Kate Turk

Four years ago, when I first set foot on the University of Washington Campus, I looked at the twinkling cherry blossoms, saw students hurrying to class, and gazed up at the castle-like buildings. On that day, I had no idea what was in store. 

 

In the past four years:

 

I made life-long friendships with the most fun, supportive, and hilarious people.

 

I explored my interest in nutrition, and studied diet-related disease in a UW Medicine research lab with an inspiring scientist named Laura den Hartigh.

 

I discovered the beauty of the Washington Park Arboretum’s running trails, where I ran over a thousand miles during my time at UW.

 

I spent four years’ worth of Friday afternoons with patients at Seattle Children’s hospital in need of company and comfort. They gave me more than I gave them.

 

I joined a club called Global Medical Brigades, and spent summers volunteering in Nicaragua. There, I helped bring medical services and public health infrastructure to people without access to healthcare.

 

I spent 9 days trekking through the Olympic National Park backcountry learning about ecology, wilderness history, and my physical limits.

 

I walked through the University Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings with my closest friends where I bought fresh bread and vegetables from local vendors.

 

I took classes focused on linguistics, biochemistry, and Latin American jazz.

 

I filled in hundreds of scantron bubbles. 

 

I drank an obnoxious amount of coffee. 

 

I went to international film festivals.

 

I listened to hundreds of podcasts.

 

I ran two auctions and a half marathon.

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I took dance classes.

 

I went to cheap concerts.

 

I learned to stop comparing myself to others.

 

I fell in love.

 

I struggled.

 

I succeeded.

 

I had the time of my life.

     __________

 

I learned a lot in my classes, as I assumed I would as a freshman. But I also learned about life, and what it means to be Kate.

 

So as I leave these four years behind, I'm raising a big glass to my immensely meaningful experience. It's been wild, UW. Thank you for the journey of a lifetime.

 

Sincerely,

Kate