Personal Statement

What does it mean to be a hero? I always admired superheroes. Their highs, lows, origin story, and superpowers. I’ve always loved Spider-Man with web shooters, Captain America with his shield, and Thor with his Hammer. But, all quality superheroes inherently possess selflessness. I’ve admired how this act can go a long way: laying his or her life for another. However, as superheroes have their strengths, they have their weaknesses. One of mine was asthma.

 

Every spring and summer, pollen filled the Florida air. I'd carry an inhaler everywhere I go. I would not be able to keep up with the other kids due to my asthma. I’d remember the laughs and snickers I would receive when I could not finish a mile. But, I learned to cope thanks to my mom. As a nurse, my mom would be worried whenever I would not take my Montelukast or use my Nebulizer when my asthma acts up. One day, I was with my mom and dad on a vacation to Orlando. I was sitting on a bed playing Xbox, when I suddenly had a feeling where I was choking. I gasped for air and could not get a breath in. If my mom did not bring my nebulizer, who knows what would have happened. 

 

If my friends and family described my personality, one word would always come up cheerful. I try to bring that attitude in everything I do. When I used to attend catholic school from elementary through high school, I would attend volunteering events such as charity galas and serving in auctions. My favorite event was setting up for a trunk or treat, especially making the haunted house and being a scare actor. My love of volunteering would extend all the way to high school where I would combine it with my love of music and acting. Every summer, the drama club would have a drama camp where I was a camp counselor. One summer, I played as the King of Hearts in "Alice in Wonderland,” and before opening night, I saw the actor who played as Alice was hyperventilating. As we did our breathing exercises, I said, "step into the shoes of Alice and have fun!" She had a standing ovation and the smile on her face said it all.

 

When Spider-Man was knighted as an Avenger by Iron Man in Infinity War, Spider-Man faced a new identity, which I had to find in college. During my time in UCF, I discovered my love for the human body in my Human Anatomy class with Dr. Dow. Seeing the intricate muscles of each body, funny names of bones, different anastomoses, insertions and origins made me see the complex beauty of the body. I put this knowledge to use when I shadowed Dr. Cardenas, an anesthesiologist, where I dipped my feet into the world of the operating room and anesthesia. From learning about nerve blocks, drugs, seeing hip replacement with ortho tools, a baby delivered by C-Section, to a surgeon using DaVinci during a hysterectomy, I was in awe. With Dr. Traveria, I saw the world of primary care where I saw the common cold, diagnosis of arthritis, diabetes management, and vaccinations.

 

I wanted to be a physician, but did not know where to start. I rushed for a pre-medical fraternity called Phi Delta Epsilon. I rushed during Spring of 2019 and received a bid. From there, I found like-minded friends with the same goal of becoming a physician. Since my fraternity's philanthropy is Children Miracle Network, I found a soft spot with the pediatric population. Whether it was me playing baseball with a boy who has autism at buddy ball, playing Super Smash Bros with a boy who has leukemia, dancing with the CMN kids at Knightthon, or finger painting with a girl who has an NG tube, they all have one thing in common: they just wanna be kids. I believe they are worth fighting for because they have dreams like us and with the proper care, they can make their dreams happen. 

 

As a hero faces their enemy, I came face to face with myself during the pandemic. During COVID, my mom worked crazy hours and I barely saw or let alone hug her. There were times where I saw the fatigue in both of my parents. When my parents caught COVID, I was in my own head and it ruined me mentally. I looked in the mirror and I physically let myself go due to self-isolation. I wanted to take charge of my health. I ran around my neighborhood, which made the scale drop from 170 to 150 pounds in 2 months. Later, I discovered the world of powerlifting, lifting heavy weights, and counting macros. With the help of exercise combined with journaling, I have defeated 2 weaknesses of mine: my asthma and my former self. Along with working out, I scribed with ER doctors which allowed me to be like Batman and Robin. It's crazy to see how the mood can change from 0-100 in the emergency room. I truly saw how physicians can be superheroes dealing with 3-4 patients all at once. No matter if it was a broken arm, syncope, or a code blue, an ER doctor would try to save the day. 

 

Heroes go through many trials to find their identity and defeat their weaknesses. I found I am willing to advocate for people who cannot speak for themselves and put my life on the line for my patients. Someday I will be ready to save a life as a physician. For now, I am saving people's lives through fitness as a certified personal trainer where I strengthened a mom's knee to play with her kids, conditioned a high school football defensive back, and made a friend feel confident in her body.