During my middle school journey, I was constantly being reminded of the differences between my classmates and me, students’ fascination with me became even more invasive as questions such as ‘Where are you actually from?’ were asked of me. That is until my parents sat me down and told me a story. They immigrated from Ethiopia in the late 1980s, escaping a socialist government that sought to obliterate my family’s religious and cultural identities. Their sacrifices were innumerable, becoming a crutch to lean on during my bad days. Their stories prompted within me a desire to change. I began slowly renewing my values as I distanced myself from students who always sought to demean me. More importantly, I sought to change because I wanted to honor the hardship and sacrifice my parents had made, both as immigrants and strangers in a new country. I took constructive steps and was involved in various initiatives also to seek to reinvigorate students’ identities and pride in one’s heritage. I gradually started to embrace who I was and even began to spread my culture among my classmates when I previously hid it. I took the time to explain my ethnicity in projects and whenever culture would be brought up in group discussions in class. The difficult journey from self-denial to self-affirmation has also become my greatest lesson in life. My determination and journey meant that I continued defining my path to success irrespective of the environment I’m in. It is with the same value for cross-cultural dialogue and engagement that I hope to make a leap forward in college. More importantly, I plan to expand and share my values, culture, and heritage with students who may be unfamiliar. It is with this attitude that I look forward to cultivating a cooperative student community.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status, or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status, or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status, or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

“Oh my gosh, can I touch your hair,” my classmate asked on Picture Day at school. I had my natural hair out so it was very curly. For eight years, I went to a predominantly white catholic school and my hair was a point of contention for many of my peers. Whether I wore my hair naturally or braided, I couldn’t seem to escape their harrowing questions. Upon finishing middle school and starting my high school journey, I realized that physical traits were emphasized everywhere. Constantly being reminded of the differences between my classmates and I, students’ fascination with me became even more invasive as questions such as ‘Where are you actually from?’ were asked of me. Everything and everyone around me seemed to fixate on how different I was. My social interactions soon became dreadful, I was no longer performing well in class, no longer excited to come home and tell my parents how my day went but always willing to compromise myself to make others happy. That is until my parents sat me down and told me a story. They immigrated from Ethiopia in the late 1980s, escaping a socialist government that sought to obliterate my family’s religious and cultural identities. Their sacrifices were innumerable, becoming a crutch to lean on during my bad days. Their stories prompted within me a desire to change. I began slowly renewing my values as I distanced myself from students who always sought to demean me. More importantly, I sought to change because I wanted to honor the hardship and sacrifice my parents had made, both as immigrants and strangers in a new country. I took constructive steps and was involved in various initiatives also to seek to reinvigorate students’ identities and pride in one’s heritage. I gradually started to embrace who I was and even began to spread my culture among my classmates when I previously hid it. I took the time to explain my ethnicity in projects and whenever culture would be brought up in group discussions in class. The difficult journey from self-denial to self-affirmation has also become my greatest lesson in life. My determination and journey meant that I continued defining my path to success irrespective of the environment I’m in. It is with the same value for cross-cultural dialogue and engagement that I hope to make a leap forward in college. More importantly, I plan to expand and share my values, culture, and heritage with students who may be unfamiliar. It is with this attitude that I look forward to cultivating a cooperative student community. As an aspiring pediatrician, I understand full well the physiological impact of one’s environment. My own lived experience as an example, like how many children suffer from obesity and other chronic health conditions. What started off as a challenging phase in my life has now become an experience I reflect on to better navigate my challenges. More importantly, as I look at my life ahead, I hope to continue expanding my impact and educate others on the importance of healthy social interactions. It is with this goal that I hope to gain the essential knowledge for someone striving to enter the field of medicine, like myself. It would be critical that I understand the way that humans act and interact, as well as be able to prevent others from being in a situation similar to mine.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

I know there are challenges in the medical field and also not easy to develop an interest so early. But my goal to pursue a career in a medical field with a focus on pediatrics has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to respiratory problems. I cannot forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor was always so interesting to me because it combined two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. Ever since a young age, I volunteered to look after my younger sister and cousins even when they were babies. As a volunteer at a tennis camp, I helped teach tennis and build relationships to trust me. Over the past summer, I attended a medical academy program for high school students where the experience helped me work with current medical students and Professors. We examined cadavers to learn about human anatomy, studied health and safety procedures, attended lectures in various medical fields, and participated in lab exercises on animals and patient simulators. It was an amazing academic experience for me to see the field of medicine. This experience further cemented my interest in pursuing a field in the medical field. Having experienced my own sister’s health challenge and my cousin’s growth to graduate in computer science after being diagnosed with autism, my goal is to participate and bring solutions to children's health challenges. Furthermore, healthcare issues that affect undeveloped countries in Africa and Asia are a topic that interests me. We all should play a part in saving the life of any child. Children's mortality due to lack of immunization, awareness of medical conditions to identify and treat illnesses, and lack of access to child care are a few of the challenges I see myself pursuing as a physician to improve children’s health care. Where you live, your economic status or your race should not determine how healthy a child should grow. The future of medicine is great and will be heavily impacted by technology. I am interested in learning how new technological advances such as artificial intelligence algorithms and robotics can transform the medical industry. Whatever college I go to will enable me to focus early on by helping me create a curriculum over the duration of the program to address these challenges. There are inequalities in healthcare and a lack of adequate representation to push the needs of underrepresented members of society. My goal is to take this opportunity to become the bridge so that I can develop and expand healthcare services. As a future physician, I would like to be part of the healthcare solution to improve child medical care either working with government agencies or developing my practice.

“Oh my gosh, can I touch your hair,” my classmate asked on Picture Day at school. I had my natural hair out so it was very curly. For eight years, I went to a predominantly white catholic school and my hair was a point of contention for many of my peers. Whether I wore my hair naturally or braided, I couldn’t seem to escape their harrowing questions. Upon finishing middle school and starting my high school journey, I realized that physical traits were emphasized everywhere. Constantly being reminded of the differences between my classmates and I, students’ fascination with me became even more invasive as questions such as ‘Where are you actually from?’ were asked of me. Everything and everyone around me seemed to fixate on how different I was. My social interactions soon became dreadful, I was no longer performing well in class, no longer excited to come home and tell my parents how my day went but always willing to compromise myself to make others happy. That is until my parents sat me down and told me a story. They immigrated from Ethiopia in the late 1980s, escaping a socialist government that sought to obliterate my family’s religious and cultural identities. Their sacrifices were innumerable, becoming a crutch to lean on during my bad days. Their stories prompted within me a desire to change. I began slowly renewing my values as I distanced myself from students who always sought to demean me. More importantly, I sought to change because I wanted to honor the hardship and sacrifice my parents had made, both as immigrants and strangers in a new country. I took constructive steps and was involved in various initiatives also to seek to reinvigorate students’ identities and pride in one’s heritage. I gradually started to embrace who I was and even began to spread my culture among my classmates when I previously hid it. I took the time to explain my ethnicity in projects and whenever culture would be brought up in group discussions in class. The difficult journey from self-denial to self-affirmation has also become my greatest lesson in life. My determination and journey meant that I continued defining my path to success irrespective of the environment I’m in. It is with the same value for cross-cultural dialogue and engagement that I hope to make a leap forward in college. More importantly, I plan to expand and share my values, culture, and heritage with students who may be unfamiliar. It is with this attitude that I look forward to cultivating a cooperative student community. As an aspiring pediatrician, I understand full well the physiological impact of one’s environment. My own lived experience as an example, like how many children suffer from obesity and other chronic health conditions. What started off as a challenging phase in my life has now become an experience I reflect on to better navigate my challenges. More importantly, as I look at my life ahead, I hope to continue expanding my impact and educate others on the importance of healthy social interactions. It is with this goal that I hope to gain the essential knowledge for someone striving to enter the field of medicine, like myself. It would be critical that I understand the way that humans act and interact, as well as be able to prevent others from being in a situation similar to mine.

I believe that diversity makes a community stronger because different ideas and cultural experiences bring people together. As a daughter of immigrant parents who emigrated from Ethiopia as teenagers, I value the hard work, commitment, and perseverance they have instilled in me to bring to college. When faced with challenges, I will be there to provide my support to make a difference one person at a time. For instance this year, I was excited to be a founding member of a new high school service club along with four classmates and friends. While the club is in the early stages, we created a homeless outreach club in which I am the media manager. We have made our aim to help the homeless and less fortunate populations in our community. Our mission is to help and improve the lives of people we see within our area after noticing panhandles and traffic stops and shopping parking lots. We did not experience such tragedies and we believe post-COVID-19 related challenges have created this problem. This is one way I participate in the community to make a difference. Another area that I think I can bring to any university is the rich cultural experiences of my family heritage in Ethiopia. Participating in international clubs and events, I see myself sharing such cultural heritage to promote awareness. Also, as someone who also has strong beliefs in women's rights, college campuses would be a good place to dialogue different opinions. For instance, women's rights such as equal pay, equal opportunity, and in particular women's reproductive rights are that have been hot topics lately. I am very passionate about these topics and I see myself embracing open and intellectual dialog at whatever university I go to. If I take reproductive rights as an example, I come from a family of conservative Coptic Christian beliefs where I was taught about the moral teachings of abortion. I also went to a Catholic elementary and middle school. All my friends and I were taught about the sanctity of life and the need to protect it from anything including abortion. While from a moral point of view, I empathize that the decision to end a pregnancy should not be taken lightly, I also have a strong secular belief in a women’s right to make her own choice. I have had many conversations and emotional arguments with my friends regarding abortion and women's rights. I did not attend school-sponsored Pro-life events at school and my absence led to conversations. I listened to their argument about how abortion is wrong because it is killing the very precious life that God gave us. Also, seeing how my friends were passionate about their beliefs always made me think about how to approach the discussion. I listened but also told them morally I may agree with their beliefs, but also shared my conviction that women have our inalienable rights when it comes to our bodies and not the government.

All throughout my life I have been trying to build a good community around myself in my neighborhood, my schools, and my sports teams. My community has always been very important so that I can bridge and create long-lasting relationships. In order for me to do that, I want to take classes and participate in activities and organizations in college that will allow me to meet others with similar interests. This year, I was excited to be a founding member of a new high school service club along with four classmates and friends. While the club is in the early stages, we created a homeless outreach club in which I am the media manager. We have made our aim to help the homeless and less fortunate populations in our community. Our mission is to help and improve the lives of people we see within our area after noticing panhandles and traffic stops and shopping parking lots. We did not experience such tragedies and we believe post-COVID-19 related challenges have created this problem. We have been presenting and promoting our mission in our high school and club fairs to grow membership in our new club. Our funding is completely internal and researching sponsorship and fundraising opportunities to pursue the goal of this club. It is very important to us not only as officers of the club, but the whole club and all of its members to contribute to helping people in our community.

I believe that diversity makes a community stronger because different ideas and cultural experiences bring people together. As a daughter of immigrant parents who emigrated from Ethiopia as teenagers, I value the hard work, commitment, and perseverance they have instilled in me to bring to college. When faced with challenges, I will be there to provide my support to make a difference one person at a time. For instance this year, I was excited to be a founding member of a new high school service club along with four classmates and friends. While the club is in the early stages, we created a homeless outreach club in which I am the media manager. We have made our aim to help the homeless and less fortunate populations in our community. Our mission is to help and improve the lives of people we see within our area after noticing panhandles and traffic stops and shopping parking lots. We did not experience such tragedies and we believe post-COVID-19 related challenges have created this problem. This is one way I participate in the community to make a difference. Another area that I think I can bring to any university is the rich cultural experiences of my family heritage in Ethiopia. Participating in international clubs and events, I see myself sharing such cultural heritage to promote awareness. Also, as someone who also has strong beliefs in women's rights, college campuses would be a good place to dialogue different opinions. For instance, women's rights such as equal pay, equal opportunity, and in particular women's reproductive rights are that have been hot topics lately. I am very passionate about these topics and I see myself embracing open and intellectual dialog at whatever university I go to. If I take reproductive rights as an example, I come from a family of conservative Coptic Christian beliefs where I was taught about the moral teachings of abortion. I also went to a Catholic elementary and middle school. All my friends and I were taught about the sanctity of life and the need to protect it from anything including abortion. While from a moral point of view, I empathize that the decision to end a pregnancy should not be taken lightly, I also have a strong secular belief in a women’s right to make her own choice. I have had many conversations and emotional arguments with my friends regarding abortion and women's rights. I did not attend school-sponsored Pro-life events at school and my absence led to conversations. I listened to their argument about how abortion is wrong because it is killing the very precious life that God gave us. Also, seeing how my friends were passionate about their beliefs always made me think about how to approach the discussion. I listened but also told them morally I may agree with their beliefs, but also shared my conviction that women have our inalienable rights when it comes to our bodies and not the government.

I have been a member of my high school’s varsity girls' tennis team for three years since my freshman year. Tennis has been a great experience for me because I was able to be part of the sports team’s community. It has helped me understand accountability and my role’s contribution to the team. I learned to embrace collaboration and develop friendships with teammates who have similar interests. It also taught me to stay optimistic during challenges. College will be a new journey and these community experiences have better prepared me to be who I am and use these skills to help better work and blend with students and faculty at whatever school I attend in whatever endeavors I participate in. This past summer I volunteered at a summer camp as a camp counselor and tennis coach. I helped out by teaching the younger kids how to play tennis. It was a fun experience and I had a good time showing the 5–9-year-old kids how to hit the tennis ball properly and swing through fully. I always want to make sure that the kids are happy and I play other games with them during their breaks throughout the day. It has always been so great for me to help out during the summer because I love kids and it has always been so entertaining and joyful to see their love for tennis grow. Tennis has been able to teach me that there are so many people that you can connect with and meet through shared interests. Some people that I thought I would never become friends with have played tennis and in turn, become friends that I would do anything for. There has always been such a tight-knit community wherever I had played tennis since I have played the sport for over ten years now. I have learned that my community is so important from a young age and always kept the people that I love close to me from that young age. It has been a very important ideal to me, to be able to understand how others are feeling and to stay close to people that I share a bond. Tennis has always been able to help me get rid of my stress after a long day or just cheer me up when I am unhappy. It is my sport and always has been and I enjoy playing it whenever I can.

“Oh my gosh, can I touch your hair,” my classmate asked on Picture Day at school. I had my natural hair out so it was very curly. For eight years, I went to a predominantly white catholic school and my hair was a point of contention for many of my peers. Whether I wore my hair naturally or braided, I couldn’t seem to escape their harrowing questions. Upon finishing middle school and starting my high school journey, I realized that physical traits were emphasized everywhere. Constantly being reminded of the differences between my classmates and I, students’ fascination with me became even more invasive as questions such as ‘Where are you actually from?’ were asked of me. Everything and everyone around me seemed to fixate on how different I was. My social interactions soon became dreadful, I was no longer performing well in class, no longer excited to come home and tell my parents how my day went but always willing to compromise myself to make others happy. That is until my parents sat me down and told me a story. They immigrated from Ethiopia in the late 1980s, escaping a socialist government that sought to obliterate my family’s religious and cultural identities. Their sacrifices were innumerable, becoming a crutch to lean on during my bad days. Their stories prompted within me a desire to change. I began slowly renewing my values as I distanced myself from students who always sought to demean me. More importantly, I sought to change because I wanted to honor the hardship and sacrifice my parents had made, both as immigrants and strangers in a new country. I took constructive steps and was involved in various initiatives also to seek to reinvigorate students’ identities and pride in one’s heritage. I gradually started to embrace who I was and even began to spread my culture among my classmates when I previously hid it. I took the time to explain my ethnicity in projects and whenever culture would be brought up in group discussions in class. The difficult journey from self-denial to self-affirmation has also become my greatest lesson in life. My determination and journey meant that I continued defining my path to success irrespective of the environment I’m in. It is with the same value for cross-cultural dialogue and engagement that I hope to make a leap forward in college. More importantly, I plan to expand and share my values, culture, and heritage with students who may be unfamiliar. It is with this attitude that I look forward to cultivating a cooperative student community. As an aspiring pediatrician, I understand full well the physiological impact of one’s environment. My own lived experience as an example, like how many children suffer from obesity and other chronic health conditions. What started off as a challenging phase in my life has now become an experience I reflect on to better navigate my challenges. More importantly, as I look at my life ahead, I hope to continue expanding my impact and educate others on the importance of healthy social interactions. It is with this goal that I hope to gain the essential knowledge for someone striving to enter the field of medicine, like myself. It would be critical that I understand the way that humans act and interact, as well as be able to prevent others from being in a situation similar to mine.

Whatever school I go to the curriculum will allow me to explore new courses that I either didn’t have the chance to take in high school or learn something new that I wouldn’t normally entertain. While I am interested in science, my learning must be well-rounded to also take classes that will challenge me and take me out of my comfort zone. I want to pursue a minor in different medical studies, global health, and social sciences like psychology because it gives me an opportunity to explore different healthcare curriculums from various perspectives. I see myself exploring the medical field with a broader lens by taking these intriguing courses which will help open my eyes to these different perspectives. My goal is to pursue a career in the medical field with a focus on pediatrics. It has been something that has intrigued me since my childhood. I remember visiting the DC Children's hospital at a young age when my sister was in and out of hospitals due to her respiratory problems. I cannot and will never forget the medical care and treatment she received from the doctors and medical staff. I am passionate about helping others and using medicine as the means to get to the end goal. The job of becoming a doctor has always been so interesting to me because it combines two of my favorite things: medical science and helping people. It is also fulfilling to help those who are less fortunate and unable to afford proper healthcare. It is so critical for me to work to become this doctor because there are so many people in this world that just can not afford to pay their medical bills and therefore do not get treatments when they need to. Aside from learning and excelling in core health science courses, it is a requirement for someone like myself who is an aspiring doctor to grow various important skills to be successful. Some of these skills will be of a lot of use when working with patients, especially younger kids. Skills developed by participating in social science programs on how to deal with people and society or understanding individual behaviors so I know how to deal with patients will be critical to be a well-rounded doctor. Health Profession Advisory programs will enable me to select a broad set of balanced courses to help me start my long journey in the medical field.

I believe in diversity. It makes a community stronger because different ideas and cultural experiences bring people together. As someone with strong beliefs on women's rights, college campuses would be a good place to dialogue different opinions. For instance, women's rights such as equal pay, equal opportunity, and in particular women's reproductive rights are that have been hot topics lately. I come from a family of conservative Coptic Christian beliefs where I was taught about the moral teachings of abortion. I also went to a Catholic elementary and middle school. All my friends and I were taught about the sanctity of life and the need to protect it from anything including abortion. While from a moral point of view, I empathize that the decision to end a pregnancy should not be taken lightly, I also have a strong secular belief in a women’s right to make her own choice. I have had many conversations and emotional arguments with my friends regarding abortion and women's rights. I did not attend school-sponsored Pro-life events at school and my absence led to conversations. I listened to their argument about how abortion is wrong because it is killing the very precious life that God gave us. Also, seeing how my friends were passionate about their beliefs always made me think about how to approach the discussion. I listened but also told them morally I may agree with their beliefs, but also shared my conviction that as women, we have our inalienable rights when it comes to our bodies and not the government that can make the ultimate decision. We all heard each other's arguments and acknowledged our beliefs. I think it is okay to have different opinions and be open to having a listening ear. Another passion of mine is sports. I love to watch sports, play tennis, and overall enjoy the competitive nature. I also like the human aspects of sports. Its rich history of how athletes face social challenges and excel in their passion is very inspirational. The hardship, perseverance, and dedication you see from the athletes are also something that I admire to compete at such a high level. Experiencing sporting events at games is exciting and something I enjoy with my family. My dad and I spend time together watching anything from track and field I to football. I love basketball especially and love to go to NBA games whenever I can. I follow the NBA league and know the most random facts about NBA players and teams because it is so fun to me. Aside from sports, I believe that I am hardworking and driven. Hearing the stories of my parents who emigrated from Ethiopia as teenagers and the hardship and challenges they overcome is an inspiration to me. I am reserved but also silly with my friends and family. My friends tell me that I make them smile and enjoy my sense of humor. With my family, I enjoy traveling to experience new adventures. I have visited my parents' birthplace in Ethiopia and also traveled across several US states on several road trips. Visiting and learning about new communities I think helps me grow to see things from different perspectives. Lastly, music is my other passion. I love singing, dancing, and just playing songs. Music is such an amazing medium of art and I could ramble on about my favorite song non-stop. The best part about music for me is that I can listen to different genres when I am feeling different emotions or in different situations.