Golf is more than just a sport to me; it’s a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and triumph that has profoundly influenced my path to becoming a physician. My introduction to golf came during my undergraduate years through "Fairways to Leadership," a nonprofit at my university dedicated to diversifying leadership by teaching college students who are traditionally underrepresented in the sport how to golf. This experience didn’t just teach me how to play golf; it taught me how to navigate a world whose many challenges are often mirrored by the game. Standing on the lush green course for the first time, I gripped the golf club (certainly the wrong way). Our coach, a seasoned LPGA golfer, stood by my side. "Remember, it’s not about perfection; it’s about progress," she said. Her words echoed in my mind as I swung. As I missed the ball completely on that first swing, my inner turmoil arose. "Great". As a Black woman stepping into this predominantly white and male sport, I felt a deep sense of imposter syndrome. I quietly told myself "You don't belong here". Much like golf, the field of medicine has historically been dominated by white men. Both arenas require breaking through barriers and asserting oneself in spaces where one might feel like an outsider. In my medical education, I have often encountered this same sentiment that I had felt on that first day on the golf course. Despite this, I quickly learned what it looked like to overcome that self-doubt. One evening, during a round of golf at a networking event, I found myself paired with a senior executive in healthcare. As we played, she shared her own personal challenges not only in the sport, but in medicine. As her journey unfolded, she faced the same feelings of exclusion and doubt in her early career. She spoke of how she used those experiences to fuel her determination and to drive meaningful change within her organization, using her voice to make massive strides to improve patient care at her institution. Her story resonated deeply with me. Here was a woman who had faced similar barriers and yet had carved out a space for herself in a demanding field. Inspired by her words, I began to see golf not just as a sport but as a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Every swing became an opportunity to assert my presence, to claim my space in a world that often seemed unwelcoming. Golf taught me the power of persistence—the importance of showing up, even when it feels like the odds are against you. I quickly realized that navigating both fields as a woman of color would require both resilience and the ability to overcome doubts—both internal and external. As I transitioned from the golf course to medical school, I found that the lessons learned on the green were invaluable. The patience and perseverance I developed through golf have become crucial in navigating the rigorous demands of medical education. Whether mastering complex medical concepts or handling the stress of clinical rotations, the mental fortitude I cultivated on the course has held strong. Reflecting on my journey, I realize that golf has given me more than I ever expected. It has become a metaphor for my life—a series of challenges met with grit, a path marked by progress, and a game where every swing is a step toward breaking down barriers and redefining what is possible. As I strive to become a physician, these lessons continue to guide me, reminding me that with determination and resilience, I can overcome any obstacle in my path.

Looking to the future, I see myself becoming a physician that serves medically underserved and disadvantaged populations within my community with compassion and empathy for the stories and experiences of each of my patients.

When I first heard about genetic editing technology during my freshman year of college, I thought someone was pulling my leg. In my mind, there was no way something that seemed straight out of a Jimmy Neutron episode could possibly be real. But alas, I was wrong and entirely entranced by the intricacies of how a gene editing tool such as CRISPR-Cas9 can cut out unwanted genetic mutations with immense precision and accuracy. I quickly realized that this tool could potentially have the power to cure diseases that were once deemed incurable. It could put an end to the pain and suffering of thousands, if not, millions of people living with genetic diseases all over the world. Although this seemingly miracle technology has been discovered, it is still in the early stages of research testing and has found itself in the middle of fiery ethical debates among scientists, even landing some researchers in prison. The question seems to be 'When will we go too far?' with fears that the creation of 'designer babies' could derail the underlying principles of research in genetic engineering and gene editing tools. Despite these concerns, the potential that this technology has in progressing modern medicine is monumental. Every year since its discovery, it seems we inch closer to a world where the hope that a patient and their family carries isn't in vain. As I have continued to further my studies as a medical student pursuing the path of becoming a physician, this potential is more important to me than ever before. Throughout my time volunteering and working within various critical units in the hospital, such as the emergency department and the intensive care unit, I have seen the suffering of our patients firsthand. I have held the hands of family members as the physician explains the deteriorating health status of their loved ones. The moment a patient learns of their incurable fate with a genetic illness, the anguish felt is always palpable. Thus, the opportunity to live in a time where genetic editing is on the precipice of clinical application is an immense privilege that inspires me to continue my journey each day in becoming a compassionate leader in medicine and to continue my unwavering support for clinical research.