I believe the first step towards any solution is education. Consider climate change and healthcare inequality: both are global health issues, and both require the efforts of more than a few. However, though these issues are undoubtedly daunting, through educating others and raising awareness to gain support, solving these issues become easier, and the efforts of a few can soon become many. With this in mind, I decided to take action in my community. At school, I started a pre-health shadowing club, forming a community of 100+ students wanting to make a difference. In our first meetings, discussing the intersection between health and race, we introduced issues, discussing how redlining contributes to poorer mental health among indigenous communities and COVID’s disproportionately detrimental effects on people of color. To my surprise, many of my peers were unaware of these situations. However, after being informed, they were more than willing to help. Since learning of these injustices, we have worked towards increasing equality–educating others with pamphlets on poverty-related diseases and planning blood drives to support blood shortages. Seeing everyone’s drive has taught me how education is a catalyst that empowers people to act; How our education shapes what we put our efforts towards. But, although education is a part of the solution, effort is also required. Just as we need to put effort into taking care of ourselves–working out and eating healthy foods, we also must help protect our planet. Even with all the medicine in the world, it is hard to heal in a sick environment–for animals and people alike. Our planet provides everything we need–air, food, water–yet sometimes we find ourselves consciously taking advantage of what Earth offers with no regard. To avoid the dystopian futures we see in movies like Wall-E, we need to invest back into our planet. Though a lot of us cannot afford to install solar panels, donate large amounts of money to charities, or buy expensive electric cars, we can still do a lot to help. Just by recycling or shopping second-hand, we can greatly reduce our carbon footprint and positively contribute to a healthier planet. Through volunteering at clinics in underserved communities, we can help advocate for everyone’s right to healthcare. By making small changes ourselves, we have the power to positively impact future generations. Collectively, the benefits of these efforts only become more exponential. Take Greta Thunberg for example. At 15, Greta participated in her first major strike for climate change at school. At the time, she had nothing but a simple sign and sheer will. However, since then, her actions have inspired more than 20,000 other students to do the same. The path toward change will not be easy. But with each step we take, we can become an unstoppable force. There is no one way to help improve our health, but one thing always remains true. Change starts with us. As a hopeful Pre-med, I hope to continue my education by studying Biology or Public Health. Diving into the rhetoric of medicine to learn the causes of inequity within healthcare—I look forward to collaborating and connecting with like-minded students who will encourage me to grow. Putting my efforts towards finding solutions to the issues that harm us and continuing my pre-health shadowing club, I hope to expand the support for One-Health’s mission. Whether researching in labs, protesting for climate change, or volunteering at animal shelters, I will remain committed to one health; our health.

I dream of the day I can call myself Dr. Acevedo. Growing up watching Bill Nye, from a young age, my heart has been set on science. Then, I met medicine. After my sister was diagnosed with lupus, I researched: learning how Lupus is incurable (for now), watching her almost lose her life, but then watching her get better thanks to modern medicine. From then on, I knew I wanted to make a difference in someone's life like that and thrust myself into the medical world. In a short time, medicine has expanded my view of the world: teaching me the limitless possibilities within medicine through innovations like gene therapy and showing the creativity behind science through collagen-producing silkworms. However, as much as I love medicine, healthcare inequity still plagues minorities. For example, while researching during summer programs, I was appalled to learn Latinx life expectancies dropped 4x more during Covid than non-BIPOC. After learning about these disparities, I wanted to spread awareness and decided to take action in my community. I started my school's pre-health shadowing club, forming a community of 100+ students eager to make a difference and growing closer to my passions and peers. In shadowing sessions that my club hosts, I have heard from incredibly kind people willing to share their stories on their journey to becoming a doctor. When I am a doctor, I plan to volunteer this way as well–knowing how helpful insights can be from those we admire. Even in college, I look forward to participating in similar activities–collaborating with students as interested in health equity as me. Additionally, by continuing my studies and diving into the rhetoric of medicine, I hope to further spread awareness and reduce statistics like these. By also engaging in research at school, I am eager to apply my knowledge to deepen my understanding while helping underserved communities. After all, working in health means serving the community, not just your patients. When I was younger, the first phrase I often heard after telling people my plan to pursue medicine was, “Women belong in the kitchen.” Whether a "joke" or not, phrases like this discouraged me from pursuing STEM and continue to harm my self-esteem. As a doctor, I hope to help change this harmful narrative. Though hurtful, such phrases now empower me to act, knowing so much needs to be done. Through mentoring the next generation of women in STEM, I hope to help girls feel confident enough to pursue their passions–despite having to work harder to be accepted. By sharing my experiences, I hope to be the representation I never had and help diversify STEM. Another reason why I hope to pursue medicine is earning to give. I aspire to make positive global impacts, but there is also a lot of improvement to be done locally. That is why as a doctor, I plan to use portions of my salary to give back to the communities that supported me. By investing in these communities, I hope to help ensure they can help others as they have helped me. Though I have barely scraped the surface of medicine, I have already gained so much appreciation for it. I still have a lot to learn, but with this scholarship supporting me, I know I will be able to continue to make positive changes and “do good”.