As a young age of twelve, my family immigrated to America because my parents wanted my brother and me to pursuit a higher and better education in United States. First few years in America was a tremendous challenge for me and my family; learning new language and culture, and interacting with new friends and teachers without the loving support to guide us. As the years moved on, I learned to love and understand the diverse international culture of Los Angeles which brought me new expectations and aspirations. Still, my family is separated because my father continues his work in Korea to financially support our family’s livelihood and educational endeavors in America. My mother had many hardships and sacrifices of living in a new country and culture, have taught me to be strong and independent. She offered my brother and me, what she never had, leaving her family, friends, and job in Korea. Due to her hardships and sacrifices, she instilled in me a strong sense of self-worth and pride with a focus on education. I always wanted to make something of myself not only because I want to make a difference and help people, but also because I want to make my devoted mother proud.
Throughout my life, my parents taught me to find a passion and to become a strong independent woman. I strengthened my personal values while deepening my interest in the medical field volunteering at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. I have found my true devotion for becoming a pediatrician. I love to help children, with their wide-eyed wonderment of passion and excitement for everything great and small. I believe there is nothing more personally gratifying and fulfilling than helping sick children recover their health. I will be motivated by the sweet smiles I see every day in the eyes of the children I help. My ambition is to be an agent for social change in the community, to be the person people can trust when they have difficulties meeting their most basic human needs and when they are most vulnerable. As a child growing up in a foreign country, my basic daily needs were difficult to fulfill because of cultural and language barriers. I want to help all the children who are in difficult circumstances by volunteering in “Doctors without borders” helping children in third world countries.
My family has given me the best opportunities for freedom, education, and spirituality here in the United States, supporting me in my endeavors and, allowing me to be the best that I can be. I am so thankful that they had given me such a great opportunity that I am able to attend UCLA and dream to become a pediatrician.
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