What makes you a Difference Maker?
What makes me a Difference Maker is my ability to put others first. As a first-generation student, I struggled greatly the first few years of my college career. I have had great professors, advisors, and support all around to help me improve on my setbacks and failures. It became important for me to return this same support to my fellow student colleagues as a great leader and advocate for others. Attending UM-Dearborn was a blessing for me because I was able to learn and absorb so much information about various cultures. This in turn humbled me and taught me about the experiences of others, so that I can support them to the best of my ability respectfully.
Tell us about your leadership experience.
My leadership on campus includes being the president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS). The organization is committed to supporting current and future underrepresented minority premedical students on the Dearborn campus of University of Michigan, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and working to increase the number of clinically competent and socially conscious future physicians, and other health care providers. As President, I was able to bring guest speakers such as physicians, medical students, organize suture labs, and organize funding for the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC). My leadership experience off campus is working as the lead medical assistant at an urgent care. My job is to work alongside the providers and nurses as well as train incoming medical assistants, attending meetings, and help brainstorm ideas that will benefit the needs of the urgent care.
What is your dream career or goal?
My dream career is to become a family medicine physician and establish a practice in the city of Detroit. I would like to give back to the underserved community by creating a place where people can trust that their health needs will be taken seriously as well as create a plan for those who cannot afford the essential healthcare that they need. My long-term life goal is to be able to travel around the world and experience the wonders it gives. I love learning about other cultures and cultural practice because it helps shapes my perception by keeping me humbled and open minded.
What is your most defining moment?
The most defining moment at UM-Dearborn is being peer selected to serve as the president for MAPS. I remember my pre-health advisor, Mrs. P, being ecstatic. I also remember the first meeting we had. I was so scared that no one would show up and that I would totally bomb it because of my nervousness. However, the complete opposite happened. We had a great turn out and the meeting went smoothly. We had an open discussion, mini activities, and overall a great bonding experience. Students came back to the meetings and even sat down to talk to me about school and life in general. It was overwhelming and wonderful to have others look up to me and to be considered as someone that they felt comfortable to talk to.