Could you tell us a little bit about your educational background?

I completed my undergraduate education at BYU in Provo, Utah, where I majored in Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology with a minor in Family Life. After taking a gap year, I applied to genetic counseling programs and was matched here at KGI.

What first got you interested in the healthcare field as a career choice? There are a lot of career options in the field -nursing, physician assistant, etc., what made you decide that genetic counseling was the right practice area/career choice for you?

One of my favorite things has always been having meaningful conversations with other individuals. I love to get to the heart of things and leave a conversation with both parties feeling better than they did before. I have also been passionate about the life sciences (genetics in particular) for as long as I can remember. Genetic counseling allows me to exercise many of my strongest passions; I will get to help individuals learn and make important decisions that will potentially impact the rest of their lives.

What type of obstacles have you had to overcome on the road to getting your education and in particular in pursuing your Genetic Counseling degree?

Like almost everyone else on this planet, COVID has had a significant impact on my life’s course. Not only did the pandemic wreak havoc on my wedding plans, but it also prevented me from completing an international research internship with which I had been awarded for the summer of 2020. Revamping my life plans seriously altered my timeline for going to grad school. However, it also enabled me to learn more about myself and solidify what I value and what I want to accomplish throughout my life.

What are you most looking forward to about beginning your Genetic Counseling studies?

I am so excited to learn everything I’ll need to know to do what I’ve dreamed of doing for so long! Genetic counseling has been my goal for the past five years, so simply being here and getting to know so many amazing people in such an amazing field has been a wish come true.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I love creating just as much as I love science. Whether it’s cooking, drawing, painting, or making music, I am always looking for something new to stretch my creative muscles!