While conducting research in an Illinois State University laboratory, incoming freshman Hasna Mohamed Jamal made a life-changing discovery—about herself.
As a student at Normal Community High School, she attended the Illinois Summer Research Academy, hosted by Illinois State, where she uncovered a personal passion for lab work. The experience inspired Mohamed Jamal to pursue a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science at Illinois State as part of her long-term goal to attend medical school.
“I found hands-on things like pipetting to be really, really cool,” Mohamed Jamal said. While on campus, she worked with Assistant Professor of Microbiology Dr. Jan Dahl to study soil bacteria and investigate antibiotic resistance.
“When you’re working in the lab, it’s so much hands-on work, which I absolutely love,” Mohamed Jamal said. “You’re able to see so many cool things, and I think that’s absolutely fascinating. Medical laboratory science will give me a good background and will hopefully help me stand out when I apply to medical school.”
Mohamed Jamal, a volunteer children’s Sunday school teacher for the past few years at the Islamic Center of McLean County, also loves working with kids. She plans to combine her passions into a medical career, caring for pediatric patients.
“I’ve wanted to be a pediatrician since I was super young,” Mohamed Jamal said. “I had my little doctor kit and stethoscope and all those fun little tools. Science has always been cool to me. And seeing how people in the medical profession can really help others also pulled me toward the medical field.”
Born and raised in Bloomington-Normal, Mohamed Jamal’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from India. The oldest of three, Mohamed Jamal has a brother who is beginning high school and a sister who is in fifth grade.
“Looking toward the end goal of becoming a pediatrician will keep me going. I know it’ll be a long journey, but I think I’m ready for it now.”
Hasna Mohamed Jamal
By choosing to attend Illinois State, Mohamed Jamal is thankful that she can remain close with her tight-nit family and network of friends.
“I love this community,” Mohamed Jamal said. She is also eager to connect with a new group of friends, classmates, and faculty mentors at Illinois State.
“I’ve always wanted to go to a bigger school, which is one of the reasons why ISU was at the top of my list,” Mohamed Jamal said. “I’m really excited to see how big the Muslim Student Association and the Indian Student Association are along with all the other associations—especially the cultural ones.”
An extroverted and energetic community builder, Mohamed Jamal founded the Muslim Student Association at Normal Community High School.
“I wanted a place that we could all gather in one place as one community,” Mohamed Jamal said.
She and her Muslim Student Association colleagues worked to secure a prayer room at Normal Community High School and accommodations for religious holidays, including Ramadan.
“Our principal was very accepting,” Mohamed Jamal said. “We were able to do some amazing things.”
At Illinois State, Mohamed Jamal said she is interested in joining the Muslim Student Association, the Indian Student Association, the Asian Pacific American Coalition, the Medical Laboratory Science Society, and the Pre-Health Society. And she plans to get involved with the Multicultural Center and the Center for Civic Engagement.
Mohamed Jamal is also excited to conduct research through the Honors Program.
“I just have to make sure I manage my time really well,” Mohamed Jamal said.
Throughout the next four years, Mohamed Jamal said she hopes for personal growth while building strong connections and taking on leadership roles within various campus organizations.
The experience, she hopes, will provide a strong foundation for her future.
“I want to become a pediatrician who is super compassionate and understanding,” Mohamed Jamal said. “I want to be someone who is knowledgeable and who people are comfortable going to and being around.”
As Mohamed Jamal prepares to begin the first semester of her first year in college, she is excited to embark on the path toward achieving her dream.
“Looking toward the end goal of becoming a pediatrician will keep me going,” Mohamed Jamal said. “I know it’ll be a long journey, but I think I’m ready for it now.”
Read about all of the students featured in our “Newest Redbirds” series at News.IllinoisState.edu.
