My name is Sonika Dahal, and I am a high school senior earning my CNA to start my journey in healthcare. When I was ten, my dad had a life-threatening accident in Nepal that left him in a coma with a 1% chance of survival. While my mom sat with my dad in the hospital, I stayed at home and took care of my little brother while trying to manage school as a primary caregiver. I managed everything, but there were many days I never knew what the future would bring. The moment my dad said my name again was the moment that changed everything. It was that moment that made me realize how powerful hope and care could be. At that moment, I realized I wanted to be in healthcare to help others in their hardest times and provide families with the same amount of hope my family was given. The scholarship would help relieve the financial burden of pursuing my Bachelor’s in Chemistry, medical supplies and preparation for my academic preparation for the MCAT. As a first-generation student, this opportunity is everything, and it means more than just help with my education. It would bring the dream I hold close to my heart into fulfilling my purpose of helping others. If I obtain this scholarship, I would be closer to my dream, providing medically necessary care and comfort to families. It will help me transform my story of loss and hope into healing for an individual.

Every individual experiences a watershed moment that ultimately dictates the trajectory of their life. My moment presented itself in childhood and occurred within the environment of an intensive care hospital. My dad was lying in a coma after sustaining a traumatic brain injury caused by the emergence of a blood clot due to an accident. For months, my family and I lived with heavy hearts confronted by the prospect of losing the most important person in our lives. One day, I worked up the courage to enter his hospital room with the doctor. When I quietly said "Dad" and touched his hands, something remarkable happened: his eyes opened, and he spoke my name back to me. I cannot adequately convey the emotion I felt, but I will never forget it. The doctor saw this and said to me, "You just brought your dad back to life". At that time, I was a child; however, I felt the enormity of his statement, and I had never experienced such a sense of hope and purpose. The next few months were challenging and full of obstacles due to him breaking both of his hands, legs, and hips. However, my father survived due to the enormous skills and dedication of the surgeon. Especially, a neurosurgeon who removed the blood clots and cared for him. They gave my family a second chance. Their efforts not only saved the life of one patient, but they were also able to give a family their dad back, gave me back my idol, and allowed me to believe in the amazing power of medicine. That single moment sparked a feeling in me like none other. A clear sense of direction and a tremendous desire to enter the medical field, specifically as a neurosurgeon. When I witnessed how someone was able to restore hope after it had been lost and hold someone's world in their hands as they fought for it, I knew it was I who wanted to do that for someone else. Considering the ability to heal, the ability to comfort, and importantly, to give families like mine more time with their loved one, rightfully seemed staggering to me. This scholarship represents an opportunity for me to acknowledge the journey that has led me to this moment and take one step closer to bridging the gap to make a difference in others' lives. I am steadfast in honoring the same compassion, perseverance, and commitment to success that saved my dad's life, which I will not be able to forget. I intend to make a difference in the world through my profession by using both medical knowledge and compassion. Having witnessed the power a doctor can have, not only restoring life and giving hope back to an entire family. I want to provide the same care to others. As a future neurosurgeon, I want to be their strength in their weakest moments, and to somehow return the favor while advancing medicine and teaching those that come after me. I hope to not only restore the body, but the spirit, leaving the lives I touch better than I found them.

My name is Sonika Dahal, and I came to the United States when I was 11 years old. I am currently a Senior in high school, getting my CNA to start my healthcare journey. Back in Nepal, I was ten when my life took a different path. Saturday morning, my dad left the city and did not return. We were worried, waiting for him to come home. My mom got a call, saying, “Your husband was in an accident and is in critical condition”, which left my dad in a coma for a month, with my mom being by his side in the hospital for months. Who knew this night would be the worst day of my life? I had to take care of my brother, manage school, and handle the emotions of worrying about my dad. This taught me new responsibilities and lessons in life. As a result, I had to take care of my brother from day 1. Caring for my younger brother at a young age made me face new responsibilities. All my brother had was ME, and he depended on me for everything. He always asked me, “Where are Mom and Dad?” which used to shatter my heart because I truly didn’t know what to tell him. I needed to remain strong for us (me and my brother). Even though there was a separation between me, my brother, and my parents. However, we maintained our connection through phone calls as she encouraged me to keep going no matter the obstacles. Each day presented new obstacles, from managing new responsibilities to coping with the emotion of my dad’s condition. One night, my mom heard the doctor say, “He has a 1% survival rate.” We were shattered into pieces. Our family and close friends supported us whenever they could and kept telling us everything would be fine, showing that they were there through our challenging moments. My dad was transferred to a different hospital, he was still in a coma. Grandpa took me to visit my dad and see if he remembered me. I entered the room, and he said “Sonika”, my name. I brought my dad back to his life! After this day, he would always tell me that I gave him a second life. As a result that’s how I knew I wanted to be a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor since the day my dad opened his eyes because of me and how his doctor gave our dad back to us, making him be with us again. My dad has inspired me to be a doctor and to give individuals the same chance as his doctor gave us. Saving lives is not an easy thing to do, however, if you can save a life, it will be very rewarding to the family as well as yourself. I hope one day I can help many individuals and see a smile on their face.