Past & Present: Stethoscopes and Spatulas ('09)

Q: What do you think of your time at MV?

A: I always joke with my friends that I worked my hardest in high school.[...] Med school too, obviously, don’t get me wrong it’s hard work, but Monta Vista was intense. Like, we juggled everything. In one day you could have three exams, then after school you have your sports, and then it’s just crazy - and you’re getting up at 7am, your classes start at 7:30, whereas in college you can sleep in until like 10 somedays. So looking back, hats off to all the high school students, you know, you guys work so hard. [...] But looking back too, what do I remember? I don’t remember really getting that good grade, or not getting that good grade, or beating myself up over losing a tennis match. I would remember float building, those days as a class officer we would work together, rallies, stuff that were fun, and really helped us bond as students. That’s the stuff that sticks with you. I think if I were to talk to my high school self, I would say, don’t undervalue your relationships with your friends, really develop that with your friends and family. You’re never too busy to connect with them, and even though it might seem pointless in the moment, like “oh my gosh I’m wasting hours making a poster for club day,” it really is that kind of stuff that will stick with you. It’s also to not be afraid of pursuing the things you love. Everyone in high school, myself included, we always feel this obligation to check all the boxes, “oh, I have to have community service, I have to do leadership,” whatever, but within all of that, don’t lose sight of what you love. If you have a passion go for it. If you want to start something, go for it. Because as long as you are doing something you love, you can’t go wrong, and if that mentality sticks with you in high school, in college and beyond, I think you can have a really rewarding career.

Q: What’s one song to describe your time at MV?

A: “Complicated” by Avril Lavigne cause why you gotta go and make stuff so complicated?

Q: What are you doing now?

A: Now I am in the midst of my ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. I’m actually starting my last year, so super exciting, cause we get to do all the surgeries [...] just doing the medicine things and zooming in on the eyeball, becoming a microsurgeon.

Q: Since MV, what have you been up to?

A: I went to college at Brown, did a combined B.A M.D program, and spent 8 years at Providence, Rhode Island. [...] Looking back, I encourage every Californian to spend some time outside of California, to see what it’s like outside [...] Met some of my closest friends in college, and Brown was really great [...] the 8 year program called PLME, (Program in Liberal Medical Education), they emphasize developing a well-rounded undergraduate experience, and taking courses outside of biology and the traditional medicine route. So I took a lot of art history classes, some cool theater classes [...] And then senior year, actually, hats off to Monta Vista, I had enough AP Credits from MV to graduate a semester early, and so in that semester, I did research in a lab, but my true passion was actually baking. I started a baking business with my twin sister, who was also there, and we catered special events to support the various student groups on campus. We would hold bake sales selling macarons and cupcakes [...] It was a lot of fun, and hopefully some day, I joke that I’ll return to my baking business with my sister and we will generate enough diabetes to keep our eye clinics alive with diabetic retinopathy.

Q: What do you want your future to look like? Will you start up an actual bakery?

A: That’s my ultimate dream, I always imagine having my clinic and then right next to it I have my bakery. [...] I think everyone at MV has so many hobbies and talents outside of pure academics, so if we’re really able to pursue both the fun stuff and the work stuff, I think that would be like the dream. In terms of work, I do want to be number one as a clinician, taking care of patients, but I think I’d still want to be involved in the academic medical community, give back by doing research and teaching.