Biography:
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Strafford in 2015. While I was at Strafford, I played clarinet in the marching/concert band and tenor saxophone in the jazz band. Some of my favorite clubs were FBLA, Scholar Bowl, and Mu Alpha Theta. Outside of school, I worked at Andy’s Frozen Custard and was involved in the Cox Medical Explorers and SWMO Area Health Education Center’s ACES Program.
I attended Drury University in Springfield and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2019. I applied for lots of scholarships while I was in high school, and I was able to graduate from Drury debt-free! While I was at Drury, I became heavily involved in research and had the opportunity to present my work at an American Chemical Society national convention. My research generally looked at the prevention and treatment of staphylococcus aureus infections in bone cells.
After graduating from Drury, I worked as a phlebotomist at the Cox North Laboratory where I learned many valuable skills. I was responsible for drawing blood from inpatients at the hospital, patients in the ER, and outpatients that came to the lab for fasting lab work from their primary care physicians. I learned a lot about lab testing procedures, drawing blood, and interacting with a variety of patients.
I left Cox North in the Summer of 2021 to marry my wonderful husband, Jacob; and in July, we moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma so that I could begin medical school at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Classes so far have been difficult, but I am enjoying the opportunity to use all the things I’ve learned in biology and chemistry in high school and undergrad to study the human body!
If you have any questions about research, scholarships, being a pre-med student, or anything else, then you can email me at jessicarockafellow@outlook.com. Med school keeps me pretty busy so I may not answer right away, but I will eventually!
How did Strafford Schools help you with your current path?
When I was a student at Strafford, there were opportunities for us to participate in science fairs, and I believe that is what got me initially interested in research. I’m glad that I gave it a try in high school because research in undergrad was very fun! Not to mention research also looks really good on medical school applications!
What advice would you give to current Strafford Schools students?
Utilize the resources available to you to set yourself up for success, whether that be asking your teachers for advice, applying for scholarships to make college cheaper, or joining clubs to explore your passions.
Strafford Schools is proud of Jessica Rockafellow-Gray and all of the many other successful Strafford Schools graduates!
