Confidence In and Out of The Classroom
I have gained so much confidence both inside and outside the classroom during my time here, and it's due in part to the experiences I have had and the challenges I have had to overcome.
College:
College of Health
Program(s):
Major:
Population Health
Minor:
Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Hometown:
Canton, CT
Activities:
Lehigh Alliance of Battlebots Safety Captain, Admissions Tour Guide, Student Advisory Council for COH, Kappa Alpha Theta, Computational Uncertainty Lab, Institute for Indigenous Studies
Q: What is one thing you would want a prospective student to know about Lehigh?
A: One thing I would want a prospective student to know at Lehigh is that there are always people willing to support you here. It's really easy to get to college and feel isolated or overwhelmed as you go through the transition, but whether you need academic support or are having a hard time finding your people, there are so many people who feel the same and many more in a variety of settings that are willing to help you. You can easily build such a strong support network here of students, faculty, and staff to help you when you need it.
Q: How has Lehigh prepared you to take on tomorrow’s challenges?
A: If you ask any student about the rigor of their classes here, I think it would be hard to find someone who has found every class they've taken to be easy. Lehigh can be difficult, there's no reason to sugarcoat it. However, I think it can be a blessing in disguise. Since coming here, I have become way better at time management and have been able to tackle many difficult problems with a positive outlook. I have gained so much confidence both inside and outside the classroom during my time here, and it's due in part to the experiences I have had and the challenges I have had to overcome.
Q: How do you balance academics and all of your extracurriculars? Is it common for students to participate in a wide variety of opportunities at Lehigh?
A: Organization is key! I keep a color-coded calendar to keep track of everything I have going on which really helps as I plan out my weeks. The most important thing for me to keep in mind as I get busy is that, above all, I am a student—academics come first. I do my best to stay productive during the course of the week and the weekends so I can take breaks and participate in my extracurriculars. When everything is planned out right, I not only have plenty of time to finish all of my work and attend club meetings, but I also have time to relax in my room, go to the gym, or hang out with my friends. All it takes is a little time management! Lehigh is academically rigorous, but it is rare to find more than a few students who don't participate in much beyond their classes. Everyone here is extremely motivated, and many students have more than one or two extracurricular activities. We have so many clubs, research opportunities, and other extracurriculars (like being a tour guide, for example!) that there is always something to do around campus, and Lehigh students take full advantage of this. It's a great way to meet people outside of your major or residence hall and learn new skills.
Q: What drew you to a major in population health? Can you tell us about your experience in COH so far?
A: I have always been interested in healthcare and public health, so when I was looking at colleges to apply toI looked for programs that fit my interests. I chose population health at Lehigh because of the wide breadth of classes I could take. I have taken quantitative classes like biostatistics and epidemiology classes, but also taken more qualitative courses that taught me about cross-cultural perspectives and community outreach. I really love the College of Health, all of my professors are kind, genuine people who care not only about what they are teaching, but about the well-being of their students. It's also really easy to get involved with things like research or leadership within the college due to the smaller size and openness of the faculty and staff.
Q: You are doing research on campus, can you tell us about that and how you connected with the professor(s)?
A: I first started doing research at Lehigh in August of 2022, when I joined Dr. Thomas McAndrew's Computational Uncertainty Lab. The research is biostatistics-based and involves a lot of coding. Along with many of my peers, I have worked on a project aimed at understanding how the social determinants of health (things like income, education level, and physical environment) impact the health of Allentown residents. This past semester, in October of 2023, I joined the Institute for Indigenous Studies here at Lehigh through Dr. Christine Daley to participate in research surveying alternative tobacco usage (such as e-cigarettes and vaping) in Native American and Indigenous populations in the United States. I met Dr. McAndrew when he was my biostatistics professor and I reached out to him to ask about research after taking classes with him. Already having a relationship with these professors through classes made it easier to connect with them. If you want to do research with a professor, all you have to do is ask!
Q: What is your favorite thing about Lehigh?
A: I think my favorite thing about Lehigh is how many things I have been able to get involved in and experience during my time so far. I've gotten involved in so many clubs, Greek life, research and more. It's allowed me to explore all of my interests and try getting involved in some really cool experiences. For example, last year I went to the United Nations for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and sat in on a full-day session at the UN Headquarters in New York City. There are so many things to do around campus and so many opportunities to go on trips and experience different settings that I am always excited to see what's coming up next! And, of course, the campus is so beautiful! Linderman Library, Packard Lab, and the Alumni Memorial Building are some of my favorite places to see when I walk around campus.
Q: Where is your favorite study spot or place to relax on campus?
A: My absolute favorite study spot on campus is in Wilbur Powerhouse. I spend a lot of time there during the week for robotics meetings (shout out to the Lehigh Alliance of Battlebots!), but it's always a quiet and cool place to get some work done. Plus you can always watch the 3D printers work their magic if you need a break. Being surrounded by so much creativity from the Design Labs makes for an inspiring and motivational study space. There's also plenty of whiteboard space and seating - I highly recommend grabbing a snack or two and settling down in Wilbur when you have some tricky