Meet Laylee Taghizadeh | Undergraduate Student at Rice University

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laylee Taghizadeh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laylee, what principle do you value most?
The value or principle that matters most to me is being kind, no matter what. We live in a world where everybody has their own internal struggles, whether visible or not, and when we choose not to be kind or project our own upsetness or negativity onto others, we only cause more division and hostility. If we simply understand that each person has their own background and story that we know very little about, then we can approach anybody we meet with a sense of compassion and kindness that makes them feel welcomed and comfortable in their environment. When we do simple acts of kindness for those around us, we are making an unmistakable impression about the type of person we are – someone who we meet for the first time will remember us as a nice person if we hold the door open for them or greet them with a smile on our face—and these impressions will stay as a positive spotlight on our character.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I got to where I am today through discipline, work ethic, and staying true to my goals. I wouldn’t necessarily call it easy, because there was no shortage of late nights and trying times, but I got through all of these challenges by remembering what I was working toward and pushing through. I am most excited about all the milestones the journey of becoming a doctor will hold; I can hardly wait for my first long-term research project and starting clinical rotations. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is to constantly remind myself of my big why—oftentimes in the hustle and bustle of life, we tend to get so caught up in the day-to-day that we forget about the big picture, and when things get stressful and hard, we lose sight of why we’re doing this and what we eventually want to achieve.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A couple of places I would definitely take my friend in downtown Houston would be Hermann Park and the Japanese Garden, Discovery Green, the Galleria, and the Museum District. Some places to eat that I wouldn’t let my friend miss are Rudy’s Barbeque, Kenny and Ziggy’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and The Audrey. I would also definitely recommend people to check out Buffalo Bayou, and depending on the time of the year, enjoying the bluebonnet and flower fields around the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my parents who have always encouraged me to strive for reaching my dreams and never give up. My dad is a retired petroleum engineer, and my mom is an educator, so both my parents have a very strong work ethic, and they have tried to instill that in me throughout my life. My dad’s life story and path to his career have taught me an infinite amount about resilience and picking yourself up when life knocks you down. My mom’s constant love and compassion have taught me to always greet someone with a smile on your face, sincere words, and an act of kindness that will make a difference in their lives.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/layleetaghizadeh/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laylee-taghizadeh-36b275321