HHS Grad’s Desire to be Doctor Grows at Scranton
Ashley Angstadt’s desire to be a medical doctor and help heal the suffering is only growing stronger. The 2013 Huntington High School graduate is set to begin her sophomore year at the University of Scranton, where her career goals are being nurtured by a caring faculty.
“I can’t believe how quickly my first year went by,” said Ms. Angstadt about her freshman year of college. “I initially chose Scranton for its amazing pre-med program and community service opportunities and my expectations have been more than fulfilled. I’m a biology major and Spanish minor and with the help of my advisors, I am on the track to complete all of the pre-med requirements to get into medical school.”
It’s been a jam-packed summer for Ms. Angstadt, who has been working and volunteering in the Huntington Hospital emergency room. “I love being able to interact with the patients,” she said. “Every time I’m in the ER it makes me realize how much more I want to be a doctor so I can be the one helping other people.”
Ms. Angstadt graduated as one of the top students in Huntington’s Class of 2013. A member of the Highsteppers competitive dance team since her freshman year, she captained the squad as a senior when the group finished ninth in the national championships. Her long journey in the Huntington School District began as a kindergarten student at Washington School.
Challenged herself academically
As a high school senior, Ms. Angstadt challenged herself with five Advanced Placement courses and a pair of honors classes. She was the Spanish Honor Society’s recording secretary and also a member of the National Honor Society and the English and Science Honor Societies. Two of her favorite Huntington courses and teachers were Honors Living Environment with Anna Fabela and AP Biology with Deborah Beck.
“The professors at Scranton are some of the most helpful and friendliest people I have ever met,” Ms. Angstadt said. “They have pushed me to work harder than I knew I was capable. This coming semester I am registered to take Organic Chemistry, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Conversational Spanish, and Pre-Calculus.”
Ms. Angstadt said it’s “very easy and welcoming to get involved on campus” at Scranton and she has dived into various clubs and activities. “I’m a member of the Health Professions Organization, Biology Club, and Wishmakers on Campus, which is affiliated with the Make-a-Wish program,” she said. “The Health Professions Organization is one of my favorite clubs because the meetings are based around information about medical schools and different medical specialties. A lot of Scranton alumni who are now currently doctors or in medical school come back and speak at meetings to share what they have learned which is really cool and inspiring to listen to.”
Serves as Royal Ambassador at Scranton
Among Ms. Angstadt’s many activities is serving as a Royal Ambassador or campus tour guide. “I absolutely love showing others why Scranton is unlike any other school,” she said. “I volunteer at the Jane Kopas Women’s Center and have been selected to be a PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition) presenter for the upcoming school year and will have the honor of facilitating talks with freshmen students about adjusting to college life.”
The Huntington alum volunteers with Scranton’s EFFORT program, which collects food from local businesses and donates the items to people in need in the community and to local food pantries.
Ms. Angstadt has given freely of her time to Scranton’s Leahy Center, which is a free medical clinic located in the food pantry for people in the area without health insurance. She will be serving on the sub-committee for the pantry this year. “It’s been an eye opening experience to see how happy people are to receive bags of food and school supplies for their children and family,” she said.
While a student at Huntington High School, Ms. Angstadt was a junior volunteer at Huntington Hospital, assisting the nursing staff and interacting with patients. She is not sure what type of doctor she will ultimately become. “I know I definitely want to pursue a career in the medical field, but as of right now, I’m trying to keep an open mind to which area,” she said.
After all is said and done, the Huntington grad is happy she chose to attend the Pennsylvania school. “Overall, I think that Scranton is the secret gem of colleges,” Ms. Angstadt said. “When you step foot on campus, you get a certain feeling of community and that everyone wants to help you succeed. As a Jesuit school, Scranton strives to form their students as overall well rounded individuals. I highly recommend Scranton to anyone who wants to be involved in campus life and community service, as well as to those who want to pursue a career in any area of the health professions.”