A SUMMER OF PURPOSE & POSSIBILITY
An Upper School student reflects on studying medicine and university life in London.
By Gabe Medebem, Class of 2027
Participating in the Immerse Education Medicine program at University College London (UCL) was an exceptional experience that I highly recommend. I would best describe it as an immersive, two-week preview of life as an international university student. The program offered a perfect combination of UCL’s academic rigor and its vibrant social environment. Daily seminars on advanced medical concepts, hands-on demonstrations, and laboratory experiments outlined this combination. After lectures, the program gave me the autonomy to explore the surrounding area during free time, enjoy popular locations and their activities, discuss topics with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, and participate in group trips to famous London landmarks.
Among my favorite Immerse memories are roaming around London: shopping with friends, riding the London Eye, and listening to my peers share stories about their lives in places like Turkey, Brazil, and Ukraine. I enjoy becoming aware of the intricacies of different cultures and backgrounds; hearing their personal stories and experiences felt like stepping into their shoes. None of my classmates have lived in the United States; each person brought a unique, engaging perspective to the table. At the same time, I loved sharing my own journey. Having spent most of my life in America and six years in Nigeria and Ghana combined, I have a unique perspective of my own. Sharing stories and witnessing my friends’ reactions and commentary proved to be very rewarding. Their faces when I brought up experiences that seemed completely normal to me are sights I won’t forget for a while. I’m sure they could say the same about me as well. I really treasure the value of interacting with such a global community; one of the reasons I recommend this experience so much is that others outside the U.S. have their own knowledge and wisdom to share.
Having attended the Psychology and Neuroscience program at the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) last summer, where I expanded my passion for Neuroscience, I began seeking additional avenues to further explore my academic interests at the collegiate level. While personally researching and collecting information on relevant neuroscience topics, I conducted online searches for opportunities to deepen my knowledge of medical subjects in particular. Immerse presented such an opportunity; reviewing their official website and the detailed program outline appeared to align perfectly with my objectives. The program profoundly deepened my understanding of medicine.
The Medical academic program is divided into five modules: Immunology, Pharmacology, Cardiology, Endocrinology, and Scientific Evaluation. Each module was insightful and beneficial, broadening my knowledge beyond what I had learned in my prior academic experiences. Daily seminars were straightforward, easy to follow, and accessible to newcomers. I encountered topics I was initially unfamiliar with; however, our professor excelled at explaining these concepts in an engaging, interactive manner. She consistently involved the class through questions and examples, which I found particularly valuable.
Additionally, we participated in activities that simulated real-world medical procedures. Suturing a bovine heart enters my mind as the most incredible procedure. A cow’s heart is analogous to a smaller human heart, so sewing part of it together made me feel like I was truly performing a miniature heart surgery. Also, analyzing the specific parts of the heart, such as the atria and ventricles, was illuminating. Seeing diagrams of heart parts really didn’t prepare me for seeing an actual heart at all, and feeling the different textures of the chambers and valves was surreal. Activities like these provided excellent opportunities to emulate a medical professional and acquire practical skills. I’m now more adept at suturing and more aware of the real-world experience of performing medical procedures, such as surgeries. Overall, my experience at Immerse was exceptionally positive.
My favorite regular spot in London was Waterstones, a bookstore. It had 5 huge floors and was filled with books to browse, read, and buy. I ended up buying 10 books myself. It also featured a basement floor with a pool table; playing pool down there with friends is among my fondest memories. Nearby stores and restaurants were also very diverse. I really enjoyed the food at most restaurants, from ramen bars to sushi bars to Italian, Indian, and Nigerian restaurants. Eating food from as many different cultures as I can find is always a blast, and doing so in a different country was especially interesting.
While the Nigerian food in Georgia and the Nigerian food in London, for example, are technically the same, you can still taste a difference between them. I identify this contrast as the disparity in the choices people in those locations made when preparing the food. The spices will be arranged differently, or the stew will have a different composition; differences like that make eating food in new places worthwhile. Keeping my attitude open to new experiences in new locations proved to be very beneficial. The stores, in the same vein, also gave me so many souvenirs, clothes, and especially books to buy. I had a great time shopping, eating, and exploring in London.
Immerse was an incredibly positive experience that brought me joy and personal growth. It provided an excellent opportunity to take the skills I gained at Pisgah and apply them in a new environment on a different continent, while also learning new things for the years ahead. I was able to use my character, personality, and integrity, which I’ve cultivated at home and through Pisgah, to succeed both academically and socially in London. Now, with enhanced knowledge and experience in medicine, along with increased maturity and insight from Immerse, I feel significantly more confident about my future, whether it's progressing through senior year or getting ready for college.