“Students see us where we are now and don’t often see our evolution as a physician and person. For a long time I wanted to fit in and not stand out to make it through but now I know that I need to be the one speaking up.”
“Pain. It’s a natural response that causes one to withdraw from or avoid a situation. We learn this concept both practically and didactically at a very young age, but when I was 19 I was thrust deeply into its clutches.”
“There are few words to reconcile the DEPTH of the pain, hurt, frustration, and FEAR that black people in this country feel, not just because of the murder of George Floyd but DAILY because of the color of our skin. There is no “neutral” when lives continue to be treated as disposable and dispensable day after day.”
“I realized that what we do every day becomes who we are. I prioritize becoming more compassionate over time and positively impacting others.”
“The experience really put into perspective for me the things we take for granted in a developed society- clean food, water, healthcare, transportation, security, grocery stores, etc… Yet this society and many others like it soldier on without amenities we take for granted.”
The language barrier, culture shock, moving, and challenges I faced prepared me a lot more than I could’ve imagined. Now I find myself with that extra bit of patience and can better understand my patients who come from different backgrounds or have a language barrier.”
“Going through college while still grieving the loss of my mom was extremely challenging, but I left feeling like a new person who has struggled, learned, and grown through those experiences.”
“A month before college started, my mom suffered a heart attack. She had complications that forced her from a nursing home to the hospital and back again. My first day of classes, I got a phone call that she had suffered a stroke.”
“Growing up, it was just me and my mom. I really didn’t know that our situation was unique until I got older and realized that most people had two parents. As for my dad, I eventually learned that he was a sperm bank donor, carefully selected by my mom based on hobbies and education from a sheet of donor information.”
“The main goal is to help people “be the good story” so we can continue to see Mitchell’s joy and happiness in the world.”
