Socrates—the Greek philosopher once stated, “the unexamined life is not worth living,” as he stood on trial for encouraging introspection among the masses. How many of us live the life we chose versus the life we find ourselves in due to a predetermined path, circumstances or societal pressures? I for one, belong to the second cases. In 2003, my parents and I immigrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia after winning a Diversity Visa (DV) lottery. This life changing opportunity came with its own challenges.
With the minimal education and language barrier, my parents found themselves being consumed by their labor jobs. This reality forced me to take autonomy of my life at the age of thirteen. I had to quickly learn a new language, a new culture, and an education system. Despite these challenges, in 2012, I become the first person in my family to graduate from college. Up until graduation, I measured my success only through the lens of academics while being oblivious to the critical variables that foster personal growth. The real-world experiences I had after graduation profoundly changed this outlook for the better. …show more content…
As a result, I took time out from academics to search for my life’s true passion and purpose. During my experience at the National Institute of Health (NIH) as medical record technician, I encountered a breadth of medical research, and I saw firsthand how the field of medicine is tackling various diseases. My significant moment came when I met a physician assistant during my time at NIH. His satisfaction with the profession along with contagious enthusiasm for his work persuaded me to go after this new passion. I welcomed the challenge of starting over. However, this time around, academic success alone was not the focus. Instead, achieving personal growth through a practical experience was the
With the minimal education and language barrier, my parents found themselves being consumed by their labor jobs. This reality forced me to take autonomy of my life at the age of thirteen. I had to quickly learn a new language, a new culture, and an education system. Despite these challenges, in 2012, I become the first person in my family to graduate from college. Up until graduation, I measured my success only through the lens of academics while being oblivious to the critical variables that foster personal growth. The real-world experiences I had after graduation profoundly changed this outlook for the better. …show more content…
As a result, I took time out from academics to search for my life’s true passion and purpose. During my experience at the National Institute of Health (NIH) as medical record technician, I encountered a breadth of medical research, and I saw firsthand how the field of medicine is tackling various diseases. My significant moment came when I met a physician assistant during my time at NIH. His satisfaction with the profession along with contagious enthusiasm for his work persuaded me to go after this new passion. I welcomed the challenge of starting over. However, this time around, academic success alone was not the focus. Instead, achieving personal growth through a practical experience was the