Mentoring Jonier: path to serving immigrant communities as a physician

SOP

I looked at the young boy -- slouching, defiant, tense -- and I saw myself 15 years earlier. Jonier became my mirror. I was a difficult teen too, and for the same reasons Jonier was one. We were both first-generation English speakers whose efforts to communicate and especially to impress our teachers often fell on deaf ears. Having been in that position, I know the importance of having strong mentors, role models, and leaders.

For two years, I volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America, which is where I met Jonier. Jonier had a reputation for being "the worst kid in the program," a label that I became determined to shed. No one should be labeled as difficult before understanding what the person is going through. I will become the doctor who breaks down the barriers that patients have erected in the wake of indifference or prejudice. It is my goal to advocate for patients in immigrant communities, ensuring that each person has access to culturally appropriate treatment options, a caring team, translation support, and whatever they need to accomplish their health care goals.