I was raised in a Peruvian American household, making empanadas with my abuelita, watching futbol with my dad and abuelo, and hearing stories about their lives in Peru. From an early age, my family taught me that our differences enrich us rather than divide us. They also showed me the importance of helping others and working to make the world a better place. As a young child, my parents taught me that I could save snails by transferring them from the perils of the sidewalk to the safety of a plant. Armed with this knowledge, I would canvas the neighborhood after a rainstorm to look for stranded snails. Every snail I saved empowered me with the belief that I was making a difference. As I got older, my attention expanded to other causes. In kindergarten, our class learned about the plight of the vaquitas. Motivated to make a difference, I organized a hot chocolate sale and raised money for the endangered porpoises. During middle school and high school, I joined Female Athlete Volunteers and House of Peru to make my community better by spending weekends doing beach clean-ups, stocking food banks, and more. Two years ago, I learned that Casa Hogar, an orphanage in Peru, needed basic supplies, including vitamins, cold-medicines and a glucometer for their diabetic children. Shocked to learn that they needed supplies we take for granted here in the United States, I reached out to companies to donate supplies and set up a GoFundMe page to raise money and buy the needed supplies. While visiting family in Peru, I had the opportunity to visit the orphanage, deliver the supplies, bring gifts, and most importantly, meet the children. Their hugs and smiles gave me memories I will always cherish and showed me that even one person can make a difference. Helping others is why I aspire to become a doctor. This past summer I volunteered at UC San Diego Health where I was excited to gain my first hospital experience. My interactions with patients were my most cherished moments. One memorable example was a Spanish-speaking patient when there was no one available to assist him. Helping him feel heard and validated not only made my day, but also reminded me of how empowering it is to help others. I will be attending college this fall where I will begin my long journey to fulfilling my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. As a doctor I plan to use my skills and the values my family taught me to advocate for the underserved and make the world a better place.

I’ve always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Medicine combines both my passions: love of learning and joy in helping others. Yet my desire to pursue a career in medicine did not solidify until my grandfather became ill. I’ll never forget visiting my grandfather after his heart surgery. It felt like I had walked into a science-fiction movie, hearing the beeping EKG and seeing wires and tubes emanating from his body. Yet seeing him smile when he saw me brought me back to earth. In that moment, the gratitude I felt for the doctors galvanized by desire to become a doctor. I want to be a doctor to advocate for my patients. I have seen the healthcare barriers many around the world face. At home, I watched my grandfather struggle with diabetes, and its related health problems for many years. Despite his efforts to control his diabetes, the high cost of medications and insurance barriers have kept him from achieving optimal control. Abroad, I have witnessed even more significant barriers to healthcare. While organizing a fundraiser for an orphanage in Lima, Peru, besides needing basic supplies, I was shocked to learn that they could not afford the glucometer and glucose sticks needed to care for their diabetic orphans. Although I was able to raise enough money to buy the requested supplies and procure a glucometer and glucose sticks through the generous donation of a pharmaceutical company, this experience was eye opening and left a lasting impression. In the summer of 2023, I participated in a program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in which I was immersed in a fast-paced academic setting with numerous lessons in public health taught by CDC experts. I was saddened to learn that in the US, structural racism is a cause of health inequities and disparities that afflict underserved communities, including Latinos. That summer I also experienced what it’s like to be a patient when I underwent sinus surgery. I remember being scared to death, until the surgeon spoke to me just before they wheeled me into the operating room. In the end, it wasn’t her surgical skills that stood out to me, it was her kind bedside manner. This past summer I had the full circle opportunity to volunteer at the Cardiovascular Center, where my grandfather was a patient years ago. I was honored to be able to help patients like my grandfather feel comfortable. My desire to be a doctor has not been made lightly. I know it will not be easy, but I am dedicated. My commitment stems from my experiences as a patient, family member, and hospital volunteer. Although I do not know what type of doctor I will become, I know that I will use my Spanish skills and cultural background to serve and advocate for the Latino community. I hope to provide excellent medical care, advocate for my patients, and become a role model for younger generations of aspiring doctors from traditionally underrepresented groups.