Areesha Tariq didn't intend to fly through college in two years.
As a student at El Capitan High School in Merced, Tariq enjoyed taking math and science classes. When she ran out of options there, she took courses through dual enrollment at Merced College. She earned associate's degrees in chemistry and biology.
She enrolled at UC Merced as a freshman, but the university had news for her: she would enter as a third-year student.
"I didn't know I was going to have all these credits applied," said Tariq, whotoday is in her second and final year at UC Merced and set to graduate at age19. "I've always just really liked science and being able to learn more about it."
She's learned much more about science at UC Merced, where she has worked in Professor Andy LiWang 's lab since she was a high school sophomore, when she contacted him about summer research opportunities.
"In my 25 years as a principal investigator, such bold action from a high school student is exceedingly rare," said LiWang, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry.
Tariq completed nine weeks of hands-on research in the lab,.
"Last semester, she carried out research in my lab for course credit and took my graduate-level course on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy," LiWang said. She earned an A in both. She also won the Emerging Leader Award at the UC Merced Leadership Awards last year.
This summer, Tariq took part in a National Science Foundation program REU, or research experience for undergraduates, at Princeton University, where she worked in the field of bioengineering.
"I wanted to explore something new," she said, "since I do biochemistry here."
She also received a travel award from The Protein Society and presented a poster on her research in LiWang's lab at the annual Protein Society meeting in Boston.
"Areesha demonstrates consistent enthusiasm, maximizes her learning opportunities, and asks insightful questions," LiWang said.
At the same time, Tariq has been an active volunteer in her community. She was a member of the Leo Club, an extension of the service organization Lions Club, in high school.
"Going out there and directly helping people just felt so rewarding," she said. Projects included volunteering at a shelter for unhoused people and conducting park cleanups. She brought the same drive to UC Merced, where she is a Leo Lion, at the college level of the organization.
Looking ahead, Tariq is interested in pursuing medicine, working as a family doctor, though she is open to exploring other specialties.
"I did consider going into the Ph.D. route since I love science and learning," she said. "But as much as I enjoy research I enjoy being able to directly serve others and impact people."
She hopes to practice in the Central Valley, where her family moved from her native Pakistan when she was 5.
"The Central Valley has a large disparity in health education, illnesses and specialties. Being able to ultimately serve the region that I grew up around would be rewarding," she said.
She believes her experience at UC Merced is preparing her well for medical school and her career. Small class sizes - one of them had four people in it - lead to close connections with professors, and the new buildings and financial aid also are attractive. The university achieved R1 status soon after her arrival, putting it in the top echelon of research institutions in the nation.
"We have so many opportunities," Tariq said. "The professors here really care about you.
"Since this campus is so new, being able to come here was really nice. You get to serve in something that's still growing and getting better."
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