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Alumni Spotlight

Nicholas Hać

I am currently a Junior majoring in Interdisciplinary Physics with a focus in Biochemistry and minoring in Philosophy.

Hobbies/Interests
I like watching movies, biking, skiing, playing ultimate frisbee, playing violin/piano, listening to music, tutoring physics, sleeping/napping, playing card games, and, of course, taking breaks from homework to play robot unicorn attack.

Experience with HSSP
Coming to the University of Michigan from Ohio, I knew nobody. However, the friendly, outgoing peer advisors and residential advisors in HSSP made me feel right at home. Within the first week, I knew nearly everyone in my hall, and we became fast friends. 

HSSP is not just a kindly community, though. Coming into college, I was still unsure of my ultimate career goal. HSSP Observations and Professional Autobiographies really helped nurture my interest in the medical field. Furthermore, by being around people of similar health-related career interests, I was exposed to many different perspectives on career goals, further solidifying my interest in the field.

Finally, as a Peer Advisor my sophomore year, I was able to give back to the community and to the incoming freshmen what those before had given to me as a friendly face ready to play a game of cards, give general academic advice, or help others explore their interest in medicine.

Current Career Goals
As a student of physics, choosing between the medical field and pure research is a tough one. After trying my hand at research, and after my experience in HSSP, I’ve decided I would prefer to go to medical school to become a physician. However, I am in a constant tug-of-war regarding the type of physician I hope to be.

Why I Would Recommend HSSP 
If you are a freshman potentially interested in a career in medicine, you should consider applying to HSSP, as this program will give you the opportunity to shadow health care professionals both of the type you are interested in and other professionals whom you may find interesting as well. The HSSP core class and Professional Autobiographies will also help expose you to various types of health-care careers.

HSSP is a great program not only to be around students with similar interests, but is also the perfect program to join as an incoming freshman. College can be overwhelming, but the general aura of friendliness in HSSP can help mitigate these fears, and even dissuade you from wanting to go back home next weekend to visit your parents. You will miss your HSSP friends too much!