Why I Want to Become a Doctor by Valeria

Why I Want to Become a Doctor by Valeria - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I am currently a freshman at the Colorado School of Mines. I have chosen the major of Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering. This is a fairly new pre-med program at a STEM university My personal experience of being in a lab environment most of my life and being Hispanic have led me to where I am now. I am one of the fortunate few who knew at the age of five what I wanted to do.

“Kevin, what is she reading?!”

This is the question my mother asked my father when she discovered that my choice of reading material as a kid wasn’t Harry Potter. Instead, it was the highly graphic book- Grossology, by Sylvia Branzei. It is a smorgasbord of all things grotesque in the anatomy of the human body. More than a book of all things disgusting; however, it acted as a lively introduction to the field of medical science. I had just learned to read at this point, and I was hooked. I could not stop myself and ended up ravaging through dozens of books just like Branzei’s. Although this “expedition” exposed to me what many would consider repulsive, it also introduced me to the breathtaking world of life itself: the brilliant harmony of millions, billions, even trillions of cells working in synchrony to encapsulate a single living being.

My father, a scientist himself, was the one who introduced me to this subject. Fascinated by his work in biotechnology, I was more than thrilled to dig into a dissected frog he placed on our kitchen counter (much to my mother’s dismay) or have a petting session with lab rats used to test electromagnetic devices developed at his office laboratory. Given that I was just a kid, my visiting moments were sparse, and I was not allowed anywhere near the high-tech equipment. This only made my visits more magical. Since the age of eight, I have been a volunteer, intern, or employee in a laboratory environment. Thus, my goal of becoming a medical doctor was born.

My mother, being Hispanic, introduced me to the concerns about the health of the Hispanic population. I personally have seen the effects of poor healthcare for Hispanics and have lived it. One of the main reasons I have chosen a career in the medical field is because I want to help my people. A recurring problem within my community is the lack of healthcare and poor health outcomes in the lives of American Hispanics. I am a Hispanic female and know I can be part of the movement to change this. I have a very large and loving family and community. And I have seen the illnesses, deaths, and hardships of my family and community because of the health and healthcare of the Hispanic population. The health of Hispanic men, women, and children are in dire need of change. The future in America is grand but only if we can survive. Yes, there are many who discriminate against us, but we are standing tall and working hard. Yet, the Hispanic community has been disproportionally affected by COVID, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity just to name a few. Leadership needs to push the importance of health education and healthcare for everyone. Without good quality health, we will continue to take two steps forward, one step back.

So essentially, both my parents have inspired me to be the person I am now and will become. My personal experiences in the lab and in my community are why I am in a Pre-Med program. There is no better way to unlock opportunities for me and to be career ready and support others in my community than becoming a doctor and receiving a top rate education. My parents have and will always continue to impact my decisions in life. I have already been given the nickname Dr. Valerie on my dorm floor because of my extensive first aid kit!

I want to be involved in the movement that puts healthcare on the right path. As a medical doctor, I see my future impact as being huge in my community. I will save lives, improve lives, and educate those in need. And I want to make my parents proud.