As a nutritional sciences pre-dental student at UF, here’s a snapshot of a day in my (very busy) life

When I first came to UF from Fort Myers, I knew I wanted a major that aligned with dental school prerequisites while also deepening my understanding of human health. Nutritional sciences helped me better understand the human body, and following the dental track allowed me to use my skills while connecting meaningfully with my community. 

But choosing an academic path this rigorous at UF has come with its share of challenges. During my first two years, the most important lesson I learned was not to rush through life and academics, as busy as life may get. 

While it’s easy to feel pressured to follow a strict timeline, especially as a young student eager to stay on track, that mindset can make it hard to be present and truly enjoy the moment. 

In my first couple of semesters, I often compared myself to other students. Whether it was about grades or extracurriculars, I found myself wanting to be as good as everyone else who seemed to have all the typical pre-health boxes checked off: shadowing, volunteering, assisting and maintaining perfect grades. It felt like everyone around me had their path completely figured out, while I was still trying to find my rhythm. The pressure I put on myself didn’t motivate me, but instead made me feel overwhelmed about trying to stick to a specific plan. 

Over time, I’ve realized that everyone moves at their own pace, and that’s completely OK. Progress may not always be visible from the outside. Letting go of those comparisons allowed me to focus on my own growth and to appreciate the experiences I was gaining, instead of fixating on what I thought I lacked. I learned to participate in experiences that I genuinely enjoyed, such as doing henna around campus for charity and reading to children.

My advice to other students is to slow down and enjoy the journey. Adopting this new mindset has allowed me to fully embrace the opportunities around me. I’ve had many meaningful experiences at UF and in my community, like serving the under-insured community in Marion and Alachua counties by assisting the dentists in providing free dental care.

I plan to apply to dental school in Summer 2026 while continuing to volunteer at local clinics and schools. Gaining hands-on experience in the community is important to me as I prepare for the next step in my journey toward becoming a dentist.

But while I’m here, this is a typical Thursday at UF for me:

·  8:30 a.m. – Wake up and get ready
The beginning of the day is the most pivotal for me, so I try not to rush with getting ready. I always check my Google Calendar to see what tasks I have to complete for the day, such as homework and meetings.

·  8:45 a.m. – Breakfast
For breakfast, if I have time, I like to make sunny side up eggs on avocado toast. But most days, I have cereal or oatmeal.

·  9:10 a.m. – Walk to campus
I really enjoy my walks to campus, as it’s usually the perfect weather at this time of day!

·  9:35 a.m. –  Learn about nutrition and disease with Dr. Stacy Mobley

This course is the first in a two-semester sequence that explores the biochemical and pathophysiological foundations of diseases and conditions requiring specialized nutrition support. As a future health care provider, I believe it is important to understand the full process of diagnosing conditions, implementing appropriate interventions and monitoring patient outcomes.

·  10:40 a.m. – Lead my Supplemental Instruction (SI) session or go to the research lab

One of my responsibilities as a TA for Chem 2 is leading study sessions. I teach the same group of students weekly and guide them throughout their time in the class. If this is a Tuesday, I have my biochemistry class in Shands and spend the rest of my day in the research lab at the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Shands. Lately, I’ve been learning a new experiment involving human blood, specifically focusing on isolating monocytes, which has been both challenging and exciting!

·  11:45 a.m. – Attend my biochemistry SI Zoom session
I go to the Marston Science Library to attend my biochemistry SI Zoom session, where I review concepts learned during the week with a small group of students and a TA.

·  12:45 p.m. – Lunch
I eat my lunch, which usually consists of fruit, a protein bar and a sandwich. During this short break, I also try to send the annotated PowerPoint from my Chem 2 SI session to my students via GroupMe.

·  1:10 p.m. – Drive to the Caring and Sharing Learning School
At the Caring and Sharing Learning School, I participate in a program called ReadingPals, where I mentor VPK to third-grade students to help improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills.

·  1:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Read and spend time with kids!
This part of my day is why Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. Seeing the kids light up when they see me and get excited to read fills me with pride and joy!

·  5 to 6 p.m. – Chill on campus or go to an event

I am a co-president of Hearts for Henna, so sometimes we have events planned during this time where we raise money for Food4Kids by doing henna around campus. I am also a member of the Pre-Dental ASDA club at UF, so I try to go to a couple events a week. If there are no events I need to go to during this time, I usually relax at the Marston Science Library with a snack.

·  6:15 p.m. – TA discussion

I am an undergraduate TA for Chem 2, which has been a great experience. During discussion, I help students with their weekly worksheets and occasionally proctor quizzes.

·  7:30 p.m. – Go home, tidy up and make dinner
Once I get home, I take a shower before eating dinner. After dinner, I brush my teeth and do my skincare routine.

·  8:30 p.m. – Do homework and study, if needed
Besides the small breaks I get during the day, this is the only time I have to complete any homework and study for my classes. I also like to plan my tasks for the next few days on Google Calendar, as it keeps me organized.

·  11:30 p.m. – Relax with a book, hobby or TV show
If time allows, I try to unwind before bed by doing things I enjoy. Recently, I’ve been painting a mural in my room and have gotten back into pottery, which has been a fun way to relax and get creative.  

·  12 a.m.  – Bedtime

Yasmeen Mujtaba is a third-year undergraduate student in the nutritional sciences program on the pre-dental track at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the recipient of the FSHN Rising Star Award. Her hobbies include henna, drawing, ceramics, baking and reading.