Academic
The Biological Sciences major at NC State includes rigorous core classes and a diverse set of electives. I supplemented these courses with unique, thought-provoking Honors Seminars that enriched my education and molded me into a lifelong learner. From freshman to senior year, several courses stood out as particularly interesting and impactful.
Fall '20 - BIO 181
Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity
I spent my first semester at NC State at home due to COVID-19. However, BIO 181 was still an interesting, engaging experience. For the lab, I designed my own experiment, executed it at home, and presented it virtually. My experiment investigated the effectiveness of dry and liquid fertilizers on potted plant growth. This course fostered my creativity, diligence, and resourcefulness. My first college lab will always be memorable since it took place in my front yard!
Passcode: WwWCV0@+
Fall '20 - HON 202
Fiction and the Sciences
This was my first Honors Seminar, and it was a great experience. Even though it was a virtual class, we had meaningful discussions due to the small class size and our engaging professor, Dr. Mainland. The numerous reading and writing assignments helped me acclimate to the rigor of a college education. It also improved my writing skills and sparked an interest in reading for enjoyment. The final paper was the first long essay I wrote in college, and the positive feedback I received gave me confidence and encouragement during an unusual freshman year.
Spring '21 - HON 344
Kantian Ethics
In my second Honors Seminar, I learned extensively about Immanuel Kant’s ethical theory by performing a close reading of his essays, treatises, and books, including The Metaphysics of Morals. Our class fleshed out the details of Kant’s perspective on ethics through short papers and group discussions. This class demonstrated the benefit of pursuing challenging yet interesting courses and exploring things outside of my comfort zone. My final research paper compared deontology and utilitarianism as decision-making models. Years later, I still reflect on the principles I explored in this paper to make better decisions.
Fall '23 - SOC 381
Sociology and Medicine
To prepare for a career in dentistry, I took SOC 381 to learn about public health and how I could make a tangible difference. In this course, I read, discussed, and critically analyzed hundreds of research papers, journal articles, and news reports about disparities in the field of medicine. I gained a thorough and balanced understanding of existing knowledge on health disparities. I learned about problems of the past and present, which further motivated me to be a part of the solution in the future. My last writing assignment investigated the disparity between heart disease and veterans. It was inspired by my dad who served in the Army. I'm grateful I took such a meaningful class as a senior that I'll always reflect on.
Fall '23 - MB 441
Immunology
During my dental internships, I spent a lot of time in the sterilization lab ensuring that instruments were safe to use from patient-to-patient. My work inspired me to take MB 441 as a senior to learn about the importance of sterilization, the danger of pathogens, and the complexity of our immune systems. For the "Choose Your Own Adventure" project, I read The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston, which detailed the research behind incurable diseases, the eradication of smallpox, and the looming threat of biowarfare. This class helped me appreciate my role as a sterilization technician and reinforced the importance of being conscientious at work. I'm excited to take great care of the sterilization lab at my future practice.
