I am originally from the metropolitan Washington D.C. / Northern Virginia area and came to Florida to attend the widely acclaimed University of Florida (definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.) I am majoring in Microbiology and cell sciences with a double minor in chemistry and sociology. I am a 4 th year here at UF with ambitions to attend medical school back up North. I am an active member in both the women’s pre-medical association and the college republicans. I volunteer at North Florida Regional a few times a week and I do research with Dr. Wallace in molecular genetics. I plan to spend a few months in Europe after graduation and before medical school. I joined CARES because cancer has touched my family on a more personal level many times throughout my childhood. I am a firm believer that awareness and early detection are the only ways to fight the spread of this disease.