“Tell Your Story” is a regular series that features one of our Booth community members. In his or her own words, the contributor details their path to Booth and other interesting personal highlights.
Where are you originally from? And what did you do prior to Booth?
I was born and raised in good ole’ North Carolina, but my mother is from Haiti and my father is from Morocco. Suffice it to say, I had a very multi-cultural upbringing. For the past three years prior to Booth, I have been in medical school here at the University of Chicago!
What made you want to go to business school?
I’m an atypical medical student: a few months prior to starting school I decided I didn’t want to practice medicine. Instead I had a growing desire to pivot into the healthcare investing world. I still valued getting my M.D., but also understood that I had much more to learn about the business world. I determined that getting an MBA would not only be an amazing experience, but also an essential one to confirm my budding passion and develop the necessary skill set to successfully accomplish it.
What specifically about Booth was attractive to you and what do you hope to do afterwards?
During my first and second year of med school, I had the privilege of speaking to many Boothies about why they choose this program. Responses varied, but one consistent thread was that Booth fostered intellectual curiosity and promoted multi-disciplinary endeavors. At the time, being an aspiring dual degree candidate, these concepts were naturally a perfect fit! Pursuing a role in healthcare private equity after graduation is quite the challenge, but I’ve remained motivated and confident largely in part because of these Booth Community Ideals.
Describe your Booth experience thus far.
I’m often asked to compare medical school to my current time at Booth. Med school is an intense, rewarding, and transformative experience, but in some ways the focus is singular – learn to become a doctor. Booth’s path is not nearly as defined. The opportunities often feel endless, which at times can be equal parts overwhelming and invigorating. However, what’s really made my Booth experience so far an incredible one are the people! In these short few months, I’ve made friends who make my life that much more fulfilling and I’m always excited to meet my classmates.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Two things in my life that make me incredibly happy are my friends and physical fitness. When I do have a moment to spare, you can find me in the gym playing basketball or getting in a lift, or somewhere spending time with new and old friends.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
In my sophomore year of college, I played one-on-one with a current NBA player, Austin Rivers… and I won (disclaimer: he may or may not have been playing all that hard). Watch the video »
