Connecting
Connection became one of the most defining parts of my experience at UW. Through facilitating discussions, collaborating with peers, and working directly with students and patients, I began to understand that learning and care do not happen in isolation. The relationships I built through these experiences shaped not only my sense of belonging, but also how I approach leadership, communication, and support. Whether in classrooms, workshops, or healthcare spaces, I learned that meaningful impact often begins with making people feel seen, heard, and understood.
Honors Peer Facilitator
Walking into the classroom on the first day as a Peer Facilitator, I remember arriving early with everything prepared, cookies out, slides ready, a mental checklist running through my head, but still feeling nervous. I kept wondering whether the students would connect with me, enjoy the class, or feel comfortable opening up. But as students began arriving and talking about their excitement and anxieties surrounding college, I saw myself in them. That moment reminded me how much my own time at UW had shaped me, not just academically, but personally.
This role became my first real opportunity to guide students through the same uncertainty I once experienced. I wanted the classroom to feel supportive and approachable, balancing practical advice with opportunities for reflection and genuine connection.
Through facilitating discussions, planning activities, and adapting classes in real time based on the group’s energy and needs, I developed skills in leadership, communication, and thinking on my feet.
More importantly, this experience changed how I understood mentorship. I learned that being a leader is not about having every answer prepared, but about creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and comfortable enough to engage honestly. Balancing being relatable while still guiding students taught me how impactful empathy and connection can be in helping people navigate unfamiliar spaces.
LiveWell Body Project Facilitator
As a Body Project Facilitator, I helped lead a 4-week prevention-based educational group centered around increasing body acceptance and decreasing body dissatisfaction. Through guided discussions and activities, we worked with students to confront and challenge the appearance ideals constantly reinforced through society and social media. Rather than functioning as a therapy group, the Body Project focused on creating open conversations that encouraged reflection, critical thinking, and collective support.
What stood out to me most was how vulnerable and honest people became once they realized they were not alone in these experiences. Facilitating conversations around body image taught me how deeply social pressures can shape the way people see themselves, often in ways they do not fully recognize. At the same time, it showed me how powerful community and dialogue can be in helping people rethink those beliefs.
This experience also changed how I understood support and education. The goal was never just to make participants “feel better” temporarily, but to encourage them to actively question and push back against harmful societal norms. Through activities, discussions, and reflection exercises, we worked toward turning awareness into action. Facilitating these groups reinforced my belief that care can be proactive and empowering, and that meaningful change often begins through conversation, connection, and feeling safe enough to take up space.
Working as a Pharmacy Assistant introduced me to fast-paced and multi-facteted arena of healthcare. Between blister packaging, filing, filling prescriptions, coordinating with pharmacists, and interacting with patients, I learned how much precision, adaptability, and communication are required behind the scenes of patient care.
What impacted me most was seeing the moments where patients needed more than just a prescription, they needed reassurance, clarification, or simply someone willing to slow down and help them navigate confusion. Even in a role centered around logistics and workflow, I began to understand how pharmacies can help bridge the gap between providers and patients by making healthcare feel more accessible and approachable. It reinforced my growing interest in becoming someone who not only understands the science behind medications, but also the people receiving them.
Pharmacy Assistant
