On September 26, 2023, I came home from school and started getting ready for my first-ever concert. 17 years living in the San Francisco Bay Area, and yet I'd never once gone to see a live concert at one of the many venues. It was my senior year and it just felt like the right time. My sister had been begging our parents to get tickets to the Arctic Monkeys concert for months and when they finally caved, neither of us could contain our excitement. In the depths of my 4 AP classes, part-time job, and other extracurriculars, I'll admit going to the concert felt like a lower-priority event. Nevertheless, I was ecstatic to have this experience and spend time with my family. The drive over, I remember doing math problems for my AP Calculus class. Looking back it feels amusing how focused and dedicated I was, even the night of this magical experience. We finally reached a little while later and started walking to the arena. We got our tickets checked in almost immediately and headed to our seats. After what felt like hours of anticipation, the stage finally lit up. The whole stadium went dark and only the silhouettes of the artists could be seen. The opening band was finally here. At that moment, I recall being confused- were these the Arctic Monkeys? Someone else? What was going on? Turns out, the opening band was from Ireland and played a thrilling rock set for us to set the stage. At this point, we were all impatient from waiting for the Monkeys. The hours ticked on and the clock crept to 10 pm. When finally, the opening band finished their set. A short (not really) half hour later, the Arctic Monkeys came onstage. I'll never forget the eye-catching, blue lights highlighting their entrance. They started singing, and playing the drums, and didn't stop for hours. It didn't matter how much homework I had left or what was going to happen when I got home. All I could focus on was the thrill, the heightened euphoria of the moment. Those bright lights, those familiar voices from years of listening to their music was all we could focus on. And just like that, it was over. They went off stage. The crowd called, begged, and screamed for them to come back. It was 11:30 pm, and we just wanted a few more songs. Just as I was becoming surer by the moment that they wouldn't come back, a new song started to play. Standing there singing all their songs with my sister, nothing else mattered. To this day, that remains one of my favorite moments with her. We've grown up listening to music and have been learning how to sing for over a decade now. Music is an essential part of who we are and it's also one of our most rudimentary ways of connecting as a family. That was our first concert experience, but I can guarantee it won't be the last.

From the age of fourteen, I have had chronic primary dysmenorrhea, a condition consisting of abnormally disruptive and painful menstrual symptoms. As a result, I often miss two to three days of school on a monthly basis, despite being on pain-relieving medication. The physical and psychological struggle of coping with the diagnosis and the syndrome can be grueling. Oftentimes, it feels like a mental clock is ticking–reminding me of how I am losing time from my life that I instead need to dedicate to my health. Despite multiple appointments with doctors and teen specialists, my symptoms were declared unresolvable. The only medications I was offered were those that covered up my symptoms and did not tackle them at the root, furthering my feelings of frustration and despair. It can often feel incredibly isolating and exhausting to have to play “catch up” with the assignments in my high-stress and competitive environment. The key, I have found, is to stay ahead of things. I have learned that consistency in the quality of work is possible even in inconsistent circumstances. Today, I efficiently communicate with my teachers to make up work and advocate for myself. At the end of the day, this obstacle is one I struggle with often, but it has made me a stronger person. I value, even more so now, the time that I have been given to achieve my goals and the insight this has provided me on my career. After some preliminary research, I was shocked to realize how common and undiagnosed this condition often is. It got me thinking of the prevalence of this disease, how little it is discussed, and how few alternative solutions are explored by researchers. This is exactly the focus of the intersection of medicine and public health, I believe, and I understand the need for further exploration in the medical world as well as further inquiry from a public health perspective. My experience with primary dysmenorrhea puts me on the route to providing competent and comprehensive healthcare to my patients a few years down the line. As for now, I give back to the community by spreading awareness of my condition and speaking out to empower those who face similar struggles. My experiences have taught me to never back down from a challenge. I have so many aspirations for my future, professional and otherwise, and this diagnosis cannot hold me back. Contrary to the expectation, my condition now brings me hope. I have come this far while managing my symptoms, and I am certain my future will be just as bright.

My first time volunteering at a local public health community event, I was shocked to observe a blood pressure reading of over 170. The most surprising discovery, though, was that the person was entirely unaware of the dangers this posed to their health. The nurse at that event took the time to have a conversation with that individual about their health, one that may have saved their life. Some of the deadliest killers in the world are some of the most common, I realized, and even one small intervention can make an enduring difference in someone’s life. This event sparked my interest in population health and education, which I pursued by attending a summer program (EXPLO Global Health and Medicine). The need for these population-oriented health services in the world, especially in underserved areas all around us, could not have been more clear to me at that point. Just recently, I finished writing an exploration-oriented synthesis on cultural food insecurity, primarily within the North American context. Just about five years ago, I discovered the PA profession. The flexibility to transfer within specialties and the ability to gain an education based on the medical school model appealed to me. I knew the next step was to get hands-on experience. I had started cold calling nearby clinics for some summer work, and I heard back from Dr. Singh’s chiropractic clinic. She mentioned that she was looking for a part-time assistant and I was ecstatic to meet her and begin my journey. Now, more than a year later, I continue to work there part-time after school. At the clinic, I tend to fall into a state of flow- the only thing I can see in front of me is my next task. I find a type of peace and ironically, elation too, as I keep moving. Being on my feet and interacting with patients- learning their concerns and joys helps me understand how to be a better provider one day. Within the first few weeks of being at the clinic, I knew that healthcare was for me, and I have not looked back since. Even before I started working at the clinic, I had an inkling that medicine might be my path. During my sophomore year of high school, I applied to be a graphic designer for Medicine4youth, an international nonprofit geared towards providing resources to youth interested in medical disciplines. Over the years, I was promoted to various positions including Head of Public Relations and Graphic Design, and even Vice President of the organization. Medicine4youth has by far been one of my biggest constants throughout high school. Through team management, event planning, conflict resolution, and collaboration, I have worked towards growing Medicine4youth to over 3,500 followers on social media by keeping our platforms dynamic and current. Giving back to young high schoolers just like myself through our Mentorship Project, Summer Research Project, and School Chapters projects has been one of the most rewarding experiences during high school. Just this last summer, as I completed UCI’s Summer Surgery Program, my interest in the PA profession was reaffirmed. I had the valuable opportunity of shadowing a PA in the OR, and standing there in that moment made things as clear as day. Every goal of mine felt validated yet again as I stood in awe, watching cardiac surgery and envisioning myself in that PA’s shoes one day. All these experiences and commitments have helped me imagine a future in the OR for myself and in the service of underserved populations around us. I hope to play an active role in making medicine a more equitable profession, through advocacy, and by advancing equitable practices for underserved communities through my education as a public health and health sciences major at Emory University, which I will be attending as of the Fall of 2024.

From the age of fourteen, I have had chronic primary dysmenorrhea, a condition consisting of abnormally disruptive and painful menstrual symptoms. As a result, I often miss two to three days of school on a monthly basis, despite being on pain-relieving medication. Oftentimes, it feels like a mental clock is ticking–reminding me of how I am losing time from my life that I instead need to dedicate to my health. The physical and psychological struggle of coping with the diagnosis and the syndrome can be grueling, yet there are lessons and revelations I drew from even this experience. After multiple appointments with doctors and teen specialists, my symptoms were declared unresolvable. The only medications I was offered were those that covered up my symptoms and did not tackle them at the root, furthering my feelings of frustration and despair. It can often feel incredibly isolating to have to play “catch up” with the assignments in this high-stress and competitive environment, leaving me exhausted. The key, I have found, is to stay ahead of things, especially at times when I know I may have a flare-up. I have learned that consistency in the quality of work is possible even in inconsistent circumstances. Today, I efficiently communicate with my teachers to make up missed work and projects and advocate for myself. At the end of the day, this obstacle is one I struggle with often, but it has made me a stronger person. I value, even more so now, the time that I have been given to achieve my goals and the insight this has provided me on my career. After some preliminary research, I was shocked to realize how common and undiagnosed this condition often is. It got me thinking of the prevalence of this disease, how little it is discussed, and how few alternative solutions are explored by researchers. I often find myself answering questions about my chronic condition and while I am eager to educate others on this topic, the lack of awareness about such a common condition should not be accepted as the norm. My experience with primary dysmenorrhea puts me on the route to providing competent and comprehensive healthcare to my patients a few years down the line. It has always been an aspiration of mine to practice as a healthcare professional, however, it was not till just three years back that I found out about and fell in love with the PA (Physician Assistant or Associate) profession. The flexibility in specialties one can practice in as well as the competent and detail-oriented care that PAs can provide truly appealed to me. When I developed an interest in public health a few years later, I embraced it as an addition to my journey in healthcare as opposed to a separate pathway I could choose. Conditions like dysmenorrhea are exactly the focus of the intersection of medicine and public health and areas where more attention is undoubtedly necessary. My personal experience and research within public health (research on cultural food insecurity, flu epidemiology, and more) help me understand the need for further exploration in the medical world as well as further inquiry from a public health perspective.

About four years ago, as a high school freshman, I recall reading about the forest fires in the Amazon Rainforest and in Brazil, and how they were intentionally set by dairy production corporations who wanted additional land for raising animals and using them for meat and dairy production. As this headline flashed in front of my eyes, I set to researching the dairy and meat industry online. The results of what I found left me in a state of shock. I felt as though I had been living in a state of utter and complete ignorance. Seeing the suffering of both our planet and the animals who are exploited for animal products convinced me that it was time to take action. Going vegan, I had little hesitation in whether or not it was the right choice. I just knew that it was. The hard part was making adjustments for myself in a household that still consumed certain animal products. Being a high school student, I had many curious peers who wondered why I went vegan. It is one of my most significant joys to educate not only my school community but also my family and family friends about why I went vegan. I emphasize the importance of starting small and building up to a more major transition away from animal products if possible. As I enter my years of collegiate study, I am eager to continue to advocate for the availability of vegan and planet-friendly choices, whether in the dining hall or areas around campus. I aim to join or create clubs at my future university that are dedicated to pursuing school-wide initiatives, such as Meatless Monday, and organizing events to educate the student body on the positive personal health, environmental, and ethical benefits as a result of choosing a plant-powered diet. Further, one of my primary goals is to eradicate myths surrounding the vegan community, such as the myth that living without protein derived from animal products can lead to physical negative ramifications. Following my collegiate years, I will continue to inspire my community by example. Having always been interested in cooking, I know that our food often reflects our experiences and where we come from. Cooking cultural foods has been a passion of mine from a young age and going vegan allowed me to introduce delicious vegan dishes to non-vegan crowds. Though advocacy can be strong and vocal, it can also sometimes be subtle by showing those around you how they can live a more animal and planet-friendly life without sacrificing their favorite foods.