Most kids wouldn't be too interested in hearing about the details of medical procedures.
 
But Madeline Jahelka wasn't like most kids.
 
A sophomore on the California women's lacrosse team, Jahelka was intrigued to learn more about her grandfather's heart condition when she was a child. The knowledge she learned from him and observing the doctors when her grandfather was in the hospital have played a big role in inspiring her to pursue a career in the medical field.
 
While her long term goals are to become a lung or heart surgeon, she is majoring in astrophysics at Cal, and she said there are a lot of similarities between medicine and physics. 
 
"Modern medicine is so innovative and I love the idea of 'fixing people,'" Jahelka said. "Physics still applies a lot to medicine, especially with things like radiology. Problem solving in general, there are a lot of skills that cross over to both. Why not pursue all of them?"
 
It was when Jahelka arrived in Berkeley when she decided to tweak her academic goals slightly.
 
"When I got to Cal, I saw how cool physics is and how cool all the 'toys' are that you can play with when you really get into it," she said. "It captured my imagination. Physics is the most natural extension of what mathematics can do and it finds more purpose behind the numbers. That's what I was interested in."
 
Working hard isn't anything new for Jahelka. Growing up on a farm in Colorado Springs, Colo., most days she woke up early to feed and tend to the sheep that her family raised before heading off to school. There was always work to do after school around the farm that she divided up with her brothers.
 
Chores for most kids she knew were things like washing the dishes and cleaning their bedrooms. Jahelka's chores involved shearing the family sheep.
 
In addition, one of Jahelka's favorite hobbies is cake decorating. She has entered sheep she's raised, as well as cakes that she's decorated in county and state fairs.
 
Cake decorating and raising sheep may be hobbies, but she still takes them both seriously and wants to be successful at both. She even returns to tending to the sheep every time she goes home.
 
"It was different, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Jahelka said about growing up on a farm. "I was exposed to so much. I learned how to work really hard and do physical labor. I learned how to take direction well and to stay calm so you can make the best decision for the animals. Ultimately, that's what's most important, taking care of your animals because you love them."
 
The hard work that she became accustomed to a young age is paying dividends for her now in college as she's always on the go, literally.
 
Her classes take place at the same time as the lacrosse practices. While the lacrosse coaches support her drive to be successful at both and understand that she can't be in two places at once, that doesn't stop the determined Jahelka from pulling off making both happen.
 
A typical day starts with Jahelka on the lacrosse practice field, sometimes even arriving early to make up for lost time when she's in class. Then she leaves practice early to run to her class. Once that class is over, she runs back up to practice. This extra form of exercise happens often.
 
"I literally run from practice to class and then back again, and I count that as my warmup run," Jahelka said with a smile. "The coaches are supportive. They don't want me to miss classes. It really helps that they're so helpful and understanding. It's sad not always being with my team. I love working with my teammates every day."
 
Jahelka is always looking towards the next project on the horizon. She's applying to numerous REUs (research experience for undergraduates). They're designed more for underrepresented minorities, so for her, being a women in the field of science, opportunities like those help her excel in what is typically a male-dominated field.
 
The next task on Jahelka's to-do list is helping the Golden Bears pick up a couple of victories this week. Cal plays Michigan on Friday, March 3, at 5 p.m. and St. Joseph's on Sunday, March 5, at noon. Both games will be played at Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium.