Reflective Essay: My Educational Journey

I opened the email revealing my acceptance into Northwestern and I immediately began to cry as I ran to share the good news with my parents. Northwestern had been my first choice and dream school. Unfortunately, I did not receive the same excitement from my classmates as I wore my Northwestern t-shirt on College Spirit Day. Being the only student from my high school to be accepted into an elite, private institution commenced rumors on the circumstances of my acceptance. Some claimed that the only reason that I was accepted was because of my race. They ignored my documented academic achievements, demonstrated leadership skills, athletic accomplishments, extensive extracurricular involvement and dedication to serving my community.

The doubts that other people placed in me eventually started to make me question my own abilities. During my first year of college, like most students away from home for the first time, I had some fears and doubts. I often found myself feeling slightly inferior to my classmates and undeserving of my spot at Northwestern. Instead of reaching out to other people in my classes, I thought I needed to prove myself and show that I could succeed on my own. Luckily, I had peer mentors that reminded me that it was okay to ask for

help and encouraged me to reach out to other students and take the lead in forming study groups. Getting involved with different groups on campus and meeting other racially diverse groups of people helped me see that I was no different than anyone else in my undergraduate struggles and successes. As I engaged, I came to realize that I am capable of academic success and discovered the avenues I could utilize to work toward achieving my goals.

Now, instead of seeing my race as a barrier in my educational journey, I see the unique opportunity to share my diverse experiences and perspective with my peers.

My hope is that in sharing who I am, I may in some way challenge the way others see people like me. I have realized that in high school I did not completely accept myself for who I was. Instead, I tried to distract people from my race thinking that in some way I would better “fit in”. I have learned to embrace my background and see the ways that I can help other people like myself. By embracing my diversity, I also have the opportunity to educate and change the perspectives of others, just as I hope to learn from the diverse experiences and openness of

others.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine aligns with my philosophies and goals as a medical student. The dedication to interactive learning experiences and emphasis on collaboration through Case Inquiry (IQ) teams will continue to develop my skills to learn from my peers. If given the opportunity to receive my medical school education from University of Wisconsin School of Medicine I know that I will leave as a collaborative physician and leader dedicated to lifelong learning.