Meet Our Mentor Mira: From Medicine to a Ph.D. in French at Princeton

The Excitement and Uncertainty of Choosing a Career Path

As an 18-year-old international student from Morocco, I embarked on a journey filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Attending Mount Holyoke College was a dream come true—it was the first step toward fulfilling my long-held ambition of becoming a physician. Like many students from my background, I saw medicine as a prestigious and noble career, inspired by my doctor mother and the respect that medical professionals hold in Moroccan society.

However, my understanding of the medical field was based more on societal expectations than on personal exploration. I had little firsthand experience with what being a doctor truly entailed. It wasn’t long before my path took an unexpected turn—one that ultimately led me to a Ph.D. in French at Princeton University.

How Personal Exploration Shapes Career Decisions

At Nova Scholar Education, we emphasize personal exploration and mentorship as essential tools for students making academic and career decisions. Too often, students follow predetermined paths without truly knowing if they align with their passions and skills. My own experience highlights the importance of hands-on learning, internships, and exposure to multiple disciplines in finding the right path.

Initially, I was fully committed to a career in healthcare. I immersed myself in coursework, extracurriculars, and research opportunities. But everything changed after a pivotal experience during the summer after my sophomore year—an internship that made me question everything I thought I wanted.

A Life-Changing Internship at NYU Langone

One of the most significant moments in my career exploration was my internship at NYU Langone Health, funded through Mount Holyoke’s Lynk Fellowship. This was a highly competitive opportunity, and I was thrilled to work in a prestigious scientific research lab in New York City. However, once I started, I realized something unexpected: while I excelled in my lab tasks, I didn’t feel truly fulfilled by the work.

The research I was doing—focused on thalamocortical interactions—was intellectually stimulating, but I found myself increasingly drawn to literature, philosophy, and cultural studies. At the same time, I was taking a French Studies Seminar on the Négritude movement, which introduced me to Frantz Fanon, Aimé Césaire, and Léopold Sédar Senghor. Their writings spoke to me in a way that medicine never had.

This realization was both exciting and terrifying. I had spent years working toward a medical career—was it too late to change direction?

Making the Difficult Decision to Change Majors

Returning to Mount Holyoke in my junior year, I faced a crucial decision:

• Stay on the path to medical school, despite my growing disinterest.
• Follow my passion for literature and cultural studies, even though it meant abandoning a near-completed Neuroscience degree.

Ultimately, I chose the second option. I switched my major to French , despite concerns from friends and peers about giving up a “stable” career path. It was the most difficult decision I had ever made—but it was also the right one.

At Nova Scholar Education, we encourage students to embrace exploration and to pursue fields that genuinely inspire them. The reality is that many students enter college with a fixed idea of their future, only to find that their true interests lie elsewhere. Project-based learning, mentorship, and hands-on experiences are invaluable in helping students make informed decisions.

Why Mentorship and Career Exploration Matter

Had I been exposed to a mentorship program like Nova Scholar Education earlier, I might have realized my love for literature much sooner. Many students feel trapped by societal pressures or family expectations, thinking they must pursue careers in medicine, engineering, or law to be successful. However, the truth is that success comes from aligning one’s career with one’s passions and strengths.

At Nova Scholar Education, we provide one-on-one mentorship with experts across various fields, project-based learning experiences tailored to students’ interests, internship and shadowing opportunities to gain real-world exposure, and career exploration workshops that introduce students to multiple fields.

For example, a student interested in engineering might explore aerospace, biomedical, or environmental engineering before deciding on a specialization. Similarly, a student passionate about the humanities could explore journalism, public policy, or historical research to find their niche.

How Internships Can Reveal Unexpected Passions

Internships are often seen as stepping stones toward a predetermined career path, but they can also serve as reality checks. My experience at NYU Langone made me realize that while I respected the field of scientific research, it wasn’t the right fit for me.

This happens more often than people think. Many students discover that the day-to-day reality of a profession is different from what they imagined. That’s why it’s essential to test the waters before committing to a career path.

At Nova Scholar Education, we encourage students to take on internships, research projects, and mentorship experiences to gain a better understanding of their fields of interest before making long-term commitments.

Balancing Passion and Practicality

One of the biggest concerns students (and their parents) have about following their passion is career stability. However, many degrees are more flexible than they appear. The skills you develop in one field can often be applied to another.

For example, my background in neuroscience gave me analytical and research skills that proved invaluable in literary studies. Similarly, students who study philosophy can transition into law, business consulting, or tech ethics. The key is to develop transferable skills like critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving—which are valuable in any profession.

At Nova Scholar Education, we help students find ways to merge their passions with practical career paths by providing: inerdisciplinary learning opportunities, guidance on professional development, and tailored career strategy sessions

From Uncertainty to a Ph.D. at Princeton

As I approach the completion of my Ph.D. in French at Princeton University, I look back on my journey with gratitude. My experience at NYU Langone was a turning point—it helped me recognize where my true passions lay and gave me the courage to embrace the unknown.

Many successful professionals have pivoted from their original career aspirations to something entirely different. The key is to stay open to exploration, seek mentorship, and trust your instincts.

The Takeaway: Exploration Leads to Success

If there’s one lesson I hope students and parents take away from my journey, it’s this: don’t be afraid to explore new paths.

At Nova Scholar Education, we are committed to helping students discover their true passions through mentorship, project-based learning, and real-world experiences. Whether you are set on a career path or still figuring it out, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

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