Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is JeTaury Davis but I go by Jet for short. I will be graduating in the spring of 2024 with a cellular and molecular biology major and a minor in africana studies.
What has been your favorite class you’ve taken while at Northeastern?
My favorite class that I’ve taken at Northeastern is a Stem cells course with Professor Missy McElligott during my second semester. Even though I took this class 2 years ago, I remember it like it was yesterday. This was one of the first times I was able to absorb topics learned in my lectures and see their application beyond the PowerPoint slides. We had to read multiple research papers a week.
While it was challenging to keep up with this schedule and balance it with my other classes, it was rewarding to participate in class discussions on the readings. This was also one of the first times I had been taught by a professor who was so passionate about the topic. During every lecture, you could hear the enthusiasm in her voice about stem cells and you had no choice but to be just as excited as her.
How has your Northeastern experience enhanced your future career aspirations?
In particular, my first co-op at Northeastern reaffirmed my interest in medicine. Since being in college, my first co-op as a scribe at a local health center was my first time being immersed in the culture of Boston outside of the Northeastern bubble. I was able to invest time supporting low-income families, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ folk all while simultaneously learning different topics in medicine.
What organizations are you a part of on campus and how would you say they have helped you expand your professional goals?
One goal that I had for the 2022-2023 school year was to go to more events here on campus. COVID consumed nearly everyone’s social life during my first year and a half of college. This school year, I made it a priority to go to more events on campus, especially NBSA and NASO events. They have functions like a BBQ, fashion shows, dance competitions, and more where you can network and find your community! I’ve met so many people from Northeastern and schools around the city from going to these events.
What are your plans for the summer/fall semester?
Northeastern students usually have busy but productive summers. Mine will consist of taking a few summer courses, preparing my applications for graduate school, visiting my family in Texas, and doing a bit of traveling when I can. In summer 2, I will begin my second and final co-op at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals with the Investigative Toxicology team in Cambridge which will last the entire duration of the fall semester.
What is one piece of advice you would give to new students?
If I had any advice for new students, it would be to pace yourself. Boston can be a very fast-paced city. Everyone here has their eye set on a goal and will work endlessly to achieve it. This extends to Northeastern. Students here have so much going on: rigorous courseloads, applying to co-ops, multiple extracurriculars, staying fit, and still finding the time to socialize.
Northeastern students really can do it all. But before you know it, you’ll be in your final year of college trying to see where all the time went. Embrace the challenges and successes that you will inevitably experience but also be patient with yourself, give yourself grace, and don’t let time pass you by.