The Beauty of A Dream by Victoria

The Beauty of A Dream by Victoria - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” and at this point in my life, I could not agree more. Every day I strive to be a better version of myself than I was the day before and my new years resolution is to wholeheartedly believe in the power of self-actualization. Not only will my resolution help me to become a better student in 2016, but it will also bring me closer to realizing my ultimate dream of becoming a practicing Family Medicine physician. I want to help and advocate for those who are unable to do so themselves; I want to become a person for others.

As Americans we have become accustomed to the finest advances in medical technology, yet after volunteering in Tena, Ecuador, I realized that many of the children had never even seen a toothbrush. With the evident lack of education surrounding medicinal hygiene, the blackened, rotten, and deplorable condition of the children’s teeth was heart wrenching! Armed with an advanced mastery of the Spanish language and the desire to help those who are unable to help themselves, my time in Ecuador touched me emotionally and served as my keepsake to continue the practice when I returned home.

While I was initially drawn to the Sciences by an intellectual thirst to understand the intricate inner workings of the human body, my interactions with the children in Ecuador validated my decision to pursue a career in medicine. I wanted to be their advocate, protector, and friend. Growing up, I watched my single mother struggle, sacrifice, and go to work without a dollar to her name just to ensure that I could pursue my dreams. From my disadvantaged background I gained resilience, fortitude, and an insatiable desire to make a difference in the lives of those in similar circumstances. For me, altruism has always been second nature, yet the further I progress in my education, the more I have embraced the importance of becoming a person for others. Facta, non verba - deeds, not words are what truly matter.

Founding my own volunteer initiative, Apples 4 Education, has allowed me to hone my passion for advocacy. Its purpose is to provide school supplies and college entrance exam preparation materials to students at underprivileged schools. From the beginning, many students are at a disadvantage based upon the blatant lack of equal access to formative education, which is a social determinant of health. Upon matriculation to medical school, I intend to establish Apples 4 Education as a student organization through implementing health and nutrition elements to the program and hope to expand Apples 4 Education into a nonprofit organization, with a scholarship component, in the future.

I firmly believe in the value of holistic health and have lost forty pounds through replacing processed foods with fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, as well as finding purpose in exercise. This serves as a testament of my willpower and unrelenting drive, which will contribute toward achieving success in medical school. Transforming my lifestyle has simultaneously assisted me in understanding many of the fundamental causes of disease and I hope to empower my future patients to lead healthy lifestyles as well.

In the past six months, my life has taken a turn and advocacy has found a new meaning. Following my parent’s divorce my father was rarely in the picture, but I never could have imagined losing him so suddenly to a heart attack. I have learned more about his struggle with familial hypercholestemia in the past months than I did in the past nine years - I only wish I could have been his advocate. The day I received my first medical school acceptance was one of the most gratifying and surreal days of my life. I know in my heart that my father is proud and I eagerly wait for the day I can fully share my heart for service with others as a practicing Family Medicine physician.