Sanshray Vallecha discovers his passion for nutritional sciences
Sanshray Vallecha, who grew up in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, will be graduating this winter with a bachelor’s in nutritional science and neurobiology. In this Q&A, he explains what inspired him to choose his majors, his volunteer work on campus, and the networking opportunities within CALS that impacted his college experience. Sanshray plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.
Why did you choose your major? What was the most interesting or the coolest thing you learned?
I chose my major in nutritional sciences because of my interest in healthier eating during my weight-loss journey. Through this journey, I began to learn what it means to eat healthy, and I wanted to continue learning about diet and food in general to deepen my understanding. One of the most incredible things that I have learned is how integral nutrition is in preventing or decreasing the risk for many diseases, especially some of the most prevalent in our country: obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, among others.
I chose my other major, neurobiology, because of my interest in the brain, especially given how much we still have to learn about it. One of my favorite comparisons is that the brain is like the ocean: we know so much yet so little about each, yet they both are integral to our daily lives.
What student organizations, groups, and other activities were you involved in?
I am involved in a few student organizations on campus: Health Entrepreneurs and Leaders and Badger Volunteers. I have also been involved in Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Food Justice Collective, and GUTS in previous semesters. As for volunteering, I volunteer with New Friends and Bridging Wisconsin, and I am a peer learning volunteer for Anat&phys 335. I have also been involved in research in the NeuroLAND lab since my freshman year, when I joined the lab through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.
What are your future academic and/or career plans, short-term and long-term?
My postgraduate plans are to attend medical school and become a physician. As of now, my goal is to perform some procedures, whether as a surgeon, gastroenterologist, or interventional radiologist. However, I am still open to many different specialties.
What were the most valuable and/or meaningful experiences you had in CALS?
My most meaningful experiences in CALS came from the networking opportunities provided. Whether it be job fairs or talking with advisors, CALS always allowed us as students to thrive while we were in school, preparing us for our plans after graduation. What I liked most about these experiences is the personability that these opportunities created, with everyone being genuinely interested in what I was doing and always willing and excited to help.
When you think about your time here as a student, what are you proud of?
As a student at UW–Madison, my proudest moments have come through my volunteer work. Through Bridging Wisconsin, a program that promotes higher education among middle and high school students from underprivileged communities in Wisconsin, we have provided opportunities for these students to pursue their dreams of attending college. We have also brought them for a full-day event at UW-Madison, including a tour and a resource fair where we invite faculty members from across campus.
Through New Friends, where we work with mentors (people with dementia or a related disease), I have learned so much by interacting with them and through the workshops held every month. It always brings a smile to my face when mentors and their caregivers tell us how much they look forward to our monthly meetings!
Lastly, through Badger Volunteers, I have been able to cook dinner for students at the Lussier Community Education Center, an after-school center in the Madison area. Being able to cook, something I love doing, while putting healthy meals on these students’ plates and interacting with the students has been such a rewarding experience to help out the Madison community!
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with CALS students?
For other CALS students and undergraduate students in general, my advice would be to have a lot of fun. Even though it can take a little bit to get acclimated to classes, the undergraduate college experience can be built in the way YOU want it. Whether you are someone who likes to get super involved in their clubs or go on hikes to Picnic Point with friends, this university offers so many experiences for you to take advantage of. I focused on finding a good balance between student life and academics, and I encourage everyone to do the same. School will continue, but most of my favorite college experiences have come from time with friends. A lot of people always say their college days were among their favorite times, and I can understand why. Make the most of YOUR undergraduate experience and enjoy every step of the way!
What do you like most about being a CALS student?
The thing I like most about being a CALS student is the family that I have built through my nutritional sciences major. In classes, I have seen familiar faces for most of my time as a nutritional sciences student, and have grown to become great friends with some of my peers. My advisor, Mona Mogahed, has also been super helpful in guiding me toward my next steps. Whether it is providing recommendations for classes, always looking out for scholarship opportunities, or just being a delightful person to talk to, I have learned a lot. I am grateful for her help and advice over my four years. It feels like I have really built a community and family within CALS!
If you had to eat one Babcock ice cream flavor for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
If I could only eat one Babcock ice cream flavor for the rest of my life, it would be Mnookie Dough. There is something classic about caramel and cookie dough that really makes me feel at home. If I ever get too overwhelmed by the choices at Babcock (which happens a lot), this is my go-to for sure!
What’s your favorite thing about the city of Madison?
My favorite thing about the city of Madison is the diversity the city offers. Of course, there are two lakes surrounding the city, providing plenty of year-round activities and giving us a great time on the Memorial Union terrace. There is also a fantastic farmer’s market in Madison that I wish I had explored earlier; make sure to try everything! We have State Street, Camp Randall/Kohl Center, and a beautiful campus with a wonderful mix of modern and classic buildings. I could go on and on with how amazing the city of Madison is, but its diversity in experiences makes me want to stay.