It seems time passes quicker in the Swamp... I've already completed my first semester at the University of Florida! Walking around campus was overwhelming at first, but this school is beginning to feel like home. All of my professors and the faculty I've had the opportunity to interact with have been so welcoming and have a genuine desire to help students like myself make the most of this college experience. Though I've been an official college student for about four months, I can already see my usually introverted self branching out; there are so many opportunities to connect with brilliant and passionate individuals that I don't want to slip by.
Entering college, I had the intentions of becoming a physical therapist but was still keeping my options open. Almost immediately, my notion of what I wanted my life/career to look like became intensely blurry. My Introduction to Health Professions course with Dr. Blue enabled me to hear firsthand about a myriad of careers in healthcare from practitioners themselves. Some careers I could rule out quickly, but I found I was interested in many more careers than I had initially envisioned, including those concerning public health, nutrition, and medicine. To add to my uncertainty (but also gave me insight), the Research & Creativity course with Professor Spooner revealed the enormity of a career in research. Speakers from vastly different fields, such as linguistics, food science, classics--to name a few--presented their current position and the journey that got them there. As unique as each story was, ubiquity in their paths was undeniable: their routes were often serpentine--even, at times, circular. One of my biggest takeaways as I continue to navigate my own trail is that I must embrace every checkpoint and the time and space between; it's completely normal--and can actually be beneficial--to not have a destination in mind or to have an endpoint that changes. One of the books I read this semester, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (by David Epstein), reiterated the importance of not becoming discouraged by one's nonlinear path and the danger of comparison to those we perceive as highly successful. Through personal histories and anecdotes of "successful" individuals, I was reminded to pursue the activities and experiences I am interested in--even if they may not align with a certain pre-professional "track". While it may seem counterintuitive to participate in non-pre-health activities as a student interested in working in healthcare, these experiences can expand my overall mindset and skillset. I have joined Florida Club Gymnastics and Global Medical Missions Alliance (GMMA), two organizations I've enjoyed greatly thus far, but I am still seeking new organizations and experiences to enhance my college experience.
As a freshman, I think it is particularly important for me to recognize that the foggy path before me that may seem like it will be overwhelmingly off-target, incorrect, and ultimately lead to a dead end, truly won't be as unmanageable as I think. It may be convoluted, it may be hazy, it may be rocky... but I'm excited to take my next steps.
From left to right: Volunteering with GMMA at a Habitat for Humanity construction site; Football game (Go Gators!); Florida Club Gymnastics Flips for Tips Fundraiser (Team flips at different tailgates to raise money for National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs (NAIGC) Nationals)
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