MENTOR NETWORK
Zain Natha '19
She/Hers/Her
Sammamish, WA
Oxy Major/Minor:
Biology (Emphasis in Cellular & Molecular)/Kinesiology
Current Company:
Current Position:
Dental School Applicant
Campus Involvement/Special Programs:
Biology Department Research with Dr. Gary Martin, Occidental College Women's Ultimate Frisbee (WAC), Occidental College Pre-Health Student Association, Oxy Theta
Secondary Schooling:
N/A
Favorite MP/Cooler Food:
Mozz Sticks
Best Oxy Class:
A tie between: Anatomy II with Professor Rugg & Vertebrate Physiology with Professor Schulz
Groups I Identify With:
Women in STEM, folks interested in Dentistry, folks interested in any of the health graduate programs, have lived &/or grown-up in Washington state. Generally speaking, I am pretty open to whoever! I do think I probably would be a better mentor to those who have a STEM background and are interested in pursuing a STEM career.
Bio:
At Oxy, I was involved with various clubs and organizations while also completing the courses required for my major and minor. I greatly enjoyed my time at Oxy and I definitely made sure to take advantage of all that Oxy has to offer. After graduating, I spent several quarters at the University of Washington taking physics, shadowed a dentist, studied for the DAT, prepared for my dental school applications, helped with writing and completing my college research project for submission in a scientific journal, and took on the job as a TA for this summers' virtual Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP). While waiting to hear back from dental schools I am applying for dental-related jobs, continuing to shadow a dentist, and dedicating time to my hobbies and businesses related to art and fashion.
Career Advice:
My best career advice to anyone is to be flexible and to be open to any opportunities. Your plans and pathway for what you want to do in the end will not be a perfect, straight-line journey. But, if you do your best and are open to other opportunities that are available to you right now, it could help you with what you try to achieve in the end and in the future. Also, it is completely fine if you have to take some time to figure out what you want to do. As long as you are open to trying new opportunities, you will then be able to know if you liked it or not. Lastly, if you just graduated from Oxy, please remember you have all the time in the world to figure out what you truly want to do for the rest of your life. It does not have to be determined right away when you leave Oxy.