Gene Denton 23

As a kid I thought life was going to be easy to manage, as I grew older I realized it takes a lot of strength and effort. Growing up I always heard the words “You have to work for what you want”. My motivation has always been wanting to have a good future and to have one where my education comes into play. Many goals come with the career I want. I have always been passionate about caring for those who are in need as well as being in the medical field. 

In my family, we have many soccer players, and let me tell you soccer comes with many injuries. As a little girl, my dad would come home from games with new injuries. Some were not as bad as others but when they were bad he would ask me to give him medicines or healing creams. Ever since those days I knew helping others would be something that would always interest me and evolving in the medical field would be something I liked. Something that caught my eye in the medical field was ultrasound technicians. Specifically, those who ultrasound pregnant women. The woman’s body and how it works has always fascinated me and it is something I would love to learn more about and work with. 

Ever since I was little my family has always tried giving back to the community. A specific day I will always remember will be the Christmas of my 8th-grade year. On this Christmas Eve day, my family had decided that they wanted to give back to those who don’t have a roof over their head. Everyone had woken up at 6 in the morning to make sandwiches and prepare some warm coffee. By 7 we were already out driving around looking for those in poverty. It didn’t take long to find some behind the store and even walk around. Around 8 in the morning we came across an abandoned park full of tents with people in them. The first thing I said when I saw so many of them was “wow”. Everything was messy, it was a chilly morning, and there were quite a few people awake. As we went from tent to tent handing out meals, saying good morning, and asking if they wanted a meal, I vividly remember a woman. Specifically a pregnant woman

As an early teenager at the time, many thoughts went through my brain, many questions. As I noticed her wrapped in a blanket next to a fire they had built, I went up to her and asked, “Would you like something to eat or drink?”. Her voice was so calm, and softly she said “yes please, I’d appreciate that”. As I hand her food she gives me a small smile and leaves me with the words “please come back soon”. This experience made me realize pregnant women who live in poverty or even those who live in a low-income status need help for themselves and their child’s health. My way of giving back to my community would be by making an organization for low-income pregnant women. Many women don’t have the capability of checking up on their health or the child they are carrying. So why not make a clinic where those in need can go and get ultrasounds and health checkups for free with the help of donations of those who are generous.

I never really understood the concept of how to be a woman and carry another life in them until I got older. Women go through so much pain and emotions while pregnant, those who have it worse are incapable of a doctor’s visit. Checking this goal off my checklist would honestly be a goal accomplished. Giving back to those has always made joy in my life and what is not the best way to do it with the career that I’m passionate about.