Biosketch
Name?
Angelina Khiem
College?
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
Major?
Applied Biomedical Sciences (Clinical Science)
Hometown?
Lowell, MA
Favorite hobbies?
Reading webtoons, exercising
What is your favorite thing about UML?
My favorite thing about UML is how it grows every year. New programs and opportunities spring up faster than I can comprehend their existence, but I am excited about how much help, support, and fun is being offered to students every year.
What are your future goals?
My future goals are to develop a better understanding of community needs, problems, and solutions, so that I may be a competent physician in family medicine.
What has being involved with the RHSA meant to you?
Being involved with the RHSA has meant a lot to me. RHSA has helped me develop and improve as a person. It’s given me a lot of the confidence and support to pursue my goals and dreams that I didn’t have when growing up.
Looking back, what advice would you give to yourself in your first year of college?
The advice I would give to myself in my first year of college is to be more sociable and to stop being afraid. It was when I stepped out of my space to talk to others and try new things that I was able to find peace, stabilize my mental health, and feel like myself, so I wish I had started sooner.
What advice would you give fellow students?
The advice I would give to fellow students is to keep your eyes and ears open. There’s so much that goes on at UML that you might miss something here and there. There are opportunities around every corner, so even if something doesn’t work out or you missed out on something, you can always find another chance with something else.
Why did you choose to attend UMass Lowell?
Initially, I chose UMass Lowell because it was closer to home and had offered me a very good financial package. Ultimately, it ended up being one of my best decisions and has had a huge impact on my growth as a person since I am studying what I enjoy, I was able to try so many things, and I have found that there are people to support me around every corner.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student?
To me, being a first-generation college student meant having to grow up strong on my own. At an early point in my life, my parents could no longer help me with school. It was no longer simple addition and subtraction. When it came to applying to college and being a college student, it was overwhelming to face such an important part of my life with barely any guidance. It was incredibly stressful, but I was able to get through it, so I should be proud of myself for that.
What inspires you to want to help first-generation students in the RHSA?
What inspires me to help first-generation college students in the RHSA is how the RHSA had helped me during my time as a college freshman. I was exhausted from the college application process and working almost every day. The environment at home wasn’t ideal on top of the entire school year being online. I didn’t really understand how being a first-generation college student and being a first-born American was impacting me. It was difficult to solve issues I couldn’t identify. I found solace in figuring out the things I could and couldn’t control. It was the RHSA that helped me come to this realization as well as gave me encouragement in my endeavors.