Future health lawyer, current patient-care multitasker, former English student, life-long communicator.

Hi, I'm Tegan. But you already knew that. 

I am a 2024 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. My academic and professional background has given me a nuanced perspective on language, representation, and the importance of effective and accessible communication.

Being a big reader my whole life and writing feeling like one of the only things that came natural to me, it made sense that English was my first choice for my undergraduate studies.I was able to seamlessly blend my love for both reading and writing  with a double major concentration in Literatures in English and Professional Writing & Publishing. My minor in Gender and Women's Studies provided me a place to study diverse writings, acting as the touchstone for my advocacy ideas.

Thanks to UIC's forward-thinking yet practical English curriculum, which emphasizes developing "real-world" skills, I deepened my critical thinking and interpretation abilities in anticipation of post-college work. Through professional development classes, extracurriculars, and hands-on experience across various industries, I honed my communication skills and emerged as a budding young professional!

Visiting the University of Michigan's School of Law on a crisp autumn day. Go Blue!

Feeling confident in my communication skills and ready to take the next step towards my ultimate career goal by the end of my undergrad career, I decided it was time to challenge myself and use my communications skills in a way I never had before. Shortly before graduation, I began working as an ophthalmic technician in an ophthalmology private practice, where I still work today! Here, I learned the ins and outs of hands-on patient care. Moving beyond the industry-standard communication I had practiced in my previous roles, I developed the ability to communicate one-on-one with patients in a fast-paced, high-stakes medical environment. 

Getting to work directly with a diverse patient population has given me profound insight to the challenges Americans face in our current healthcare system. Whether it may be accessibility issues due to vague - yet strict - insurance policies, mental health challenges faced due to medical concerns, or administrative burden making it hard for healthcare workers to aid their patients, I have offered a supportive ear many a time. These hardships have not steered me away from the medical field; rather, they have made me more eager to reach my goals of working with health communications, and, eventually, as a health attorney.

I am currently seeking roles related to (you guessed it!) communications, preferably within an organization that directly or indirectly is involved within the healthcare sphere. While I acknowledge that these kind of roles look different within every organization, I am excited to use my skills and my hands-on experience to bring my unique perspective to a new team. As I prepare for the journey of going back to school, I hope to use the skills I already have to further deepen my understanding of my passions across the board. 

In the wise words of Julia Carney, "Little drops of water make the mighty ocean." I'll make a difference where I am, as I am, since I know I can't save the whole entire world (yet!).