"You're such a bright kid how come you didn't find a cure for diabetes yet?" was what I heard every morning my dad drove me to school from elementary to high school. I am a first-generation Guyanese American. My parents have immigrated to America from Guyana over twenty years ago. Every day growing up I noticed how different my life was compared to my peers because my parents were assimilating to a new culture. To be frank, as a young child I was ashamed to be different from my peers. There were certain things my parents would say or the food I brought for lunch that made me feel like such an outsider. But now I have realized that it is commendable that my family had to learn how to survive in a new culture; from getting jobs in factories, to owning their own business, from renting a small New York basement, to buying a house. My parents have shown me that hard work and kindness can take you so far in life, which are both strong traits in West Indian and Caribbean culture. I am honestly so proud of my family. I believe they were able to succeed in this country because of their Guyanese values. Guyanese parents have high standards and big dreams for their kids. Their persistence has motivated me to pursue a career path that would be financially fulfilling but also something that I could use to serve my community. Being an only child I saw that it is extremely important to respect my parents' wishes but also follow my passion. Community is something I find so admirable in West Indian and Caribbean culture. In Guyana, you always smile and say "good morning" to each other. If you see someone who needs help you go and assist them. In high school, I started my school's own Key Club, in which I worked with my peers to serve our community and give back. We hosted different donation drives in which we donated to our local homeless shelter. After graduating from undergrad, I plan to apply to medical school. I am currently in the process of earning my CNA license. Once both of these things are accomplished, I will be able to work within the healthcare setting. Having a big Guyanese family means I was always exposed to healthcare. As I mentioned previously my dad has diabetes and both sides of my family deal with diabetes and high blood pressure issues. I didn't have any family members that worked in the hospital but somehow I always found myself there at least once a year. I see that these two issues are very prevalent in our West Indian community, partly from our diet but also genetics. I would like to learn how to teach our community how to maintain their health better. How to make meals that have less starch and salt yet that are still as delicious and fulfilling as rice and curry. I think educating our community is such an important thing in order for them to understand how to live a healthier life. Things in America are different from Guyana, people have better means of living and it's not as tough as before. A long-term goal I have is to go back to Guyana and work in their hospitals and help the community flourish. I even would like to help fund a school or even build a school there would be cool. And maybe one day I'll find a cure for diabetes!