My name is Erin Brown, and I am a first-generation college student raised by an immigrant single mother and the only person in my family who has chosen to pursue medicine. The road has been arduous as I do not have any physicians in my family to guide me through the process, but I am all the more excited for my future. For my entire life, I have seen my mother and those in my community struggle to receive adequate healthcare due to the cost and availability; to me, this is something that I want to give my life to combat. I chose to pursue medicine because I love and care about people, and above all, I want to advocate for those that cannot do so themselves. I hope to one day be able to offer pro bono treatments to those in need, and my goal is to join the organization "Doctors Without Borders" which is a humanitarian organization designed to provide medical assistance to those in need (those in combat zones, affected by disease outbreaks, affected by disasters, and also those excluded from healthcare). I want to be able to help those who are in the position that my mother was in; I have a passion for people and helping them in any way that I can. I chose to pursue medicine because it joins my burning passion for the human body and science and my absolute love for people and life. In my life, I have experienced many hardships, and one of the most painful was the loss of my grandfather. My grandfather passed away from Stage Four brain and lung cancer, and it was merely a few months after his diagnosis that he sadly passed, and this lit a fire in my heart. Not only was my grandfather my best friend, but he was my Mr. Miyagi. He guided me through all the hardships I had been through, and he encouraged me greatly to pursue my passion for medicine. He always wanted to see me become a physician and wear my white coat, but he never even saw me graduate high school. I helped take care of my grandfather until his very last breath, and I was at every radiation treatment he ever had (this awakened my interest in oncology and the fight for cancer cures). Seeing his oncologist and team of nurses fight so hard to lengthen my grandfather's life made me realize that I could definitely see myself in medicine. Since the day I lost my grandfather, I have been pushing hard to reach my goals. I want to give myself to the medical field just as the physicians did for my grandfather.

I know what loss feels like all too well. A loss that impacted me the most was my grandfather; I was close to him, and we were practically attached at the hip after my grandmother passed when I was a toddler. He was my best friend, my Mr. Miyagi, and above all--my papa. He was the kindest man I ever knew and had the charm that flattered everybody regardless of age. I will never forget the day my dad rushed to get me from a friend's house so I could go to my grandfather, who was in the hospital. My grandfather had collapsed on the floor of a seizure at the local Burger King, and they had to call 911. My father and I got to the hospital as fast as we could, and I witnessed him having a seizure. I could not bear the sight, so I ran into the hallway outside his room and broke down while nurses surrounded him. I could never have imagined seeing my grandfather the way I did that day, and I will never forget it. After a few days in the hospital, doctors found masses in my papa's brain and his lungs, and they told us he would not make it past a few more months. He was diagnosed with stage 4 brain and lung cancer before I began my first year of high school. From the day he was diagnosed with cancer, his health declined rapidly, and eventually, my papa was different-- he was dying. My grandfather was diagnosed in March 2016 and passed away in June 2016. He never got to see me drive, graduate high school, or start college, and this pain burns in my heart every day. I will never forget the last time I saw him, and I will never forget the beautiful times we shared. I took care of my papa until his very last breath, and not a day goes by that I do not miss him. People say that "time heals all wounds," but I do not believe that is true because nothing can heal the gaping hole inside my heart. I will miss him eternally until my final moments. The loss of my grandfather impacted my life in many ways that I cannot explain, but one that I can explain is that it was the catalyst for my motivation of becoming a doctor. The loss caused me to focus heavily on my education because that is what my papa wanted me to do, and when I told him I wanted to be a surgeon, he encouraged me until he could not any longer. I have no choice but to fight for my passions. I will never give up on my dream of being a figurehead in medicine, and I will be the doctor that every patient wants and enjoys seeing. I plan to give my all to patients just like my papa's oncologist did for him. I plan to offer pro bono treatments to those who are less fortunate and give my life for humanitarian efforts.

Mental health has shaped my life in ways that I never imagined possible. Since I was eight years old, I have struggled with depression and severe anxiety after my parents' highly tumultuous divorce. I watched my parents' bitter fights every day, and eventually, I had to choose between my parents, and that was a choice I never wanted to make during my lifetime. I saw a new woman enter my life soon after their divorce, and she turned my life into a nightmare (she is now my father's wife). Depression overcame me; I retreated into my room for as long as I could during the day so that I could hide from the reality I was faced with. My dad's new wife ensured to let me know that I would never be a doctor and that none of my dreams would come true (I will prove her wrong because I apply to med school soon). I have never allowed the events that took place in my life to bring me to the depths, even though I got very close more times than I can count. My struggles with anxiety and depression only made me push harder for my goals because I would love to be a psychiatrist someday so that I can help those who need their voice heard. It has caused me to see the world very differently because everyone struggles with something they may not show upfront. Struggling with mental illness has made me into a kinder, more compassionate person with all of the love in the world to give. It has caused me to cherish the life right in front of me, even if I cannot appreciate it sometimes due to the overwhelming sadness I may feel. My struggles with mental health have caused me to hold everyone I love even closer and to show them how much I love them every waking day. I never let things go unsaid because life can be over in such a short period; you never know what could happen to those dear to you. I have lost many friends due to suicide, and I would give everything in this world to have them back in my arms. My friends always made me stronger, they were the catalyst to my passion, and I never allowed my depression or anxiety to get the best of me because I know my friends would have wanted me to achieve my dreams. I miss my friends, and even though I wish I could turn back time and take all of their pain away, I know they would be proud of where I am today.

I am a first-generation college student whose parents are first-generation immigrants. I also am the first person in my family that has wanted to go to medical school. I have watched my family struggle from such a young age, and sadly I have also watched my family abandon their ambitions. One of the most vital things I value in life is my family, and I want nothing more than to achieve my lifelong dreams. The road I am on is such a long and arduous one, but I will not stop until I get to where my heart tells me I must be. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through medicine. I want to be a physician, and I bounce around from oncology to anesthesia and even to reconstructive surgery. I want nothing more than to be a beacon of light and love to my patients, and I want to do everything I can to take care of them. Too often, I have seen cold, callous physicians, and those kinds of doctors ignite an even greater fire in my heart. Of course, there are also good physicians, and the best oncologist I had ever met was the one who diagnosed and cared for my grandfather. My grandfather had been diagnosed with Stage Four brain and lung cancer, and his prognosis was very short. He passed away almost three months after his diagnosis, but those three months showed me what a good physician should be. I was around the oncologist anytime my grandfather had an appointment, and it showed me that there are physicians who care about their patients and will go to the ends of the earth to take care of them. Taking care of my grandfather, admiring his team of physicians, and being surrounded by medicine lit my tail on fire. In my lifetime, I hope to be a physician or a surgeon. My dream is to provide pro bono treatments and operations to underserved communities someday so that I can give every person the care they need and deserve. In the United States, the cost of healthcare alone causes people to avoid going to doctor's offices or even hospitals to receive care. People fear going to receive treatment because they fear the repercussions of the bill. This fear is an unsettling reality, and it must be vigorously combatted. No person should die or even become gravely ill because they cannot afford medical care. My goal is to be the best patient advocate I can be, and I want to give people the care they need free of charge. Above all, my goal is to be an unrelenting voice for those that do not have one. Nothing can stop me.

Playlist name: Staying Afloat Artist name: Erin the Grittiest -Unstoppable: SIA -I Hate U: SZA -Meet Me Halfway: Black Eyed Peas -No Tears Left to Cry: Ariana Grande -Easy On Me: Adele -Bulletproof: La Roux

There is a common saying that I love. It says, "A smile is the universal language of kindness.". A beautiful smile is the one thing that everyone has in common. There is no language barrier through a smile. I believe the same is correct of generosity. I trust that some people need that "generosity" seed watered. It is not a god-gifted trait but rather something developed over time. To me, generosity is a beautiful thing, and it was instilled in me by my grandfather at a very tender age. From what I learned, true generosity is not only about giving to other people, but it is mostly about wholehearted kindness. To me, generosity means empathy- not because you have to, but because you want to. Being generous is unconditional. As humans, all we have is one another, and we must come together without judgment. Generosity is crucial in my life. I plan to be a physician in the future, and I want to do everything I can for patients. Generosity is not only a requirement for life, but also for providing excellent medical care. In the future, I will offer pro bono medical services to those that need them. I plan on carrying my grandfather's guidance with me the whole way.