Explore the World by Rishika

Explore the World by Rishika - August 2020 Scholarship Essay

As I sip my freshly brewed dark coffee, I gaze out of the polished Starbucks window. Morning joggers start to fill the sidewalks outside, each glancing upwards for a polite "Hello" before dipping their heads back towards the ground. Upon the flower petals sit a hundred beads of water, the only aftermath of the gusting wind that carried chaotic raindrops all night long. Gainesville weather suits me, I conclude, as I finish my coffee and step out into the morning breeze.
I always start my mornings at the University of Florida's Mind & Body Center. The center's morning meditations are the perfect way to build the strength and skills to get through the rest of the day. I shower away the morning humidity that sticks to my skin, and I head out to tackle my busy day. My first Applied Human Physiology class leaves me amazed. I ponder Professor Gordon's question regarding the prediction of how different perturbations will affect physiological functions and change the mechanisms of the body's actions. The Applied Physiology and Kinesiology undergraduate major is one of the main reasons the University of Florida (UF) has been my dream college. With an exclusive major designed to tackle all the pre-requisites for medical school, I will be able to build a strong foundation for my ambition to become an orthopedic surgeon. The different courses offered at UF uphold the importance of critical thinking and open dialogue while also encouraging the bridging of deep-seated ideological divisions.
Whether I am learning about how attention is a limited capacity resource from Professor Borsa or attending my internship at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, I know that UF is a place that inspires collaboration, fosters ethical leadership, and encourages creativity in all aspects. At UF, I would be able to nurture the quality relationships I have created while also building new connections and inviting people to play their role in helping the community. Majoring in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, which is a program not offered at many other colleges, I will be able to begin the next chapter in my life. The University of Florida knows that change must start small, but it must also start strongly. I want to be the one to start this small change and I know that at the University of Florida I will be able to pioneer new networks with the confidence of having support from a great university.
I walk past Lake Alice on my way to the cafe just as the sky begins to fade to shades of lilac. I grab a salad for dinner with my suitemates, discussing new classes and missing home. But surrounded by my small circle of friends, I could feel a new family beginning to take root. As we laugh about the corny dad jokes that are our favorites, we leave the bustling cafe and follow a path that was slowly becoming familiar. As night lights begin to shine through the darkened campus, I know that the University of Florida will give me the chance to explore the beauty of the world- and much more beyond that too.