Standard bilingual scholarship
My mother was diagnosed with severe asthma when I was a child, and we could not afford to pay for the hospital. What was worse was that there was no insurance coverage or discounts for hospital visits or emergencies in Africa. One day, as we stopped by at a neighborhood pharmacy, the pharmacist helped us find over the counter medications and gave my mother instructions on what to do at home. She also called and checked on my mom to see how she is doing. This situation instilled in me the desire to one day become a pharmacist.
When I was in Africa, there was not much opportunity to select and study what I was passionate about doing. However, that changed when I came to the United States and had a chance to choose what I wanted to study. I got my first job working as a cashier at CVS. One day the pharmacist recommended me to apply for a position as a pharmacy technician. I did and was fortunate to get the job. Around that area, there were quite several Africans, and I was thrilled that this job allowed me to help patients who did not speak English.
Remembering that particular pharmacist from Africa helps confirm my decision to become a pharmacist. She not only taught me the responsibility of a pharmacist but also about going out of your way to being helpful. I aspire to be that type of pharmacist as I serve my community. I also want to grow in my career and hopefully set up an own community pharmacy in the next five years, with multi-lingual assistants. Since I understand the challenge of the language barrier, I believe this kind of distinction in service provision will place the pharmacy in a better position to serve the non-English speaking people in the community.
Every student has to overcome an obstacle throughout their life to reach the point of success. Coming to the United States alone at such a young age and overcoming many obstacles like language barriers and new cultures, I believe, makes me the right candidate for this scholarship. If awarded this opportunity, I know it will not assist me financially but also give me a chance to grow as a professional, and after graduation, I can use my skills to serve the community.