My mother grew up in a trailer park where the occasional squirrel would drop through her roof. Her mother was an alcoholic, she never knew her father, and neither she nor any of her seven siblings ever pursued an interest in higher learning. I hadn’t experienced her life firsthand, but the plethora of stories she told me were vivid enough to make an impact on me as a child. I knew I wanted to pursue higher education and live...

As STEM majors, we have a relatively heavy load of required, non-elective course credits. Even more are required for admission to medical school. This reality often prevents STEM majors from taking the opportunity to study abroad: we just don’t have time. In this case, I was incredibly lucky to find a program that not only fits with my major (biochemistry) and minor (Hispanic studies), but also happens during summertime and is therefore compatible with my schedule. In subsequent years,...

Describe a fulfilling volunteer experience or experience related the medical field. In my freshman year of High School, I was a timid girl who did not quite fit in with any specific social group. I was not a “nerd” or one of the “populars.” I was just me trying to find my niche in a new school with over 2,000 students. One day, I heard the announcement, “Best Buddies Meeting after school on Thursday,” and wondered what the club was about....