Help Kataryna Fulfill Her Dream of Becoming a Doctor

Hello everyone! My name is Kataryna Kulynych, and I’m an incoming medical student at the Ponce Health Sciences University St. Louis campus. Achieving my dream of becoming a physician in the United States has not gone as smoothly as I expected it to. I never would have imagined that halfway through earning my bachelor's degree in the United States, my life would undergo such a drastic transformation—the one that no one can ever prepare you for. The beginning of the full-escalated conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, was the day that significantly increased the mental and physical challenges I had to face daily. Seeing everything I had ever known cease to exist in a single instant shook me to my core, but I had to maintain my strength for my family, as I knew I was the only one who could support them, even though I was thousands of miles away. Putting my emotions aside, I promised myself that I would take care of my close people, continue to grow as a person, and search for answers to the problems caused by the current state of the globe. For at least as long as I can remember, I have always been the one who wants to make the world a better place for people by standing up for others. Yet it was not until I decided to become a doctor when I was still in my teens that I had a clear notion of how I wanted to go about achieving it. Knowing how it feels to have no nearby support and to encounter discrimination when seeking healthcare, and becoming a person who can change the experience for others and make people feel important no matter what they are going through or where they come from, is what I would love to do with my life. Traveling, volunteering, and interacting with many cultures have made it clear that no matter what one does or who they are, all everyone truly seeks is support and kindness. Likewise, racism, social status, and ethnocentrism, among other things, should not dictate who receives aid and who gets to suffer. I want every individual to feel safe in the world and have specialists whom they can trust with whatever issue they might have, which is why I made it my mission to become a doctor who provides people with the life they deserve, as unfortunately not everyone in today's society is entitled to such an opportunity. Sharing my story, I hope to gain some financial assistance to be able to pay my tuition and other expenses, which will enable me to continue fighting for my dreams and becoming the best version of myself, so that one day I will have the knowledge and resources to help others win their battles. While bad things do happen, I do not want them to define the entirety of my being. I do not want to be stuck in sadness and hopelessness and not be able to change the world around me. I want to live and explore. I want to help and create. I want to make a difference and matter. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who took the time to get acquainted with my story and for any contribution made, no matter how small or large, as they will all help me realize my greatest ambition.