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

I received my undergraduate degree in Biopsychology from UCSB in 2019.

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?

Since I was young, I have always been very interested in psychology. I always knew I needed a career where I was talking to and helping people, and seeing my impact directly bettering people’s lives. Once I got to college, I grew a strong interest in biology, especially neuroscience. I am very passionate about health care and strongly believe that by adding empathy to our interactions, we can improve many aspects of health care. I found, through all my experiences, that genetic counseling is the perfect career for me!

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?

Genetic counseling programs are very competitive, and I found it difficult not to compare myself to other applicants during the process. I needed to keep in mind that I have many strengths and unique working experiences. I learned a lot about health care in my role working at a neurology clinic. During the application process, I gained a lot of confidence in myself and found the experience very fulfilling! I am so grateful to be where I am today.

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

I am very excited to learn more about how genetic counselors can influence policy making. I can hardly wait to be in different clinic rotations and connect with different kinds of genetic counselors.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

Before coming to KGI, I took a spontaneous month-long road trip across the US. I was by myself most of the time and had to overcome the fears of camping alone. I love hiking and traveling, and definitely want to do more trips in the future!