(Photo: Jared Helms will be pursuing medicine at University of California, San Diego.)
Each month, we profile one of our amazing Native American students at UC San Diego. In addition, this year we are expanding to include Native American staff and faculty! If you would like to nominate a Native American student, staff, or faculty at UC San Diego for us to feature, you can email us at itrc@ucsd.edu.
The ITRC is proud to introduce ...
Jared Helms
Tribal Affiliation: Member of the Cherokee Nation
Major: Human Biology
Year: 4th Year
Hometown: Carlsbad, CA
What is some of the best advice you’ve ever been given as a Native student?
The best advice I’ve ever received as a Native student came to me during my time at the recent AISES conference. A medical doctor had given a lecture centered on the importance of resilience for indigenous students pursuing a career in medicine. The take-away message was to persist in the face of difficulties and failures that we all face, and instead to focus on the potential and opportunities of the future.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love playing and listening to music. I’ve always had a passion for playing guitar, and I’ve recently begun learning piano.
How do you want to use your UCSD degree after graduation?
After I graduate from UCSD, I plan to use my degree to pursue further education through a Master’s program in public health before applying to medical school. I hope to one day have a part in furthering medical care for our Native communities in San Diego county.
