
Hobbies and interests
Medicine
Research
Christian Castaneda
545
Bold Points1x
Finalist
Christian Castaneda
545
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Being a senior means being able to prepare yourself for your future in college, as your last year of high school is coming near. For me, I hope to help others in the medical field as I have always had a passion for helping others mentally, physically, and emotionally. Since I was 11, I have always been surrounded by the influence of the medical profession since my mother was severely sick and was diagnosed with Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). I got to see an entire team of medical staff work to bring my mom back to health and this made me appreciate the work medical professionals do to save families' loved ones and this has inspired me to one day to do the same. To achieve this dream, I have made a plan to major in Neuroscience as I will be able to dig deeper into the understanding of our body's nervous system and its functions and disorders. Being able to study this at a college would allow me to understand and connect with other students in an environment of like-minded students in hopes of someday achieving “our” goal of helping others.
Education
Idea Carver College Preparatory
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
- Medicine
- Psychology, General
- Human Biology
Career
Dream career field:
Medical Practice
Dream career goals:
Family Medicine
Public services
Volunteering
Trinity Hospice — A volunteer/helper2023 – 2024
Future Interests
Advocacy
Crawley Kids Scholarship
Growing up in a single-parent household, I was always taught to be kind and spread love to everyone, no matter who they are. My community, specifically my school, IDEA Carver, has provided me with the opportunities and resources to develop as a person. This inspiration allowed me to chase my dreams; that is where I found myself volunteering with Trinity Hospice (2 years now!), an experience that has opened my eyes to continue on my path of helping others and be someone who can make changes, even if small, to my community. From the strength my community has given me, to the personal growth I obtained from my experiences, Trinity Hospice has been the melting point for my path (Primary Care Physician), leading me down a career in the medical field for a life of service. I aspire to bring the same level of dedication and empathy to my future, ensuring every individual feels seen, heard, and cared for. Ultimately, I am eager to create a better world and serve my community with the same kindness and love I gained from a young age.
Gomez Family Legacy Scholarship
Challenges can either break or build who you are as a person. After witnessing my mother battle for her life, it made me realize my respect for the medical field. This resulted in me focusing all my time on academics & outside activities to build my path to the medical field. My school, IDEA Carver, has offered me a special experience since I got here in 7th grade. I got to witness a new curriculum focused on pushing their students to be college ready whether it's paying for all our tests (AP, ACT, TSI, etc..) or having caring teachers stay after hours even though they are tired to teach us; this new environment has shaped the person I am today as I have been lifted by my community to challenge myself for a better future. However, outside of school, I volunteer for Trinity Hospice doing tuck-in calls, collecting messages, medications, or any needs of the patients and relaying them to their nurse so they stay on track of their health. This experience has helped me gain a deeper insight into the medical field and inspired me to go further for my dream of being in the medical field. Not only that, my mother was a Hospice care patient and this was challenging for me when I was young (around 5th grade), but I knew everything would be fine because she would be home getting better. Since then, I have been caring for her with medications, medical supplies, and checking daily for her vitals/blood pressure. This experience allowed me to get a more on hands experience in the medical field and an even stronger foundation to go to college and accomplish my dreams. Now, being a senior I have taken the step of shadowing a doctor sometime in October-November which would further help build my path to becoming one a day a doctor and helping others. Lastly, something that has made me so ambitious for my education has been my mom and brother, they pushed me day in and day out to strive for myself and take initiative for my future. Additionally, growing up in a single-parent low-income household and being the first in my family to go to college; has made me very determined to complete my mission. My mission is to break the cycle of poverty and become the first person in my family to go to college and one day become an aspiring physician.
Sunshine Legall Scholarship
Challenges can either break or build who you are as a person. After witnessing my mother battle for her life, it made me realize my respect for the medical field. This resulted in me focusing all my time on academics & outside activities to build my path to the medical field. My school, IDEA Carver, has offered me a special experience since I got here in 7th grade. I got to witness a new curriculum focused on pushing their students to be college ready whether it's paying for all our tests (AP, ACT, TSI, etc..) or having caring teachers stay after hours even though they are tired to teach us; this new environment has shaped the person I am today as I have been lifted by my community to challenge myself for a better future. However, outside of school, I volunteer for Trinity Hospice doing tuck-in calls, collecting messages, medications, or any needs of the patients and relaying them to their nurse so they stay on track of their health. This experience has helped me gain a deeper insight into the medical field and inspired me to go further for my dream of being in the medical field. Not only that, my mother was a Hospice care patient and this was challenging for me when I was young (around 5th grade), but I knew everything would be fine because she would be home getting better. Since then, I have been caring for her with medications, medical supplies, and checking daily for her vitals/blood pressure. This experience allowed me to get a more on hands experience in the medical field and an even stronger foundation to go to college and accomplish my dreams. Now, being a senior I have taken the step of shadowing a doctor sometime in October-November which would further help build my path to becoming one a day a doctor and helping others. Lastly, something that has made me so ambitious for my education has been my mom and brother, they pushed me day in and day out to strive for myself and take initiative for my future. Additionally, growing up in a single-parent low-income household and being the first in my family to go to college; has made me very determined to complete my mission. My mission is to break the cycle of poverty and become the first person in my family to go to college and one day become an aspiring physician.
F.E. Foundation Scholarship
In life, we all encounter trials that mold our characters and define our paths. My personal journey from a small city in New Mexico to the humongous state of Texas served as the melting point where my resilience was shaped. However, it was my mother's illness that truly tested my understanding of strength, resilience, and the nature of life itself. At the age of eleven I found myself spending countless hours in hospital clinging to hope as my mother fought for her life. This period became a turning point of my life teaching me unforgettable lessons in strength, empathy, and hardship. Reflecting back, the big move to Texas when I was seven marked a significant transition in my life. As It was a time of exploration and self discovery. Despite the challenges of adapting to the different environment and making of new friends, without being aware, laid the groundwork for my resilience that would sustain me through the challenges ahead. The turning point came with my mother's illness which pushed my family into a world of uncertainty and fear. The hospital became like a second home to me as I got to witness the relentless cycle of hope and despair that defined our days. Yet, among this unrest, I discovered an inner strength that I never knew existed in me, and it was the need to cope with tough times. As the years unfolded, the hospital became a classroom of life, teaching me important lessons about life and the strength of the human spirit clinging to life each day. Which brought me new insights into the complexities of the medical field, the life-saving procedures done, and the dedication of each and every healthcare professional to save lives including my mothers. Through it all, I emerged with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep seated desire to make a positive impact on the world. In the face of challenge, I found my calling to lend a helping hand to those in need and to be a healer of hope in times of despair. As I look towards my future and the steps towards college, I carry with me the wisdom obtained through life's trials and tribulations which have built my strength and everlasting passion to make things better for those in a time of darkness. My journey may have been marked by challenges, but it was also illuminated by moments of great growth and transformation. And for that, I am forever grateful.