From TV commercials to ads on flyers, the short slogan of “Welcome Home” can be seen across any of WVU’s platforms. A simple, yet comforting greeting to not only incoming freshman, but to all students, alumni, and faculty—as WVU will always be a home to them.
For me, WVU was already home. I grew up in Morgantown; specifically, only five minutes from its downtown campus. From an early age, I knew that it would continue to be my home for college. Growing up, I always had an interest in healthcare and medicine. Throughout high school, I volunteered at local hospitals and shadowed various healthcare professionals spanning across diverse specialties. I even had the opportunity to observe multiple surgeries! From then on, I was adamant on becoming a doctor. That was, until I got to WVU.
To clarify, it wasn’t that starting college changed or diminished my want to go to medical school. In fact, I am still working tirelessly and passionately towards this goal. The thing was that WVU changed was my perception and outlook on career goals in general. The amount of opportunities this institution has to offer is unfathomable. My eyes were opened to so many new paths and experiences that it not only strengthened my desire of becoming a doctor, but it also shed light on a plethora of other career options that were unknown to me before.
Playing on my strengths and general interests, I chose to major in Immunology and Medical Microbiology (IMMB), which is one of the several majors that make up WVU’s School of Medicine. As one can gather from the name, this major is highly specialized and unique. In fact, WVU is one of the few institutions across the nation to offer it as an undergraduate major. Due to the program’s nature of small class sizes, students reap the benefits of having a lot of one-on-one interaction with the professors and researchers in the field, as well as individualized instruction on content and techniques.
This major is, without a doubt, a remarkable preparatory program for any kind of healthcare profession, but its strong emphasis on research offers a whole other side of opportunity. At the start of my second semester of freshman year, I got involved with research outside of my normal classes by working in a lab directed by one of the IMMB faculty members and researchers in the neuroimmunology department. At the onset of seeing current research being done, my mind completely opened to the idea that I could have more than one passion. A passion that is research!
You may be thinking that since I have lost my one, clear-cut path towards a career, that this would cause me newfound stress or anxiety for what the future holds…but it is completely the opposite! I am overjoyed at the fact that my known interests are evolving while others are forming. With this open mindset, I am able to absorb and take advantage of all of the knowledge and opportunities WVU and its faculty have to offer me!
With that being said, I encourage all incoming students to keep your minds open while also finding knowledge and guidance within your professors. Strive to discover and explore all of your passions because WVU may just throw you another one!