Gene Denton Essay 25

Some of the many things I’ve noticed as a need in our community, is the need for health and seeing more people that look like me succeed. It’s obvious that those are needs everyone wants to fulfill, but the reason for me to say it is because people in our community can’t easily afford it.  I’ve seen people around me and my family having to struggle with their health, because they can’t afford a check-up at a doctors office because of how costly it is. It makes my heart ache seeing them concerned about their health but they can’t do anything about it. Me and my family do our best to bring them some comfort and help, but it’s not much when it comes in the long run economically. 

It brings up the next problem in my community–seeing people that look like me and seeing them not be able to succeed. As a first generation up-coming college student in my family, I see all the family members that couldn’t get the resources I got growing up in order for them to succeed to this point—one example being my cousin. He grew up in a better environment than I did, but he had to soon leave his pursuit into science entering college because my aunt got sick. He explained to me not that long ago that he forced himself into getting a blue-collar job to help afford paying off my aunt’s hospital bills. I’m not going to lie, I began bawling my eyes out when he told me that. All I can remember him telling me was “No llores por lo que yo no pude hacer, tu tienes mas oportunidades para hacer lo que tu quieras con tus estudios.” Which in english translation was “Don’t cry over what I couldn’t do, You have more opportunities to do whatever you’d like with your current studies.” He opened my eyes to the fact that people in our community could be in similar situations, but we still need to take advantage of what we have and use it to succeed in, making a future better for ourselves and others. 

That brings up what I’m studying for after highschool, which is medicine. Throughout my years in school I’ve learned that I’ve got a liking and skill when it comes to science. It’s fun for me to do and learn throughout school–my parents always go with the things I enjoy doing, so I’ve decided to do medicine. At first I wanted to become a veterinarian–but my experience with all kinds of animals is limited to only a dog I’ve taken care of for my sister’s friend. My studies in medicine in a way is an opening to those people in my community who aren’t bilingual; I can help those who can’t properly  speak English and help them get better assistance with their health through me–I can help them converse their health issues properly without any issues on either end. I bring this up because I can’t number the times I’ve had to help people in my family with translation on documents and appointments. Although I’ve had to do that when I had to—it also brings me comfort because my family has confidence in me to help them break a language barrier for them to get help. 

In other words, My  future studies in medicine can bring an impact to my community because I can help those in my community speak for their health by breaking language barriers in between, I can help inspire those in my community–regardless of background; succeed and get into something they’d enjoy studying like me, and lastly I can help in a way make it more affordable for those in situations where costs for healthcare are exorbitant.