Yasmin Maktal

One of the experiences that was crucial to shaping my goals for the future was volunteering with immigrants and children from Somali at a center in Minneapolis. One of the things I noticed that was lacking was health awareness among the immigrants. Many of these women are newly arrived immigrants: afraid of little things because they do not receive enough information, and the information they do receive is sometimes inaccurate. Some are afraid to give their children immunizations and some don't know the importance of annual health checkups like mammograms, and pap smears. If these women received the information they need, many health issues would be avoided. This is the main reason why I would love a career in medicine. Learning about the struggles many marginalized communities such as Somalis, including family members have gone through has opened my eyes to the health barriers present in America and in Somalia. One of my goals in life is to make healthcare more accessible by opening free clinics. The sense of serving others I get with volunteering makes me want to impact people on a larger scale. A career in health care would allow me to explore my interest in the emergence of medical conditions, and the opportunity to reduce healthcare disparities in America and Somalia.