Why did you choose Temple University?
Temple was one of the first colleges I applied to and had the chance to visit.  It was a huge university and I liked its diverse environment.

What originally attracted you to the medical field?
Your health is everything and without it you can't live your life the way you want.  As a physician, I'll be able to give that back to someone and that's something I've always wanted to do.

Which Temple faculty member had the biggest impact on your education? 
I would have to say Dr. Robert Stanley.  He was my first research mentor and the person who guided me the most while here.  He was always there as a mentor and someone I could talk to.

What was your most memorable Temple University moment?  
One of my most memorable moments was during my Undergraduate Research Program experience. I started working on cold-adapted photolyase, an enzyme that is very cold sensitive, and many times while trying to work with it, the results would not be as expected. These moments taught me that you can do something completely right and still fail.  And in research, pressing on after these failures is what must have led to many of the great discoveries we have today.

Do you have any advice for current undergraduates who want to pursue medicine?
I was told once before, "Run your own race."  This phrase helped a lot as a pre-med.  It's so easy to get caught up in what everybody else is doing that you forget to focus on what you are doing.  Everybody has their own path to medicine, so don't compare yourself to others. Instead focus on being the best version of yourself that you can be.

How did it feel to win the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Academic Achievement Award?
It felt great!  I was honored to receive the award, it meant a lot to me.

What's next after graduation? 
After graduation I will be going to medical school at Case Western Reserve University! My dream job is to become a doctor.

Do you have any advice for current students who may be struggling academically?
Don't let one event determine what you want to do with your life.  You are not your circumstance or a grade.  If you look for help and persevere, it's completely possible to turn your situation around.