

From Grafton to UMass

As a biomedical engineering student pursuing the pre-medical track, sophomore Abby Zheng is one of few women in her major. While she is passionate about her studies, it can be difficult to advocate for herself in a male-dominated field. “Including me, there’s only three girls in my entire physics lab section,” Abby shares. “I devote so much time going to my classes and doing my schoolwork, and a lot of that time is spent around men.” Despite her academic environment, she doesn’t shy away from making sure her voice is heard. At UMass Amherst, Abby is able to thrive in the community she has built for herself.
Abby has always valued female friendships as a strong foundation in her life. When she began her college career at UMass Amherst, she prioritized those connections. “I have such a growing admiration for women, both in my personal life and in professional fields,” she says. Determined to connect with female peers in her major, Abby joined Engineers Without Borders, a student-run organization that supports underprivileged communities around the world. “At UMass, you can really make a difference,” Abby says. “We have so many student organizations that are actively making changes in our local community.” She also belongs to the UMass Pre-Medical Society, as well as the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. Outside of her studies, Abby has found other ways to make a meaningful impact and connect with her culture as a proud member of the Asian American Student Association. “It was really important for me to connect with my culture at UMass because it’s a lot more difficult in my hometown,” she explains.
Growing up in the small town of Grafton, Massachusetts, Abby was eager to broaden her horizons at UMass Amherst. “Amherst is a much larger, vibrant community than my hometown,” she says. “UMass brings in so many students from all over the place. And even though the student population is big, I feel like a very close-knit community here.” From her position as a tour guide to her involvement in intramural soccer, she has formed countless friendships with her fellow students. Most recently, Abby joined Chi Omega, which provides her with an outlet to continue her passion for philanthropy. These incredible experiences have allowed her to connect with powerful women and find her place on campus.
Beyond her extracurricular activities, Abby has found that merely being a student at UMass Amherst means being a part of a community. Whether it’s campus events or holiday celebrations, UMass student pride is everywhere. “I think UMass does a great job at building community. Last year, Founders Day was a blast! My professors were there, my friends were there, and so many alumni showed up,” she shares. “Homecoming Weekend was also really fun, and the marching band was amazing. Being at a flagship state school, there’s always something happening.”
Since beginning her journey at UMass Amherst, Abby has truly come into her own. Being a college student is not always smooth sailing, but all of her experiences—both good and bad—have shaped her into the confident, accomplished young woman she is today. “We're all human. We struggle. I'm struggling with engineering right now. But at UMass, I’m happy because I’m focused on bettering myself and learning how to cope with stress. So, my advice to new students is to know what you want for yourself. You don’t need to have your career path figured out or even know what you want to study. You just need to prioritize what makes you feel good about yourself.”