I started at NYU during the Fall of 2023, after working full time for a year as an Associate Scientist I at Arzeda. This resulted in me having a very different perspective and approach to my masters education compared to my undergrad. I am also pursuing a computer sciencer related degree after my time in industry because it highlighted the importance of CS proficiency to me for industrial work. This time, I am bringing the same focus I had on medicine while I was premed but instead honing in on the opportunities which will lead to me becoming the best scientist I can be.

I have also learned a lesson about getting ahead of the game during undergrad. Hence, even before I landed in New York, I had spoken to PIs and decided on the Truong Lab as the lab I wanted to join. I ensured that I would be onboarded before classes began to get the initials trainings out of the way and began attending lab meetings before the semester officially started.

-Shean Fu on August 29, 2023

I started at the UW directly admitted into the college of engineering with the intention to major in Bioengineering. However, I discovered that I would be going out of the scope of my premed goals and, because bioengineering is space constrained, I would essentially be using someone else's opportunity to study bioengineering and so I left the program for a more "Premed" major: Physiology.

It would be a lie to say that I don't regret that decision at all. However majoring in Physiology is probably something I would still do even if I had to live my life over again. I truly enjoyed studying physiology, specifically animal physiology, much more than I enjoyed my math and physics courses. Although my grades would indicate that I enjoyed math and physics much more...

At the end of the day, I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to study at such a prestigious institution. I learned many of life's most important lessons here: that I'm not the sh*t, that I need to work harder, that research is super cool and not as boring as I thought it was, and that I have interests outside of medicine.

The most important realization was that last one. Before coming to the UW I had reluctantly accepted that if I wanted to excel in my medical pursuits, I would have to give up all my other hobbies. No more writing fiction on the internet, obsessing over technologies, or taking random entrepreneurship courses on edX. No more learning random things or going down rabbit holes for passion projects.

I'm very glad that isn't true. After getting used to the quarter system and school life, I was able to learn a variety of random skills completely outside of my comfort zone.

I joined LUX film production and was part of the crew that shot an actual short film with professional grade equipment. I later joined the V:X Dance Crew's Production team to plan and produce dance covers. Learning videography immersed in the work for these two groups is what ultimately led to me having a camera on hand and being able to start my YouTube channel.

I joined the archery club, and have been the president of it for nearly 3 years now. Every Friday I teach archery to IMA members for free and it has become one of the activities I most look forward to every week. There is just something about teaching that I have always enjoyed since I started tutoring kids for science projects. Sharing my passion for archery through these events has been really gratifying, and every time I give a shot demonstration, I feel like I'm getting better at archery as I go over every detail of archery safety and shooting form.

At Husky Wushu I made some of my closest friends outside of classes. I've been on out of state trips with them, both of wushu and some just for fun. Before coming to the UW, I was fully expecting to be holed up in one of our glorious libraries everyday.

Interestingly enough, the most rewarding experiences of my time at the University of Washington have been the times I have spent outside of classes. If you're not a college student yet and you're reading this reflection, you should definitely keep this in mind.

-Shean Fu on August 8, 2022