1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: I have a passion for medicine and I am more than happy to be the first in my family to be pursuing it! I was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA. I am a first generation college student and I’m currently a 4th year undergraduate student. I will be graduating in May 2018! However, I plan on completing a Post-bacc program before applying to medical school.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite professors at school would be Dr. Nalbandian (OChem professor) and Dr. Park (MicroBio Professor). They both have had a great impact on my undergrad experience. They have constantly motivated and encouraged me to continue my career goals. Being that I am the first in my family to get a college education, it has been difficult to support my career choice financially. I have worked throughout my entire undergraduate career and have felt discouraged at times (as many have). They, however, have helped me to focus on my vision and to remind me to slow down. I have learned that there is no need to rush and that I should finish strong, not fast!

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why?  Growing up, I always said that I wanted to be a cosmetologist, but that surely changed after being exposed to the medical field. I started volunteering for St Joseph Hospital when I was 15 (required community service hours for AVID). Being exposed to such an environment sparked something in me that I didn’t even know I had. I then decided to take a Medical Assisting ROP Program that was offered in my community for high school students. I graduated from the Medical Assisting program at the same time that I graduated from high school and started working as a Medical Assistant thereafter.

I knew that that was the place for me and I continued to work through my first semester of Freshman year in college. Due to financial difficulties, I had to take a semester off of school. It was during this time that I was able to reassure my passion. I felt as though my dreams had died when I had to leave school. It saddened me that I had a vision and a goal that I may never be able to achieve. Despite the negative comments and the discouraging words that I received from those around me, I decided to work as much as I could so that I could go back to school. It was during this time that I found myself more and more intrigued by medicine. As I worked closely alongside the physician, I could envision myself as a doctor in the future. I then was able to return to school and continued working as well as volunteering in a mobile clinic and several health fairs. This allowed me to discover my calling. I want to be able to provide medical services, as a physician, to those who are medically underserved within the United States. I hope to one day own a mobile clinic where I am able to continue my calling.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in?  Being that I want to part-take and help minimize health disparities, I am interested in General Medicine.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? The coolest experience that I have had so far during my premedical journey would be being involved both nationally and locally with American Medical Women’s Association. I have been able to help mentor other women at my campus by sharing my experiences with them as well as helping provide hands on experience for them. Seeing them be involved in community outreach has definitely impacted me and encouraged me to continue what I am doing; I have also grown by being a part of this community.

6. What is your favorite book? I don’t necessarily have a favorite book, per say, but I do enjoy any good read. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know. An interesting thing about me that most people do not know that is that I could spend hours crafting! Majority of my apartment decorations are DIY; It is my number one hobby! Although, I mostly can only do this during the summer because of my busy schedule.

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