Before Travis Burnett decided on osteopathic medicine, he was studying to become a nurse. After shadowing physicians, he changed his mind and is now on the road to becoming a neurosurgeon. “It’s never too late,” he says about changing one’s path.

Burnett sat down with The Box to talk about being a member of the inaugural class at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) at Arkansas State University (A-State), changing his career path, and competing on American Idol.

Why did you choose NYIT and how did you know it was the right place for you?
One of the reasons I chose NYITCOM was because I had the very unique opportunity to be a member of the inaugural class of the satellite campus at Arkansas State University. Being able to live out something so significant in this school’s history is something of which I am honored, privileged and excited to be a part.

I knew NYIT was going to be the right place for me a couple of months before our first day of orientation during Preview Day. It gave us a chance to spend time on campus and at the medical school. Our deans of the medical school were all there, various faculty members, and even members of the local government, and I remember thinking how lucky I was that we had such incredible and overwhelming support. This feeling has only been reinforced since that day, and there has not been a time that I have felt anything less than that from anyone at this school.

What are you career goals?
My career aspirations are to become a neurosurgeon, and I actually only know this because I am attending NYIT. I had the opportunity to observe a neurosurgeon for a couple of days in early June of this year, and I left completely amazed and inspired. This opportunity came about because this particular doctor is affiliated with my medical school, and I would not have had his guidance if I had not been attending this school. Studying medicine, you realize that you are learning things that will dramatically influence your future patients’ lives. It’s a humbling thing to step back and think about at times, and I love it more and more each day. Completing my first year of medical school was one of the most rewarding feelings of my life.

What advice would you give to a student who is thinking of returning to school or changing careers?
In a nutshell is “It’s never too late”. That may sound cliché, but it was exactly my story. I started my undergraduate studies in Florida wanting to become a nurse, and it wasn’t until two years into the program while I was shadowing some physicians that I realized I wanted to pursue something more. I changed my major, which basically meant having to start over, but I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. And that’s all that really matters. If you are thinking of returning to school or changing your career because you cannot imagine any other career making you happier, then remember that it’s never too late.

What advice would you give to a student who is thinking of applying?
The most obvious advice is make sure to keep your GPA up and do well on your test scores, but I’m sure everyone expects that. So, going beyond that, my advice is to think critically about the things that people don’t expect. Be a well-rounded person who has a story behind why they want to do what they want to do. Be able to keep someone’s attention with your story. That’s probably the most important thing. Be in tune with your story and know how to share it with others because no one else in the world has the same story as you.

What activities and organizations are you currently involved in at NYIT?
I am currently involved with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association and I am on the Surgical Committee and Global Health Chair of the Empowerment and Outreach Organization. I also participated in the Global Health Haiti Medical Outreach trip this year and I am a member of the American College of Physicians, I am a gross anatomy lab tutor, and a peer mentor.

I also love running, going to the gym, swimming, traveling, dancing, and singing/playing music. In fact, I am in a band called the Modifiable Risk Factors with another friend and classmate.

What is one thing about you people might be surprised to find out?
I was, very briefly, a contestant on American Idol in 2009! I made it through the first three rounds of the auditions, but was cut from the show during my fourth round of tryouts.