First-Generation Graduate, 18, Earns Degree in Neuroscience/Behavior
Jessica Baran (Photo by Alex Dolce)
At just 18 years old, Jessica Baran is the first person in her family to be born in the United States and will be the first to earn a college degree. These two major milestones will be celebrated as she walks across the stage on Friday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m. to receive a bachelor鈥檚 degree in neuroscience and behavior with a perfect 4.0 GPA.聽
Baran鈥檚 parents emigrated from Poland more than 30 years ago to pursue the American dream, along the way overcoming challenges and making sacrifices in order to ensure that their daughter could successfully attend college.聽
鈥淚 made sure not to waste the opportunity my parents provided for me by working relentlessly and performing my best,鈥 said Baran.聽
Baran graduated from and was named valedictorian of her class just seven months ago from 抖M女仆鈥檚 University Honors Program, a program designed to provide students with exceptional and rewarding learning opportunities through special honors courses.
Unlike most 18 year olds, Baran will be of one of the first students to graduate from the Max Planck Honors Program through the Max Planck Institute at 抖M女仆 鈥 the only place of its kind in the country. The program provides select honors students with exclusive enrichment opportunities, including courses taught or co-taught with Max Planck Society scientists.
Baran鈥檚 research focuses on the effects of a dopamine agonist on cued feared memory, something she one day hopes will lead to breakthroughs in Parkinson鈥檚, Alzheimer鈥檚 and Huntington鈥檚 diseases.
鈥淛essica is a remarkable student on a number of levels,鈥 said , dean of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Graduate College and 抖M女仆 psychology professor. 鈥淪he arrived in my lab with an exquisite array of skills she received at 抖M女仆 High School, which enabled her to quickly transition into an independent research program. She quickly reached a level of performance in the lab akin to that of a high performing graduate student.鈥
In Baran鈥檚 spare time when she is not volunteering in the emergency room at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, she enjoys painting and needlepointing. She is also the president of 抖M女仆鈥檚 Blood Pressure Screening Association, an organization that provides free blood pressure screenings to underserved communities in South Florida.
For Baran, the dedication and drive she has to fulfill her aspirational goals is endless.聽聽Next on her list is to become the first person in her family to attend medical school and become a doctor.聽聽
鈥淚 believe that anything is attainable for anyone, if one is willing to seize their chances and work hard in everything they are given,鈥 said Baran. 鈥淚 know my journey doesn鈥檛 end here, this is just the starting point for a much bigger dream, and I can鈥檛 wait for what鈥檚 next.鈥
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