Aaliya Yaqub

Aaliya Yaqub

English and biology may seem too dissimilar to consider majoring in both, but not for Aaliya, who plans to go on to medical school. “Personally,” she explains, “I feel that having two majors almost at extremes of the spectrum really balances me. When I want to be critical, I open up an English text, and when I feel like being more objective in understanding things, I take out my biology books. And as a side note, I think that the study of literature is the foundation of medical humanities. I mean, if you read the works of William Carlos Williams or Chekhov, you’re bound to encounter topics like illness and suffering.”

Aaliya also is grateful that she was able to double major at Rice, which gives her the educational scope she believes she needs for her future. “As far as biology, honestly, I kind of fell into it. I came to Rice thinking that there’s no way I want to be a biology major. There are so many stereotypes and stigmas associated with a label like that, and I wanted to stay away from those, but then I realized that I kept coming back to biology. I kept wanting to take biology classes to balance out my mind because I was spending so much time reading and writing. And I guess I was drawn to English because I love reading, and I have a wild imagination, so fiction, especially, provides an outlet for me. As far as the poetry goes, that’s something I’ve always wanted to explore seriously in my education. That’s my notion of art, and the way I see it, art really applies to life because it’s a way to awaken your feelings. It really humanizes people, and that’s a great thing.”

So it was during Aaliya’s freshman year that she decided to major in both fields of study. “I realized that choosing one specific field would not fulfill my intellectual and educational interests and goals. I felt that a broad education would be more beneficial in the long run because general knowledge is crucial. Coming to terms with the fact that I could not possibly study everything at Rice,” says the junior, who visited 18 schools before deciding to come to Rice, “I chose to focus on English and biology. I came to a final decision about my majors during my sophomore year and have been content ever since.”

Aaliya believes that her double major will definitely benefit her when she goes on to medical school, where, she says, “I assure you, my English degree will come in handy. Doctors have to be articulate speakers and skilled writers too. I’d like to be one of those physicians who has a capacity for independent critical thinking and qualities like originality as well as creativity.”

She credits Dr. Zen Camacho, vice president for student affairs, with having a tremendous influence on her path. “I think I learn more from one conversation with him than I learn in an entire week of class,” she explains. “His advice and wisdom tend to focus more on the big picture of life and how to live it successfully. I just really respect him and what he says. He hasn’t encouraged me to seek a particular course of study; instead, he stresses that whatever I choose to do I should do well.”