As a brother to a chronically sick boy and the son of a mysteriously ill mother, I have learned many virtues throughout my life so far. Some are simple, such as patience and responsibility for myself and another person; while others complex, as acceptance of people and their ideas. My brother was frequently in hospitals throughout my childhood, which required me to become more responsible at times when my parents needed to focus on him. And, when my mother was diagnosed with an “incurable” pancreatic aneurysm when I was twelve, I learned, what I believe is the most important virtue: compassion.

The virtue, compassion, drives my love for service to others and is the reason behind my goal to embrace diversity of new people and ideas. This passion to help and constantly accept others has landed me into an array of diverse friend groups. I believe that teachers and administrators also recognize my acceptance of others, which is why I was chosen to lead my school’s Diversity and Acceptance Club. As club leader, I have learned even more about acceptance. I experienced and organized collaborations of people of many different races, backgrounds, passions, and niches within the school. Together, they have formed new ideas and worked as a team to serve the community, whether it being an all-night fundraiser for the American Cancer Society or a fair celebrating the multiple cultures and traditions present in our community.

This leadership and love for service is why during the next stage in my life another goal is to pursue a career in medicine and healthcare at The Ohio State University. Specifically, service engagement has always been a big part of me and I plan to pursue a career oriented around service to others, and in the meantime during my schooling, I also wish to engage in many community volunteer activities. I plan to devote my life to a profession directed to help others and treat them just like I would want to be treated if I were in their situation. I aspire to be like the many people who work every day to cure a disease such as Cystic Fibrosis or work with patients like my brother to improve and prolong their lives as much as possible.

What saved my mother from her originally “incurable” ailment was her pursuit to find a person who knew how to solve such an issue. But ultimately, it was not just one person but rather the collaboration of many diverse researchers, surgeons, and other professionals who found a way to save her life. Although I am not yet certain which part of the healthcare field I want to enter, I know that I want to be part of this larger team of dedicated professionals.