I’ve always thought serving my community was just another impressive checkbox, when in reality it is the blueprint of who I am today and who I will become tomorrow. Service has always been a part of who I am. Being raised in church, the majority of my upbringing was based on the value that society best thrives from the service of people. I’ve been involved in numerous events, fundraisers, and volunteer work since I was a child, and I’m sad to say I never really appreciated the lessons and experiences that I’ve gotten from those interactions. Community Service allowed me to develop into the person I stand as today, and I would even go further on to say it’s given me purpose. My parents being people of faith is really the reason I got into public service. Through analyzing their actions as a child, they educated me so much on how I am supposed to do my part as a citizen in the community. I first started in the church, as I would go around helping the Sunday school teachers with the children of the church or helping the ushers and pastors, to sort of mirror my parents and how they applied themselves. My father, I would say, was really the one who guided me into my calling of community engagement the most. As a young singer, he would go on trips all around the world and visit many churches with his friends, and throughout his travels he always made sure that he made an impact and did his part in helping struggling members of different societies. Hearing his stories as a little girl really opened my eyes to the reality of the world, and made me want to engage with my environment and serve others just like my papa did. In recent years, my parents were presented as the new lead pastors of our church as a result of their involvement. Consequently, this new milestone in our family pushed me into furthering my involvement in the community and serving others. I now volunteer as a Sunday school teacher, support our team members, helped establish our special‑needs room, and regularly assist with community outreach and fundraising events. Being privileged enough to be able to witness these outstanding changes and influences, and seeing how many people are so grateful for the work we’ve done really impacted me and made me realize the intention behind doing it. In a personal perspective, community service has allowed me to see the raw, humane reality of the world, allowing me to foster empathy for others. As for me professionally, contributing to society gives me a constant reminder of the reason I want to pursue the career of becoming a PA, which is to be in service to others always. Ultimately, community service has made such a positive impact in my life, and I will always be grateful for these opportunities.

Becoming a Physician Assistant is more than just a career goal to me, it is something that connects deeply to the values I was raised with from childhood, compassion, service, and helping others. Growing up in the church shaped the way I see people and the world around me. Since I was young, I have been surrounded by volunteer work, outreach events, fundraisers, and people dedicating themselves to helping others. At the time, I never fully understood how much those experiences would influence me, but as I have grown older, I realize they played a huge role in shaping the person I am today and the future I want for myself. My parents are truly the reason I became passionate about serving others. Watching the way they carried themselves taught me what it means to care for people genuinely and without expecting anything in return. My father especially inspired me through the stories he shared from his travels and ministry work. Hearing about the hardships different families and communities faced opened my eyes at a young age and made me want to do my part in helping others too. Those stories stayed with me as I got older and eventually helped me realize that I wanted a career where I could directly care for people and make a difference in their lives. The medical field stood out to me because of the impact healthcare workers can have on people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Out of all the careers in healthcare, becoming a Physician Assistant feels the most meaningful to me because it combines compassion, teamwork, and patient care. I want to become the type of healthcare professional who not only helps treat illnesses, but also makes people feel heard, understood, and cared for. To me, medicine is not only about diagnosing someone or giving treatment, it is also about showing empathy and kindness to people when they need it most. My involvement in community service has only strengthened my desire to become a Physician Assistant. In recent years, my parents became the lead pastors of our church, which pushed me to become even more involved in serving my community. I now volunteer as a Sunday school teacher, help support ministry teams, assist with outreach programs and fundraising events, and helped establish our church’s special needs room. Being able to witness the gratitude and happiness people feel from even small acts of kindness has impacted me deeply. Community service has allowed me to see the raw and human side of life, and through those experiences I have developed so much empathy and understanding for others. As I continue working toward my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant, I know that higher education comes with many financial challenges. Receiving the Bold Eitel Scholarship would help ease some of that financial stress and allow me to focus more on my education and future goals. More than anything, I want to use my future career to make healthcare feel more compassionate and comforting for others. I hope to work with underserved communities and be someone patients can trust during difficult moments in their lives. Receiving the Bold Eitel Scholarship would bring me one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a Physician Assistant and dedicating my life to helping others the same way my parents and community taught me to do from such a young age.