NCCC Success Story

Where is your hometown?
Columbus, Ohio

What was your RIT/NTID degree program and graduation date?
Two Bachelors’ in Biomedical Sciences and Applied Spanish Language, Spring 2025

What is your preferred language of use: ASL, Spoken English, Both or another language?
Both, I also know Spanish and a little bit of LSM (Mexican sign language)

What was your high school experience like? Were you mainstreamed, the only deaf person in the class, or were you enrolled with deaf classmates?
I was in a mainstream high school where I occasionally had classes with one other hard of hearing student. During senior year I cross-registered at Ohio State University so I was the only deaf student in all of my classes.

What was your college search process like, and what made you choose RIT/NTID?
I applied to 9 different colleges and was accepted to 7. I had to decide between The Ohio State University where I’d gotten a full tuition scholarship, or RIT/NTID where I was accepted into the BS/MD program partnership with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. I ultimately chose RIT/NTID due to the peace of mind of knowing where I would be attending medical school and for the benefit of improving my ASL and connections with the Deaf community.

What made RIT a good fit for you?
I think that getting involved was what ended up making it all click together. I was able to join the e-board for the Beekeeping club and No Voice Zone, as well as join the Ballroom club and Latin Rhythm Dance club. I also became a resident advisor in Mark Ellingson hall. Extracurriculars combined with the support of a large deaf community on-campus is what has made my time at RIT a great experience overall.

Are there any unique benefits gained at RIT/NTID that you could not find elsewhere?
I was able to try requesting interpreters for my classes so I could learn if I would benefit from this accommodation and that has been one of the most helpful aspects of RIT/NTID. Not only did I notice a marked decrease in listening fatigue, but I was also able to improve my ASL skills immensely and communicate better with my deaf peers.

What were your peers like at RIT/NTID?
I have a mix of deaf and hearing peers in all of my classes. I think RIT gave me the unique experience of having both deaf and hearing classmates without sacrificing academic rigor or my pre-medical goals.

Were you involved with any extracurricular activities on campus?
I was the assistant vice president of the beekeeping club my freshman year and then become the club’s president for the years after. I also got involved as a teacher for No Voice Zone my Junior year before going on study abroad and then became one of the student coordinators my senior year. I’ve also had the pleasure of dancing with the Ballroom Dance club and Latin Rhythm Dance club. Outside of clubs, I’ve been a resident advisor in Mark Ellingson hall for the past 2 years and worked as a resident advisor over summer 2024.

What is your career goal?
I will attend SUNY Upstate Medical University starting Fall 2025 with an expected graduation date of Spring 2029. I then hope to complete a residency in primary care and/or obstetrics/gynecology.

If possible, what one word would you use to describe your time at RIT/NTID?
Eye-opening

What was your co-op employer name and location? What was your position at your co-op and what were the role’s responsibilities?
I have completed 5 co-ops in total between high school and college.

1. Hillman Academy at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Summer 2019 doing research on localization of checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) in the nucleus of transfected U2OS cells.
2. Independent Audiology Research Project, Summer 2020 studying the acoustic attenuation of face masks and its impacts on audio quality after submitting unsolicited project proposal to Phonak and received a project award inclusive of funding and mentorship.
3. University of Tennessee at Knoxville Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU), Summer 2021 conducting research on various genes in prostate cancer cell lines through PCR and RNA isolation of cell culture.
4. University of Massachusetts Amherst Research Experience for Undergraduate students (REU), Summer 2022 conducting research on soil microbial interactions with B. distachyon root systems, as well as characterization of genes through sodium azide (NaN) lines.
5. University of Massachusetts Amherst Research Experience for Undergraduate students (REU), Summer 2023 further characterization of genes through sodium azide (NaN) lines and studied the effects of blue light photocycles and thermocycles on B. distachyon growth.

How did your studies at RIT/NTID prepare you for your co-op?
My coursework in basic biology, chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology prepared me to read academic publications and understand my research projects more fully.