The stench of a fish market is sufficient to create a frenzy environment; it is probably a product of the customers’ rush in an attempt to escape the foul smell. I tried to distract myself from the foul smell and fortunately, I succeeded in doing just that. I looked upon the holy river of Nepal, Baghmati—the river that was once the pride of the nation but had lost its grace and integrity due to the sewage wastes that were dumped recklessly and irresponsibly. As years passed by, the river began to recede and the only ones who witnessed that were the big rocks. As I grew up, I witnessed how my country’s natural resources were destroyed and this is what fueled me to survive and overcome poverty. I have realized back then that a fine and decent man could serve the country well, just like how a western state citizen does. What concerns me the most are those people who do not have voices, the men whose requests and protests are frequently ignored by the authorities. I want to stand up for these people. My childhood in Nepal has a strong influence with which I am now and how I envision myself in the future. I want to fulfill my dream with a public health degree because I believe that science and education are two best ways to address the problems this country has. I also believe that this could not only benefit the current society but also the society of other generations to come.
This area of study motivates me to be proactive and disciplined about my education because it will allow to me to address most of the key issues of this generation; health inequality and environmental justice. I believe that these fields could give me the opportunity to engage in grassroots movements in the community, which in turn are keys to bring positive changes in our society. I want to be a leader that could not only mobilize a community towards reaching a common goal which is to protect the environment but also a leader that could teach others how to live a sustainable life. I would also love to contribute in the field of research which is another key way to improve the current lives and practices of other people.
Among the numerous subgroups under public health, I want to pursue environmental health. Additionally, with my strong passion, I can contribute a leadership that addresses current issues in this field especially the ones concerning sustainable development and sanitation in developing countries. Waking up before dawn to collect water and always worrying if there would be enough water if I took shower before I went to school, I understood the impact of the destruction of our natural resources at a young age. Moreover, witnessing those less fortunate than me struggle due to lack of resources, I decided to focus my career on reducing the plight of those that were usually ignored. With this dream in mind, I began high school in the United States of America participating in science classes. Fortunately, my ambition and passion for science helped me thrive academically. My high school education confirmed that science would be the best route, so I continued my education in the field in college and became a part of Biomedical Scholars Program.
The transition to college was significant because finally the restrictions that were usually given to foreign students were finally removed. The newly acquired freedom distanced me from my goals and my spirituality. In addition, the basic classes that are required during earlier years of undergraduate focused mainly on concepts and principles. Little did I learn about the application of those concepts. However, when I began my first research internship at Blanchet Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at Johns Hopkins University, my perspective changed. My research focused on investigating the dosage of drugs that would be optimal to activate protein kinase enzymes in mice brain. The activation of the drug was found to ameliorate memory and learning in the mice. Through this research, I understood the magnitude to which my education could be used to help me attain a higher degree of education.
After completing my internship, I transferred from a community college to a university offering a wide array of 4 years professional courses. By that time, I have realized that there is really a need for me to develop strategies and techniques from scratch to be successful. The wall of my room and the mirror of my bathroom were covered with chemical mechanisms and formulas. My struggles to excel in my classes eventually lead to me being chosen as a Guided Study Session leader for Cell Biology where I held weekly sessions to review important concepts related to our studies.
These sessions not only focused on reviewing the content to the class but also empowered the students struggling by identifying study strategies to help them become more successful in the class. The approval rating and attendance for my sessions were unprecedented. I was then obliged to present presentations to faculty member, Board of Advisors, and Board of Reagents of Maryland addressing the different learning styles that students have and advocating some services that might help students learn how to be successful academically. My advocacy for students and study habits led me to become a mentor for students in Biological Sciences program as well as other programs. I collaborated with these students to help identify their weaknesses that hinder their success in classes, improve their public speaking skills, leadership skills and teach others about professional development. My role as a mentor that I held made me question what role I really want to play.
During this reflection, I discovered that my original dream of becoming the voice of those who do not have voice resonated again. At this point, I was still focused in Biology and my research which was focused on purifying hypothetical proteins and using NMR-based ligand screening to determine the functions and metabolic pathways it regulate. My research was supported by Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship offered by the University of Maryland, College Park. However, I realized through the public health courses, that my passion lies in this field. I was always deeply interested in this course because it always gave me a personal satisfaction knowing that all my efforts would result in improving the wellness of not only an individual but an entire community. I did find that the public health classes that I was enrolled in first identified real world crisis and then focused on not only how to address the problems but also how to prevent them.
The public health courses presented a new dimension that sparked my interests, which were lacking in my core science classes. These classes showed me the power of public health through the evidence presented in its rich history. While other fields may also be able to identify ways how to solve problems, public health focuses on preventing it before it could even occur. Prevention will always be better than cure—a philosophy that I believe in. The Public health course never separates itself from the problems that less fortunate people suffer from. It does include at the end why we should care about a certain issue especially the ones which are about the environment. In addition to teaching me how to tackle important problems, I am continuously reminded to appreciate life while I am learning. Moreover, my passion for public health is derived from the opportunity to influence an entire population which is very powerful motivator for me dictate my career to this field.
Upon the completion of graduate degree, I want to focus on sustainable development focusing on sanitation in developing countries. For instance, the recent development has given Nepal the access to all the modern advancements available in the United States. Yet, Nepal is currently battling shortage of water and clean drinking water. Therefore, I want to become one of the leaders that will mobilize the government and private sectors to invest in initiatives focused on the improvement of water and sanitation infrastructures and create a sustainable system that will protect the environment and educate the people about sustainable living practices.
My undergraduate education was a road to self-discovery; it taught me one of the most valuable lessons about life. Through my struggles, I have come to recognize that I am not limited by anything and that I am capable of making a big difference to my community regardless of my degree, my career, or my status. My strong passion to be the voice for those who cannot be heard is enough to fulfill my dream; however, I firmly believe that pursuing a Master’s Degree in public health will give me that advantage—to serve my community.
