Biosketch
Name?
Veronica Kang
College?
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
Major?
Applied Biomedical Science (Major), Public Health (Minor)
Hometown?
Now residing in Dracut, MA
Favorite Hobbies?
Traveling, listening to music, writing
What is your favorite thing about UML?
It would have to be how diverse, open-minded, and supportive that everyone is here, which certainly enhances the interactions and college experience. Moreover, UMass Lowell offers a variety of great programs and resources to utilize as well.
What are your future goals?
After obtaining my Bachelor’s degree, I plan on attending a medical school in order to ultimately become a family medicine doctor, though I am open to other options and opportunities as well.
What has being involved in the RHSA meant to you?
A mentor, a friend, and an older sibling that I never had - that is what the RHSA means to me, and I couldn’t have been any more grateful for such a program to exist. As a first-generation college student, a second-generation American, and the oldest child, I didn’t have a go-to person to guide me growing up. I had to figure out many things on my own, which definitely wasn’t easy. However, the RHSA has allowed me to interact with a larger community of individuals who share experiences similar to my own and open up more opportunities for me to grow as an individual.
Looking back, what advice would you give fellow students?
It may not be easy, and being scared is perfectly normal, but definitely try stepping out of your comfort zone at least from time to time. Every opportunity and experience is valuable in its own way, so taking advantage of whatever you can is essential. I would also like to add on that organization and consistency is key. While it is important to take breaks in between, it is equally important to maintain organization throughout so that you can manage your time accordingly so that things don’t get too stressful later on.
Why did you choose to attend UMass Lowell?
It has many opportunities and resources to utilize, in addition to being close to home.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student?
Being a first-generation college student means a lot to me in the sense that it is a big step that I am taking in order to move forward and take the opportunity that previous generations in my family didn’t have the opportunity to take. Their own resilience and pride to see me in college is what ultimately fuels my motivation to work harder.
What inspires you to want to help first-generation students in the RHSA?
Similar to how I had received a lot of support from the RHSA during my freshman year, I wanted to do the same thing for the incoming RHSA students. I want to help them gain the confidence that they need to achieve their goals without any sort of doubt holding them back. No matter who they are or what kind of background that they come from, everyone deserves an equal opportunity to do their best in college. I want to be their mentor, their friend, and ultimately one of the best go-to support systems that they can get.