A Way to Give Back by Diana

A Way to Give Back by Diana - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

I am an Iraqi student who came to the land of opportunities with one of the greatest weapons: the belief of if I want something, I can fight for it. My family and I came to America in 2013. As a junior I faced academic challenges during high school. I had to have my transcript professionally evaluated which resulted in deficient credits. I cried when I found out that I would need to make up four years of high school A-G credits in two years’ time to go to a four year college in order to graduate and attend a college. I ended up taking classes at my local community college and high school during summer. At the end of six weeks, I had completed thirty two credits.
This country has shown me all of the opportunities available to me. I have honed in on dentistry as a career of interest. My fascination with improving smiles derived from my experience of having braces. Whenever I go to the dentist I ask a lot of questions such as how teeth move, how the cavities are formed, and how we can we fix those cavities. It was my curiosity that led me to choose dentistry as a career.
I come from Iraq, a place that does not encourage community service for the less fortunate. The first community service I got involved with was working with special needs students at my high school. Being a member with Do Something Club, our group of students organized a Halloween and a Christmas party for students with special needs. We wanted the students to feel accepted, appreciated and valued on campus. By working with this community, I learned to be patient and understanding of how they see the world in a positive way.
I have received help to reach many of my academic goals. After receiving my degree, I would like to set a specific amount of money for charities. I will also continue volunteering with special needs students population in college because it is a population that is often ignored. I am planning to join the OUCARES (Oakland University Center for Autism) to provide support to individuals with conversational language skills. My journey will go far beyond helping special needs students.
It is highly important to set goals for one’s self. I have always known this and set for myself, both short term and long term goals. This has made me more successful in my life. A long term goal that is dear to my heart, is my plan to go back to my country of my birth, Iraq after I complete my education and gain some more life and work experience in America. After becoming a dentist, I want to share what I have gained from America. I want to bring better dental care for those who have suffered without it. I would like to share my understanding about America’s diverse culture as well as any advanced dental practices with my fellow dentists. I want to work in Iraq using the newest tools and methods to treat people’s teeth. I want to have my own dental clinic so that I can bring new graduate students to train them in my clinic. I will be excited to share the knowledge and skills I gain from America with my home country. Such an effort may also help create a stronger bridge between our two cultures.