Lilly Nordahl '06

I am currently a sophomore at Princeton University and have recently decided to major in molecular biology with a certificate in East Asian Studies. There is no doubt that my academic goals at Princeton have been influenced by experiences at Breck. Wong Laoshi’s dedication and enthusiasm not only left me with a desire to continue my study of Chinese in college, but also sparked an interest in Asian history, politics, and culture that I am now beginning to explore. And due to the experience I gained by participating in Breck’s science research program, I was able to join a molecular biology laboratory at Princeton during the beginning of my sophomore year, over a year earlier than most students majoring in the department. The research I am now involved in focuses on the genetics of aging, and eventually can be applied to both extending life-span and improving quality of life by prolonging age-related processes.

If I had to choose one word to describe life at Princeton, "intense" would be most fitting. This applies not only to academic life, but to social and extracurricular life as well. Like Breck, Princeton prioritizes community service and outreach. Princeton offers a wide range of weekly off-campus service trips just as Breck does, and I volunteer for Better Days, a trip to the pediatric oncology ward of the Bristol Myers-Squibb hospital in New Brunswick. I am also actively involved in my residential college as the signature events chair, and look forward to becoming a residential college adviser as a junior to help freshmen adjust to life at Princeton. Finally, this year I am a chair of the annual fashion show, the largest student-run event on campus, which raises over twenty-thousand dollars each year for a charity organization.

Now that I am a sophomore, more and more people have been asking me what my future plans are after college. At this point in time, I aspire to be a medical doctor. Last summer I put together an internship for myself at a hospital in Shanghai so that I could not only be exposed to the life of a doctor, but also become acquainted with the Chinese healthcare system and learn a little bit about Chinese philosophy through the study of traditional Chinese medicine. However, although medicine really appeals to me, I can also see myself pursuing a career in science research or in foreign relations with Asia. Maybe, if I am lucky, I will find a way to combine it all. I know that Breck and Princeton have provided me with the academic foundation, confidence, and most importantly, the values I need to make an impact in any field I devote myself to.