MCHS Valedictorians: Caitlin Yumori

Caitlin Yumori looks back on the experiences that have shaped her view of the world, including her leadership in Model UN and how her mom inspired her to be a doctor. She will major in history and take pre-med courses in the fall at Williams College.

Patch: You've been pretty involved in Model UN. How was that experience for you?

CY: It was an incredibly valuable experience. I learned a lot about how to handle myself and facing a lot of my fears. In the end, Model UN was probably the most helpful thing in high school. I met some of my best friends in the program.

Patch: What were some of the most interesting issues you debated?

CY: Probably one of the most interesting things was human trafficking. I didn't think it was so prevalent today, but I realized that it's still going on. It's a big problem in developing countries. Also, there's so much waste in our own country when others are struggling just to get by. We have to subsidize farmers for their extra crops while other people are starving.

Patch: How did being in the program shape you and influence you?

CY: I think it mostly impacted the way I view the world. I'm going to major in history. Even though I won't be pursuing foreign relations in college, it's an interesting perspective to have that one action can affect so many other ones.

Patch: Where are you going for college?

CY: I'm going to go across the country, to a completely new environment, but I'm really excited about it. I'm going to Williams College in Massachusetts for pre-med. I wanted to go to the East Coast just to try it out.

Patch: What inspired you to be a doctor?

CY: I've kind of always wanted to be a doctor, but the cementing thing was my mom passed away from ovarian cancer when I was 17. It really cemented me to go into medicine and make a difference.

Patch: I'm sorry about your mom. Can you tell me what she was like?

CY: My mom was always a guiding role. My parents never really took a role in my schoolwork. They just told me to do my best and trusted that I would have enough determination. Schoolwork was always important to me. My mom basically showed me she didn't always have to be there for me to succeed. I'm always going to have those lessons [she taught me] with me even though she's gone now.

Patch: Sounds like you are more dedicated than ever to study medicine. Is there a particular area of medicine you would like to study?

CY: Maybe orthopedic surgery, but I don't really know yet.

Patch: Getting straight A's is a great accomplishment. Was it hard to balance school with all your other activities?

CY: I realized I need to be busy all the time to be productive. I've always tried to fill my schedule. School is a necessary part of my life. I like learning something new everyday and expanding my knowledge.