Best Friends and First-Generation College Students Fulfill Their Medical School Dreams

Kaylee Broome ’22 and Amaya Farr ’22 have bonded over their shared passions and similar personas since their first day as freshmen at Queens. Now, in a bittersweet separation, the two first-generation students are headed to two different medical schools.

“We both sort of had the similar identities being first-gen, being part of the Black Student Union, women in medicine,” Farr said. “We were able to lean on each other over the years and grow alongside one another. Seeing us both land a spot at our dream med schools is beyond exciting.”

The best friends’ collaboration and dedication to their studies have paid off. Farr is a health science and public health major in the Preyer Honors Program. The Spartanburg, SC native will attend the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston on a full-tuition scholarship. Broome, a psychology major from Monroe, will attend the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.

Outside of the classroom, Broome and Farr have cherished their involvement in the Black Student Union (BSU) on campus. Broome, who served as BSU’s President, feels her extracurricular activities made a difference in the medical school interview and application process.

“By getting involved outside of the classroom, I was able to talk about the things I did during undergrad with passion because I had such a genuine interest in the service and group,” said Broome. “As a first-gen student, no one in my family had gone through the med school application process before. I am so grateful that Queens had resources that helped me to proactively set myself up for success.”

Both students were proactive in building their resumes around their interests and career goals. Broome was able to gain work experience at a clinic in her hometown during her years at Queens, while Farr joined the North Carolina AHEC Scholars Program in partnership with Atrium Health where she gained industry knowledge alongside 40 students from across the state.

Though going to different schools means moving to different cities for the next chapter of their education and careers, Broome and Farr are confident that their lives and careers will continue to intersect through their passion for medicine and the power of their friendship.

Learn more about their experiences at Queens in this brief video.