I am an aspiring surgical oncologist majoring in Chemistry with an intended minor in Business of Health at UNC Chapel Hill. My interest in cancer stemmed from a time when my childhood best friend lost the battle to Ewing Sarcoma. For years, I asked why this happened. Over time, that question turned into how: how cancer occurs, how it spreads, and how we can stop it. I first discovered some answers in my high school Biomedical Technologies class, where I learned about the mechanisms behind cancer and the emerging treatments being developed. That was when I realized the answers I was looking for came from chemistry. Chemistry allowed me to see disease at the molecular level, allowing me to not just see that something happens, but why it happens. Along this journey, I also realized that medicine is not just about science; it’s also about showing up for patients and families who are living through the hardest moments of their lives.
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Hurricane Helene devastated the mountains of Western North Carolina. When homes were swept away, roads washed out, and entire communities were cut off from outside help, traditional relief efforts couldn’t reach those impacted, so I began organizing my own response by using social media, requesting donations from friends, family, and people in my community. Within days, we raised over $20,000 in financial support and collected an estimated $4,000 worth of supplies. The roads were still closed, so I contacted local pilots to see if we could transport everything by air, and together we flew supplies into the mountains. When we landed and began unloading, I saw the visible joy on their faces. Greeted with hugs from complete strangers, the locals expressed gratitude with the same excitement and disbelief as a child receiving something they never thought they would have on Christmas morning. Hearing their stories, directly from the people affected, it made me see service in a new light. It wasn’t just about helping; it was about finding a way when the obvious options no longer existed.
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Over the summer of 2025, I volunteered in the operating room of a surgical hospital in a rural area of Guatemala, working with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and translators. With the supervision of a clinical professor from Stanford University, I gained hands-on experience in the areas of human anatomy, surgical sterility, instrument handling, and the teamwork required for a surgical procedure. I practiced identifying and passing instruments, fixing every mistake until I got it right. I gained experience holding back layers of tissue using these instruments while anticipating each step of the operation to work smoothly and out of the surgeon's way. At the end of the surgeries, I was given the opportunity to close the incision with sutures. These experiences gave me early exposure to what it truly feels like to work as a surgeon. Many of the patients lacked access to transportation, requiring them to walk from miles away, some even walked for days, to have the opportunity of a life-changing surgery. Wanting to better understand their community, I spent time with local families. We visited markets, shared the meals they prepared for us, and learned about their daily lives. Even something as simple as playing pick-up soccer in the street with the kids shifted my perspective, allowing me to experience a different culture in such a profound and immersive way. Above all, Guatemala taught me how much medicine is about access and reaching others on a personal level. It’s a lesson I could never have gained without being fully immersed in a different community, and it’s one I will carry with me throughout my journey to becoming a surgical physician.
