Personal+Statement

Growing up in the Philippines, I dreamed of becoming a flight attendant so I could travel and learn about people living outside my country. When I moved to New York City with my family, I was amazed by the diversity of cultures and languages. In school, I made friends with students from Poland, Mongolia, and Russia and learned about their customs and native dishes. I was intrigued to discover how Tagalog, Japanese, and Korean speakers differentiate speech when addressing their elders. Wanting to learn more about these languages, I began to study the Japanese and Korean alphabets online and to practice writing and reading in characters.

In ninth grade, I was introduced to Anthropology. Because of the field’s emphasis on analyzing languages and culture, I began to consider Anthropology as a possible career. I also became interested in biology because interacting with nature brings me serenity and peace. This interest was strengthened in tenth grade when I attended a Marine Biology workshop at Hofstra University; the professor described his work in preserving endangered coral reefs and the fish populations that depend on them for survival. Hoping to make a positive contribution to the world, this type of career was attractive to me. However, upon further research, I learned that jobs in anthropology and marine biology are mainly limited to college teaching and publishing research: I wanted to pursue a practical career in which I can interact face to face with people.

Back in the Philippines, my parents had wanted me to be a nurse. Frustrated by their constant pressure, I promised myself never to choose that career. I also did not want to just “follow the crowd”; almost every household in the Philippines has a child studying nursing. This trend is based on the belief that nursing guarantees a job in the United States. Parents, therefore, relentlessly encourage their children to enter this profession, hoping it will bring prosperity to their families.

Last year, my brother returned from a year at nursing school and told me about his experiences working in hospitals. He talked about the importance of communication with patients and other hospital staff, and of understanding their backgrounds and beliefs. He also told that, through studying anatomy, he learned how the body responds to environmental changes and medications. Hearing him explain the functions of muscle groups was fascinating, awakening a passion in me to pursue a medical career.

To my surprise, talking to my brother inspired me to consider becoming a traveling nurse. Working with organizations such as Nurses Without Borders would enable me to interact with and provide much needed health services to people around the world. I will be able to become familiar with diseases endemic in different countries. My desire to learn about other people's languages and cultures will be fulfilled.