I entered college freshman year with a plan. I was going to take the MCAT during the summer of my sophomore year, finish my undergraduate degree in three years with a perfect 4.0, and fulfill my dream of being a surgeon. But along the way, I started to doubt if this is what I really wanted. At times, I felt like I didn’t fit within my major, and I was just checking off boxes for my future medical school application.
During the fall semester of my sophomore year, I began exploring Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) opportunities with Lauren Roberts in the USF Office of National Scholars (ONS). I remember looking at programs for STEM research in New England together, wondering if it was what I really wanted. It just didn’t seem like the right fit, so I decided to explore something different.
I began working with Lauren Chambers, the Fulbright Program Advisor at ONS, to find opportunities that better suited my interests. Leading up to this meeting, I had conducted independent research on food deserts in Tampa Bay, relating it to public health and gentrification. Ms. Chambers encouraged me to apply this research to the Undergraduate Humanities Conference, and it was accepted for panel presentation. Ms. Chambers then recommended the Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program because she thought it fit my newfound humanities interest.
Finding Fulbright
Many people have heard of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program or the Scholar Program for faculty, but the Fulbright UK Summer Institute Program is only for first- and second-year undergraduate students. Selected participants spend a month at an institution in the United Kingdom, immersing themselves academically and socially. Each institute has themes surrounding culture in the United Kingdom including history, art, justice, power, and identity.
Through the conversations and experiences of my first year, I discovered a passion for community issues, advocacy, public health, and identity. The Fulbright U.K. Summer Institute at the University of St Andrews focused on similar concepts, such as the image and identity of the Scottish soldier, the Scottish monarchy, and medieval Scottish history. I already had interest in Celtic and Bronze age history and the diaspora of Irish and Scottish immigrants from growing up in Boston. However, my biomedical sciences major was so radically different from the program, and I doubted I would be selected.
Despite these doubts, Ms. Chambers and Dr. Sayan Basu, director of ONS, worked with me to structure my application, highlighting my personal connection to the program’s themes. Both were instrumental in guiding my writing and helping me tell my story effectively.
Soon after, I was invited to interview for the Fulbright UKSI program, and we began preparing with sample questions. They conducted multiple mock interviews and provided consistent support throughout the process. I practiced each mock interview in the same room where my official interview took place, which helped make me less nervous about the interview environment.
Shaping the Path in Scotland
I was selected for the Fulbright UKSI program at the University of St Andrews, and I couldn’t have been more excited! During my time in Scotland, I got to learn more about Scottish identity, talk with professors, and gain a global perspective. I had never been out of North America before this experience, and being immersed in Scottish culture was unique. I learned so much about the country, but even more about myself.
Coming back from the program, I was fascinated by the relationship between the U.S. and the U.K., so I took Judy Genshaft Honors College Professor Ralph Wilcox’s seminar on the U.S.-U.K. special relationship. During the course, I wrote a comparative case study paper where I analyzed firearm legislation in the U.S. and the U.K. through modern history and policy. Currently, I am continuing this interest by analyzing the health care models of the U.S. and the U.K.
Eventually, my research and experiences connected, and I realized I want to teach in higher education. I have served as an Honors College Peer Mentor and Peer Mentor Lead for the past three years teaching a first-year seminar course, Honors Foundations. I developed a passion for connecting with students, educating, and advocating for others. I gained so much through my Fulbright UKSI program; it makes me excited to see my students applying for and receiving similar opportunities.
If I had any advice for students, it would be this: let your plan adapt and grow. USF and the Honors College have so many opportunities waiting for eager students. Don’t be afraid to change the plan — you never know where it may carry you.