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Student Snapshot: Liv Turtoro ’26

Liv Turtoro ’26 is a biology major, tour guide, sports medicine student assistant and dancer with plans to one day become a physician assistant. She says she's "living the dream," studying abroad in New Zealand this year. 

Hometown:

Old Lyme, Connecticut.

Major:

Biology.

Clubs and organizations:

Liberty Caps Society (tour guides), Sports Medicine Student Assistant program, Swing Dance Club, Women’s Network and Pre-Health Society.

Honors/scholarships/awards:

National Honors Society, Chinese National Honors Society and Shoreline Arts Alliance Directors Scholarship Award (dance).

Best thing about my Dickinson experience:

The best thing about Dickinson is the support system. The connections you make with the faculty and staff here are amazing. You can go to professors with any question under the sun, and it’s the same with your advisors. If they don’t know the answers, they will make sure to find someone who does. I feel so grateful for the people around me. I know I have people I can fall back on if I need it. This goes for my fellow students as well.

Best thing about my major:

The people!

On choosing Dickinson:

I grew up in a very small town. My high school graduating class was only 136 students, and community, inside the classroom and outside of it, was very important to me. The small class sizes at Dickinson and the passion that each professor seemed to project into the classrooms and their work really drew me to the school. I knew that my professors would want to get to know me in and out of class.

Favorite professor:

Professor of Biology Scott Boback! He helped me understand what method of study was most beneficial to me and he remains supportive of me. I ask him for recommendations and letters when I apply for things, and I can go to his office and chat about things, including his research. He is so positive, and he gives great advice.

On studying abroad:

I'm currently studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand, and I'm living the dream. I'm not even a month in [as I write this], so it's hard to choose a highlight, but the sights are beautiful, and the people are even more so. I have met so many amazing people from around the world, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have them as friends. The academic opportunities I have been given here have also been amazing, especially through my anatomy class. I'm so lucky to have these opportunities.

As I kid, I wanted to be …

… a ballerina!

Post-Dickinson plans:

I plan to apply to physician assistant school and go into either cardiology, obstetrics or emergency medicine.

Advice for younger students:

Ask as many questions as you can. Learn as much as you can. Be a sponge. Sit in the front, raise your hand and talk to professors and other adults.

Proudest accomplishment so far:

It’s either my cumulative GPA in high school or landing my fouetté turn combination on stage during my final year of ballet. My cumulate GPA was a 3.9 (I have to work really hard for my good grades, especially in math, so maintaining my grades was something I was really proud of). During my final year of ballet, I was given the candy-cane lead, one of the harder roles in The Nutcracker. I had to do a hard-turning combination on stage after doing 10 large jumps in a row. I made sure I nailed them during all five of the performances.

About my internship:

I interned at my parents’ dental office, Essex Family Dentistry, as a chair-side dental assistant. I learned so much about professionalism and the best way to talk to patients when things are hard. I also learned so much about the healthcare system and how it works behind the scenes, and I learned that positive attitudes and good communication are invaluable.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:

The greatest people of our time made mistakes. Your mistakes do not define you. Mistakes are how you learn. Fall down, be sad, then get back up and work harder. Make yourself proud.

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Published October 17, 2024