Growing up in Cuba I saw many people being greatly affected by the poor and limited medical resources in the country. I heard horror stories about how young children with cancer were being sent home because there was no treatment. People who needed lifesaving surgeries were dismissed because the Operating Room equipment was broken or because they simply didn’t have any operating supplies. I never thought it was this bad until two families that I have known all my life, were affected by these extreme limitations in the medical system in Cuba. One of these families saw their first child fade away, due to an error. While the other one, a single mother, is seeing her life slowly vanish without being able to do anything. The doctors in that country, have in a way lost all their hope, something that a physician should never lose. This loss of hope can also be seen in the patients themselves, and it is heartbreaking. Mothers, fathers, sisters, sons, and daughters dying every day, without any hope. The stories that people tell are heartbreaking, and those who have survived say that it was only hope that guided them to accomplish their recovery. These stories have inspired me to become a doctor. I want to bring hope to those who are losing it, and if possible, I want to be part of restoring the hope of those in my country. Being a physician is a beautiful life choice. You dedicate yourself to those who you once never knew and become their source of hope in their lowest moments. I love the medical system in this country since you see these dedicated doctors and nurses partaking in sometimes impossible journeys, to help someone. Patients are treated, with respect, humanity, and compassion, unlike in Cuba nowadays. I believe that we all are entitled to these essential components, and in the future, I would like to help restore all these elements in the Cuban people’s life, when they visit a hospital. Additionally, I also want to become a physician to contribute to all the future Hispanic, first-generation women that will come after me and aspire to be a doctor. I have two little cousins, and the older one who is 8 years old, wants to become a doctor, just because her “tata” (me) is going to be one in the future. For her and the Hispanic community, I want to facilitate their process and journey through a career in the healthcare system. Therefore, while and after medical school I want to take part in mentoring and helping them through the process. Furthermore, being part of the minority is hard, but if you put a lot of hard work into everything that you do, undauntedly you will be able to achieve it. As my wise dad once told me, the way to success is full of ups and downs but one must never give up on what we believe and dream of.

Graduating college is the dream for every Hispanic child and family. Eight years ago, that 10-year-old girl, who faced the unknown language and culture of a new country, would have never thought that she will be in her dream university. Yet she was not the only one who was going through a hard time. When one is a child, our parents make us believe that everything is ok, however, when we start to grow up, we learn how to appreciate the hard work and decisions that our parents made. Without having anything, my parents decided to come to the United States. They bearly had money to buy food for all of us, yet, they always had a smile on their face and would repeat "no te preocupes". These words that every day keeps ringing in my ears are the force that keeps me going. Their advice and wisdom that the 10-year-old girl did not appreciate at the moment. The 18-year-old college student is now more than thankful for them since it has guided her to where she is today. My motivation, even if it sounds like a cliche is the hard work of my parents. They are the motor of my life. They have shaped and keep shaping me into an adult that knows how to appreciate everything that they daily do for me. All the effort that I am making, I do it for them, even though I don't tell them frequently. I am thankful to have supportive parents that even though they get mad because I start crying for a grade, they will be there to have my back. I'm able to sleep calmly at night thanks to their care and love that I have never lacked.