Hi everyone! My name is Nia, and I am 17 years old. I am a rising senior in high school. So far in my high school career, my favorite classes have been both Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology. Science courses are my favorite because they allow me to hone my critical thinking skills while challenging me to think outside of the box. I am also an active member of the Student Council, International Thespian Society, A World of Difference Diversity Council, Books and Bagels Club, and Spanish Club. This summer I have been an intern at a company that specializes in normalizing feminine hygiene and creating sanitary pad prototypes to make menstrual cycles more comfortable for menstruators. I also work with different groups of teenagers around the world to promote the idea of normalizing menstruation.  I have always taken an interest in the healthcare field and being able to talk about it with others, which is why after high school I plan on going on the Pre-Medicine track in college. My dream is to become a pediatric surgeon where I can assess, listen, and surgically treat all of the patients that I will see each day. I love children and am excited to dedicate my life to treating them!

I decided to become a peer leader because it allows me to impact the experience for young people when they come to the Adolescents Clinic or have a gynecology visit. I am the type of person who believes that things like sexual, physical, and mental health shouldn’t be frowned upon, but rather embraced. Teenagers need to have a safe place where they feel comfortable to talk to health care professionals or trained peer leaders around them to help in any way possible. I’m so excited to write blogs about current topics that matter to me on a variety of current and engaging topics!

Thank you so much for reading!

-Nia