My passion to serve others has been present since my early years when I can remember serving dinner to the homeless at the local shelter. Today I can still recall the warm smiles of gratitude on their faces as they received what may have been their first meal in days. Since then I have made it my goal to incorporate community service wherever life takes me.
While in high school I played an active role in several service groups. Among these was a peer mentorship organization designed to give guidance to underclassmen. Here I was able to serve as an outlet for students adjusting to a new environment. It was during this experience that I learned what it meant to be a good neighbor.
At the time, I knew very little about Royal Neighbors of America. It was not until I received the Royal Neighbors scholarship that I truly understood the impact this community would have on my life. Through this opportunity, I have been introduced to an environment of empowering women striving to make a difference in the world. It was not long before I realized I wanted to make a difference too.
As I started my undergraduate studies in both biology and chemistry, I made it my goal to be active in the community and eventually began working as a volunteer in the emergency department. Through this experience I found a growing passion for science and medicine which initiated my desire to become a physician. I found comfort in knowing I have a career path that strives to improve the health and quality of human life with compassion and empathy as its foundation.
Entering a career so heavily dominated by men can be daunting at times. However, the influential women of Royal Neighbors continuously remind me that being a woman is not a set-back but an advantage. With the support of the Royal Neighbors community, I am working hard to finish up my junior year of college and plan to apply to medical school this summer.
In the future, I hope to give back to Royal Neighbors by empowering other young women to follow their goals and push their limits. Even more so, I hope to work closely with women struggling to find their place in medicine and function as a liaison between undergraduate students and medical professionals.
