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Hi, my name is Kye Duren. I'm the one pictured between my grandfather, my father, and my uncle, at my graduation from Kenyon College. I'm the first out of these men to obtain a Bachelors degree, yet it wouldn't have been possible without their sacrifices. My dream is to be a Primary Care Physician and Public Health Champion serving patients in medically undeserved communities.
I discovered Kenyon in rural Ohio as a high school student and was fortunate to be given the opportunity to attend on a need-based scholarship. My experiences as an undergrad at Kenyon College were eye-opening. I experienced the many challenges I would face as a person of color from an underserved community. I also came to truly appreciate the impact I can have as a physician dedicated to working with people from my community. Not only being able understand the array of challenges they face and identify with the feelings of going through them, but also utilizing my skills and experience to help them overcome those barriers, having overcome them myself.
When I began my undergraduate career at Kenyon College, I began as a two sport student-athlete on schedule to take the MCAT in my junior year. However, I quickly realized by experiences at Pinole Valley High, where half the students receive the Free Lunch program and less than half are proficient in math and writing standards, had not prepared me to excel at one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. I had trouble keeping up with new material, could not finish exams, and my writing only seemed good enough to get a B at best. To compensate I completed extra work to remediate skills and received tutoring from professors and upper-class students.
After a research experience at the California Academy of Sciences, I was re-invigorated with a sense of belonging in the field of biology. This experience pushed me to refocus on studies and retire from sports. Despite my efforts, I continued to struggle.
After some time of introspective reflection and vulnerability with multiple advisors, I sought guidance with mental health staff and received a referral for a psychiatrist. In my senior of college I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although I graduated with a 2.9 GPA which defined my last four years on paper, I realize that I came away with a much more valuable perspective on who I was and how I work.I practiced implementing strategies in my final semester like medication, active reading, re-recopying notes, and being patient with myself.
Since graduating, I’ve been able to exercise these skills in the classroom and in service to the community with the Alameda County Public Health Department. I’ve maintained control over my academic development by getting excellent grades, improving my GPA to a 3.4 while balancing a full time job. However, most importantly, I confirmed there are others like me, who grapple with diagnosed/undiagnosed mental health challenges interfering with their goals, who struggle with self esteem and define themselves by past failures, who fear learning about themselves because of the stigma associated with their difference, and who doubt that their dreams are even achievable. There are those in need of advice and advocacy to improve their health and obtain their dreams.
Over the past year, with your support, I've completed a Pre-Medical Post Baccalaureate Program at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. I've presented research regionally, at UCSF, and nationally. I've shadowed and learned from amazing physicians of color at UCSF. I've also been honored to win a Sinkler Miller Scholarship for Post-Bacc students, as I was recognized by African American Physicians of the San Francisco Bay Area. NOW, I'm preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) September 13 and 14th .
Any donation made goes toward the cost of the program, including board in San Francisco (https://finaid.ucsf.edu/programs/post-baccalaureate-programs)The goal of this go fund me is to gain enough funding to supplement employment outside of my obligation to the postbacc. Therefore I can take full advantage of this redemptive opportunity and study without . My goal for the program is to score high enough on the MCAT and improve my GPA enough to earn eligibility for merit scholarships at medical schools.
Please give as you are led to. This is an opportunity for those who may have wanted to help me before, but did not know how to. I'm confident that since God has brought me this far he will allow me to finish this journey.
I discovered Kenyon in rural Ohio as a high school student and was fortunate to be given the opportunity to attend on a need-based scholarship. My experiences as an undergrad at Kenyon College were eye-opening. I experienced the many challenges I would face as a person of color from an underserved community. I also came to truly appreciate the impact I can have as a physician dedicated to working with people from my community. Not only being able understand the array of challenges they face and identify with the feelings of going through them, but also utilizing my skills and experience to help them overcome those barriers, having overcome them myself.
When I began my undergraduate career at Kenyon College, I began as a two sport student-athlete on schedule to take the MCAT in my junior year. However, I quickly realized by experiences at Pinole Valley High, where half the students receive the Free Lunch program and less than half are proficient in math and writing standards, had not prepared me to excel at one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. I had trouble keeping up with new material, could not finish exams, and my writing only seemed good enough to get a B at best. To compensate I completed extra work to remediate skills and received tutoring from professors and upper-class students.
After a research experience at the California Academy of Sciences, I was re-invigorated with a sense of belonging in the field of biology. This experience pushed me to refocus on studies and retire from sports. Despite my efforts, I continued to struggle.
After some time of introspective reflection and vulnerability with multiple advisors, I sought guidance with mental health staff and received a referral for a psychiatrist. In my senior of college I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although I graduated with a 2.9 GPA which defined my last four years on paper, I realize that I came away with a much more valuable perspective on who I was and how I work.I practiced implementing strategies in my final semester like medication, active reading, re-recopying notes, and being patient with myself.
Since graduating, I’ve been able to exercise these skills in the classroom and in service to the community with the Alameda County Public Health Department. I’ve maintained control over my academic development by getting excellent grades, improving my GPA to a 3.4 while balancing a full time job. However, most importantly, I confirmed there are others like me, who grapple with diagnosed/undiagnosed mental health challenges interfering with their goals, who struggle with self esteem and define themselves by past failures, who fear learning about themselves because of the stigma associated with their difference, and who doubt that their dreams are even achievable. There are those in need of advice and advocacy to improve their health and obtain their dreams.
Over the past year, with your support, I've completed a Pre-Medical Post Baccalaureate Program at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. I've presented research regionally, at UCSF, and nationally. I've shadowed and learned from amazing physicians of color at UCSF. I've also been honored to win a Sinkler Miller Scholarship for Post-Bacc students, as I was recognized by African American Physicians of the San Francisco Bay Area. NOW, I'm preparing to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) September 13 and 14th .
Any donation made goes toward the cost of the program, including board in San Francisco (https://finaid.ucsf.edu/programs/post-baccalaureate-programs)The goal of this go fund me is to gain enough funding to supplement employment outside of my obligation to the postbacc. Therefore I can take full advantage of this redemptive opportunity and study without . My goal for the program is to score high enough on the MCAT and improve my GPA enough to earn eligibility for merit scholarships at medical schools.
Please give as you are led to. This is an opportunity for those who may have wanted to help me before, but did not know how to. I'm confident that since God has brought me this far he will allow me to finish this journey.