Griffin | English
Biography
Griffin is a mentor for The Adolescent Leadership Council (TALC), a program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital that guides teens with chronic illnesses through monthly meetings. He is also a member of PLME’s CHAP Child Health, and volunteers for the Tomorrow Fund and with child life services at Hasbro. This fall, he will be working on an UTRA project to research cancer collaboration networks in clinical trials.
PLME has granted me the unique chance to delve into my passion for English and foreign cultures throughout my time at Brown. While STEM courses have always challenged and stimulated my mind, I find that courses in the humanities tend to nourish my soul. My studies in both literature and language have shaped and rounded my understanding of empathy, identity, and human nature. Without PLME, I feel that I would not have had the opportunity to further develop the skills that will strengthen my compassion and communication abilities as a future physician.
During the first semester of my freshman year, I took ENGL 0101C, America Dreaming, with Professor Philip Gould. This course was extremely significant as it cemented my decision to concentrate in English. The enthusiasm with which Professor Gould spoke about the material made me passionate about both reading and analyzing various works, from the Constitution to zombie apocalypse novels. The subsequent courses I have taken in the English department have further honed my critical reading skills and made me a better writer as a whole.
I love studying for exams at the Center for Language Studies located on the sixth floor of the Sci Li. Not only is it a location I am extremely familiar with at this point (having had a class there every semester during my time at Brown), but it is also in a great spot on campus. Furthermore, it is quiet enough to allow for focused work while also providing enough background conversation to keep me from feeling dreary. I have extremely fond memories of sitting down with friends at one of the larger tables by the window, where we'd lock in for our respective studies, occasionally pausing for a random, silly conversation just to make each other laugh.
During fall of my sophomore year, I was able to participate in a Pre-Clerkship Elective (PCE) at the Warren Alpert Medical School called Intro to Oncology. I know that anything can change in the next six years, but I believe that this course has strengthened my resolve to become an Oncologist. Whether it was participating in Mock Tumor Boards or learning about current Oncology research advancements, every Monday on the shuttle ride home from Alpert I felt a deep sense of both purpose and clarity. Hearing from Oncologists about the victories and losses that come with the job, as well as the long-term relationships they developed with patients, made me realize how connected this field is to the humanities and reaffirmed my desire to make it my career.