Senior Spotlight April 2011: Jordan Blanche
In Spring 2010, Physiological Science major Jordan Blanche from Corona, California was initiated into Mortar Board for his superior scholastic ability, outstanding and continual leadership, and dedicated service to the community. Jordan was elected by his peers to serve as a Special Projects Committee Member, on which he is responsible for helping with major campus events or activities, such as Mortar Board Week. Outside of Mortar Board, Jordan does bone regeneration research in oral and maxillofacial surgery, is the President of the Pre-dental Student Outreach Program, is the Director and Scholarship coordinator of the Rendering Encouragement in Academic Commitment for Higher Education program, and is the External Vice President of the Golden Key Honor Society. This is just a few notables amongst many, many other extracurriculars. While at UCLA, you can find Jordan playing tennis, watching tennis, watching movies, and dressing extremely well! Please continue reading as we turn the spotlight on Jordan!
Describe your personality in three words.
Contemplative. Rhetorical. Hungry.
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
It may sound odd, but I believe that my best quality is that I’m stubborn. And it feels like I put this quality to good use everyday. Whether I’m trying to organize an event or solve a tough problem in my research, I’m always so stubborn. And because I’m stubborn, I don’t give up, and I don’t just abandon a project. Because I’m stubborn, I don’t let people tell me that something can’t be done. Because I’m stubborn, I have been able to overcome personal health challenges in my own life, despite others telling me I was incapable of doing so. Because I’m stubborn, I know I can do whatever I want with my life. I believe in myself. Because I’m stubborn.
What are your interests?
Cheese. Tennis. The universe.
What do you like about UCLA?
There are many things I like about UCLA, too many to name. So I will just say that I appreciate the abundance of opportunities here. Any interest that a student possesses can be pursued to full fruition here. No student will ever be hindered by the circumstance of going to UCLA. I, for one, know that I have taken full advantage of the many opportunities I’ve had at UCLA, and I have not a single regret about coming here.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I wish there was more pre-professional support for the average student at UCLA. I don’t mean to discredit our career center in any way because I believe they do really great things there. But my initial impression when I first arrived at UCLA was confusion about who to ask for advice that was specific to my personal post-graduate goals. Ultimately, I found insight by joining various student groups on campus. At this point, I very much appreciate the value of peer-counseling, which is why I have dedicated much of my spare time this year to serve as a pre-health counselor for my fellow UCLA students.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
Well, to be very nonspecific, I would say that my four years here at UCLA has been an incredible learning experience. After spending 12 years in a small Catholic school environment, coming to UCLA was literally like entering a whole new world. I feel like have done so much in the past four years, and it is so surreal to think about how different I was before I came to UCLA. My experiences here have prepared me extremely well for the next steps in my life.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
I don’t know if I can actually watch the same movies over and over. But two movies I like that come to mind right now are: The Graduate and Back to the Future Part II. The former is a quintessential 60s movie that I appreciate not just for its interesting assault on ‘Ivy League values’, but more so for Dustin Hoffman’s exemplification of 1960s California collegiate style. As for the latter, Doc Brown has been my hero ever since 3rd grade when I tried to make a flux capacitor from aluminum foil, an extension cord, and Legos.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book is actually “two books-in-one”. I own a single-bound (combined) edition of Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time” and what is thought to be its sequel, “The Universe in a Nutshell”. Since I was a young child, I would often ponder things far beyond my comprehension. In Hawking’s books, I had finally found my gateway into a simplified understanding of the universe. Plus, it’s just nice to read about theoretical physics from one of the most brilliant scientists in this field since Einstein.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would like to meet Stephen Hawking. There is a reason why Hawking’s books are perhaps the best sellers of all popular science books, and it’s not just because they are very well-written. The reason is Hawking himself. He is truly an extraordinary man. In his twenties, he contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). After years of motor neuron decay, he now speaks only with the aid of a computer and is only able to move his eyes and a finger. Even so, he been able to remain productive as a researcher, deliver lectures, write books, and raise a family. Hawking is the quintessential role model for a person with disabilities. While I marvel at the work of the likes of Einstein and Dirac, I would most like to personally meet Hawking, not necessarily for his work in theoretical physics, but because of what he was able to make out of his life against all odds.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would go to the the Finals of Wimbledon. As a lover of the sport of tennis, I don’t think I need to explain.
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
My idea of an ideal career is in constant flux. While I do have a plan, something new always comes up to pull me in another direction. As for my current plans, next year I will be attending Harvard University to obtain a D.M.D. degree and then an M.D. degree. I plan to pursue a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery afterwards and specialize in craniofacial surgery. While at Harvard, I may be studying in a joint program with MIT, called Health Sciences and Technology (HST), in order to obtain an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Alternatively, I have also considered concurrently obtaining an M.B.A. or M.P.P. and ultimately pursuing a career in academic medicine or public health policy. Evidently, I am still very unsure of which path to take. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out sooner than later in the next 15 years...
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
A great leader must maintain a clear vision of his/her goals and must possess the ambition to go after them. At the same time, a leader must be empowering to others and never too proud to ask for help or alternate perspectives on an issue.
Name one person you admire? Why?
My brother personifies the maxim, “Follow your heart.” In that, he is the single person I know that is closest to achieving a life of simple happiness. Unlike others who have decided to pursue a career because it was the ‘safe route’, my brother decided to do what his heart told him to do. He made a decision to live. Coming from a family of scientists and doctors, choosing a career in fashion design is not easy, to put it mildly. He works hard and lives on the edge. But I know that one day he can look back on his life and know that it wasn’t wasted. From my brother, I have learned the most valuable lesson ever: Decide to live.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
The professor who has influenced me the most is the PI of my research lab, Tara Aghaloo, D.D.S, M.D., Ph.D. As an academic oral and maxillofacial surgeon, she has shown me the vast possibilities that can be pursued in this field. Beyond that, she was able to raise a family while living the stressful life of a surgical resident and working toward a Ph.D. at the same time. I admire her professionally and personally.
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Sheldon Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D. He’s a theoretical physicist. He probably has Asperger’s syndrome. He loves his Meemaw. And he’s got a way with the ladies. Bazinga.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
According to my iTunes, the three most played songs are: (1) “Electric Touch (Steve1der & Mighty Mi Remix)” by Kanye West ft. Lupe Fiasco, (2) “Dancing Machine” by The Jackson 5, and (3) “Creep” by Scala & Kolacny Brothers. These aren’t necessarily my three favorite songs. I’m just answering this question very literally.
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be? Why?
I would be a Chimaera, which according to Homer is “a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire”. If you haven’t seen a picture, you have to check it out. Goat head? Check. Snake head? Check. Lion’s head with a full mane? Check. Fire-breathing? Check. All necessities are accounted for.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
For vacations, I have been to England, France, Spain, Italy, Vatican City (which technically is its own country), Monaco, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. For health service missions, I have been to Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Additionally, I will be traveling to Ecuador this July to work with the NGO Esperanza International, Inc. and the Pan-American Health Organization in order to facilitate the creation of environmental legislature and to develop health educational curricula for the Secoya, an indigenous population of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Which is the funniest prank played on you or played by you?
As a physiological science major, I recognize that the mechanism by which voluntary urination is initiated remains unclear. However, it has been suggested that urination can be facilitated by immersing a hand in a cup of warm water, giving rise to the trick of immersing the hand of a sleeping person in water to make this victim urinate in sleep. Although the efficacy of this trick is disputed, as a former victim, I can attest otherwise. That is all.
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
It means being excellent. The group of students I have met in Mortar Board include some of the most amazing individuals I have encountered while at UCLA. Working towards worthy causes together with my fellow Mortar Boarders is easily the best part of being in this society.
Contemplative. Rhetorical. Hungry.
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
It may sound odd, but I believe that my best quality is that I’m stubborn. And it feels like I put this quality to good use everyday. Whether I’m trying to organize an event or solve a tough problem in my research, I’m always so stubborn. And because I’m stubborn, I don’t give up, and I don’t just abandon a project. Because I’m stubborn, I don’t let people tell me that something can’t be done. Because I’m stubborn, I have been able to overcome personal health challenges in my own life, despite others telling me I was incapable of doing so. Because I’m stubborn, I know I can do whatever I want with my life. I believe in myself. Because I’m stubborn.
What are your interests?
Cheese. Tennis. The universe.
What do you like about UCLA?
There are many things I like about UCLA, too many to name. So I will just say that I appreciate the abundance of opportunities here. Any interest that a student possesses can be pursued to full fruition here. No student will ever be hindered by the circumstance of going to UCLA. I, for one, know that I have taken full advantage of the many opportunities I’ve had at UCLA, and I have not a single regret about coming here.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I wish there was more pre-professional support for the average student at UCLA. I don’t mean to discredit our career center in any way because I believe they do really great things there. But my initial impression when I first arrived at UCLA was confusion about who to ask for advice that was specific to my personal post-graduate goals. Ultimately, I found insight by joining various student groups on campus. At this point, I very much appreciate the value of peer-counseling, which is why I have dedicated much of my spare time this year to serve as a pre-health counselor for my fellow UCLA students.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
Well, to be very nonspecific, I would say that my four years here at UCLA has been an incredible learning experience. After spending 12 years in a small Catholic school environment, coming to UCLA was literally like entering a whole new world. I feel like have done so much in the past four years, and it is so surreal to think about how different I was before I came to UCLA. My experiences here have prepared me extremely well for the next steps in my life.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
I don’t know if I can actually watch the same movies over and over. But two movies I like that come to mind right now are: The Graduate and Back to the Future Part II. The former is a quintessential 60s movie that I appreciate not just for its interesting assault on ‘Ivy League values’, but more so for Dustin Hoffman’s exemplification of 1960s California collegiate style. As for the latter, Doc Brown has been my hero ever since 3rd grade when I tried to make a flux capacitor from aluminum foil, an extension cord, and Legos.
What is your favorite book and why?
My favorite book is actually “two books-in-one”. I own a single-bound (combined) edition of Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time” and what is thought to be its sequel, “The Universe in a Nutshell”. Since I was a young child, I would often ponder things far beyond my comprehension. In Hawking’s books, I had finally found my gateway into a simplified understanding of the universe. Plus, it’s just nice to read about theoretical physics from one of the most brilliant scientists in this field since Einstein.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would like to meet Stephen Hawking. There is a reason why Hawking’s books are perhaps the best sellers of all popular science books, and it’s not just because they are very well-written. The reason is Hawking himself. He is truly an extraordinary man. In his twenties, he contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). After years of motor neuron decay, he now speaks only with the aid of a computer and is only able to move his eyes and a finger. Even so, he been able to remain productive as a researcher, deliver lectures, write books, and raise a family. Hawking is the quintessential role model for a person with disabilities. While I marvel at the work of the likes of Einstein and Dirac, I would most like to personally meet Hawking, not necessarily for his work in theoretical physics, but because of what he was able to make out of his life against all odds.
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would go to the the Finals of Wimbledon. As a lover of the sport of tennis, I don’t think I need to explain.
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
My idea of an ideal career is in constant flux. While I do have a plan, something new always comes up to pull me in another direction. As for my current plans, next year I will be attending Harvard University to obtain a D.M.D. degree and then an M.D. degree. I plan to pursue a residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery afterwards and specialize in craniofacial surgery. While at Harvard, I may be studying in a joint program with MIT, called Health Sciences and Technology (HST), in order to obtain an M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Alternatively, I have also considered concurrently obtaining an M.B.A. or M.P.P. and ultimately pursuing a career in academic medicine or public health policy. Evidently, I am still very unsure of which path to take. Hopefully, I’ll figure it out sooner than later in the next 15 years...
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
A great leader must maintain a clear vision of his/her goals and must possess the ambition to go after them. At the same time, a leader must be empowering to others and never too proud to ask for help or alternate perspectives on an issue.
Name one person you admire? Why?
My brother personifies the maxim, “Follow your heart.” In that, he is the single person I know that is closest to achieving a life of simple happiness. Unlike others who have decided to pursue a career because it was the ‘safe route’, my brother decided to do what his heart told him to do. He made a decision to live. Coming from a family of scientists and doctors, choosing a career in fashion design is not easy, to put it mildly. He works hard and lives on the edge. But I know that one day he can look back on his life and know that it wasn’t wasted. From my brother, I have learned the most valuable lesson ever: Decide to live.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
The professor who has influenced me the most is the PI of my research lab, Tara Aghaloo, D.D.S, M.D., Ph.D. As an academic oral and maxillofacial surgeon, she has shown me the vast possibilities that can be pursued in this field. Beyond that, she was able to raise a family while living the stressful life of a surgical resident and working toward a Ph.D. at the same time. I admire her professionally and personally.
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
Sheldon Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D. He’s a theoretical physicist. He probably has Asperger’s syndrome. He loves his Meemaw. And he’s got a way with the ladies. Bazinga.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
According to my iTunes, the three most played songs are: (1) “Electric Touch (Steve1der & Mighty Mi Remix)” by Kanye West ft. Lupe Fiasco, (2) “Dancing Machine” by The Jackson 5, and (3) “Creep” by Scala & Kolacny Brothers. These aren’t necessarily my three favorite songs. I’m just answering this question very literally.
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be? Why?
I would be a Chimaera, which according to Homer is “a thing of immortal make, not human, lion-fronted and snake behind, a goat in the middle, and snorting out the breath of the terrible flame of bright fire”. If you haven’t seen a picture, you have to check it out. Goat head? Check. Snake head? Check. Lion’s head with a full mane? Check. Fire-breathing? Check. All necessities are accounted for.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
For vacations, I have been to England, France, Spain, Italy, Vatican City (which technically is its own country), Monaco, Canada, Mexico, and the Philippines. For health service missions, I have been to Panama, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Additionally, I will be traveling to Ecuador this July to work with the NGO Esperanza International, Inc. and the Pan-American Health Organization in order to facilitate the creation of environmental legislature and to develop health educational curricula for the Secoya, an indigenous population of the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Which is the funniest prank played on you or played by you?
As a physiological science major, I recognize that the mechanism by which voluntary urination is initiated remains unclear. However, it has been suggested that urination can be facilitated by immersing a hand in a cup of warm water, giving rise to the trick of immersing the hand of a sleeping person in water to make this victim urinate in sleep. Although the efficacy of this trick is disputed, as a former victim, I can attest otherwise. That is all.
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
It means being excellent. The group of students I have met in Mortar Board include some of the most amazing individuals I have encountered while at UCLA. Working towards worthy causes together with my fellow Mortar Boarders is easily the best part of being in this society.
