Mariah Grant '15

Mariah Grant '15

Name: Mariah Grant                                           

Graduating Class:  2015

Major: Biology (Religion minor)

Story:

I grew up in Apple Valley, MN and decided to attend Gustavus Adolphus College because of the small class sizes, opportunities, and close-knit community available there. As a freshman, I wanted to go to medical school. However, as I researched more professions and shadowed different healthcare professionals, I was unsure that medical school was the right path for me. I researched the Physician Assistant profession and was instantly intrigued. I loved the specific role that the PA plays in the healthcare team. I then decided not to apply right away, but to wait a year after graduation to apply to gain more healthcare experience. At the time my experience included working in a group home with physically disabled adults. I moved to Duluth, MN, where I found a job working at Essentia Health as a Behavioral Health Technician in an inpatient adult behavioral health unit. This experience was exceptionally valuable to me and gave me more assurance that PA school was right for me. I have also gained interest in working in behavioral health in the future as a PA. I applied to PA school one year after I graduated from Gustavus and was accepted to the UW-La Crosse- Gundersen- Mayo PA Program, where I will begin in May. I will graduate in the Spring of 2019 and look forward to starting my career as a Physician Assistant!

Top Five Activities/Experiences:

  1. Full Semester Study abroad in Venezuela
  2. International Tour with Gustavus Symphony Orchestra to South Africa
  3. January Interim Career Exploration with Mayo Clinic Health Systems
  4. Involvement with Christian ministries on campus (Prepare, Proclaim, Cru)
  5. Involvement in Gustavus Wind Orchestra including a tour to Florida and Christmas in Christ Chapel

Advice:

  1. Job shadow as often as you can! Ask questions and find out why professionals love the career they have chosen.
  2. Apart from your career, find out what is really important to you. I grew in my faith significantly in college, setting me up for a life filled with community and purpose.
  3. Don’t limit yourself to what you thought you wanted to pursue freshman year. You may change you mind several times and that is okay!

Future Plans: Attend PA school at the UW-La Crosse- Gundersen- Mayo PA Program, graduating class of 2019

                                                                                                                        Updated 4/25/2017 TN