Pursuit of Excellence by Briana

Pursuit of Excellence by Briana - August 2024 Scholarship Essay

Positive change can take the world by storm. It can create endless possibilities that can positively influence our community. One of the ways that I am making a positive change is by improving health literacy among the different generations within the community. Working as a first responder has shown me the disadvantages that many individuals face when it comes to accessing healthcare. Many do not feel seen and hinders their continuity of care. In 2024, many are still faced with these disparities preventing them from establishing essential primary care. One of the most challenging issues that I see every day are patients being prescribed medications, yet not understanding how the medication is to be taken or why their primary care doctor even prescribed the medication. Not only is this a public health issue, but a safety issue for the patient. Education is an important component when it comes to speaking with individuals from economically disadvantaged groups. Due to the disadvantages, these characteristics can influence how patients are perceived in society.
Through furthering my education, I plan to implement programs within the community that will assist healthcare workers in educating their patients. Healthcare workers have numerous responsibilities when it comes to seeing multiple patients a day. Through increasing our focus on health education and promotion, my next big educational goal is to assist patients through both coaching and hands on skills so that the patient is comfortable understanding the medication. This approach would assist in fostering relationships in both the urban and rural community to be proactive in assessing the needs of the community. Improving health literacy will empower patients to make informed decisions regarding their health. These community-based initiatives are instrumental to filling in the gaps of those faced with inequalities. My long-term goal for pursuing my graduate degree is so that I can become a physician assistant and assist in fixing the disparities associated with the healthcare system. Holding one another accountable is most important to have a greater sense of responsibility in advocating for patients. Through a team-based approach, I want to combine health promotion and leadership to allow each patient to have a more defining experience when it comes to understanding their health and improving health outcomes for all.
My passion for healthcare stems from a time when I thought loved ones lived forever. One of the most significant obstacles that I have overcome throughout my educational journey is the loss of my sister. My sister passed away eight months ago, and I am still adjusting to life without her. She was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at birth and was only given 12 hours to live; I was able to continue to create memories with her for an additional 23 years before her passing. She was my biggest supporter and motivation for wanting to pursue a career in healthcare and research. At times, I still have days where I feel lost and unmotivated, yet I know she is still in my heart telling me to continue pursuing my dreams. The professional growth that I have gained from this experience has allowed me to be vulnerable and reflect on the impact my sister had on my life and the legacy I want to leave behind in her honor. This perspective has also taught me flexibility in surviving hardship as new added strength to be resilient and durable as things change. Receiving this scholarship will not only support my education, but also serve as an investment towards my long-term success. By investing in my education, it will significantly alleviate the financial burden associated with pursing a graduate degree and allow me more time to dedicate to keeping my sister’s legacy alive.