I volunteered for the Alameda food bank as well as for local hospitals and animal shelters. My volunteer work brought me out of my shell, and enabled to feel that I could make a difference in the lives of others. By healing others, I healed myself. Through maturity I have come recognize and respect my limits and honor my capabilities. In my ten years living in the United States I have experienced more inside myself than many even better traveled will experience in a lifetime. I have gone from a happy and busy childhood, to being a lonely and miserable man, isolated and old before his time, to once again becoming accepted and beloved person who is a vital part of his community.

Scholarship Statement: Bernard Osher Allied Health Scholarship

The language of health and medicine is sometimes difficult for even a native English speaker to penetrate. I have been able to do so, with determination, even though English was not my first language everyday speech. My decision to pursue a specialty in diagnostic radiology at Merritt College is thus the culmination of long struggle and victory of adjusting to American culture, language, and its medical culture, as well as a reflection of my personal interest and love of interacting with people.

I am most happy when I am part of a community; a characteristic I believe reflects my emotional aptitude for medicine. As an active member of the East African Student Association (EASA) in Oakland, CA, I helped to promote ethnic diversity and cultural awareness...

I also possess the strong computer background necessary for success in the profession of radiology. Despite common stereotypes about individual who love computers and the ability of technology to isolate, I am fundamentally " people" person. As a former waiter and bartender, I learned to become not only a good conversationalist, but also an excellent listener.
Radiology is unique as a medical discipline in the way that it forces one to fuse technological knowledge with compassion and caring. To listen to one's patients is perhaps the most important skill an individual can possess. I have been diligent in my pursuit of diagnostic radiography as a career because I am convinced that this aspect medicine requires the type of precision and humanity I am uniquely qualified to deploy. By piecing together my interests in medicine and my technical and personal strengths, much like arriving at a diagnosis, I have selected the field where I will not merely succeed but excel. Diagnostic radiology is my vocation, and I will dedicate all of my effort and insights to it, achieving personal and professional satisfaction.

My work ethic, and my experiences adjusting to life in the United States as a member of a minority population have further grounded my desire to use talents in a constructive manner, in a manner that benefits the whole of society. The medical imaging career gives me the unique opportunity to express my many talents while benefiting human life.