Raegan Williams
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About
Hello Everyone,
I am a Molecular Technologist, and I test a variety of infectious diseases. I was pre-med as an undergrad at UNT, where I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. Currently, I am a graduate student at UF for medical sciences. In a few months, I will be applying to medical school for the first time. I love reading, volunteering, organizing, and going on walks.
Even though I am just now getting to know you, I am a big supporter. All of you reading this will do great things and are doing fantastic. Keep your head up, and keep going forward. You're already making a difference in the world.
Raegan’s Career Stories
What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?
The most helpful piece of career advice I got as a student was from my mom. She told me I was sitting in the same class as everyone else, which meant I was smart and could do this. One of the most extensive pieces of advice she has ever given me was to "turn down the volume" on people. Instead of saying something that may burn a bridge or cause drama, just focus on other things and distance yourself nonchalantly from that person. At work, I "turn down the volume" by focusing on something I like in my spare time.
Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?
Yes. As a freshman in college, we were all required to meet with an advisor in our study area by the end of our first semester. As a result, I had to meet with the pre-med health advisor, who told me that I should change my major and that I would never get into medical school. That's the moment I advised myself the next 3 1/2 years.
When did you get your first Big Break? How did you get it? How did it go?
My first big break was when I was offered a lab assistant job at my dream hospital. It was very hard to land an interview, so when I got one, I was very nervous. I was myself and bonded with the people interviewing me. The position became filled, but they offered me the job anyways. I was there for three months until the COVID vaccines started coming out. As a result, the lab started downsizing. I accepted a testing position at a blood bank where I was 1 of 6 to be on the COVID CDC project. 7 months later, my contract ended, and now I am back at my dream hospital working in the position I used to help assist. To this day, the connections I made during that initial time still last.
In layperson terms, what do you actually do at work?
I test a variety of viruses in the infectious disease department.