I am an Argentinean-Cuban-American woman born and raised in Miami, FL. Coming from an immigrant household, I heard stories of the sacrifices my family underwent to seek a better life, such as arriving with little to no clothing on their backs, traveling long, excruciating distances, and sleeping outdoors in hot shelters. I was struck by how selfless, courageous, and determined they were after having lost everything. Since they had to build a life here without language skills or financial stability, I witnessed how their determination and resilience was able to put food on the table for our family. These stories are a set of values that I live by, tools to better understand myself, and new perspectives that inspire me to be an ideal leader for others just like my family is to me. Through my life experiences, I grew to further identify with my Latino woman background. As a Hispanic woman, I can relate to the struggles of discrimination, being an underrepresented minority, and having a language barrier. I do not see my identity as a detriment, but as something to be celebrated. No matter how tough challenges become, my upbringing taught and encouraged me to break down barriers, circumvent challenges, and be empathetic towards others.

         In high school, I succeeded in leading the most popular club in my school and realized the need for STEM education not only in my community but globally. The club raised funds for Hope for Kasai, an educational organization for the underprivileged youth and women in Africa. I organized a food drive and volunteered at His House Children’s Home, a foster care program that cares for unaccompanied migrant children. I recognized how with such small actions, I had made a huge impact in their life. Additionally, I served food at Missionaries of Charity, a shelter for homeless women and children, where I saw huge smiles light up on faces of barefoot, hungry women as they would receive their meal. These experiences gave me feelings of appreciation and selflessness while teaching me that life is more than merely breathing, it is striving to provide simple actions, such as spending time and serving those in my community with compassion and kindness. Due to these experiences, I registered in honors classes at Florida International University centered around the social determinants where I learned about the deeply rooted causes of poverty, health inequities, and challenges faced by underrepresented communities around the world.

          As a Florida International University Honors College student, I continued serving underserved communities by sharing my knowledge and love for science with children at Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine STEM Saturdays. Being elected the President of the National Society of Leadership and Success, we organized food drives to fill the FIU pantry which aids students suffering from food insecurity. While serving as a Spanish translator for many health fairs across South Florida, I was able to communicate with young children, veteran war heroes, displaced families, Hispanic immigrants, and individuals of the LGBTQ+ community. I accepted and embraced their innate value that shaped their individuality by looking past their ethnicity, color, and gender identity. During my work as an FIU Golden Drum Scholar, I collaborated with people from widely different cultures, ethnicities, and with distinct perspectives. These experiences instilled in me the cultural competency to become aware of important factors that could influence health care delivery and raise awareness about medical issues globally.

            Currently, I am completing a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in Natural and Applied Sciences on the pre-medical track at FIU Honors College. I am very pleased with my acceptance to the M.D. program at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine to continue my education and serving my community. I believe my experiences will serve me to become aware of other’s struggles, unique upbringings, and diverse perspectives. My background and cultural involvements have shaped me to become a sincere, mindful, and empathetic woman with a strong work ethic. In the medical profession workforce, I aspire to become a mentor and voice for those underrepresented and economically disadvantaged as well as appreciate the complexities of every individual. I am motivated to listen to others concerns and try to alleviate their struggles. The FIU Global Learning courses taught me about the multifaceted and unique sociocultural circumstances that others live through. Additionally, I realized how everyone is interconnected, especially how issues in one place can ultimately affect us all. These experiences inspired me to engage in local, global, international, and intercultural problem solving. Instead of letting challenges stop me, I will use them to strengthen my values of innovation, inclusion, and service during my journey.