Hi, I'm Zoya! I'm a senior at the University of Maryland studying Neuroscience on the pre-med track, with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation. I serve as a teaching assistant for public policy courses, lead community health initiatives focused on youth emergency preparedness, and am on the board of a student-led think tank. Outside of academics, I love playing guitar and tennis, baking, and spending time with friends. I'm excited to share what I've learned during my time at UMD and help new Terps make the most of their college experience!

Hometown

Burtonsville, Maryland

Major(s)

Neuroscience

Minor(s)

Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Terrapin Think Tank; Hearts for the Homeless (H4H); Club Tennis

Describe your college experience

My transition to college was both exciting and overwhelming. As a pre-medical student, I came to UMD with a pretty clear idea of what I thought college was supposed to look like: focus on my classes, earn my degree, and check off all of the typical pre-medical requirements. Over time, though, my experience became much more than that. I found interests outside of my major, became involved in programs and communities I never would have anticipated joining, and met professors, mentors, and other students who encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone. Some of my most meaningful experiences have come from saying yes to opportunities I initially wasn't sure I was ready for, whether that meant teaching other students, taking on leadership roles, or turning an idea I cared about into a community project. UMD has taught me that college isn't just about preparing for the person I want to become after graduation. It's also a place where I can discover who that person is by trying things, figuring out what I do and don't like, making mistakes, and growing along the way.

Tip for future students

My biggest tip for future students is to keep an open mind and be willing to let your plans change. You might come into college with a clear idea of what you want to study, what you want to be involved in, or even what you want to do after graduation, but don't let that plan stop you from exploring something that interests you. Take the class that has nothing to do with your major, join the organization you never pictured yourself joining, or try something simply because you're curious about it. You owe it to yourself to discover what you do and don't like. You never know when something you try on a whim might become one of your biggest passions or even change what you want to do in the future.

Favorite class

My favorite class at UMD has been PLCY380: Innovation and Social Change: Do Good Now. In this class, I learned how to take an issue I cared about, understand it through research and conversations with the people affected, and turn that understanding into a social impact project. What I loved most was being challenged to move beyond identifying problems and instead ask, what can I actually do about this? That experience gave me the confidence to later take an entirely different idea of my own and turn it into a real community project outside of the classroom. PLCY380 showed me that I didn't have to wait until after college to make a meaningful impact with what I was learning. I could start now.

Career goals

After college, I hope to pursue an MD​/​MPH and eventually become a physician who works at the intersection of medicine and public health. I love the idea of being able to care for individual patients while also thinking about the larger systems and policies that shape their health outside of the doctor's office.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night is going out to dinner with friends, then heading back to one of our apartments, and watching a couple of movies together.

High school or secondary school

Paint Branch High School

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite place on campus is the Adele H. Stamp Student Union. I love Stamp because it feels like one of the few places on campus where almost every part of student life comes together. I can go there to study or get work done, grab food with friends, attend an event, play pool, go bowling, or simply just take a break between classes. I think Stamp captures a lot of what I love about UMD: there is always something going on and always an opportunity to feel connected to the campus community.