Whenever I see the distinct stars and the red, whites, and blues of the American flag, I can't help but think of the same colors and in the Panamanian flag, where the instant connection serves as a constant reminder of the rich cultural tapestry that shapes my identity. My father, a first-generation immigrant from Panama, brought the essence of our heritage to our home in San Diego, instilling in us a deep connection to our roots. Growing up, our home was filled with the aromas of traditional dishes like empanadas and arroz con pollo and the lively sounds of Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, and Yomo Toro’s “La Murga” rang throughout the walls. At family gatherings, we share new music, art, and photographs, laughing and reminiscing about the past. Despite being born and raised in the United States, my Hispanic heritage has always been central to my identity, shaping my values and how I build meaningful relationships with others. I draw strength from my older aunts and uncles who share their stories of Panama and the difficulties of uprooting their lives. I eagerly learn the daily practices and holiday traditions to pass down for more generations. But most of all, I take pride in growing as an individual with the cultural influences my family instills in me every day. My primary goal is to use all the knowledge and lessons instilled in me through childhood to become and serve as a compassionate Physician Assistant, where I can provide healthcare to those in need and advocate for health equity. I believe that by treating each patient with empathy and respect, I can make a meaningful impact on their lives and inspire others to do the same. This is an important goal to me as many of my family members have suffered from poor healthcare both here in America and back home in Panama. By choosing to further my education in college and learn through hands-on experience, internships, and continuous professional development, I can hopefully help solve and contribute to closing the gap between health disparities, not just locally but globally as well. Ultimately, my identity, forged through a blend of American and Panamanian influences, drives my passion to make a difference in the world. By embracing my heritage and dedicating myself to the field of healthcare, I aim to honor my family's legacy and contribute to a more equitable future for all.

The first time I walked into a hospital urgent care and knew something was wrong, I was ten. Each seat was occupied by an anxiously waiting patient; A stressed and tired mom with her sick child, an adolescent with a broken bone, and an elderly with a trauma injury. At the time I fell into the former category, suffering from the contagious hand, foot, and mouth disease that was circling my elementary school and my mom was exhausted from a long day at work. It was almost closing time and half the patients hadn't been admitted, yet each time the back door opened and a name was called, everyone in the room would lift their heads with hope swimming in their eyes that it would finally be their time. But inevitably, they were let down by the shouting of an unfamiliar name of someone who must have arrived before them, and stared with envy as they were taken to see a physician. This cycle of hope and disappointment seemed to continue endlessly for hours. Children wailed, adults complained, and everyone came to the collective agreement that they despised the hospital. When it was eventually my turn to be taken back, I was hastily diagnosed, advised to wait for the disease to go away on its own, and rushed out of the facility in less than fifteen minutes. Naturally, my mother and I were furious. Waiting for hours only to get nothing but a 'Wait it out' response and a diagnosis that could've been googled? As we walked out of the waiting room past all the other patients, I couldn't help but hope that their experience was better than mine. From this moment on, I knew something was fundamentally wrong with the system, and I wanted to be a part of creating change and leaving a positive impact on the urgent healthcare sector. Therefore, I will be pursuing a career in healthcare, to alter the experiences of the individuals who walk through the doors of the hospital so that they leave satisfied with their treatment and overall time in the hospital. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my career by eliminating any chances of negative experiences for my patients by providing them with not only quality healthcare, but empathy and compassion. Perhaps if the healthcare providers I visited when I was ten showed a little more empathy for our situation, the story could have been different. Instead, I could say despite waiting hours for a simple diagnosis, the doctors and nurses were extremely kind and understanding so it made up for the long wait. So, upon graduation from high school, I plan to further my education by acquiring a bachelor's degree and attending graduate school to become a healthcare worker. In doing so, I will place myself on the front lines of medical facilities so that I can spread positive energy into normally bleak and stressful situations and make a patient's day a little bit brighter. Albeit, a small task in the short-term perspective, these little, but meaningful actions can boost a person's confidence, happiness, and reduce stress. This will ultimately result in individuals having a better overall attitude and can encourage others to spread the positivity they receive. Taking the moment to be empathetic in a healthcare environment is crucial for the energy you put out will inevitably return to the outside world. By pursuing this career path, I can work to ensure an overall more positive environment and experience for my world, and assure that experiences such as mine reduce drastically in number.