Blessing Mupinga, a senior at Bio-Med Science Academy — the STEM+M school on the NEOMED campus — is a new student intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Where are you from? How long have you lived in Northeast Ohio?
Originally, I'm from Terre Haute, a small town in Indiana about 84 miles west of Indianapolis and 150 miles from the Ohio border. I was born and raised there until the age of five, when my family decided to move to Northeast Ohio. We currently live in Kent.
How do you like to spend your free time?
In my free time I enjoy playing sports that pertain to the season; in the fall I play soccer, in the winter I figure skate, and in the spring, I run track. Outside of sports you’ll find me watching Netflix, organizing, brainstorming ideas for ways to keep me occupied, playing piano and sleeping.
Last show you binge-watched?
I spent a good three days over summer binge- watching The Umbrella Academy. Honestly, what made me fall in love with it was not only the plot, but the character diversity and the soundtrack. I had it on repeat for eight days straight!
If you could transform into any animal, which one would you choose?
Hands down, I would be a dodo bird. Why? Because it would seem like I had survived extinction and would then make me more famous than Big Bird himself. As the last of my species, the preservation efforts that would surround me would be through the roof! My own home, personal chef, bodyguards, and more. I’d be living the dream.
What do you enjoy most about being a Bio-Med student?
The best thing about being a Bio-Med student is how much freedom we’re given to complete projects in any way we see fit. I really like this aspect because projects differ from person to person and when presented, it's really cool to see how other people choose to interpret and display information.
What drew you to Bio-Med?
Like many individuals who attend the school, I came for a better opportunity. Bio-Med provides better resources as it is more technologically advanced than other traditional high schools. That’s very important, since we live in a tech-dominated world. As the school is STEM+M-based, we are exposed to material that sparks ideas within us that could potentially advance the leading industries. We are the generation whose time is next, and ideally, Bio-Med is setting us up for the future.
What is most interesting to you about Bio-Med’s proximity and connection with Northeast Ohio Medical University?
Being on a medical school campus allows Bio-Med students interested in the health and science fields an ample opportunity to learn from active professionals. As Bio-Med is a STEM+M school, integrating NEOMED faculty as guest speakers into our curriculum allows students to identify potential careers through lectures that pique their interest. Compared to regular public schools that have fewer STEM+M-based incorporations, being on NEOMED’s campus even provides Bio-Med students with the opportunity to get hands-on experience through the use of senior internships - that are not only limited to medicine - without traveling anywhere except for maybe across campus. Especially in the midst of the current pandemic, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and so excited to see what’s yet to come!
Photo: Blessing (right) along with her sister Rumbidzai (left).