Since I was a child, my parents underscored the importance of community. Community is more than just a group of people living in a similar area; my community is part of my identity.
The Filipino culture places a large emphasis on family ties. In the United States, where many Filipino immigrants are separated from their biological family, community ties become important as friends will often act as “family members” and help keep cultural traditions alive. I grew up in the Filipino community and called many people my “Tito” or “Tita”. I was taught how to cook Filipino food, observed Simbang Gabi (a nine-day Christmas celebration), and most importantly, learned what it meant to truly be a member of a community.
Outside of the Filipino community, …show more content…
As a sixteen year old, this was my first encounter with death and the emotions that I experienced were completely new to me. The months following my father 's death were transformative. As the oldest child, I took on a much larger role within the family. I had to give up much of my free time to be able to take care of my little brother and help fulfill the void in household maintenance that my stay-at-home father use to be responsible for. Every day after school, I would pick up my younger brother from his school, take care of chores at home, cook dinner, and then begin my homework. I felt very isolated from my friends and struggled to stay awake during class because of exhaustion. However, instead of letting this situation control my life, I took control. I pushed myself to work hard and graduated as the valedictorian of my class. When my father passed away, the Filipino community was the first to respond. I learned to look out for my community members and respond to them with the same compassion and concern that I would for my own family …show more content…
I feel that my experiences have given me a distinct perspective that allows me to relate to complex issues that patients may be facing. I understand culture in a different way because I have not only learned about it, but I have lived it. Through my father 's death, I learned that I am stronger and more capable than I believed. My unwavering resolve became an inspiration for myself, and then others. My optimistic outlook has allowed me to be able to excel despite setbacks. All challenging situations will eventually end and it is your attitude that shapes your outcome. The perseverance and focus that I demonstrated during that difficult time are the same attitudes that I bring to the classroom. I am not afraid to face academic challenges because I know that I have been through much worse. Although losing a loved one is a negative experience, it presents the potential for self-growth and reflection. As a future medical professional, this experience gave me a heightened sense of self-awareness. My focus will allow me to face challenges in medical school, knowing that all hard tasks can be accomplished if you set your mind towards it. This has allowed me to be successful in school and carry on when I was academically challenged. As a student, I am committed to teaching my fellow classmates and giving them a more complete worldview than previously possessed, and facilitating the exchange
The Filipino culture places a large emphasis on family ties. In the United States, where many Filipino immigrants are separated from their biological family, community ties become important as friends will often act as “family members” and help keep cultural traditions alive. I grew up in the Filipino community and called many people my “Tito” or “Tita”. I was taught how to cook Filipino food, observed Simbang Gabi (a nine-day Christmas celebration), and most importantly, learned what it meant to truly be a member of a community.
Outside of the Filipino community, …show more content…
As a sixteen year old, this was my first encounter with death and the emotions that I experienced were completely new to me. The months following my father 's death were transformative. As the oldest child, I took on a much larger role within the family. I had to give up much of my free time to be able to take care of my little brother and help fulfill the void in household maintenance that my stay-at-home father use to be responsible for. Every day after school, I would pick up my younger brother from his school, take care of chores at home, cook dinner, and then begin my homework. I felt very isolated from my friends and struggled to stay awake during class because of exhaustion. However, instead of letting this situation control my life, I took control. I pushed myself to work hard and graduated as the valedictorian of my class. When my father passed away, the Filipino community was the first to respond. I learned to look out for my community members and respond to them with the same compassion and concern that I would for my own family …show more content…
I feel that my experiences have given me a distinct perspective that allows me to relate to complex issues that patients may be facing. I understand culture in a different way because I have not only learned about it, but I have lived it. Through my father 's death, I learned that I am stronger and more capable than I believed. My unwavering resolve became an inspiration for myself, and then others. My optimistic outlook has allowed me to be able to excel despite setbacks. All challenging situations will eventually end and it is your attitude that shapes your outcome. The perseverance and focus that I demonstrated during that difficult time are the same attitudes that I bring to the classroom. I am not afraid to face academic challenges because I know that I have been through much worse. Although losing a loved one is a negative experience, it presents the potential for self-growth and reflection. As a future medical professional, this experience gave me a heightened sense of self-awareness. My focus will allow me to face challenges in medical school, knowing that all hard tasks can be accomplished if you set your mind towards it. This has allowed me to be successful in school and carry on when I was academically challenged. As a student, I am committed to teaching my fellow classmates and giving them a more complete worldview than previously possessed, and facilitating the exchange