The Interview

My first article to be published in print, 2021.

As my freshman year comes to an end, I am forced to consider what comes next for me in my college experience. Will I get hired as an EMT? Will I start doing research? Will I keep up those friendships I've worked so hard for over the next two months of separation?

As these questions arise it feels only natural for me to seek guidance from my wonderful College Scholars mentor, Karen Madamba.

Here are Karen's responses to my questions:

Q: What is one thing you wish you knew going into your second year?

A: "This one’s a tough question... But looking back on my second year and difficulties that I’ve had to overcome I think the biggest one was trying to find research opportunities. It probably was harder this past year since many labs were at smaller capacities during the pandemic. But the hardest part for me was actually just knowing where to start. The only resource I knew of was the Psych department’s page on Psych 196A courses which listed 20+ labs. Going through those was incredibly overwhelming and even when I emailed, many said they just weren’t looking for Research Assistants (RAs). But since then I’ve learned that “no openings for RAs” doesn’t mean “We don’t want you.” Stay persistent and keep checking in to show your continued interest! The lab I really wanted to get into left me on read for 2.5 months, but they just got back to me and said they’re accepting applications! So just remember, delays are not denials."

Image of Roadmap book by Roadtrip Nation.

Q: What is one decision that you feel changed your Road Map?

A: "I might be an odd case, but my Roadmap has stayed the same these past few years; I still hope to go into pediatrics! But I can say that my perspective of what it means to be a pediatrician has changed as I took more developmental psychology courses. Also after taking the 1960’s cluster and exploring some humanities courses, realized that I’m passionate about the way social and cultural factors interact with our physical health, and I hope to help underserved communities in order to bridge the gap created by health disparities. So while I’ve stayed in pre-med, I’ve definitely gained more direction and learned about what aspects of medicine really interests me."

Q: As a pre-medical student here at UCLA, how do you balance academics, extracurriculars, and social time?

A: "Honestly, I don’t do it gracefully! I wish I did. But the best way for me to balance my personal and professional life is by using my Passion Planner because it allows me to budget my time while also giving me a place to reflect on my own life. Pre-med is such a difficult path with the sheer amount of material you must learn. Don’t shy away from that and do your best to enjoy learning it (that’ll help you remember the info for when you’re actually treating patients!). But also check-in, be honest with yourself, and know that it’s important to recharge as well."

Janss Steps at UCLA.

Q: What are your top few recommendations of places to go or things to do on campus next year?

A: "HAMMOCK AT JANSS STEPS! UCLA is such a beautiful campus and since we’ve all been cooped up at home, just cherish walking around campus! So while I love staying near Janss inbetween classes, you can’t go wrong just taking a stroll (but admittedly North campus is a lot prettier than South...)

In terms of the Westwood/LA area, I’d say 3rd Street Promenade at Santa Monica is a must. Go to the beach and watch the sunset! I also love getting food at Sawtelle and it’s just a quick bus ride from campus."

Talking with Karen about her experiences and asking for her advice always helps me to feel less alone and less daunted by my Road Map.

Here is a link to Karen's blog if you would like to learn more about her! https://kax2madamba.wixsite.com/hellomynameis