This fall, Kaitlyn Van will head to the University of Washington Seattle, ready to explore a future in healthcare. A member of Cohort 17 and recent University Prep graduate, she credits Rainier Scholars with giving her the academic skills, confidence, and community support she needed to get to this point. “I learned about Rainier Scholars because my older brother was a Scholar in Cohort 5,” she says. “I didn’t know a whole lot about the program at the time, but my family was excited for me to be a part of it.”
Kaitlyn quickly found that Rainier Scholars offered more than she expected. “The Academic Enrichment Phase helped me understand how to study and how to learn,” she explains. “Getting comfortable with those active learning skills early on makes me more confident going into college.” Kaitlyn also appreciated the college and family workshops and the support she received throughout the application process, from brainstorming her personal statement with Ashley Sirls, Rainier Scholar’s Director of Leadership Development, to writing her initial draft with Drego Little, Learning Support Specialist & Literature/Writing Teacher.
While her immigrant parents focused on providing for her most essential needs, it was Kaitlyn’s older sister who helped to shape her worldview. “My sister was the one who really took me out to have real-world experiences, like going to the zoo, swimming or spending time at the park,” she says. “Those are things you may not need, but they gave me perspective throughout my life.”
That exposure helped spark Kaitlyn’s interest in healthcare. “My sister works in the field and sometimes took me to work with her. I’d hang out there and see what she did,” she says. “It opened my eyes to that world.” A chemistry class in sophomore year sealed the deal. “I loved that class so much, I Googled jobs that involve chemistry,” she laughs. “Pharmacy came up, and I just stuck with it.”
Kaitlyn plans to follow the pre-pharmacy track at UW and possibly major in chemistry. Though she knows the road ahead will be challenging, she feels ready for the academic rigor. “I’ve heard organic chemistry is really hard. My sister failed it twice! But I’ve been a good student. I think I can do it.”
Her confidence is rooted in one high school experience in particular: quantitative physics, which put her face-to-face with academic adversity. “It’s known as the hardest class at UPrep,” she says. “I had to get used to bad grades and failing tests. But coming out of that with a good grade reminded me that even when things don’t go smoothly, I can figure it out.”
Beyond academics, Kaitlyn found her voice through leadership roles, including acting as a facilitator in UPrep’s LEAD (Listen, Engage, Acknowledge, Discuss) program, a student-led, peer-facilitated group that encourages students to have challenging conversations in a safe and productive environment. She also delivered a speech at the school’s Rainier Scholars Senior Celebration. “Public speaking isn’t a strong suit of mine, but I wasn’t nervous at all because I felt really connected to both my UPrep and Rainier Scholars communities.”
As she prepares to start her next chapter at UW — living on campus, joining an intramural volleyball team, and exploring a new environment and social circle — Kaitlyn admits she’s a little nervous. “I just don’t know what to expect. It’s going to be such a big change,” she says. “But I’m definitely excited!”