Accomplished grad has sights set on college, then medical school

Amna Aslam has her sights set on medical school now that her high school years have come to an end – years that, she said, were filled with wonderful teachers.

“The things that I will miss the most about Destrehan High School are the teachers,” she said. “They made me feel welcomed and challenged me through the years because they knew how strong I was. One of my teachers that I not ever going to forget is Mr. Plasse, my English teacher. He is amazing teacher that knows how to get his student to open up to him.”

Aslam, a 2022 DHS graduate, is headed to Xavier University in the fall where she will double major in biomedical engineering and biology. She plans to attend medical school after college.

Aslam’s years at DHS were filled to the brim with extracurricular activities and achievements. She was part of the National Honor Society, Culture Club, National English Honor Society – where she served as secretary, Beta Society – where she was the senior secretary, Mu Alpha Theta – where she served as the historian, DHS Interact, String Theory and Trinity Force Robotics. She was also a Wildcats Mentor.

“I received my senior letterman jacket for being in all honor courses for four years, which was very important to me because it showcases all my accomplishments,” Aslam said.

Aslam has already laid groundwork for her medical career during high school by completing several certification programs. She was awarded a LCMC Health Active Shooter Response Training certificate for completing a course that taught her what her response should be if there is an active shooter in a hospital, and earned a UMC: Bariatric Sensitivity Certificate for completing a course teaching her proper responses while working with obese patients.

Aslam earned a LCMC: Covid 19 OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard certificate for completing a course detailing proper Covid responses and was also awarded the LCMC: 2021 Annual Regulatory Training certificate for successfully finishing volunteer training to become a UCMC volunteer.

In the summer of 2020 Aslam had the opportunity to work with Dr. Dimple Zavier, an ophthalmologist, each week.

“I was able to learn about a different part of the medical field that only deals with the eye,” she said. “I worked with an amazing doctor that helped me communicate with patients and educated me on different patients’ history. I saw patients’ histories of illnesses that might result in loss of eyesight. Also in the summer of 2020 I was able to volunteer at University Medical Center in New Orleans … and was able to get close insight into how the medical field operates. I was able to help out the oncology department and one of the nursing units.”

Aslam continued to volunteer on the weekends in the medical field throughout the 2021-2022 school year. She said the accomplishment that she is most proud is getting the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholars Scholarship.

“I am so honored to represent the Asian community,” she said. “I attribute all my success to my parents that made me who I am today … without their support I would be nothing.”