By Desiree Williams
Adelaide (Addy) Calhoun, 25, is a 2013 graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High. She is a second-year medical student at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. Email student or graduate suggestions for future features to Editor Anna Skinner at [email protected].
Q: What was your favorite high school subject?
A: I really enjoyed science classes and my favorite was AP Environmental Science. It was very different from the typical high school courses, and I felt like it was very applicable to the world around us. I also thought it was fascinating because it made connections between seemingly disconnected things in our environment.
Q: What activities were you involved in during high school?
A: I participated in gymnastics at DeVeau’s through the end of my freshman year of high school, then I joined the football and competition cheerleading team and was a pole vaulter on the track and field team from my sophomore to senior year.
Q: What do you miss about high school?
A: I think the two things I miss the most are the competitive sports atmospheres, like the football and basketball games, and also living nearby my close-knit group of friends to be able to see them on a regular basis.
Q: Can you tell me about your collegiate experiences?
A: I graduated from Indiana University-Bloomington in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in psychology. I was on the Indiana University Crimson All-Girl Cheerleading squad during my freshman year. I was also a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority and participated in the Indiana University Dance Marathon during my time in Bloomington.
Q: What are you up to these days?
A: I am currently a second-year medical student at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. I also decided to pursue a scholarship for medical school through the Air Force. In return, I will practice as a physician for the Air Force. This past summer, I completed Air Force Officer Training in Montgomery, Ala., and also took a course in aerospace medicine in Dayton, Ohio.
Q: What advice would you give to younger students?
A: Do not be afraid to ask for help when life challenges you. This applies to all aspects of your life: academics, athletics, job search, mental health. I have spent too much of my life with the mindset that I am a burden if I ask for help or that any issue that I had was too insignificant to bring up. It is a hard mindset to overcome, but at the end of the day, those who care for you want to see you be happy and succeed. Asking for help is a sign of maturity and strength, not weakness.
