Hometown: Wyoming, Ohio
High School: Covington Latin School
College: Kent State University '15 (currently taking a gap year)
Major: Integrated Life Sciences (Pre-Medicine)
Summer Program: Science course, Summer@Brown
Why did you choose your summer program?
At the time, I wanted to get a taste of learning science in a slightly more intense setting than the high school setting to attempt to figure out if science was what I wanted to pursue going into college. (and Providence, Rhode Island wasn't a bad place to do such a thing!)
What is your favorite memory from your summer program?
Of course the class I took was excellent, but the friends I made while at Brown really made the experience for me. My roommate was from China and a couple good friends were from Turkey, and apart from the international diversity, the American students were from everywhere across the country. Just this diverse set of peers and the conversations that ensued were truly wonderful. Also, Brown's cafeteria has an ice cream machine and waffles all the time - I have to say, the food-art created and subsequently consumed that week was world-class. Exploring the college town of Providence was rather blissful as well. Oh, and we may or may not have left a laundry detergent stain in the laundry room of Emma Watson's dorm.
Why did you decide to become a Fellow?
I decided to become a Fellow in hopes of being able to share my experiences and perhaps instill a little bit of wisdom in potential scholars and younger alumnae. The JIF community is quite the unique group of young women with wonderful ambitions and much potential, and I hope to be able to encourage all of y'all to allow your dreams to come to fruition!
What do you like best about JIF?
JIF provides life-changing opportunities to bright young women who would not be able to take advantage of such opportunities if not for the foundation. Spending a few weeks at a top-notch school during a high school summer is an opportunity that many high school students would love to do - however, many of us wrote off such a chance due to the high price of these programs, and if it weren't for JIF, we would not have gone. JIF invests in the potential of young women who may not have the circumstantial advantages or benefits as some of our peers, and provides support - financial and otherwise - as we tackle college and life!
How did JIF affect who/where you are today?
Although I was lucky in that my parents knew much (annoyingly much, actually) about college apps and admissions and they did everything they could to build my confidence and encourage me to go to a good school, the JIF showed me that I could compete with my peers and that I truly wanted to surround myself with a diverse set of highly aspiring peers who loved to learn - a desire that has manifested itself in awesome experiences, friends, and communities.
If you could give any advice to a potential JIF Scholar about anything regarding this experience, what would you say?
If you are weary of feeling inadequate among potential peers at a top school and about jumping into a setting where you know no one - fear not! Students at top schools are just as human and imperfect as you, and being around people you do not know is a rather liberating experience! Also, if nothing else, apply - you've got nothing to lose by putting yourself out there, and you may surprise yourself!
If you'd like to contact Jessica, email her at jchan2@kent.edu.
Comments
Post a Comment