To start off, say a little about yourself, your interests, undergraduate degree and what you are doing now. “Hey! My name is Lua and I’m a current second year medical student at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. I completed my BSc. in Biology at UNB in 2018 and went on to complete a MSc. in Global Health at McMaster University before pursuing medical school. In my spare time, I love to watch the Bachelor, go on coastal drives around Saint John, and cuddle my cat Lucy. I also love to travel and have lived in Malawi, the Netherlands, and Norway throughout my studies!”

If you could go back and change one thing about your education to this point what would it be? “I honestly loved my experiences at both UNB and McMaster. If I had to pick one thing, I probably would have chosen to extend my undergraduate degree. There were really interesting psychology and ethics courses that I would have liked to take, but didn’t have time for in my schedule. I also would have liked to study abroad for a semester (or a year). It’s the best way to travel as a student because there are often scholarships and you get to meet students from around the world (post-COVID of course). I would also tell little Lua to just have fun and spend more time with family and friends because those are the memories you’ll always look back on!”

Do you feel like your “real world experiences” will help you succeed in this program? “100%! I think about this a lot actually. A lot of students think they need to complete their degree in a set timeframe or go straight to graduate or professional school after undergrad. Taking time to work, travel, or do something you’ve never had the chance to do will end up making you a more well-rounded applicant and future doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher, etc. You will likely spend the rest of your life in your career, so you may as well take some time (either during your undergrad or after) to push yourself out of your comfort zone. You will learn soft skills that no course or job training could ever teach you.”

How did you choose to get involved on campus? “My extracurricular involvement really shaped my undergraduate experience. I found groups of interest during the Clubs and Societies fair or through posters around campus. Among other initiatives, I led the Global Brigades Medical chapter at UNB for three years and was the Vice-President of the Health Sciences Society. At Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, I am the Global Health Liaison Sr. and oversee all global health initiatives that take place. I also help co-lead the Family Medicine, Psychiatry, and Women in Medicine interest groups.”

What was the thing that surprised you the most during the application process? “I think interview prep was the most daunting. I never minded traditional job interviews, but I didn’t realize how different the MMIs would be. It took me much longer than expected to feel comfortable answering ethics questions or to speak on a topic for 8 minutes. But once interviews came around, I was so happy to see that the assessors were all very friendly and the environment was so much more comforting than anticipated! They just want to get to know you and your communication skills, so it’s important to just be yourself and let your personality shine through in each station.”

Lua can be reached at lua.samimi@dal.ca for further questions.