Hello!
A Bit About Me
My name is Leah Stone, and I am a rising Junior at the University of South Carolina. I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. I am majoring in Neuroscience with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience and minoring in Medical Humanities and Culture. I am currently on the pre-medical track.
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Capstone Scholars has helped me shape my experience I have had thus far at USC. Taking U101 assisted me in getting acclimated to South Carolina and all it has to offer. I took an exclusively capstone ENGL 102 class which helped me meet fellow peers in the program. This March, I had the opportunity to go to Honduras on a medical mission trip with other Capstone Scholars. These are a few experiences that Capstone has provided to me and lead to my growth personally, academically, and professionally.
Looking Ahead
When I came into college two years ago, I remember being a nervous and intimated freshman. I was coming from Ohio and only had four people from my high school going to USC. When I walked into my University 101 course on the first day of classes, I immediately found a community. I knew that the Capstone Scholars program was going to shape my college experience and be a built-in community I could rely on when things got hard. The Capstone program has been doing personal challenges each fall and spring since I have been a student at USC. I know that these challenges have little by little made me become more independent and more confident in my ability in being alone. This is scary as a college student with my first time being away from my parents. These challenges, however, made it easier for me to be on my own. This experience instilled independence and resilience, which I believe are two essential qualities to obtain as we make our transitions from living at home to being on our own.
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The Capstone program helped me push myself outside of my comfort zone and try new things. I joined various clubs and activities my freshman year like Neuroscience club and Service Saturdays. The program has provided me with numerous opportunities and experiences that I am eternally grateful for. They offer "Capstone only" courses, which ensured more of a smaller community on a big campus. I learned through my Capstone only University 101 class that I like working more in a group setting than alone. This course also taught me which learning style I thrive best in.
Some of my personal goals for the next two years of college are to work on my health and wellness. During this past two years, I have been very focused on my coursework in order to put myself in a good position for medical school. But, when doing this, I sometimes get caught up in the work and don't focus on my mental health and take breaks when needed. This often leads to "burn out." I am going to prioritize my physical and mental health over these last two years such as daily exercise and stress management techniques.
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Socially, I hope to being more involved in the Carolina community and the clubs I am involved in. I would like to hold leadership positions in these various clubs. I also would like to expand my community service efforts and potentially join a club dedicated to this effort. I also want to increase my cultural awareness the next two years and engage with more people of diverse backgrounds to broaden my perspective of those around me.
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Furthermore, professional goals I have for the last two years is to expand my professional network by attending events such as career fair and connecting with various alumni and professionals in the medical field. Another goal of mine is to increase my preparation for medical school, ensuring that I am best prepared for this rigorous career path. I want to do this by attending MCAT prep session offered by the OPPA office and practicing my interview skills. I know these preparations will ensure success and hopefully increase my chance of acceptance into medical schools.