From the moment I started flipping through monthly science books as a child—long before I could even read—I was captivated by the human body and the mysteries of the mind. That early spark grew into a passion for science and, ultimately, a desire to become a physician. As I moved forward in my education, I found myself drawn not just to biology and medicine, but also to the emotional and psychological struggles people face every day. That’s what led me to pursue a psychology degree as my foundation—and why I’ve strongly considered the social work field as an essential piece of my journey. My initial plan was to focus strictly on pre-med coursework, but through deeper involvement in my psychology studies, I began to see how mental health, community support, and social systems are deeply interconnected. Social work, as a discipline, offers something that pure science alone cannot: a practical, compassionate framework for advocacy, community empowerment, and direct service. It’s not just about understanding mental illness—it’s about understanding people, their environments, and the systems that shape their lives. That realization shifted my perspective. I don’t just want to treat patients in a clinical setting—I want to help remove the barriers that prevent them from accessing care in the first place. Eventually, I plan to become a psychiatrist and serve in underserved communities where mental health resources are scarce or non-existent. These are areas where stigma is often high, care is limited, and individuals fall through the cracks far too easily. Whether it's rural towns, urban neighborhoods, or community centers lacking mental health infrastructure, I want to bring both clinical expertise and human understanding to the table. In that sense, social work principles will be key to how I practice medicine. I want to be a doctor who doesn’t just write prescriptions but actively collaborates with community organizations, social workers, and public health systems to ensure holistic, sustainable care. I want to be the kind of physician who sits down with a patient and truly listens—who recognizes trauma, cultural context, and lived experience as central to healing. Giving back means more than just returning to underserved areas. It means working to dismantle the stigma around mental illness, advocating for systemic change, and helping young people—especially in marginalized communities—see careers in healthcare and mental health as possible paths for themselves. It means showing up, long after the shift ends, because that's what true service looks like. So, while I may not be formally enrolled in a social work program, the values of the field—compassion, equity, advocacy, and community—are at the heart of everything I’m building. They are what drive me now, and they are what will continue to guide me as I grow from a curious child flipping through science books to a psychiatrist who practices medicine with both skill and soul.