My stomach painfully twists as I sit in the van driving back from my mission trip to Eagle Pass. This has happened to me before. It won’t last more than a week. The next two and half weeks proved me wrong. The pain intensified as the days passed, and every time I tried to eat, it made me more aware of the pain. “Pierce, we need to go to the hospital.” Before I knew it, I was in a...

I spent the majority of my time after school, every weekend during the school year, and several weeks each summer debating. I chose debate because I wanted to further my academic interests beyond what I could learn in the classroom. It was important to me to learn more about what was going on in the world. The experience has been invaluable for several reasons. I learned how to handle defeat. During my freshman year, my partner and I competed on...

“To give and not to count the cost” -St. Ignatius of Loyola, The Prayer for Generosity I grew up with two physician parents and they were adamant that I live a life of service to others. My mother is spending her career working in public hospitals and my father is a leader for one of the world’s largest medical charities. I understand the quote because I watched it every day through my parents’ actions and those of my entire...

Trinity College at Duke and Strake Jesuit share a strong academic environment and commitment to service that I hold in high esteem. I have known since elementary school that I wanted to be a physician like my parents. Duke’s Global Health Institute will give me the opportunity to study healthcare in the context of improving health across the world. Moreover, my father, has told me a great deal about the experiential learning in the Global Health major which would...

I am guided, not just by a motivation to tackle the problems of inequity and injustice, but to do so in a cooperative manner that results in enduring and effective solutions. I was sleeping on the floor of a brick sanctuary church in Eagle Pass, Texas just north of the Mexican border. I was there with a group of students and several adults to help a woman whose husband had recently died. He had struggled with chronic illness for the...

I am most motivated to learn when I can apply the knowledge to help others, not just on an individual basis, but also on a systemic level where I can make lasting changes for the better. My most enjoyable learning experiences are those which involve building a strong base of knowledge and developing leadership skills. For example, to found my charity, I spent weeks reading material detailing the process for founding a nonprofit organization, corresponding with compliance agencies, and reading...

The 1995 movie, Outbreak, directed by Wolfgang Petersen is one of my favorite movies of all time (despite a 59% Rotten Tomatoes rating). I found the investigation of disease spread in populations fascinating. The movie follows the progress of a variation of a hemorrhagic fever virus originating in the “Motaba River Valley” as it spreads through a small American town. It portrays the science behind tracking the origin of a disease so that a vaccine could be developed. I found the science...

As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a physician. Studying at the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania will give me the specialized knowledge base I need to pursue a medical degree, and allow me explore a wide range of other fields and learning opportunities to ensure that I am well-rounded. I am interested in a biology major and appreciate the various concentrations that are offered within that major. Ever since I...

Hasan Minhaj said something that caught my attention in his comedy monologue at the last White House Correspondents’ Dinner. He said, “we’re living in a strange time when trust is more important than truth”. While this quote is from a performance that was anything but serious, it carries a concerning message. I deeply value the trust of others and I want my relationships to be ones of mutual trust. To me, truth and trust go hand in hand and...

I would bring to UNC, not just a motivation to tackle the problems of inequity and injustice, but an understanding of how to foster effective communication and cooperation to bring a complex goal within reach. During Spring break of my junior year, I went on a trip to Eagle Pass, Texas and stayed in a sanctuary church. I was there with classmates to help a woman whose husband had recently died. He had struggled with chronic illness for the last...

My stomach painfully twists as I sit in the van driving back from my mission trip to Eagle Pass. I thought to myself, "This has happened to me before. It won't last more than a week." The next two and half weeks proved me wrong. The pain intensified as the days passed, and every time I tried to eat, it made me more aware of the pain. “Pierce, we need to go to the hospital.” Before I knew it, I...

My family taught me that facing serious obstacles and loss doesn't mean giving up. When you come upon a mountain, you only need resolve and commitment to climb it. Most recently, I have faced two major obstacles that have changed my entire life. The first obstacle came at the end of my mission trip to Eagle Pass, Texas. I could feel my stomach painfully twisting as I sat in the van headed back to Houston. I thought, "This has happened...

“To whom much is given, much is expected” I grew up with two physician parents and they were adamant that I live by this quote. My mother grew up in a chemical mining town on the edge of a dry lake and my father spent his early years living in the Basin Street housing projects in New Orleans, Louisiana. They both did extremely well and have provided me with incredible opportunities. I have always understood that I could not squander...

I bring to Rice not just a motivation to tackle the problems of inequity and injustice, but an appreciation of these problems as well. I was sleeping on the floor of a sprawling brick church in Eagle Pass, Texas just north of the Mexican border. I was there with classmates to help a woman whose husband had recently died. He had struggled with chronic illness for the last several years of his life. His illness had prevented him from fixing...

Being born and raised in Houston, I have admired Rice as long as I can remember. From jogging the track around the University, to riding through the beautiful campus with my father, my parents told me that they would be incredibly happy if I pursued my education at Rice, as I would attending one of the best institutions in the country. My first significant and personal experience with Rice University was a Public Humanities tour during my sophomore year. This...