Nick Aney '23Dental

Name: Nick Aney
Graduation Year: 2023
Major: Biochemistry and molecular biology

Story: Growing up in Rochester Minnesota, home of the Mayo Clinic, and with a parent that
was a physician, the healthcare field seemed to always be present in the back of my
mind. I remember when I was growing up, I loved going to my mom’s office and
playing with her stethoscope or model skeleton. I thought they were so cool, and it
made me want to be a doctor, just like my mom. Flash forward about 10 years, it
was time to go to college, and I felt confident that attending Gustavus was the right
decision. I was drawn to the balance of academics, athletics, and community that
Gustavus offered. The men’s tennis team here has an incredible culture of success
and character-development, and I had an older sister, Katie, who attended Gustavus
and excelled academically, demonstrating that Gustavus provides the path for many
academic opportunities. Like Katie, I found Gustavus perfectly matched my
academic and athletic interests and provided an incredible experience. I then
shadowed dentistry on a whim and fell in love with the profession and what it has to
offer. I love the connectivity of working with patients through their entire treatment
process and the relationships developed with patients who you serve for a lifetime.
Now, I am beyond excited to be starting dental school this fall at the University of
North Carolina.

Top Five Activities/Experiences: (in no particular order)
1. Gustavus Varsity Men’s Tennis
2. Summer undergraduate research experience in the Dahlseid laboratory
3. FTS Peer MALT (Mentor, Academic Leader, and Teacher)
4. President of Pre-Dental Club
5. Big partner in Gustavus Big Partner Little Partner program

Advice:
1. Everyone has self-doubt. I remember so many different situations or experiences
where I felt like I lacked knowledge or expertise compared to everyone else (aka
imposter syndrome). Whether this was new classes, research, interviews, etc., I
always had these feelings, but I realized everyone else feels the same way, too. If you
have an open mind and a zest to learn, you will be just fine.

2. Every stressful situation will resolve itself. Everything from a challenging
semester with several difficult classes to a week of school where it feels like there
are a million different assignments and tests to a rough day in lab can be extremely
stressful in the moment. When this happens, remember to tell yourself that you will get through it and in the process, become more resilient as a person. 

3. Take care of yourself. College is a marathon, not a sprint, and there will inevitably
be ups and downs throughout the (approximately) four years. Figure out what
makes you happy, refreshed, and how you best recharge, and make sure to prioritize
these things. And make sure to enjoy the ride.

Future Plans:
Attending Adams School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina, starting
Fall 2023.