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Christen Makhoul

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General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Arabic
  • Chemistry
  • Running
  • Baking
  • Weightlifting
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Anthropology
  • History
  • Human Rights
  • International Relations
  • Education
  • Geography

Reading

  • Science Fiction
  • Classics
  • Historical
  • Literature
  • Tragedy

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Hi! I am Christen, a senior at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia! I'm a chemistry major with a minor in pharmacology. I'm interested in pursuing a career in neuropharmacology after obtaining a master's degree pharmacology. The main goals I am currently working towards are growing my lab and communication skills through research and community service. Although my academics revolve around STEM, I have several interests outside of chemistry. I am especially passionate about international relations and human rights. My passion has been fueled by my ethnic background as a Syrian-American. I've taken several courses about political science, and I am an active member of an advocacy club at my school, SJU for Refugees and Migrants. I enjoy being active in my community, both in my hometown area of Allentown as well as Philadelphia, through volunteering and non-profit work. My community involvement has mostly revolved around youth and education. I get involved on campus through co-sponsoring events for SJU for Refugees and Migrants and helping out with tech for our theatre club!

Education

Saint Joseph's University

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Chemistry
Minors:
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology

Whitehall High School

High School

2019 – 2023

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Master's degree program
Graduate schools of interest:
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Northeastern University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, St. John's University, Drexel University, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Sciences, Lehigh University, University of Rhode Island
Majors of interest:
Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chemistry
Desired degree modality:
Full-Time, In-Person
Medical school interest:
No
English as first language:
Yes
Homeschooled:
No

Career

  • Busser

    Restaurants · Grille 3501

    Jan 2023 – Jan 2025

  • Summer Outreach Educator

    Education · Da Vinci Science Center

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Physics I Lab TA

    Higher Education · Saint Joseph's University

    Jan 2025 – Present

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Pharmaceuticals, Research, Chemistry
Dream career goals:
I would like to pursue neuropharmacology and focus on CNS diseases like neurodegenerative disorders or substance use disorder.
Work experience:
0 years
Has nursing license:
No
Leadership experience:
Yes

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
STLF Memorial Pay It Forward Scholarship
I volunteered as part of a first-year service-learning course sequence in my freshman year at Saint Joseph’s University. As part of a fall political science course and spring philosophy course, first-year students are matched up with organizations where 2-3 students are partnered to volunteer weekly for 3 hours. I volunteered at Southwark School in South Philadelphia for an after-school program called Puentes de Salud as an education volunteer. Puentes is an after-school program that specifically serves K-8 Spanish-speaking students. The program serves as a way for students to grow their social skills and have a creative outlet after a long school day. It also allows Spanish-speaking students to communicate in whatever language they prefer with the other students and with us teachers. Each week, my partner and I came in soon before dismissal. We worked in a tight office packed with other after-school programs with the same goal as Puentes but for other demographics. We gathered the kids after dismissal, allowing them time to play and eat snacks, before shifting to a classroom setting. I worked with a group of about 7 students who were all in 1st grade and 2nd grade. Most of my students preferred Spanish, so I utilized my 5 years of Spanish throughout college and high school to get comfortable communicating with them. As teachers, we assisted students with their creative activities. Activities included building the tallest possible tower from sticks and marshmallows, making instruments from simple materials, using recycled material to build a model of their town, and coloring flags of where their family is from. The creative activities tended to have a theme of building community pride and pride in the kids’ Hispanic background. My role was to support the kids in building their confidence in social skills and giving the students the individualized attention that they could not get during the school day when one teacher was responsible for almost 30 students. The volunteer experience exposed me to both the challenges and benefits of serving a diverse student population. I also learned about issues involving underfunding in Philadelphia public schools. My experience at Puentes was my longest consistent service experience. It revealed the importance of physically showing up and being present in your community to serve and learn. Grassroots efforts contribute to change just as much as top-down efforts, and neither can be optimally effective if employed alone. Leadership through service inspires volunteers to fully dedicate themselves to the experience of learning from those they serve and understanding needs straight from the mouths of the people who experience struggles. It connects volunteers not only to one another and to the served but also builds confidence and empathy within oneself. Leading through service shows the importance of reaching out and offering assistance rather than expecting people to ask for help before acting. Solidarity and understanding are incredibly important attributes of any human in today’s world as struggling is amplified through the internet and media. We must have compassion for one another to act when we realize struggles going on within our community.
Christen Makhoul Student Profile | Bold.org