others within the Honors community. These experiences demonstrate my growth not only as a leader, but as someone dedicated to uplifting others and contributing to a collaborative and inclusive environment.
Speaking with HPMP mentees - Fall 2025
Helping with the Honors Open House with Dean Kristina Sheeler - Fall 2025
Presenting the IU Indy Chapter at the ALD National Conference in Denver, CO - Fall 2023
Study Abroad in Uvita, Costa Rica - Spring 2023
Study Abroad in London, UK - Spring 2024
Growth Through Experiences
My study abroad experiences have played a significant role in shaping my perspective on healthcare and my future goals in medicine. Through three distinct programs, I was able to explore global health from different angles while growing more confident in navigating unfamiliar environments. My first experience in Uvita, Costa Rica in spring 2023 introduced me to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of sustainability in addressing global challenges. As my first time studying abroad (and traveling out of the country), this experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me begin to see health as something influenced by environmental, social, and economic factors.
I continued to build on this perspective during my time in London in spring 2024, where I studied public health and examined the history and structure of healthcare systems, including the work of John Snow. This experience deepened my understanding of how public health initiatives can shape entire populations and reinforced the importance of prevention and accessibility in healthcare. Most recently, my study abroad experience in Oslo and Stockholm in summer 2025 further expanded my knowledge of global health systems while allowing me to independently reflect on these concepts through my Honors contract e-portfolio. Comparing different healthcare models across countries helped me recognize both the strengths and limitations of each system, while also strengthening my ability to think critically about healthcare on a global scale.
Beyond academic learning, these experiences also challenged me to grow personally by adapting to new environments and engaging with cultures different from my own. Navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems and social norms required me to become more open-minded, observant, and willing to ask questions, even when I felt uncertain. Each experience pushed me further outside of my comfort zone, building my confidence in both academic and real-world settings. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the role that culture, policy, and access play in shaping health outcomes, reinforcing the idea that effective healthcare extends beyond individual patient interactions. These moments not only strengthened my independence, but also helped me develop a more empathetic and informed perspective on the diverse communities I hope to serve in my future career.
These experiences not only broadened my academic interests, but also helped me clarify my future goals. My growing interest in public health is evidence that my work achieves the IUI Honors College goal of engaged learning, as I have actively connected my academic studies to real-world global health issues. As a result of these experiences, I am now interested in pursuing a dual MD/MPH degree, allowing me to combine clinical practice with a broader focus on population health. Together, these study abroad programs have shaped me into a more globally aware and thoughtful future healthcare professional.
Study Abroad in Oslo, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden - Summer 2025 (photo taken in Oslo)
As I prepare to begin medical school, I recognize that my experiences in the Honors College have shaped me into more than just a strong student. They have prepared me to become a thoughtful and well-rounded future physician. Through my academic work, leadership roles, and study abroad experiences, I have developed the skills and perspective necessary to approach medicine with a commitment to serving others. These experiences have taught me the importance of mentorship, adaptability, and understanding healthcare beyond the clinical setting.
As I move forward, I hope to continue building on these foundations by pursuing a dual MPH degree, allowing me to integrate clinical practice with a broader focus on public health. I am especially motivated to work with diverse populations and to better understand the social and structural factors that impact health outcomes. The Honors College has not only prepared me for the academic rigor of medical school, but has also shaped the way I think about learning, leadership, and service. I enter this next chapter with a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to becoming a physician who values empathy, collaboration, and lifelong learning.