Science has always been an interest of Ludan Osman.
With her parents being high school science teachers in her native Sudan, Osman, 22, learned everything she knew about the field from an early age, leading to her pursuit of a career in the healthcare industry.
After her family emigrated to the United States in 2019, Osman began looking at colleges that would help in her career, which led her to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she majored in biology and will graduate with 201 other students on Friday, Dec. 13 as part of 2024 winter commencement exercises.
Osman, who now lives in Princess Anne, chose UMES because of the number of natural science paths that were available.
While Osman knew what she wanted to do, her path was far from an easy one.
“I was struggling in my general biology lab back in 2021,” she said. “I went to my general biology professor, who recommended that I go through an internship as research assistant so it would help me better understand things.”
It was through that internship that Osman was able to publish a research paper on the effects of temperature on Aronia berries, which are rich in antioxidants.
“It was something that meant a lot to me,” she said. “It proved that if I was able to do that, then I could do more and more.”
Osman said that it was through her UMES experiences that she learned to persevere through adversity, which gives her the belief that there are no barriers, only detours.
“My experience at UMES proves that everything is possible as long as I put my mind to it,” she said. “To go from struggling in a general lab to publishing research papers means that in my next journey if I struggle in the beginning, I can tell myself the same thing happened to me and that I have to put in the extra work to overcome it.”
Her next journey, following a gap year to gain experience as a dental assistant, will be to attend dental school.
Osman added that anyone looking at UMES as their school of choice, will find all the tools they need to succeed.
“You have to take the initiative and ask for help,” she said. “There are plenty of people willing to help and provide those resources, but no one can read someone’s mind. All you have to do is ask for help.”
