Today we’d like to introduce you to Lani Brewer.
Hi Lani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in the Cypress area of Houston, Texas, and graduated from Cypress Falls High School. Growing up, I actually thought tennis was going to be the sport that took me to college. Life had a different plan, though, and I ended up earning a Division I scholarship for track and field, which brought me all the way down to South Texas to attend the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
I spent the next four years at UTRGV balancing life as a Division I student-athlete with being on the pre-med track and eventually earning my degree in Biomedical Sciences. Moving away from Houston and living in the Rio Grande Valley gave me experiences I never would have expected when I first left home and played a huge role in shaping the person I am today.
Now, I’m back in Houston finishing my training to become an Emergency Medical Technician while applying to medical school. My path has taken a few unexpected turns, but each one has led me closer to where I want to be: becoming a physician and using the experiences I’ve gained along the way to care for others.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was adjusting to Division I athletics. My formal training growing up was actually in tennis, so when I transitioned into track, I was competing against athletes who had been training specifically for the sport for most of their lives. I went from being used to standing out to suddenly having to fight to keep up, improve, and ultimately maintain the scholarship that had given me the opportunity to be there.
Being a Division I athlete is essentially a full-time job on top of being a full-time student. Throughout college, I was balancing practices, lifts, travel, and competitions while maintaining my grades and building a strong foundation for medical school through clinical experiences, service, and leadership. At the same time, I was still learning how to navigate friendships, relationships, and life away from home.
There were definitely moments when balancing everything felt overwhelming, but those four years taught me how to keep showing up even when I was stretched thin. I learned how to adapt, manage pressure, and continue working toward long-term goals even when the results were not immediate. Looking back, some of the most difficult parts of my college experience also shaped the discipline and resilience I carry with me today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now, I am preparing to begin working as an Emergency Medical Technician while applying to medical school. I recently graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with my degree in Biomedical Sciences, and I am excited to take what I have learned into a more hands-on role in patient care.
Throughout college, I intentionally sought out different experiences in healthcare. I worked as a standardized patient at the UTRGV School of Medicine, helping medical students develop their clinical and communication skills, and I also gained experience as a certified clinical medical assistant and nursing assistant. Now, becoming an EMT feels like the next step in that journey because it will allow me to work directly with patients during some of their most vulnerable and unpredictable moments.
What I am most proud of is how much I have pushed myself to experience healthcare from different perspectives before becoming a physician. I think my background as a Division I athlete has also shaped the way I approach my work. I am comfortable under pressure, I work well as part of a team, and I am always willing to learn. Ultimately, everything I am doing now is helping prepare me for my goal of becoming a physician and serving the communities that need quality healthcare the most
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest advice would be to be open to your path changing. When I was younger, I thought I had a very clear idea of what my future would look like, and so much of what ended up shaping my life came from opportunities I never expected.
I would also say not to let comparison convince you that you are behind. There will always be someone who seems more accomplished, more prepared, or further ahead, especially in competitive environments. I had to learn that growth can look different for everyone and that you do not have to have everything figured out right away.
I wish I had known earlier that it is okay to give yourself grace while still being ambitious. You can work hard toward big goals without expecting yourself to be perfect in every area of your life at the same time. Keep showing up, stay willing to learn, and trust that even the difficult seasons are teaching you something you may not fully understand until later.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lani.brewer?igsh=MXduNWljOWpzNGlp&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lani-brewer-075b8a2a9
