When Kaya Mariello was 10 years old, her mother was diagnosed with cancer, which she survived. From a young age, she witnessed firsthand the profound impact illness can have on a family.
“I began to notice how many people are affected by not only cancer, but basic diseases,” said Mariello.
Mariello herself lives with a degenerative eye disease that affects her vision, and her husband has hearing loss. Her experiences with genetic disorders led her to Texas A&M University where she studies nuclear engineering with the hopes of studying genetics and cancer research in medical school.
Originally from Maine, Mariello wanted to move south in search of a more advanced engineering education and warmer weather. As soon as she came to Texas A&M, she says, she fell in love.
While she didn’t plan on majoring in nuclear engineering, she soon realized that the major provided her with everything she needed to be prepared for medical school. Not only does a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering help medical school applicants stand out with a unique undergraduate education, the rigorous math and science-dependent curriculum help prepare students for the complexity of medical school. Additionally, many subsets of nuclear engineering such as radiological health and radiation biology are core components of cancer research. “I never thought that I was smart enough to study nuclear engineering,” said Mariello. “But I learned that it’s a great way to get where I want to be in life.”
In addition to her nuclear engineering major, Mariello is also pursuing a minor in biomedical sciences and a leadership certificate through to Corps of Cadets. As a member of the Corps, Mariello works with career readiness and scholastics, helping prepare cadets for life after college. The Corps also fostered her interest in other disciplines, such as veterinary medicine, as she spent a year assisting with Reveille, Texas A&M’s beloved mascot.
In the Corps Mariello was a member of company E2 as a sophomore, where she was an assistant handler to Reveille IX. “We bonded over our mutual love for peanut butter,” laughed Mariello. Working with the mascot even prompted Mariello to consider veterinary school, something that’s still on her mind.
For any incoming freshmen considering a degree in nuclear engineering, Mariello urges students to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. “I think any freshman pursuing a specific type of engineering should ask themselves what they really want to do with it,” said Mariello. “What are their goals and are there other ways to reach them than a singular major? You might be surprised at what you find.”