Exploring Academic Pathways: A Conversation with Sarah

Exploring Academic Pathways: A Conversation with Sarah

With Sarah’s busy schedule of work, studying, and homework, I was able to find some time to catch up with her and talk about what her experience was like being a Biology major. Sarah is currently a first-year student affiliated with College Nine at UCSC. When I first met her, the thing that stuck out the most to me was how casual and friendly she was. During the interview she was no different, she showed up in a comfy outfit of a pair of jeans and a grey hoodie. Her outfit is quite ironic considering she was an ambitious student with plans to enter the medical world. Our dialogue ventured into her upbringing, her driving forces, and the hurdles she encountered along her educational journey.

What was your childhood like?

Sarah's roots trace back to a small town called Kerman, hidden right outside of Fresno. Although her formative years were not a large deciding factor as to why she chose to be a Biology major, it was really interesting hearing the stories of her childhood. Sarah grew up the middle child in a large family, she has six other siblings, four sisters and two brothers. As a child she was very close with her siblings, playing with them, going on adventures around the neighborhood, and putting on dance shows for their parents.

Have you always wanted to be a Biology major?

"I was largely undecided," Sarah admits, reflecting on her early career aspirations. However, as the final year of high school approached, she found herself pressured to make a choice. "I remember enjoying my biology classes and I found them very interesting too," she shares, "So I decided on majoring in Biology, intending to join the medical field in the future." Despite the uncertainty that loomed over her decision, Sarah's choice seems to be the right one for her.

What do you find so interesting about Biology?

Sarah's love for biology comes from her inner child and curiosity to unravel the mysteries of the human body. "I’ve always been curious as to what was happening in my body," she explains. "I also loved working with kids, so combining the two, I decided that I wanted to be a pediatrician." Her love for children and curiosity about the body merged together and biology seemed like the perfect major for her to study.

Are there any challenges you face being a Biology major?

Besides the basic concerns of learning about the material and studying. She revealed how lonely she felt being a Biology major. “I want to make more friends so we could help each other,” she says as she talks about the difficulties of her life. “Also comparing myself to the other students is really bad for me too,” she shares, “I’ve never been super smart, so I’ve always had to struggle with learning the material. It's just really hard to see other smarter students spend a quarter of the time I do with school work.” For Sarah, she sometimes feels that she isn’t “enough” and isn’t cut out for the major. She goes on to say that since everyone is competing for the same spots at med school, she feels a need to compare herself to the other students to assess her competition for med school. 

What is daily life like for you?

“It’s really sad sometimes,” she says letting out a little chuckle. 

How so?

“It's like what I said earlier, I wish I had more friends to talk about bio things with,” she shares. Although Sarah has friends, she doesn't have many who are in the same major as her. So she doesn’t have many people to talk to about classes, homework, and tests. With juggling her work life and academic life, she barely gets much free time and is very stressed all the time. Her weekends are often filled with her sleeping in or catching up on assignments. 

Do you have any hobbies to take away some of your stress?

“I used a lot, when I had more time,” she says, “But with my work and schoolwork, I barely find time to do anything.” As a kid, Sarah loved playing soccer, but after coming to UCSC, she hasn't found any time to play. With most of her day spent in her dorm, she recently picked up a new hobby of croqueting. She also enjoys singing and doing arts and crafts in her scarce free time. 

What is your plan for the future?

Looking ahead, Sarah outlines her short-term and long-term aspirations within biology. She plans on getting more on hand experience with medicine and biology. Over the summer, she wants to get some clinic hours and maybe find some research opportunities. “I haven’t done anything yet and it's really stressing me out seeing everyone with research internships,” she shares. For the long term, she hopes to finish all her schooling by 29. “If all goes well and I take no gaps years and get into med school first try,” she says. Having kids also also a large concern for her, she doesn’t want to be too old, but with schooling taking her until 30 almost, she just hopes to have kids in her early to mid-30s. 

As our conversation draws to a close, it's evident that Sarah's journey as a biology major is defined by resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to bring positive change. Despite the obstacles that lie ahead, her ambition serves as a guiding beacon, illuminating her path toward med school and being a pediatrician. With each challenge she faces and every triumph she celebrates, Sarah continues to chart her course toward a future filled with boundless opportunities and endless possibilities.

Stanley Mok