During my time as a volunteer at a community clinic, I had the opportunity to demonstrate one of the core pillars: humility. This experience not only improved my communication skills but also strengthened my commitment to humility and serving others. One afternoon, a patient arrived who did not speak English and was visibly nervous. The patient was an elderly gentleman who had come in for a routine check-up but was struggling to communicate his symptoms and concerns to the medical staff. Although my Spanish was not perfect, I offered to help as an interpreter. Despite my linguistic limitations, I managed to communicate with the patient and the medical staff, ensuring that the patient understood their diagnosis and the recommended treatment. I took this initiative because I understood the importance of effective communication in healthcare. My goal was to make the patient feel valued and understood, and I believe I achieved that. The patient was grateful and more at ease by the end of the consultation, and the medical staff could provide the appropriate care without language barriers. This experience not only improved my communication skills but also strengthened my commitment to humility and serving others. To provide a more detailed account, let me break down the steps I took and how they embodied the pillar of humility. When the patient first arrived, I noticed his discomfort and confusion. Recognizing that language was a significant barrier, I approached the attending nurse and offered my assistance as an interpreter. The nurse was initially hesitant, knowing my Spanish was not fluent, but she agreed, understanding the importance of patient comfort and communication. I began by introducing myself to the patient in Spanish, explaining that I would help translate his concerns to the medical staff. This simple act of introduction and reassurance helped to ease his anxiety. I then carefully listened to his symptoms and concerns, taking the time to ensure I understood him correctly before relaying the information to the nurse. This process required patience and attentiveness, qualities that are essential to humility. Throughout the consultation, I made sure to maintain a respectful and empathetic demeanor. I acknowledged my limitations in Spanish and asked for clarification when needed, demonstrating that I valued accuracy and the patient's well-being over my pride. This humility in acknowledging my limitations helped build trust with the patient and ensured that the information conveyed was accurate. The impact of my actions was significant. The patient, who had initially been anxious and confused, became noticeably more relaxed and cooperative. He expressed gratitude for my assistance, and his improved comfort level allowed the medical staff to conduct a thorough examination and provide the necessary care. The nurse later thanked me for stepping in, noting that my willingness to help had made a substantial difference in the patient's experience and the efficiency of the consultation. This experience reinforced the importance of humility in healthcare and in life. By putting the patient's needs above my own comfort and pride, I was able to facilitate better communication and care. It also highlighted the value of teamwork and the importance of being willing to step outside of one's comfort zone to help others. my experience as a volunteer interpreter at the community clinic exemplified the core pillar of humility. By recognizing a need and stepping in to assist despite my limitations, I was able to improve the patient's experience and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the medical team. This experience not only enhanced my communication skills but also deepened my understanding of the importance of humility in providing compassionate and effective care.

Watching someone lose their memory can really alter your life. For as long as I can remember, helping people has been a huge part of my life. I can recall myself volunteering after school, homework, even on the weekends. From a very young age I was determined to be the best and to serve and give back. Entering high school, I've centered my life around maintaining above a 3.5 gpa my freshman year. I became motivated to do more, go to sleep at a certain time, set aside at least an hour to do homework, help tutor others and doing sports. At the time I was obsessed with Grey's Anatomy, nothing was stopping me from achieving my goalI fell asleep dreaming about the day I became white coated. As the year progressed I started to see success, my gpa maintained, putting aside time to study. My testing scores were immaculate throughout the school year. I was projected to graduate as valedictorian of my class. As our finals exams are coming up nothing is stopping me from Achieving A’s in all eight subjects. Testing days are finally here and I start the first test nervously. Knowing i have what it takes to knock these tests out of the park, I go for it. In just a few hours text results come out there it is, My dreams shattered. Grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Failed six out of eight finals. For me it felt like my word ended, There was no reason to continue to try in school. It felt as if nothing mattered and I wasnr motivated to do anything. For a couple of days I sat around moping, no smile, nothing. Feeling embarrassed as my family watch their star player fail. Everyone tried talking to me but nothing was working. About three weeks later that night i was finishing up a season of Greys Anatomy and heard this quote. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no little to no hope at all”. After a solid month of troubleshooting myself. I had some time to reflect and some have serious conversations with the people closest to me. I came to the conclusion that my strive for wanting a great education while wanting to help others is the reason I have all these great relationships now including having a great academic support team, older siblings, and coaches. This minor setback helped me realize there is so much more I can accomplish and this is the beginning of life. Striving for a higher education while helping others in need has taught me an important lesson that we cannot control what happens in the situation but I can control my actions, attitude, and how I react to the situation. In the words of Greys Anatomy “A little more persistence, A little more effort, And what seemed to be hopeless failure may turn into glorious success.