Jassalya Anne Pabroa Manigos Layao Villafranca, or, Jash for short, is a sophomore chemical engineering major (pre-med) with minors in biology and biochemistry. Her dream is to become a doctor so that she can help people to improve their lives.
"Being a doctor isn't just about helping people, it's about knowing that you get to help them to get better physically and mentally," Jash explains. "You get to help them be a better person not just for themselves but also for the people who love and care about them."
This dream also stems from Jash's admiration of her parents. Her father is a neurosurgeon and her mother is an obstetrician/gynecologist, both of whom have an emphasis in family practice and emergency medicine.
"My parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines when they were in their thirties. I know that it must have taken a lot of courage to leave their home to come to America. I have always admired their determination and recently, I decided that I want to follow in their footsteps and become a doctor, too."
After graduation, Jash would like to practice emergency medicine because she enjoys the risk factor, but she also finds family practice and cardiology interesting.
"There is something about knowing that you hold someone's life in your hands that makes emergency medicine really exciting," Jash explains, "You don’t have a lot of time to decide what your next move is going to be. Every second counts. Knowing that you have the power to make decisions that could save a person’s life is really appealing to me."
This kind of work may sound stressful to some, but Jash says she works well under pressure while also taking time to have fun and relax. In her free time, Jash enjoys bowling, going dancing, mastering the saxophone, and dominating Call of Duty. She is also looking into getting certified to teach Zumba.
Jash chose to come to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln because she feels that their chemical engineering program will effectively prepare her for medical school, but she also chose it for the great sense of community.
"I love UNL because it's big, but it's small at the same time. You can always run into someone that you know. There is also a great bond between the chemical engineers; I think that it is because we know that we are all going through this together. It is really awesome to have that support system to fall back on."
To learn more about Jash's major, visit http://engineering.unl.edu/academicunits/chemical-engineering/.