TL; DR:

Hello! I have dreamed of becoming a doctor since I was 5 years old. My mom always taught me to treat others like family and go for my dreams: to fight for everything, no matter the obstacles. We came to the US when I was 5 years old and have been through many challenges, but I still hold on to the lessons my mom taught me. This year, after years of trying, failing, and almost giving up, I received admittance to medical school. My goal as a doctor is to help children and families stay healthy and prevent many horrible diseases we see today. Getting people good medical care and attention before a serious problem occurs can save lives and bring well-being to entire communities.

Because of my status, I am unable to secure loans for school. I have applied to every scholarship opportunity I can find and will continue to do so. However, this will not cover the cost of my medical school education. It is hard to ask for help, but my friends and mentors suggested I set up a Go Fund Me page. The funds will be used for tuition, living expenses, moving to a new state for school, residency applications and interviews, study material, and others things necessary for me to be successful.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any help you can provide.

Full Version:

What do you want to be when you grow up? What was your answer to that question? Are you doing what you thought you would when you were younger?

When we boarded a plane the winter before my 6th birthday, I did not realize that this visit to the US would mark the start of a new life in a different country. I did not know that I would face immigration challenges but find hope, joy, and beauty in communities that are considered underserved. In my new home, I soon realized my community often utilized free clinics run by medical students and physicians in their spare time. These sites act as primary care locations and emergency rooms for many in the community. Yet, there is an array of patients who not only seek medical care but also deserve the same respect and rights provided to those in well-funded areas. Thus, my goal as a physician is to represent and foster a deeper connection between communities of need and the scientific community, specifically through pediatrics.

My earliest memory of wanting to become a physician was at five years old – walking around our 1-bedroom flat with my mother’s nursing stethoscope. I did not have the experiences I have now to explain what a life of medical service brings; however, I held on to that desire to be a physician. In my Bronx middle school– a charter school within one of the most under-performing zip codes in NYC—I learned the value of purposefully and intentionally using my skills to help others. The shortage of teachers who looked like me caused me to look at other professions where I noticed a lack of people of color. Looking at the healthcare field, I was acutely aware of the fear and disconnect between the medical world and what I knew. Every step I have taken since that time in my life has been toward a career in medicine.

This year, after ten years of trying, failing, and almost giving up, I was admitted to medical school. The school is in Wisconsin, which is so different from everything I have known in New York City; however, I have experienced a feeling of belonging during every interaction with school representatives. I believe I am going to the right institution, which will lay the secure foundation for my medical education. Although this is my dream, and I know I am attending the right institution at the right time, I cannot receive federal loans due to my immigration status. Even private loans have been difficult to obtain because I do not have a qualified co-signer. Although I find it difficult to ask for help, I have created this GoFundMe page. My resolve is solid - I have been through so much to get to this point, and this is one more hurdle to overcome.

It has been many years since I first answered the question of what I wanted to be when I grew up. It has been ten years since I first embarked on the journey to fulfill my answer. I am one step closer to achieving my dream. My CV shows that I am a lifelong learner, encourager, bridge builder, scientific discoverer, patient advocate, and innovator. All of these lie at the intersection of a physician. My path to medicine has not been linear but marked by mishaps, pitfalls, prayers, and the hands of others reaching back to remind me of purpose. In the years spent becoming the best applicant, I can be, I have demonstrated the grit and resilience necessary to keep moving forward. I am a better student, listener, and human being because I have known loss, hurt, disappointment, joy, and coffee stains (I worked as a barista for a bit). I gained an emotional intelligence not taught in classrooms. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and reimagine medicine alongside the sacrifice, dreams, and dedication of the curious physicians before me.

There are many people, causes, and initiatives to which you can give your money and energy. Especially in today’s market, with inflation, supply chain, and global pandemic issues affecting our livelihoods, it is hard to be generous. Please know your generosity is not in vain.

Thank you for your time and consideration.