The renowned “BE SOMEONE” graffiti vibrantly painted above interstate 45 in my home city of Houston has long tugged on my energized heartstrings as a reminder to simply be passionate about being myself. This passion for being myself, expressed through my involvement in various activities around campus and my many distinct interests such as scuba diving have truly taught me the importance of trying to become the very best version of myself and trying to “BE SOMEONE” to my community. Although “BE SOMEONE” has been painted over and repainted time and time again, its inspiring significance remains forever influential to my life. I have come to live my life by these two words. The “BE SOMEONE” perspective fuels my desires to conquer my greatest and most passionate ambitions in life and has turned me into the goal-oriented problem-solver that I am today.

At a young age, my family was exposed to the reality of one of our world’s most well-known “unknowns”: cancer. Now, it is my recollection of this heart-wrenching mystery and doubt that drives my calling to impact the world through medicine. Growing up quickly alongside a close family member as she battled cancer, I began to accumulate curiosity in the field of medicine and its miraculous healing properties. From grappling with the concept of chemotherapy to deciphering my fascination with cold cap therapy, I certainly got a peek into the world of possibility engendered by medicine. Although I did not fully grasp the idea of cancer and appreciate my family’s fortune in the recovery until later in my life, the idea of such a devastating health condition having only an uncertain solution rather than a definite cure surely further awakened the empathetic problem-solver within me. This personal encounter was the first to inspire me towards a future in medicine, but since this young age, countless other experiences have continued to pique my interest in not only medicine but also countless interconnected public health issues.

As a pre-med student studying public health, my ambitions reside at the intersection of medicine and empathetic understanding of people and their communities. Through witnessing health disparities such as the lack of accessible medicine in rural Ugandan communities and public health issues such as the rising healthcare costs brought by high ER utilization, I have become more aware of the urgent need for healthcare reform. The heart behind my ambition of improving the quality and scope of accessible healthcare through non-profit health initiatives stems from my desire to address the interconnected public health and medical needs of at-risk communities.

I believe that in order to diversify my perspective on the world, I must first strive to better understand my most immediate community. To me, practicing and advancing medicine around the globe to communities in need, starts by embodying the “BE SOMEONE” mentality in my own community today.

Major:
Public Health

Other Academic Interests:
Pre-Med, McCombs Healthcare Reform and Innovation Minor

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program?
What drew me to the Forty Acres Scholars Program was definitely the FASP community filled with both passionately like-minded students and mentors. Growing up, I have always strongly valued community, believing that it is important to surround yourself with people that you look up to and people that will push you to be the best you can be. After meeting my peers during Finalist Weekend and receiving advice and mentorship from older scholars and other members of the FASP community, it was clear to me that this is exactly what I wanted my academic community to look like in college.

What makes your scholar cohort unique?
I think what makes my scholar cohort unique is our spirit. The heart of our cohort is packed to the brim with the coolest and most unique combination of different passions, interests, backgrounds, ambitions and personalities. I feel like I will never get tired of getting to know the other scholars in my cohort and the fun bond we already share is truly so special.