Ambitious
CSULB student ahead of his time
By
Elysse James
On-line Forty-Niner
Sean
Welsh an 18-year-old California State Long
Beach student is a renowned piano player,
chief coordinator for a group called Medical
Mission, and helped found Sigma Phi Omega,
a gerontology club on campus. Welsh graduated
from Fairmont Preparatory Academy in Anaheim
and started attending CSULB at age 16.
While
taking a gerontology course with Melanie
Horn Mallers in the fall of 2003, Welsh
was inspired to help start the Sigma Phi
Omega gerontology club, which after 7 months,
is finally recognized with its headquarters
in Washington, D.C.
“We are so excited to get Sigma Phi
Omega recognized,” Horn Mallers said.
“This wouldn’t have happened
without him. He is wise beyond his years.
He sees the big picture, which, when you’re
young isn’t an easy thing to do.”
The
group is planning a summer mixer and professional
career days in cooperation with local hospitals.
Eventually Sigma Phi Omega hopes to have
a gerontology library set up in conjunction
with the Center for Successful Aging, providing
periodicals and publications for gerontology
students.
“We
have had some good responses on [the gerontology
library]. We had two faculty student mixers
back to back. Surprisingly we had quite
a good turnout.” Welsh said.
“It
was quite a success and I was taken aback
by the interest in consumer sciences.”
In
addition, Welsh is involved with a group
called Medical Mission, founding free health
clinics in various countries. He acts as
the chief coordinator for their Tijuana
clinic. Welsh has been working with Medical
Mission for three years. Medical Mission
founds clinics and sends Whittier physicians
to offer medical care. The group also orchestrates
deals with pharmaceutical companies and
the Mexican government in order to provide
drugs to people who otherwise couldn’t
afford them.
“I
helped get missions started in North Korea,
Russia and various other countries,”
Welsh said. “For North Korea it was
quite a dilemma getting approved by both
countries’ authorities but it is worthwhile
based on the extent of need.”
Welsh
only applied to CSULB. Distance and reputation
were the main reasons he chose this school.
“I
was 15. I didn’t want to go across
the country. I was just getting my driver’s
license,” Welsh said. “It was
the best choice because it is only 10 minutes
away. I’ve been pleased. I think CSULB
is great.”
Welsh
has played piano with the Pacific Symphony
Youth Orchestra, at the Orange County Performing
Arts Center, and in Warsaw, Poland. Though
he said music is close to his heart, Welsh
has already chosen a career in medicine.
“There
is no doubt in my mind that medicine is
the path I want to chose,” said Welsh,
who recently applied to Johns Hopkins University.
“I am applying to a program to transfer
to John Hopkins in Baltimore. That is definitely
my top choice; I haven’t applied anywhere
else. Johns Hopkins is a family tradition.
My grandfather attended Johns Hopkins and
had his own orchestra there.”
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