Attending a school that emphasizes diversity like the University of California, Los Angeles allowed me to interact with dissimilar people and immerse myself in many cultures different from my own. Through conversations outside of class and attending multiple culture nights, I was able to experience some of the customs, values, and beliefs of other cultures I had never been previously exposed to. However, most of my understanding has come from my service in Dr. Amy Waterman’s lab at the UCLA Transplant Research and Education Center. The research lab aims to reduce racial disparities in transplant. An example of our discoveries during research was results showing that minorities, especially African Americans, are less likely to pursue living
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Health complications in my youth and the frequent hospital trips that ensued showed me the fear and pain that patients feel. This allows me to relate and understand what others are going through. It became my childhood dream to become a physician and help patients like me to reduce the suffering and live healthier lives. My experiences serving others have also exposed me to the issues within my community and demonstrated ways I can and have made an impact, which aligns with Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s commitment to serving the community. I co-founded Heal L.A. at UCLA to aid the homeless population around campus, volunteered in Asian Pacific Health Corps, and served in a research lab to reduce racial disparities in transplant. If accepted, I would bring qualities such as a commitment to service, leadership, understanding of underserved populations, and an ability to work with diverse patients to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine community. Similar to my time at UCLA, I hope to make an impact by encouraging my classmates to get involved with community service projects to extend their learning beyond the
Health complications in my youth and the frequent hospital trips that ensued showed me the fear and pain that patients feel. This allows me to relate and understand what others are going through. It became my childhood dream to become a physician and help patients like me to reduce the suffering and live healthier lives. My experiences serving others have also exposed me to the issues within my community and demonstrated ways I can and have made an impact, which aligns with Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine’s commitment to serving the community. I co-founded Heal L.A. at UCLA to aid the homeless population around campus, volunteered in Asian Pacific Health Corps, and served in a research lab to reduce racial disparities in transplant. If accepted, I would bring qualities such as a commitment to service, leadership, understanding of underserved populations, and an ability to work with diverse patients to the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine community. Similar to my time at UCLA, I hope to make an impact by encouraging my classmates to get involved with community service projects to extend their learning beyond the