When facing any task, second-year student Dana Aramouni always asks herself one important question.
“I go by ‘What’s the worst that can happen?'” she explained. “Every single opportunity I’ve had here, after I doubt myself so many times, I ask myself that question.”
It’s a mantra that’s served her well, whether she’s applying for a competitive laboratory internship or preparing to pursue medical school. Get to know a little bit more about Dana and discover how she’s using every opportunity available at Stark State to help reach her goals.
It just fit
After growing up and attending school in Syria, Dana moved to the U.S., choosing Canton to be close to family.
“Moving halfway across the globe was very different for me,” she said. “It was a different language, a different education system. All of it was new.”
She decided to come to Stark State to continue her education, choosing what she calls a “soft launch” in spring 2023 with a part-time schedule. After taking her time to get to know the system, she decided to go full time.
“I knew it would be a good start for me,” Dana explained. “I thought I would go slow, start part time and see where it takes me. In the middle of it all, I found that Stark State fit me. It felt like one big family. Everyone knows everyone. You can just knock on anyone’s door and they can help you. I felt like I belonged.”
Three majors, one goal
Dana is working toward majors in general sciences, chemistry and the pre-medical professional concentration.
“I’ve always wanted to be a dentist,” she said. “I decided I would complete my pre-med prerequisites here. Since some of the courses in that major also fell under the science major, I selected that program, as well.”
It was through this process that Dana discovered she liked chemistry. A lot.
“I got really involved in class and ended up joining the College’s chemistry club, which is part of the American Chemistry Society,” she said. “One of my professors said, ‘Why not be a chemistry major, too?’ I had no reason not to.”
Honors program paves the way to competitive summer research experience
Last spring, Dana joined Stark State’s Honors Program, which offers academically challenging and enriching experiences to prepare students for leadership roles in college, career and community.
After completing a poster presentation for the program, Dana decided to apply for an undergraduate research internship at Cleveland State University. She was accepted and moved to Cleveland last summer as part of the program.
“I loved the entire thing,” said Dana. “The whole program focused on soft matter, and it was run by the physics department. The research project I worked on focused on finding ways to use proteins to create bio inks that could 3D print organs. I made those proteins and then looked at them through different instruments to see how they behaved at different temperatures.”
With students from all over the country participating in the program, Dana said she felt very proud to represent Stark State.
“They asked where I was from, and I told them, ‘I’m from Stark State College. It’s a community college in Ohio.’ And they would say, ‘Community college? And you’re a freshman?’ Every day, I wore a badge that had Stark State on it. I was really proud of that.”
Looking to the future
This semester, Dana volunteers at Cleveland State University in the same lab where she had her internship – and on the same project. She works remotely with the team and helps other students working toward their masters while completing her own research.
After graduation this spring, she plans to take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) or the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).