Allysha Yasuda is a senior at the University of Idaho studying microbiology with a minor in pre-health studies.
After graduation, Yasuda said she is planning on applying to medical school.
At 19-months-old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She said the doctors she encountered in the hospital made her feel at ease and sparked her interest in medicine.
“There were a couple of times growing up when I was very sick, and I had to be in the hospital and I thought for me this is very scary. But in a situation where I am the most scared and vulnerable, this is the best place for me. When the doctor came in, I just felt so at ease, he just made me feel so safe and taken care of,” Yasuda said.
Yasuda works in a lab on campus which focuses on diabetes research and is investigating a specific herbal extract and how it protects neutrons.
During her time at UI, Yasuda has been involved in a variety of activities, like joining Alpha Phi Sorority, serving on the Panhellenic Council as vice president of programing and serving on two mission trips.
“I used to put (my faith) in a box and thought it was just a piece of who I was and I would just check it whenever, but through my time at college, I have transitioned to where (God) is part of my life and he is kind of the center and he affects every single part of it,” Yasuda said.
The mission trips Yasuda went on were through Resonate Church. Yasuda said she went to Los Angeles and Denver.
“One thing that I’ve found to be really passionate is being able to serve those who are homeless. Specifically, I’ve been able to do it in L.A. and Denver, and those were both totally radical for me. Seeing how thankful and joyful you can be with very little, but also I think one of the greatest joys you can get is serving other people,” Yasuda said.
In Los Angeles, Yasuda said they helped the homeless on Skid Row by preparing meals and working with an outreach program for women and children.
In Denver, Yasuda said the group she went with did something similar, but they also built rooms for the homeless.
“It was cool seeing all these empty kind of dirty rooms, and then we were able to fill them with bunk beds and put furniture in there and it was beautiful to see that tangibly,” Yasuda said.
Yasuda gave a TED Talk at TEDxUIdaho about what it is like to live with a chronic diagnosis.
“At the core, there’s people, because that’s what I’m passionate about. I want to help them,” Yasuda said.
Kali Nelson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kalinelson6