As an aspiring doctor, Adya Soni was quick to identify the key attribute her Cambridge education at Juanita High School gave her: an open mind.
Because scientific research is always evolving, medical professionals must be actively engaged with new ideas and perspectives. Through her Cambridge courses, she learned to “read beyond the textbook,” think deeply about how to apply her knowledge to complex problem solving, and develop an analytical mindset.
“I really enjoyed challenging my own thinking and gaining a better understanding about problems that I thought were very straightforward,” Soni said, and later added: “(Cambridge) has helped me be very open to learning new things and hearing other people's views, which I think is really important for my future.”
Soni began her studies at the University of Washington in Fall 2026 and said the Cambridge program helped prepare her by building her confidence as a learner and communicator. With a rigorous and well-rounded foundation, she entered college equipped to manage her time effectively, advocate for herself, and embrace new opportunities with purpose.
At Juanita High School, Soni gravitated toward the Cambridge program because it gave her an opportunity to pursue in-depth studies around her interests. “Cambridge has a really strong biology curriculum. It definitely deepened my understanding of a lot of different biology topics and helped me build a scientific background for analytical skills that is important for research,” she said. “It also influenced my interest in microbiology.”
Equally important, however, was the flexibility she had to explore academics outside her intended career.
Though Soni’s focus is STEM, she believes the world is interdisciplinary and appreciated how earning the Cambridge AICE Diploma required excellence beyond the sciences. Having a strong background in numerous fields only strengthens one’s understanding of their own, she said. In her case, she believes it’ll help her become an impactful doctor.
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