My name is Steven Faltas, and I am a pre-med student graduating from the University of

Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in biological sciences in 2025. Life sciences has always been
something that has interested me. Since high school, I have always been science-oriented,
especially with the study of life. I find the human body to be particularly interesting because I
find myself wanting to learn about all the processes that occur within my own body every day.
The human body is very delicate, and it is the only one that we get, so learning how it works and
how to keep it in the best condition should be of the utmost importance in my opinion. Some of
the academic experiences that have impacted me most have been my science classes throughout
high school, and my stem courses throughout college thus far. My science classes in high school
began to spark my interest in the sciences, while helping me develop my work ethic and develop
productive study habits. When I arrived at college, my science classes, such as general chemistry
and biology, solidified my interest in the sciences, and helped me develop my study habits and
better understand the intensity of the sciences and the amount of effort that it will take to achieve
my goals of going into medicine. In terms of experiential learning, my internship experience at
the University of Nebraska-Medical Center through the Summer Health Professions Education
Program, my volunteer experience at the Intercultural Senior Center in Omaha, Nebraska, as well
as my research experience throughout college thus far. To begin, my internship experience gave
me experiential learning opportunities not only in medicine, but in the health sciences. Being in a
hospital atmosphere for many hours over six weeks allowed me to see the good, the bad, and the
ugly of healthcare, and it really gave me a good idea of what I am getting into. Furthermore, it
allowed me to study specific sciences that directly pertain to healthcare, such as biomedical
sciences lectures, or human anatomy through cadaveric studies. My volunteer experience really
fine-tuned my motivation for a service-based career because it showed me how much of a
positive impact I can make on other people by donating my time to making the lives of others
better in some way. Although I was only making food bags for seniors and sanitizing surfaces, it
was particularly important during the pandemic, because it showed me the amount of need in the
world and the impact that I could make on other people by giving my time to the cause. It
motivated me to pursue a service-based career, which I paired with my interest in science leading
to my hope to eventually go into medicine. My research experience has given me the opportunity
to ask questions that could lead to a broad range of answers and being able to pursue curiosity
and explore how the research industry answers important biomedical questions has been very
eye-opening, and it has given me a more holistic view of the health sciences. One particularly
important co-curricular activity has been my involvement in my fraternity. Being in a fraternity
is a huge responsibility, as it often leads to a lot of bad publicity for many involved due to the
stigma that many people associate with fraternities. Due to this stigma, it has been important for
me to be a leader in my fraternity by example. This includes working hard in the classroom and
being involved on campus, as well as being congenial to my peers or other students and
committing my time to help others on campus. Furthermore, being an executive member of the
NU Meds organization here at UNL has given me the opportunity to share information about
medicine with many other students. Being able to share my knowledge and be a leader by lifting
others up is very satisfying, and I feel as though it is somewhat of an obligation to help those
who might eventually be on a healthcare team with me.