Keep Moving Forward by Vaishnavi

Keep Moving Forward by Vaishnavi - June 2023 Scholarship Essay

I don’t know what the future has in store for me. But whatever happens next, I know that I’ll keep moving forward. As my father always says “Every dog has its own day. Don’t worry about when that day is, just keep putting in your efforts and the reward will come”. While I wholeheartedly agree with his principle, like most people, I still dream about what the future may look like if I had my way. I envision a young woman dressed in a white lab coat. Her haggard face and wild, untamed hair reflect a life filled with curiosity. As she peers into the microscope’s cold lens, her face lights up with a smile upon seeing an enlargened photo–the building block of all life: Cells. Somewhere in this dream, there is a profound realization that guides my path. This realization stems from my experiences in the past, whose impact has carried on into my future.

In 10 years, I want my efforts to be focused on making others feel happier with themselves. This mission of mine began in 1st grade with my best friend Rishan, someone I believe everyone should have in their life. Rishan’s presence provided me with support and his confidence motivated me to be the best version of myself. Despite facing challenges like leukemia and partial blindness, I never saw Rishan as limited. While others pitied him and sent him sympathy gifts, I remained by his side, unaffected by what he couldn’t do. I would learn Braille just so I could make him feel less excluded. On rainy days, instead of running around on the grass, we would hula hoop together and laugh when we realized how bad we were at it. One day, when we were looking at all the clouds in the sky, Rishan’s eyes were filled with tears. I asked him what was wrong, and if he was alright, and he replied saying he was more than alright. “Thank you for making me feel happy”. Those were the words that made me feel as though I made a huge difference. As I grew up, I carried his words with me to this very day. The memories I shared with him led me to want to pursue a career in the medical field, where I would try to make everyone feel the way I had made Rishan feel. I want the next 10 years of my life to be dedicated to making someone smile.

To achieve this goal, I will use my talents and education to collaborate with international community leaders and medical healthcare professionals, to set up accessible cancer treatment programs. These programs would cover Southern regions like Kentucky, where cancer prevails the most. In order to fulfill these aspirations, I will study public health, anthropology, and social work so that I have the knowledge needed to better aid these communities.
Furthermore, my knowledge of cell division will provide me with the skillset necessary to study the behavior of cancer cells. With the aid of technology like MRI machines, I can find quicker ways to detect cancer cells at an early stage, before they begin to spread and form tumors. Additionally, the study of the genetic code will allow me to detect errors in cell duplication, which can ultimately lead to the presence of cancerous cells. By reversing this process, I can use gene transfer to introduce new genes into cancerous cells of surrounding tissue to prevent further damage.

Overall, I’ve always felt the need to help people, right when I was young. By having a best friend like Rishan, I was able to find this passion and learn the importance of empathy and caring for others. All of a sudden, it was as though the upcoming years of my life were driven by a clear purpose. I know I may stumble, and I know I may fall, but no matter what happens next, this passion of mine reminds me to keep moving forward.