Mother, partner, and non-traditional student, I left my career in the service industry behind and am working towards becoming an oncologist, in honor of my mother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2016. To come this far I could not rely on unearned privileges, but instead overcame many obstacles through hard work and determination. I completed the Honors Program at Temple University and graduated with honors, and completed graduate-level coursework in my senior year. I will start medical school in August. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Languages and travel are among my hobbies. I speak three languages - English, Spanish, and French - and I am also studying Finnish. I have visited five countries so far, which allowed me to gain appreciation for a broad range of cultures. Before traveling to a country, I do research so I can better assimilate with the people who live there in terms of clothing and etiquette. These experiences have prepared me for work in a diverse world. ______________________________________________________________________________________ As a premedical student, I built an extensive volunteer background. Seeing many needs in my hometown, I chose to give back to my local community. My personal experiences and background influenced the places I chose to donate my time to, as well as my desire to work in ethnically and culturally diverse locations. Having enjoyed my time at Temple University, I recently volunteered to serve there as an alumni mentor to premedical students.