Alejandro | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Philosophy
Biography
Alejandro is a junior double concentrating in Biochemistry and Philosophy from Edison, New Jersey. At Brown, he participates in medicine-based volunteer work through CHAP, research at Clinica Esperanza, and medical translating at RIFC. He is also involved in less medicine-focused activities like the Brown Daily Herald, where he serves as a senior staff writer in the University News section, and the Sheridan Center, where he tutors Orgo 1 and 2. He is also a student researcher at the Kantor Lab at the Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research.
I applied to the PLME because of the freedom it would allow me in my undergraduate years. The assurance of having a spot in medical school enables me to explore my passions without the pressure of a future application. I have gotten to try to step out of my comfort zone without a fear of failure appearing on my records. Because of this freedom, I have allowed myself to attempt challenging classes and discovered my interest in philosophy. I have also stepped out of my comfort zone in extracurriculars. Without the burden of building an application across my four years, I can choose to only participate in the activities that I am passionate about so that I can apply my full effort towards them. The freedom encourages me to apply myself towards my passions as best as I can without worrying about the restrictive expectations of medical school applications.
One class that impacted me was "The Bible and Moral Debate" (JUDS0060). This class was designed to survey various interpretations of the Bible's teachings on relevant controversial topics. I took the class out of personal interest, yet by the end, I felt that I had developed a lot of academic skills that I could apply to all disciplines. I learned how to critically examine secondary literature and compare arguments to their source material. I was very proud of the writing I produced in this class, and I felt more confident to critically engage with academic literature in my writing for my other classes and for my research.
The Open Curriculum has enabled me to find my academic interests outside of medicine. I have taken advantage of the Open Curriculum since my first semester at Brown, where I took two classes to fulfill requirements and two just to explore. I used Brown's option to S/NC classes to take these fun classes without worrying about being sure I could get an A. This exploration enabled me to find my interest in philosophy and eventually commit to it as my second concentration. I would have never discovered how much I love the philosophy department without the Open Curriculum.
I was pleasantly surprised by how supportive the entire PLME staff is. I feel very comfortable reaching out to my advising dean and asking for help with anything professional or personal. I was also surprised by how much the deans encourage students to try non-medicine related things. While their main job is to make sure we are ready for medical school, they also work to make sure we enjoy our time in undergrad and develop as people, not just as professionals. Their commitment to a holistic education is always evident.
My favorite place to relax on campus is outside on the main green when the weather is nice. On a nice day, it is always full of other students, and it is a great place to hang out and take a break from work during exam seasons.