Back in 2017, I went with a group of people to an orphanage in Mexico. To this day, that trip has been the most meaningful thing that I have ever been involved in. In one short week at the orphanage, I was able to practice my Spanish language skills and build connections with all the children living there. I grew my love of Spanish and decided that I wanted to continue pursing this passion throughout college, which is why I have chosen to minor in it.
That week also allowed me to learn about the economic disparities and poor access to healthcare that is present in many parts of Mexico. If one child at that orphanage gets sick, all the other kids would get sick as well, making it extremely difficult for the little amount of funding that the orphanage receives from the government to pay for the medicine and other medical expenses.
After learning how much I truly enjoyed Spanish, and hearing about how hard it is for the average person to receive medical care, I came back from the trip with the goal of working in a country similar to Mexico. I want to be able to provide medical care to people that struggle to find access, while also combining my interest in the Spanish language. Whether it be in the United States, or in a country in Central America, I want to use my future medical degree to help as many people as I can.
A picture from one of the childrens’ favorite games: having me guess who is covering my eyes!