Hi everyone! My name is Begum Irem Erkan, and I'm currently a second-year undergraduate student at UMass Boston, originally from Austin, Texas. My main goal as a student right now is to become a well-rounded human being and be open-minded to a variety of opportunities. I am also working hard to keep up with school and gear myself towards applying to medical school. I am most interested in dermatology and specializing in Mohs Surgery. I understand that is many years down the line, so right now, I am looking forward to learning as much as possible and keeping myself motivated. After graduation, I plan on staying in Boston for my gap year working as a research technician and continue gaining clinical experience as a medical assistant. It would be ideal for me to be able to give back to the community as well and find a position that would allow me to provide care for underserved populations. As someone who was raised in a low-income family and has experienced living in unstable conditions, I know the impact that has on one’s physical and mental health. Even if this plan isn’t followed to a T, I know the path that is meant for me in the next 10 years from now is contributing to science and finding ways to improve the quality of life for many people.