In this past semester at Columbia University, I have begun to settle into a steady routine and make time for my academics, extracurriculars, and social activities. Some highlights included watching tennis matches at the US Open, listening to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia give a talk on Balkan geopolitics, watching a performance of the New York City Ballet, and seeing a Carnegie Hall performance of world-renowned classical pianist, Hélène Grimaud.

As for my academics, I continued taking coursework for the Core Curriculum, my major in Biological Sciences, and my concentration in Public Health. My favorite course was Developmental Biology, where I learned about embryological development, stem cell technologies, and regenerative medicine. Another course that proved to be fairly difficult for me was Hispanic Cultures II, since we were required to analyze, discuss, and write about historical Hispanic texts exclusively in Spanish, and resulted in me writing an academic paper in Spanish for the first time. The course was rewarding though, because I gained confidence in my ability to read, write, speak, and listen to Spanish. I also learned how to code in R and conduct survey-based public health research in my Data Science and Health Equity course.

As for the future, I am still unsure of whether or not a pre-medical path will be right for me, so I will be looking this summer to either gain more clinical experience, intern at a biotech firm, or at a public health organization. However, my plans post-graduation are still up for debate. I want to thank MVYouth for supporting me in my journey at Columbia University, and I hope to represent the organization and the whole Martha’s Vineyard community well in all of my future endeavors.