University of Washington
Interdisciplinary & Departmental Honors Programs
About Me
LAUREN HOLBROOK
As a pre-health bioengineering major and bioethics minor in the University of Washington Interdisciplinary and Departmental Honors Programs, I aspire to apply my interdisciplinary education, diverse experiences, and aptitude for problem-solving to develop innovative, accessible, and equitable biotechnology. Bioengineering pairs my passions for science and service. It prompts me to think across disciplines—physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics—to reimagine patient-centered clinical solutions that address social inequalities and pervasive healthcare disparities. After graduating, I plan to pursue a masters degree in bioengineering before applying to medical school. I am excited to a pursue a career filled with lifelong interdisciplinary learning and hope to serve as a physician-innovator who can bridge the gap between biotechnology and clinical care.
Learning Statement
I’ve written and rewritten this statement more than half a dozen times. Too dull, too random, too wordy, too cliche. Delete. Delete. Delete. Delete. The invisible self-imposed pressure to write a flawless opening to my portfolio that simultaneously embodies me and my college experiences weighs on me, crushing my creativity like a bag of bricks. As a recovering perfectionist, learning to quiet the voice of my inner critic is a continual challenge and part of my quest for balance.
This portfolio—a compilation of triumphs, losses, stories, and reflections—captures my undergraduate journey as a bioengineering student at the University of Washington and all the joy, heartbreak, disappointment, and fulfillment that came with it. Written in the pages of this virtual journal are my contemplations of my highest and lowest moments while studying, working, researching, volunteering, leading, and teaching. Over the past four years, I struggled to balance structure with spontaneity, grief with gratitude, independence with vulnerability, and perfection with ambition. Despite all the moments when I doubted I could pass a test, finish an essay, find an error in a piece of code, solve a set of differential equations, or puzzle out an organic chemistry mechanism, I am only a few months away from donning my cap and gown. Along the way, I learned not to let my pursuit of perfection hinder my success. I learned to accept my imperfections.
While I hope my undergraduate experience and all its lessons bring insight and entertainment to friends, family, and others who stop by to learn my story, this portfolio primarily serves as a record of my personal growth. It is a reminder of the importance of exploration, empathy, introspection, perseverance, and balance. It is evidence that success does not demand perfection. Years from now, I hope I look back on these reflections and appreciate how much my thoughts and ambitions transformed my thinking as I tried new activities, took classes outside of my comfort zone, and pushed myself to make the most of my Husky experience.