Gene Denton Essay 1

I’ve always done volunteer work, not because I’m on a mission to collect hours but because I enjoy listening to people. I enjoy listening to their stories, their whys and struggles but I wasn’t always so empathetic when I thought of problems that affected my community. I failed to realize that I was a part of the people who were affected as well as being surrounded by others affected even friends. When I attended mass I would hear the announcements and wonder who even paid attention to them, almost like background noise like many teenagers who think their outfit is the biggest problem in the world I was unbothered. I would later hear my parents leave to head to church for an event in the gymnasium but I didn’t ask questions. As I got older I began to pay more attention to the demographic of my community and realized that a large number of the people around me were undocumented and low-income such as my parents. Paying more attention to the announcements given at mass I found out they were holding free health clinics offering check-ups, flu vaccines, discounted insulin, and education on chronic diseases with no questions asked on immigration status, they were told to attend with no fear. I knew my dad, like many others, had diabetes but I had no idea how he took care of his health after hearing the costs of his insulin at a traditional pharmacy where it ranged from one hundred to two hundred dollars monthly. I grew worried about the fact that he would often struggle to make ends meet. Wanting to take initiative I researched how I could contribute to health care efforts and discovered that the folk dance group at my church raised proceeds to keep the free health clinics accessible to the community. My community needs more accessible healthcare for immigrants and low-income families. Working firsthand as a certified nurse I came across individuals in long-term care who continue to worry about the costs of their care. I realized just how deep the problem is. Though resources such as the one my church provides are a step, there are hundreds of people who aren’t covered by Medicare or can only receive a limited amount of coverage. Even apart from the immigrant community I hear about students who want to improve their oral health but lack the funds like for example a few of my friends who want to obtain braces but stray away from it due to the lack of funds. The problem extends beyond physical health. It affects things such as braces can impact self confidence which can lead to mental health problems as well. Physical health is so much more than getting a yearly shot. If you have a constant pain in your back or you can’t see the math problem in your algebra class your quality of life isn’t good and you can’t enjoy the simple things that others take for granted. By pursuing a degree in nursing and having experience in nonprofits, I plan to accumulate my knowledge to provide opportunities for free healthcare to these communities. Health care shouldn’t be a burden. People in my community already worry about having enough to buy food weekly. Being in the medical community means advocating for your patients who are a part of your community and most importantly taking initiative. Additionally, being bilingual I want to educate everyone I come across about resources they have and hopefully one day be a resource for people like my parents who want to take care of themselves but face barriers. My goal is to be able to set up mobile clinics for no cost!