Admissions Essay: World-Class Education

I grew up in the east of Africa, Ethiopia, one of the poorest nations in the world. My country remains shorthanded in dealing with major health care concerns such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Malnutrition, female genital mutilation (FGM) and the like. As a young girl, my initial introduction to such issues was not through my science books but through people in my community who were affected by them. My environment allowed me to explore my curiosity about diseases, why they occur? How they occur? And what I can do to finding the solutions. I further investigated such thoughts through the lens of the science world in school. I was fortunate enough to have a strong support of a family that puts emphasis on education and encouraged me to …show more content…
My journey has not been an easy one, but it has afforded me incredible experiences that make me the person I am today. I first came to the United States through a prestigious scholarship to attend Cottey College, a woman’s college in Missouri. Traveling thousands of miles away from home was very unnerving, but I was determined to accomplish my goals by receiving a world-class education and using any and all opportunities that will come my way. During this time I worked under a great mentor and Professors Dr.Ganga Fernando, who encouraged me to intern at the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) during my summer break.This experience was an eye-opening introduction to the field of public health especially the world of Epidemiology. At the institution, I learned a great deal about how scientific research tied in with a statistical analysis of the population informs public health policies implemented in my country. EHNRI not only works with local agencies but also global once such as Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO). Witnessing accomplished public health professional from all over the world coming together to collaborate in not only to solve public health issues in Ethiopia but also the whole world inspired me to become one such