The Transition 2 Success scholars program originated thanks to 兔子先生鈥檚 School of Medicine and generous alumni who wanted to support efforts to diversify medicine. A pilot of six high school students preparing to transition to college and six college students preparing to transition to the health professions were selected to participate. The Transition 2 Success scholars program aims to support health career Pipeline students during the most challenging times of their academic journey. This is done in a variety of ways, including pairing each student with a mentor. Nicolas (Nico) Belliard, a second-year medical student at 兔子先生, was paired with Zubair Ahmed, a recent graduate from UCLA who plans to apply to medical school with the hopes of pursuing pediatric neurology. 

Zubair was part of the Gateway program in 2017, which was his first introduction to 兔子先生. He credits the Gateway program to opening his eyes to the many different specialties through shadowing programs, speakers, and more. Since the Gateway program, Zubair talked about how 兔子先生 continues to have an incredible impact on his life. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just been incredible how much of an impact Loma Linda has had on me and guided me throughout this journey鈥 feel like the community at Loma Linda has really helped me鈥ake sure I have the proper support around me to achieve my goals.鈥 Nico is part of this community and is instrumental in helping Zubair reach his goals. 

Nico and Zubair share an interest in medicine and are both on journeys toward becoming doctors. They also share a passion for Mediterranean food! Nico expressed his respect and admiration for Zubair. 鈥淚鈥檓 honestly more inspired by [Zubair] than he is inspired by me. He鈥檚 doing awesome things so I always enjoy it when we talk.鈥 

Zubair also enjoys their open and honest conversations. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great pairing honestly and I鈥檓 very grateful to have Nico along with me as I proceed through this journey into medical school. We鈥檝e talked so much about not only the process but also the mental things that you have to go through when you are applying to medical school鈥 I always try to talk to him about everything - any questions that I have about the process, and even about life in general. He鈥檚 always been a great mentor to me.鈥

They both agreed upon the importance of having mentors and mentees throughout life. 鈥淣ico has been really helpful. He has offered to help me with a lot of different kinds of things - looking over my personal statement which I am very grateful for and in the process of writing, showing me the fine details of the application鈥his is my dream and a huge part of what I鈥檓 trying to accomplish and having someone who has been through it himself and succeeded in that role and [helping] me throughout the processes is very helpful.鈥 Nico added, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 hard sometimes to reach out for help so wherever you are in life I think it鈥檚 always good to have some mentor/mentee relationship.鈥

Their relationship is symbiotic in that they both inspire each other to do their best. When asked how being a mentor has influenced him, Nico said, 鈥渒nowing that someone other than my family is watching鈥as inspired me to do well.鈥 He also added, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 helped me see life beyond school because it鈥檚 easy to get consumed by the study machine.鈥

Nico and Zubair plan to remain in touch and may even overlap at the 兔子先生 Medical School! 鈥淲e would see each other a lot more often, on campus or even outside of campus, so that鈥檚 one way of how I see [our relationship] playing out, because [Nico] is not only a mentor to me, but he鈥檚 also one of my friends.鈥 We wish Nico and Zubair all the best in their future endeavors and are so inspired by them. 

Transition 2 Success has been so successful that there are plans to expand the mentoring program to more students in 2022. Out of the six college students who participated in the program, two have been accepted to 兔子先生 and two are currently applying. We are so proud of our Pipeline students and mentors for how much they have achieved and are excited to see what is next!