Medical school, which Zach Jasper will be starting in the fall at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville as a Paladin Scholarship recipient, has been the plan since he was a kid. Majoring in Spanish along the way most definitely wasn’t.

“I really thought I was going to be a biology or chemistry major because that’s kind of the pre-med route,” Zach says. “But I started taking a Spanish class with Dr. (David) Bost … and I just loved it. I got stuck on the Spanish major and was never able to leave it.”

That created a bit of a crisis until Zach realized becoming a doctor didn’t mean overcoming his major. Instead, it meant embracing it to be a better one.

“When I got back (from the Madrid Study Away Program), I was like, ‘Here’s this tool I have. How can I combine it with a drive to help others?’” Zach says. “My hope is to be a bilingual doctor. Having a doctor that speaks your language changes your relationship from talking through someone to being able to talk just straight to them.”

Zach has seen firsthand the effects of good communication – and bad –­ between doctors and their patients with his father, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

“If a doctor took five minutes to listen to him talk, it changed his life,” Zach says. “Really, you’re taking people that are sometimes at their lowest point, and you’re that person they can trust. I want to be that person they can trust.”

Why Furman? Furman has allowed me to develop lifetime relationships with fellow students, professors and faculty.

What has been your favorite class? Spanish literature - this class allowed me to study the culture of a completely different country in their own language. Additionally, it is amazing to speak in Spanish for an entire class period.

What is your favorite spot/thing to do in Greenville? Biking down the Swamp Rabbit Trail to go get lunch in downtown Greenville and enjoying time with friends.

What is your favorite Furman memory? Every late night Cookout run where we avoid the library by saying we're hungry.

In my spare time I like to... Play Fifa, go to Cookout, and play soccer and volleyball.

Organizations:
Men of Distinction
Admissions Ambassador
Greek Life Member
Club Volleyball
Shucker Leadership Institute