Help Ajibola attend medical school
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I want to introduce you to a young man who is going to change the world – Ajibola Bakare. I met Ajibola, known to friends as Aji or Jibs, three years ago when I became his work supervisor at Transylvania University. To say that I have been impressed and inspired by this young many would be a gross understatement.
During my work as an admissions counselor, I have met many young people who believe they want to enter into the medical field. Many do not understand the academic demand and hard work required to make this a reality. From the day I met him and he told me he was pursuing pre-med, I knew Ajibola would succeed in doing this. His drive and passion to become a doctor were evident. In this own words, “During my childhood, I spent a lot of time at the hospital. My visit to the hospital was so frequent that I started to feign being healthy whenever I was sick just to avoid a visit to the hospital. It was during one of my visits to the hospital that I decided I wanted to become a doctor. During this lucky visit, the doctor who attended to me had this magical aura. While he was attending to me it was as though all of my pains were gone. When he asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up, I knew immediately that I wanted more than anything to become a doctor. I wanted to be able to take people’s pain away and give solace to those in despair. “
Ajibola is one of the most incredible people I have ever met, displaying qualities that many his age do not possess. Aji is selfless – he always shows care and concern for others before himself. Aji is driven – he has a work-ethic unlike anyone I have ever known, balancing demanding school work, a plethora of college extracurricular activities and a job flawlessly. Aji is passionate – his desire is to continue his education by going to medical school so that he can make a difference in the country of his birth, Nigeria.
Ajibola had an outstanding career at Transylvania that culminated with his admission to The University of Queensland School of Medicine in Australia . To say this is a huge accomplishment would not do justice to Ajibola’s hard work and commitment. What many do not know though is how difficult it is for an international student to attend medical school. Beyond the normal challenges of being admitted, the cost associated medical school for international students is astronomical.
I know that given the opportunity, Ajibola will be incredibly successful in medical school. I ask for your help not because of this, but for what I know he will do with this opportunity. In his own words, “Since coming back home, I have been able to observe the healthcare system in my country. If I had doubts about wanting to become a physician, these past months have helped clear that doubt. Although there has been some improvement, people are still dying every day as a result of the lack of access to good physicians and hospital. People are dying because some of the doctors don’t know what they are doing or because the hospitals care more about money than the lives of their patients. I understand that the success of the healthcare system in my country is not contingent on me becoming a doctor; however, I believe I can make a difference. There is a song we used to sing when I was in high school it goes thus, “I shall pass through this world once. Any good thing I can do, any kindness I can show to any woman or man alive now. Let me do it now, let me not defer, for I shall never pass this way again.” This might be my only chance at obtaining that training that is required of me to do the greatest good to mankind in this life.”
Ajibola has the passion, drive and heart to be a true difference maker in this world; the ability to pay for medical school should not be what holds him back from being able to do this. In the time I have known him, Aji has made a true impact on my life as he has on many others. I hope that those who love and care about him, and perhaps even some who have not had the opportunity to know him yet, can come together to help his dream of becoming a physician come true. The money we raise will help fund Ajibola's education and living expenses.
During my work as an admissions counselor, I have met many young people who believe they want to enter into the medical field. Many do not understand the academic demand and hard work required to make this a reality. From the day I met him and he told me he was pursuing pre-med, I knew Ajibola would succeed in doing this. His drive and passion to become a doctor were evident. In this own words, “During my childhood, I spent a lot of time at the hospital. My visit to the hospital was so frequent that I started to feign being healthy whenever I was sick just to avoid a visit to the hospital. It was during one of my visits to the hospital that I decided I wanted to become a doctor. During this lucky visit, the doctor who attended to me had this magical aura. While he was attending to me it was as though all of my pains were gone. When he asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up, I knew immediately that I wanted more than anything to become a doctor. I wanted to be able to take people’s pain away and give solace to those in despair. “
Ajibola is one of the most incredible people I have ever met, displaying qualities that many his age do not possess. Aji is selfless – he always shows care and concern for others before himself. Aji is driven – he has a work-ethic unlike anyone I have ever known, balancing demanding school work, a plethora of college extracurricular activities and a job flawlessly. Aji is passionate – his desire is to continue his education by going to medical school so that he can make a difference in the country of his birth, Nigeria.
Ajibola had an outstanding career at Transylvania that culminated with his admission to The University of Queensland School of Medicine in Australia . To say this is a huge accomplishment would not do justice to Ajibola’s hard work and commitment. What many do not know though is how difficult it is for an international student to attend medical school. Beyond the normal challenges of being admitted, the cost associated medical school for international students is astronomical.
I know that given the opportunity, Ajibola will be incredibly successful in medical school. I ask for your help not because of this, but for what I know he will do with this opportunity. In his own words, “Since coming back home, I have been able to observe the healthcare system in my country. If I had doubts about wanting to become a physician, these past months have helped clear that doubt. Although there has been some improvement, people are still dying every day as a result of the lack of access to good physicians and hospital. People are dying because some of the doctors don’t know what they are doing or because the hospitals care more about money than the lives of their patients. I understand that the success of the healthcare system in my country is not contingent on me becoming a doctor; however, I believe I can make a difference. There is a song we used to sing when I was in high school it goes thus, “I shall pass through this world once. Any good thing I can do, any kindness I can show to any woman or man alive now. Let me do it now, let me not defer, for I shall never pass this way again.” This might be my only chance at obtaining that training that is required of me to do the greatest good to mankind in this life.”
Ajibola has the passion, drive and heart to be a true difference maker in this world; the ability to pay for medical school should not be what holds him back from being able to do this. In the time I have known him, Aji has made a true impact on my life as he has on many others. I hope that those who love and care about him, and perhaps even some who have not had the opportunity to know him yet, can come together to help his dream of becoming a physician come true. The money we raise will help fund Ajibola's education and living expenses.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sarah Guinn
Organizer
Winchester, KY
Aaron Nicholson
Beneficiary