The videos of the mushroom cloud encircling the city went viral immediately. I gripped the phone tightly with both hands hoping my parents would pick up. The explosion this past summer demolished my home of Beirut, Lebanon, hinting at only a fraction of the broken system that I had grown up in; an abusive system that did not provide its people with their basic rights. To drink water, I had to fill up the family jug from the town well. To watch TV, I had to fix the cables as the electricity cuts out every fifteen minutes. Unable to ease her of her pain, my grandma suffered as we could not afford her treatment. It was not the first time I had seen my country collapse. Constant war in the area has rid its people’s lives of normalcy. The explosion was yet another reminder that people are losing their homes. When I gripped my phone, I gripped it tightly not only for my family but for a community that endures too much suffering. The minority men, women, and children were forgotten even more than the Lebanese by the broken system. Despite political differences, I did not forget that they were part of my home and community. Nor did I forget about Randa, a young Syrian refugee. The feeling of empathy has stuck with me since childhood. The sight of young refugees begging me for money tormented me. It could have been me. The buildup of empathy drove me to volunteer at refugee camps, where I met Randa. During my first day at the camp, I met her and learned about her disease of Hepatitis A, which she contracted from the poor sanitation at the camp. She told me about how her father was killed by ISIS, forcing her to flee her country on foot. Her heartbreaking story made me want to dedicate my time to her. Since then, we have created an unbreakable bond. Even during the pandemic, we have still found ways to connect through Skype. My empathy for Randa and people like her has grown immensely since my first day at the camp. My experiences working in the camps has shown me the disparities in healthcare. The lack of sanitation, inadequate medications, scarcity of vaccinations, and negligence of mental health are a few of the reasons Randa and underprivileged people suffer. Because of my understanding of Randa, I was able to care for her more effectively. I purchased her medications and stayed late to sanitize the area she slept in, yet it was never enough. The combination of my empathy and limited capabilities motivated me to become a doctor and dedicate my practice to helping the underserved. While shadowing Doctors, I was able to fully realize the importance of physicians in underserved communities, along with the use of multilingualism in medicine. I feel a strong calling to use my skills of being fluent in English, French, and Arabic to reach out to many different minority communities. I understand how it feels to be from a different culture and place, and I know that language connects people. Being able to speak three languages would allow me to connect better with underserved people of various cultures. My passion to provide the best possible healthcare to vulnerable populations has led me to seek out the best possible medical education. Knowing that the United States is a leader in global medicine has fueled me to be part of its community and future. I left behind my family and culture in pursuit of world-class education in the United States, following in the footsteps of greats such as Dr. Michael DeBakey. Born to Lebanese immigrants, he proved the importance of diversity in medicine. I look up to his innovations that led to the first open-heart surgery. The path he took motivates me to keep striving for my goal. His story has helped me persevere through being away from family during a pandemic and the Beirut explosion, which I know are only a few of the many hardships I will face. I do not consider his inventions his only achievement but also his legacy that inspired a child 7,000 miles away. In my first years here in the United States, I have earned more opportunities than I could have anywhere else in the world. Baylor University has given me the chance to start my path in America and open the first door towards my long-term goal.I hope to continue giving back to America for everything it has given me. I have been learning about the complicated healthcare system in the United States, specifically having to do with underserved communities. I have realized injustices similar to what I witnessed while volunteering with refugees, which have now been further magnified by the pandemic. When I am a doctor, I plan on building a practice to help these communities in the United States. I believe that with my background and dedication, I can bring a different perspective and improve healthcare while I continue inspiring children 7,000 miles away.