Since my auntie’s passing in 2015, I have been working toward my future in healthcare. Metastasis cancer debilitated her. At 11, all I could think was why; I just wanted my auntie back. Now, 17, she is my underlying ‘why.’ In an effort to answer that, 'why', I am presently participating in an internship called Fighting Back Partnership Elevate Youth Solano (EYS). The internship gives me the opportunity to express my passion for equality in healthcare by collaborating with my peers to discuss social health determinants such as anxiety, depression, discrimination, sexism, homelessness, and lack of healthcare, particularly for underprivileged youth. As Editor in Chief in Vanden High School’s Journalism program, I work as a mentor, piloting a multi-draft process to create articles which reflect the voices of the youth within our school and community. Outside of academia, my membership in the National Honor Society allows me to be fully present in my community by sharing their perspectives. In order to strengthen my leadership skills, I have continued working as a tutor for Vanden where I assess and address students’ academic concerns. Taking honors STEM classes have also played a role in strengthening my academic skills. All of my endeavors have taught me the duality of mentorship and apprenticeship. Both roles reflect my purpose: founding a medical center in under-represented communities so that people like my auntie have a better chance at fighting fatal diseases. I never stop learning, which is why I have a head start on achieving that goal.

Being the eldest of four grandchildren comes with a natural disposition to mentorship. I have taken on a mentoring role for my younger family members, even before I was aware of it. Mentorship to me is equivalent to love. To love someone so much that you want to add to their progression and development is beautiful. But then to nurture and shepherd them is golden. My love for mentorship materialized in fourth grade when I applied to be in one of the first groups of Playworks Junior Coaches at Fairmont Elementary. Playworks is a nonprofit anti-bullying organization designed to give students in low-income areas a safe place to practice physical and mental wellness. The program invites students to be peer mentors during recess and lunchtime while ensuring every student avoids exclusion. During my year as a Junior Coach and my two years as a Senior Coach, I gained pride and love for my school. I adored working with my coaching team and I was able to apply this work for years to come. Playworks nurtured my natural inclination while revealing to me my love for mentoring. While interning at Fighting Back Partnership’s Elevate Youth Solano (EYS), I work in a group of racially diverse students to learn the effects of different social determinants of health on Bay Area teenagers' relationships with substance use. In our year together, we learned how to mentor each other and take that skill into our communities. Based in the heart of Vallejo, California, we know the value of a good counselor, professional or not. Our diversity allowed us to see the complete picture of the youth in our area, showing us that there are mentorship roles everywhere. What I learned in EYS grew from the seeds Playworks planted in me. EYS and Playworks alike allowed me to exercise mentorship as a lifestyle rather than a position. As 2022 commences, I will be continuing my work with EYS on their Intergenerational Advisory Board. I will be mentoring the next set of scholars in the program and share with them the joys of peer advisory. My natural and nurtured propensity for leading has been exhibited in my participation in various activities. I have given my life to emitting the feelings I got from Playworks in every room I set foot in. Building a culture of inclusivity, relatability, warmth, and genuine care has always been my full-picture goal.