From Uncertain Beginnings To Bold Leadership: How One Texas A&M McAllen Student Overcame Challenges And Formed A New Community

Story by Sophie Cela ’25, VMBS Marketing & Communications

May 21, 2025

Rather than backing down in the face of difficulty, Rita Mahurin rose to meet the challenges of her biomedical sciences courses, empowering her to serve as a force for good in her future role as a healthcare professional.

Rita Mahurin’s story is a reminder that true growth doesn’t come from an easy path — it comes from choosing to rise through every obstacle. 

Once unsure if college was even in her future, Mahurin is now a biomedical sciences (BIMS) student at Texas A&M’s Higher Education Center at McAllen, preparing for pharmacy school and leading efforts to support women in science. 

Her journey — shaped by resilience, bold decisions, and a drive to make others feel seen — shows how uncertainty can become a catalyst for extraordinary change. 

Discovering Her Path 

Growing up in McAllen as an only child surrounded by older relatives, Mahurin spent much of her early life in caregiving spaces — nursing homes, hospital rooms, and waiting areas — unknowingly absorbing the world around her. As she got older, these visits became even more impactful.

“During the summer before high school, my grandma got sick and was in the hospital for two or three months,” Mahurin said. “I would spend the entire day at the hospital with her, watching the nurses and doctors. Seeing all these healthcare professionals work together to try to help get her better really impacted me.”

Not long after, the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything upside down. College had never been part of Mahurin’s plan, but amid the disruption, something shifted. She began excelling in school and, for the first time, started to imagine a different future for herself, one where new possibilities felt within reach. 

As her confidence in the classroom grew, so did her sense of direction. The hospital environment no longer felt like a backdrop to her childhood; it began to feel like a calling. She told her mom she wanted to explore healthcare and began to search for volunteer opportunities at the hospital. 

“Given the limitations of the pandemic, I assumed I’d be placed in a low-contact role — maybe in the gift shop — if anything,” Mahurin said. “When they offered me a position in the pharmacy, I was completely shocked.”

Just after her sophomore year of high school, Mahurin found herself surrounded by medications, safety protocols, and a team of professionals who were invested in her success. 

“They were used to working with college students, so when I showed up, they immediately started talking to me about medicine,” Mahurin said. “I had no idea what they were talking about, but they never got frustrated or made me feel out of place; they welcomed me in and provided invaluable mentorship and support.” 

Encouraged by the pharmacists and driven by her growing passion, Mahurin enrolled in her high school’s pharmacy technician program and started researching colleges with strong pre-pharmacy programs. 

Finding Her Place At Texas A&M

Mahurin didn’t have ties to any particular university, but when she came across the Higher Education Center at McAllen, it immediately stood out. The BIMS program checked every box for her pre-pharmacy path, and generous scholarships made it an even more appealing opportunity. 

During her senior year, a campus tour solidified her decision. Meeting faculty like VMBS instructional associate professor Dr. Negin Mirhosseini left a lasting impression. 

“Dr. Negin was so welcoming and instantly made me feel at home,” Mahurin said. “I’m used to being surrounded by family, love, and support, and that’s exactly what she showed me. She even ran across campus to find me a T-shirt after they ran out. That’s such a small gesture, but it meant a lot.”

Despite feeling at home, Mahurin struggled in her first year, finding herself overwhelmed by the intensity of the BIMS coursework. Unsure of what to do, she explored a variety of options before turning to her chemistry professor, instructional associate professor Dr. Xuan Wang, for advice. 

Their conversation shifted everything. 

Wang encouraged Mahurin not to rush through college just to reach the next step but, instead, to use this time to have experiences and build a strong foundation. 

“Dr. Wang asked me, ‘Have you made an impact on your community yet?’” Mahurin said. “That question really stuck with me — I realized college isn’t just something to get through.” 

Motivated by those words, Mahurin returned her focus to the BIMS program with a new mindset — embracing the challenge not just as a hurdle but as an opportunity to grow.

From Uncertainty To Empowering Others 

With a new sense of purpose, Mahurin began looking beyond her own challenges and noticed she wasn’t alone. She realized other women were quietly struggling with the same feelings of uncertainty, isolation, and self-doubt. 

Not long after her conversation with Wang, Mahurin came across a social media post highlighting that only about 30% of the STEM workforce is made up of women. The realization hit her hard. 

“I had been so overwhelmed and intimidated, and I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it,” Mahurin said. “No one in my family had gone into medicine. They supported me in whatever decisions I wanted to make, but I needed someone who had been through it. I needed real direction.” 

That realization sparked the idea for Sisters in STEM (SIS), a student organization Mahurin has now founded to empower and support women pursuing these rigorous degrees. Her goal was to create a space where girls could feel seen, understood, and uplifted. 

“When I started in BIMS, it was filled with women,” Mahurin said. “Now, in my second year, more and more are switching majors or giving up on college. I don’t want women to give up on their dreams, like I almost did, just because they don’t have the support they need.”

Through SIS, Mahurin didn’t just create a support system but a true community. By hosting events like movie nights, speaker panels, dinner etiquette classes, and bracelet-making events, she gave members a chance to build friendships and grow outside of academics. 

“I wanted it to be more than just a support group,” Mahurin said. “I wanted it to be a place where girls can come together and forget the stress of school for a little while.” 

Another way Mahurin brought her vision to life was by leading the group’s attendance at the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Conference, an event designed to connect women in STEM with industry leaders, career opportunities, and an inspiring, like-minded community. From proposing the idea and creating a budget to securing approval and coordinating travel logistics, Mahurin handled every detail to make the experience possible. 

Mahurin also focused on addressing day-to-day barriers that women often face. One of her first initiatives was creating a donation-based feminine product program on campus — a project that took months of persistence but now helps ensure women never have to miss class due to a lack of access to feminine supplies. 

“I want to remove any barriers that women face,” Mahurin said. “Even small things like this matter when you’re trying to succeed in a tough program like BIMS.” 

Alongside SIS, Mahurin is involved in nearly every corner of campus life. She serves as a student ambassador, giving tours and representing the McAllen campus at major events; works as a peer mentor and now coordinator of the peer mentors program; and holds leadership positions in other student organizations like HOSA. 

“With a challenging degree like BIMS, I’ve learned that balance is key,” Mahurin said. “Taking initiatives and working with people really makes the hard days worth it.” 

Looking to The Future 

Now a junior, standing academically as a senior, Mahurin is on track to graduate in spring 2026 and begin her next chapter in pharmacy school. 

She credits her transformation to the environment at Texas A&M’s McAllen campus, a place that provided not only a strong academic foundation, but the mentorship and community she needed to thrive. 

“I’ve learned so much inside the classroom but even more from the people here,” Mahurin said. “This environment has allowed me to mature, and now I feel confident and fully prepared for the next step.” 

Looking back, she’s grateful she chose to stay — not just in the BIMS program but in the uncertainty, the challenge, and the growth that came with it. 

“My chemistry professor was right; I just needed time — time to experience, to learn, to fail, and to find a way to impact people,” Mahurin said.

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For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216

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