Going into my sophomore year at USC, I knew I wanted to be more involved within the Biomedical Engineering community. I began involving myself more in the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering (ASBME) organization on campus. As a result, I spent my fall break last year attending the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Conference along with the people I now call my friends. I am incredibly glad I took the opportunity to go the conference, because, beyond the conference itself, I got to meet the most wonderful people that I talk to on the regular now (even those that have graduated). I can confidently say that this experience has been one of the most impactful of my college career.
From One Adventure to Another
Seeing the Space Needle was never on my bucket list, but it turned out to be one of many things that I explored during BMES. Whether it was the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, or simply just walking through downtown Seattle, I gained so many wonderful memories and friendships by simply signing my name up for the BMES conference.
Down to Business
Of course, apart from the fun, I also learned an incredible deal from the myriad of colleges, the hundreds of research presentations, and the companies that were all there.
Finally, I would urge anyone to take the chance and go and explore an event or outing even if you might not know anyone! You never know. You might just make friendships that will last way beyond your college years. In fact, I will soon be releasing a podcast on Viterbi Voices with some of the friends I made through BMES, which you should definitely stay tuned for.
By taking a chance on myself, I developed friendships, networking skills, and more. Above all, simply say yes to everything even if it is outside of your comfort zone.
