Regardless of their impact, I believe experiences and knowledge shape our values, skills, character and ambitions, ultimately forming the foundation of who we are. My personal and professional growth, as well as the person I aspire to become, are no exception to this belief; rather, they are direct reflections of it. Whether I realized it or not, every experience, skill and achievement–both included within this portfolio and those beyond its pages–has contributed to my growth over the past twenty-one years. However, it was not until compiling this portfolio that I truly reflected on these aspects through the lens of professional development.

​

Such self-reflection led to a pivotal change in my career aspirations. For many years, I strived to become a dermatologist or rheumatologist due to personal health experiences, with longstanding ambitions of applying to medical school in the near future. Nonetheless, through thorough reflection on my strengths and genuine passions–much of which was inspired by compiling this portfolio–I came to realize that I am a creative, endlessly curious problem solver who thrives on developing innovative solutions. In parallel, I also recognized that my goal of improving the lives of those affected by chronic disease can be pursued in ways beyond solely becoming a physician. While medical professionals indeed play a vital role in the delivery of treatment and care, my true passions lie at the intersection of medicine, science, design and innovation. The development of novel therapies and biotechnologies is genuinely exciting to me and therefore, I am guided toward pursuing a career in biomedical engineering.

​

Recognizing that my career ambitions were shifting away from medical school was difficult to accept but paradoxically, just as exciting. My creativity and solution-oriented mindset are unique strengths I am eager to apply in the field of biomedical engineering. I consider my strong work ethic and open-minded approach to be two of my strongest qualities, as they help me grasp new concepts with ease and have contributed to a strong academic foundation. I believe that these academic qualities, as reflected in my portfolio, will support my transition into this new direction. In addition, I believe that my design skills, attention to detail and genuine interest in innovation underpin my ability to theorize novel and practical solutions–ones that, with continued learning and experience, I hope to translate into real, tangible outcomes. 

​

These strengths, however, are only outcomes of my growth; whereas my weaknesses guide me to evolve with intention and purpose. While I have developed a strong academic foundation in the pharmaceutical sciences, I acknowledge the limitations in both my knowledge and directed research experience within the biomedical engineering field. My aspirations are informed by my background in pharmaceutical science and my family’s strong engineering influence, but I recognize the large need for further learning in this area. To address this, I plan to pursue a bachelor's or graduate degree in biomedical engineering to build on my weaknesses and acquire the necessary knowledge to needed to find success in this space. Additionally, I intend to gain hands-on research experience by seeking lab and research opportunities that will strengthen my scientific skills, sense of academia and ability to translate ideas into meaningful results. 

​

Ultimately, this portfolio not only serves as showcase of my professional development and future career ambitions, but also as a meaningful testament to reflections of my personal experiences, knowledge, skills, achievements and journey. Over the past four months, the creation of this portfolio has played a fundamental role in redirecting both my passions and career aspirations. Along the way, I have learned the importance of networking, presenting myself effectively and compiling my experiences into a concise and impactful narrative. Above all, it has given me the most valuable outcome I could have hoped for: a deeper understanding of who I truly am and who I one day aspire to become. With that, I am filled with gratitude, ambition and excitement for whatever lies ahead in my journey.

​​​​​

Leya Lubarsky

​

April 2, 2025