Rafferty L. - Class of 2020
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University of California, DAVIS
BS in Pharmaceutical Chemistry
One of the biggest overall lessons that going to college has taught me is Time Management: You have to know how much to study because you can't just study forever.
Interacting and taking care of yourself will only help give your mind a "reset" for studying.
What advice would you give to an incoming freshman?
Always try to be positive even when things are looking down or if it seems like you're going to fail your class.
If you could go back in time 4 years ago, what would you tell your 18 year old self? If you could do-over, what would you do differently?
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. When going to a large university, it may seem like you're a small piece, however, that piece is integral in many ways.
Looking back, if I didn't put myself out there, I wouldn't have met the people I can call my best friends, my professors, and grad students that I know on a more personal level.
What did you learn about yourself?
The amount of will power I have.
In high school, I would have never imagined staying up until 4am or running on very little sleep just for school.
What was the greatest challenge you faced? How did you overcome it?
I think the greatest challenge I've faced is managing my stress.
College definitely has pushed my limits on how to deal with stress. With the quarter system, everything moves super fast.
I think I overcame it by time management and by having a support system I knew I could count on.
How did being a Bella Scholar contribute to the success of achieving your goals?
Definitely, from a financial perspective, it really helped alleviate some of the burden.
In addition, I feel like the opportunities provided by the Bella Foundation helped build my character.
Now that you have graduated, have you formulated any new short term / long term goals?
I'm in the process of applying for a PharmD and looking for an internship in pharma focusing on the clinical aspect side of things.
What were your proudest accomplishments or highlights from attending college?
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Dean's List
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Completing my senior thesis and it being publishable material
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Starting my training on becoming a private pilot
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Ride a bike with no hands!