Sarah strives to understand the human experience. Whether it's through her work in the community or her work as a pre-med student, she will always, undoubtedly, put people first.

Bringing communities together

“My work as a Muslim Youth Connection board member gave me the opportunity to provide a safe space for Muslim youth in the community to discuss not just their religion, but their identity as Muslims in America. While this was not a single time, but rather a culmination of the work I did as a part of this organization. I am never prouder to be a Muslim as I am when I give others a place to express their faith and find answers to their questions. With everything going on in the world, it is easy to get lost in what we see in the media, especially the way Muslims are painted, so it became clear to me how important the work I and others were doing as a part of this organization. This experience also changed me as well, as I grew much closer to my faith and developed a very strong bond with my community.”

Creating safe spaces

“I am a part of the Women in Learning and Leadership organization on campus. One of our annual events is Take Back The Night, which is centered around domestic violence/sexual assault. Taking part in this event and hearing some of the stories of the incredible women who have survived domestic violence/sexual assault has shined a new light on an experience many women share. Giving women the safe space to have this discussion has been incredibly empowering for me and many others. It is never easy to have these kinds of discussions, but the fact that WILL is a safe space for everyone to talk about their experience has made me incredibly proud of the work we do.”

Putting ethics at the forefront of medicine

“I hope to pursue a career in medicine. Most people consider a degree in science to be the standard when applying to medical school, but the health and human services program has helped me develop talents that encompass a wider scope of medicine. Classes like health communication focus on the interaction between patient and physician, as well as how as a physician, I could best communicate distressing news. Medical ethics has introduced me to a whole new side of medicine, one that focuses on the ethics that guide a physician's choices. Other classes such as these study medicine from a wider scope, looking beyond biology and anatomy and more into the human components of medicine. With this program, I can enter medical school with an idea of what makes a good physician, and build upon this during medical school.”