I majored in Public Health at the University of Rhode Island, where I discovered that there are a lot of hidden gems on campus if you can find the right connections and surround yourself with the right people, which genuinely surprised me. One of the most transformative experiences during my time at URI was the opportunity to study abroad. I spent time in London, England and Sydney, Australia, which also allowed me to travel to Scotland, Belgium, and New Zealand, all within a span of three months. These experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped shape my academic and personal growth.

If there’s one piece of advice I could offer, it would be that it’s okay if you’re not sure what you want to do yet. Take the time to explore different options and areas of interest. Get out of your comfort zone – travel abroad if you can! Outside of academics, I was involved in several organizations. I participated in Sojourn at both URI and Providence College, played intramural tennis my freshman year, served as a URI 101 mentor, worked as a TA for microbiology, and was an Honors Ambassador.

What I appreciated most about URI was that the classes felt relevant and practical for the real world, and the flexibility in course options was paired with amazing, supportive teachers. In the fall, I will be starting my Master of Public Health at Boston University, where I plan to concentrate in either Healthcare Management or Healthcare Policy and minor in Maternal and Child Health.