So many women in Her Campus do fantastic things everyday, some without recognition. I am starting a series where I ask women the same questions and write articles about their career paths, what brought them there, and their futures. Hopefully, this can provide some inspiration to other women who are struggling, and help us all celebrate our accomplishments!
My name is Nyla Bhimani. I am a Senior Biological Sciences major with three minors in chemistry, advanced pre-health, and spanish with a CUGS in ethics. I also finished my coursework in three years since I took dual enroll courses during high school. Everyone’s path is different though, and rushing through coursework is not a smart idea. It is also easier to do my core classes as a Biology major during high school, as opposed to some other majors. You should find a balance between completing your degree and enjoying the journey. My future career goal is to be a Pathologist’s Assistant.
My inspiration to get into this field began during lockdown in 2020. With lots of free time, I watched a lot of true crime. I was never an enthusiastic student, and I wanted to do a career that would make me money to fund my hobbies. Medical laboratory sciences was the first field I had a passion for. It was the first time I wanted to work in a space because I enjoyed the profession, and it was a goal I wanted to work towards.
When I was in high school, I got the opportunity to be president of a club that connected kids with the local hospital to do presentations about different professions. Since medical laboratory sciences is vast, I toured many different sectors, and eventually fell in love with Pathologists’ Assistance.
Since high school, I have interned at a medical examiners office, where I shadow and assist in autopsies. I also shadow Pathologists and Pathologists’ Assistants in hospital grossing labs. Right now, I am applying for Pathologist’s Assistant schooling.
Pathologists’ Assistants work in hospitals, private labs, medical examiners, etc. doing dissections of tissues, grossing specimens from an ER in real time, autopsies, and research. It is a Master’s program, so I am currently in that process. Primary coursework is typically Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy, Physics, Psychology, English, and Math. It is a long process, but it is so exciting and a privilege to put myself out there to a niche community.
I chose Rowan University because they offer so many programs to get into Medical Laboratory Sciences. Their science, research, and shadowing connections are phenomenal. With the support of my advisors and faculty, I constantly feel supported and know I can handle more than I think I am capable of! I loved everything about my tour, and knew I could see myself here, and I do not regret that decision at all.
At Rowan, I work in an Analytical Chemistry and Anthropology research lab, as well as an on campus cafe called Saxbys. I am also involved in campus activities by doing HerCampus and other activities when I am able to. I am looking to go to some clubs Rowan offers for fun in my last year!
One thing I wish I could tell my past self is that putting in the work and effort will result in failing, but also great success. Learning to be comfortable in the discomforts of rigor and discipline is a fantastic progress, and it has let me become friends with some of the best people in the world. Just because something is hard, that does not mean it is not worth it.