Learning is my passion. I love the process of study, interpretation, and analysis, which leads to a new or renewed approach to understanding the world around me.  However, using what I learn for the benefit of others is my goal. I am a twenty one-year-old, African-American woman and it has always been my dream to become a doctor. Being an African American woman I realize that my demographic is fairly under-represented within the field of medicine. This is one of the many reasons I have decided to pursue a medical career. Although I am planning to attend medical school, my major is Spanish.

Spanish appeals to me because I live in California, which has very large Spanish speaking population. The state of California needs bilingual Spanish-speaking professionals. I also want to pursue Spanish because I love the rhythmic beauty of the language and the diverse cultures that spring from Latin-American history. My desire to become a medical doctor connects well with my interest in Spanish. I grew up in a very diverse community, and having grown up around people from all walks of life. I have a great appreciation for the diversity of the human family; that appreciation translates into a commitment to be aware of the needs of others and how I can contribute in terms of meeting those needs.  Having diversity does not mean much unless one does the work to connect across the permeable barriers of ethnicity, class, gender, and religion. I want to make a contribution to the betterment of the human family, and to be aware of the needs of others. One of the greatest universal needs that all communities in this country have is the need for access to medical services. By becoming a doctor, and becoming proficient in Spanish, I hope to be of service to a wide range of people. 

I am now trying to save up money so that I can participate in this program. If I am able to go, I will be able to get hands on experience in the medical field, an experience that I truly believe will be life changing. Participating in this program will be instrumental to achieving my goals, and will also be a great experience that will contribute to my love of science and its diverse applications.

I have always tried my best to maintain a certain amount of financial independence. I have many brothers and sisters, and I hate to be a burden on my parents when they struggle to support my younger siblings. Although I am working several jobs, it is still not enough to save up for the full cost of this program. Whatever support I receive, I can guarantee that I will not be the only one benefitting from it. I will continue to go forward in life with the sole intention of utilizing my knowledge for the benefit of others.