My name is Kayla Kindsvater. In May 2024, I graduated from Newman University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology with a pre-medicine concentration. During the first few years of college, my goal was to attend medical school after graduating. I even started studying for the MCAT but never took it because I was unsure if medical school was the right fit for me. Eventually, I decided to reevaluate my decisions about my career path before committing to something as huge as medical school. Completing the Master of Biomedical Science program allowed me to continue my education while considering the different career options available with a BS and MBS. While I have completed half of the MBS program already, I still have not decided what I want to do after graduating. However, I know I want to continue my education in science by attending a professional school, whether for an MD, DO, DPT, or PhD. The idea of having all these options (and more) available is daunting. Still, I will sooner or later discover something I am passionate about and want to dedicate my life pursuing. In addition to being a student in the MBS program, I am a graduate assistant for the anatomy and physiology labs at Newman. I love working with the undergraduate students and spreading my knowledge and appreciation of the sciences to them. Because I was a TA in college and assisted with the General Biology I and II Labs, the transition to become a GA was simple. However, now I have more responsibilities, such as creating assignments for anatomy, developing practicals, and working with the professor to decide the material that should be covered each week. All of these tasks occur in addition to guiding students in the lab. I enjoy the process because I get to refresh and advance my anatomy and physiology knowledge and gain teaching experience, while also contributing to the success of others. Even though being a graduate assistant is only a stepping stone to the more significant things I hope to accomplish, I am grateful for the opportunity to have this role. I also hope to apply the valuable skills I have learned from my studies and graduate assistant role to my future professional career.
