Aryan Pammar

he/him

Class of

2020

Hi! My name is Aryan, and I am a third year bioengineering major at the University of California, Los Angeles (as of 2023). I was in the class of 2020 at EVHS (yes it was the covid year), and I feel like I've developed skills in college that I never thought I could achieve in high school, so don't be too worried about not being "mature" enough for college like I did in my senior year. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, going to the gym, and listening to music.

If you could give your high school self a piece of advice, what would it be?

I'd tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions whenever I'm in need of help or knowledge. People are always willing to give advice of any kind, and I tended to shy away from asking for that advice in high school.

Did you have any goals that pushed you throughout high school? How did you approach those? Are you still pursuing them now that you're out of high school? If not, why?

My goal in high school was to do anything in my power to put myself in the right position to become a doctor. To do this, I took classes in biology and chemistry throughout my 4 years, and I also volunteered at Kaiser Permanente to gain some insight on how a hospital operates. In college, I continue to follow that goal, but I have recently considered dropping the medical route to focus on a career in bioengineering instead. What I ultimately end up doing is unknown to me, and that is a totally normal feeling to have (even in college!).

What experience had the greatest impact on you at EVHS?

My experience in AP Biology with Mr. Cheadle was a major contributing factor in my decision to become a premed student. Despite not being 100% sure if I want to stick to that pathway, I still thoroughly enjoy the field of biology, which is why I majored in bioengineering.

Have you kept some relationships with the people you were with in high school?

It is nearly impossible to maintain relationships with all the people you know in high school, but I still talk to many people from back then! A lot of them attend UCLA with me, so it is easier to connect with them than someone from, say, Duke University. Even then, I have some friends in other colleges, too. You'll make new friends in college, and it's up to you to decide how you want to maintain your high school friendships.

Do you still live in San Jose? Why or why not?

I'm currently in an apartment near UCLA, so I am not in San Jose. I still visit the city for major holidays and school breaks, though!

What was your primary academic/extracurricular focus in high school?

I focused on studying biology and chemistry, which are important classes when pursuing a career in medicine. I joined HOSA for a year and volunteered at Kaiser to help me learn even more about medicine.

Are you in college? If so, which college and what major? Are you working? If so, where? If you're not in either of these, what are you doing now?

I am a bioengineering student at UCLA. I am not working right now, but I will be paid for my undergraduate research in a few months.