In less than ten days, the new school year will begin, in Israel and around the world – but for 13-year-old Alina Enley Wicker from Texas in the USA, it will not be a normal school year.
For her, a completely different year will begin, as she will begin attending medical school, instead of moving up to eighth grade.
Wicker, who will graduate from the University of Alabama School of Medicine when she’s 21, says now that “just knowing that I’ve achieved my goal of medical school at this age, it excites me.”
In fact, eight years of medical studies are expected of her: four years of theoretical study at the university and another four years of internship at the hospital. About the moment when the school administration informed her that she had been accepted to study medicine, Alina says that it was an “amazing moment” – but even this moment was won by Alina thanks to hard work, which included two bachelor’s degree programs, which she completed at the University of Arizona and Oakwood University. “After the corona virus, I made the decision to specialize in virology, and my desire is to research viruses to help people heal from them,” she says.
In addition.
Although she graduated from high school about a year ago (surprisingly, too) – Alina is not quiet about the yeast during this year, and founded a volunteer club that helps African-American girls like her by providing tutoring in technology, engineering, math and science. This activity earned her a special award from the President of the United States, himself.