Zhibek Timraliyeva

My experience with CEL:

When it comes to community-engaged learning, I have limited experience with it as a Pre-Med student. Aspects that I have come to appreciate during my time at UCR include the trip to the morgue in Utrecht for our anatomy course and the opportunity to write a peer review with two of my classmates and Professor Rijkers on real-world health issues that require our attention. This allowed me to apply my knowledge in different ways outside of the classroom.

A snapshot of my daily life:

I am on an exchange semester at the moment, but my previous semester was bright and full of activity. I was taking four exciting courses – Mechanisms of Disease, Molecular Pathology and Genetics, Advanced Chemistry, and Ecology, all taught by great professors. I was also busy with the student council, or as we call it, the RASA student board! This included biweekly meetings, organising events, planning, and communicating with the university. Outside of my academics, I made sure to stay active socially by attending parties, society events, and helping out the university by being an ambassador. I spent a lot of time both in and out of the city, making the most of my time as a student in the Netherlands!

My student housing life:

My choice of student housing definitely grew on me during my first year at UCR. I remember picking Bagijnhof as my second option due to its unofficial title as ‘the most social housing’. Subconsciously, I must have known how overwhelming moving to a new place would have been, so I am really glad I chose it. It was rough getting used to living with people, but at the end of the day, I am glad I made that choice. My housemates are a great lot of fun. I cherish all the last-minute study sessions, house dinners, and late-night talks we have. Bagijnhof is its own little community that I think people will love if they give it a chance.