By Chloe Cherry
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| Villanova English Alum, Ishi Ranjan |
Few people occupy the daunting space that emphasizes two parts of our brain: the right and the left. Although some people argue that all forms of thinking are intertwined, there, there remains a huge distinction between the way the arts/humanities and the scientific/vocational career paths are taught. Ishi K’s journey through Villanova formed on the thin rope between humanities and sciences as a Biology and English major challenges the general understanding of the field of medicine and literature.Throughout her college career, the curiosity that led her to the sciences was fulfilled through her intense Biology classes, but there was something else missing that she couldn’t quite push aside. We spoke about this feeling that I was very familiar with as a person who dared to major in English after majoring in CBN (Cognitive Behavioral Neuroscience) and then Psychology. Ishi beautifully described the sensation of “craving a sense of home”.
Coming from a diverse town where critical conversations were the daily routine, transitioning to the college of sciences at a predominately white institution was challenging. Even more so when you are only occupying PowerPoint-driven classes and biology labs. As someone who experienced sciences classes myself, and later found that I thrived in discussion-based, writing classes, the sciences just felt cold.
However, both Ishi and I were able to find the sense of warmth that we were looking for from the English department. After wandering into the English department on a hunch just to see if there were any classes that might fit her schedule or coincide with her Biology track, she was encouraged to major in English so she could make sure that she got the classes she wanted. Travis Foster emphasized that doing so was not a commitment, so she would be able to drop it when she was ready. But after taking her first two English classes—"Harlem Renaissance” and “Journals, Diaries, and Blogs”--- Ishi knew she would be with the English department for the long haul. “Well, I have to see Dr. Lucky again” Ishi laughs as she recounts what her past self knew for sure. Clearly, her loving relationship with Dr. Lucky and the English department in and of itself was a huge part of her college journey.
Ishi thrived as she continued with the major. In fact, she found that her performance in the English Department far exceeded her performance in Biology. Her hunger for learning the biological and cellular processes sustained her throughout her time at Villanova even with her disheartening grades. She continued with the Biology department even as her anxiety about being at the apex of such different fields increased. Dr. Lucky, however, was able to reveal that this seemingly insurmountable challenge of Ishi’s was simple: she could be a doctor with a stack of books by her table.
Now, despite her initial grades that doubters said would prevent her ability to go to med school, Ishi has already been accepted into two medical schools. After graduation Ishi decided to go receive her masters in order to boost her science grades and is currently working for a homeless center. She is doing incredible work and has already been promoted at the job. Because of her English major, Ishi did exceedingly well on the MCAT. She scored in the 90th percentile for a section that is known for being the most challenging. However, people who have been reading extensively can succeed in this section, which she did.
Ishi attributes her acceptance into the medical school to the English department which has been so welcoming to the both of us. Her admission essays, which Dr. Lauren Shohet and AGP (Dr. Adrienne Perry) helped edit, were filled with references sourced from her English classes. One of her essays was essentially an argument for why she should get into medical school. Coincidentally, one of her final classes her senior year, included a range of texts with references to medical school and medical school entrance, so she was able to use those and show her similarity to the characters in the story to detail why she is fit to go to medical school.
I knew Ishi prior to this interview from the BIPOC Writing Hangout, hosted by the English Department. I remembered her for her tender, gentle spirit and warm personality. I knew that she would be entering a profession where that patient and loving energy she shares with those around her would be appreciated. But I had no idea that she was in the health industry, and what I think we uncovered from this interview is that Ishi amplifies that innate gift of loving sciences and the arts as an English (and Bio) major turned medical professional. Even though Ishi’s drive to learn more biology remained throughout college, she began to doubt going into this field throughout senior year—another reason why she got her masters, to spend some time before going into medical school—but while working at her job at the homeless shelter she has realized she was looking for a health profession that she would ultimately forge for herself: an environment that brings the tenderness and humanity found in the English department. As Ishi states, “English just brings another life to the table”, which is why it seems to be a critical point in her journey to becoming a doctor.
