The reason behind my pursuit of higher education is closely tied to my desire to serve others, helping them out and making an impact. In this regard, I feel extremely privileged as a biomedical science major who is going to study optometry, since it allows me to combine my passion for science with service to others. For me, education entails receiving knowledge that can help me assist others. My studies in biomedical science and Spanish have taught me a great deal so far, but most importantly, they have reminded me of why I chose this path: to help people. Growing up in Georgia, I have often seen how difficult it can be for families to communicate with healthcare providers who do not speak their language or fully understand their experiences. This lack of communication is more than frustrating, and it can directly impact the quality of care patients receive. Personally, I have had experiences where customers at my job did not speak fluent English or did not speak English at all and either struggled to communicate or had to have someone translate for them. This really pushed me to want to learn Spanish so that I could communicate with these people and give them the same welcoming customer service that I gave to others. There are also times when families have trouble talking to healthcare providers, not because they lack understanding, but because they do not speak the same language. Seeing this disconnect really affected me. It showed me how something as simple as talking to each other can affect the quality of care someone gets. That realization is one of the main reasons I chose to study Spanish alongside biomedical science. As the second most common language in the United States, Spanish is an essential tool that will allow me to better serve diverse communities. My future ambition is to become an optometrist, where I can help people in their daily lives. As someone who wears glasses, I know the struggle of doing simple tasks such as reading, watching TV, driving, or even being able to clearly see yourself in the mirror because of bad vision. This is why, to me, eye care is very important, and this is what inspired me to want to be an optometrist. However, not everyone has equal access to good eye care. I want to be part of changing this. Being able to talk to patients in both English and Spanish will allow me to build trust, explain things clearly, and make sure they feel understood. Vision care is important because it plays a critical role in education, independence, and overall well-being. Through my career, I hope to provide care to individuals in underserved communities who may not have consistent access to vision services. Nevertheless, I have also realized that science is just one aspect of pursuing a healthcare career. The field of medicine requires more than just diagnosis and treatments. It involves patients’ experiences, perceptions of their illness, and the feeling of importance and value in their lives. As a medical professional, I wish to establish a relationship with my patients by listening to them, communicating with them, and establishing a connection. In order to become an outstanding optometrist, I should possess effective communication skills along with a wealth of knowledge, which I will gain from the biomedical science major. My aim would be to apply what I learn about higher education to decrease barriers in healthcare, especially where language and accessibility may pose a challenge, to assure that each patient knows he or she is being heard and respected.

My name is Kayla parsons and I attend the Newton College and Career academy. After entering high school, I participated in many groups that participated in community service, such as FCCLA, HOSA, and STEM Stars. My main community service organization is the Youth Action Team and drug-free coalition. We do different events to spread awareness of the harmful impact of drugs and substance abuse in our community. After joining this group, my communication skills have improved so much. Through the YAT, I organized and led an activity in our Kick The Habit Event. The Kick the Habit event is where we set up tables with games related to suicide prevention and drug and alcohol abuse. I am also the vice president of my school's FCCLA chapter and help to develop community service events. I have come to love community service events. It gives me a sense of purpose. Knowing that I can help someone even in the slightest way makes community service very important. I plan to continue participating in community service events by volunteering and organizing my own large-scale community service event. Because of my experience with volunteering, I have gained the skills to become a confident leader in not just school but also in my community. I hope to use these skills in the future to make a great change to my community. After high school, I will attend Georgia Southern university and major in Biology. After getting my bachelors degree in biology I plan to attend the Dental College of Georgia to become a general dentist. I would like to change and address the issue of inadequate access to dental care in low-income communities. Oral health is a very important part of your overall well being, yet many people in low-income areas face barriers in obtaining proper dental care. To make a positive change in these areas, I plan to start an outreach program, have a mobile dental clinic, and start an online health initiative. I am interested in initiating a program that seeks to educate individuals residing in low income communities about the significance of hygiene and preventive dental care. My goal is to partner with schools and health organizations to arrange workshops that specifically address dental care practices. Moreover I aim to establish a mobile dental clinic that can reach different low income areas and provide essential dental services such as cleanings, check ups and minor treatments. To staff the clinic I will seek support from dentists, hygienists and dental students who're willing to volunteer their time and expertise. For dental procedures I will provide discounted services specifically tailored for individuals with low income backgrounds. In order to fund these reduced price services I will organize fundraisers and other events. Furthermore I plan on implementing an initiative that allows remote and digital consultations, advice and follow ups, for check ups or non emergency situations.