2nd Place Winner for Inspiring Learning Contest 2024
“Inhale… exhale… Inhale… exhale.” This was the recommendation from my primary care physician every time I felt exhausted from the pneumonia, I battled at 12 years old. He advised me to either stop what I was doing or slow down a little. After that consultation, my father would carry me on his back, and we would wait for public transportation to be filled with enough passengers to depart so we could go home, and I could rest. I thought that was the end of it; nothing seemed to work. Due to the lack of medical insurance to cover my clinical visits, I had to jump around for follow-ups, seeking the cheapest clinic rates and the most affordable generic prescriptions. There were no urgent care facilities or emergency rooms nearby. The ones we visited required sitting in traffic in a car with no air conditioning while I covered my nose due to the lack of federal rules about public smoking; It seemed to worsen my condition, so I stayed home instead. I felt hopeless despite every effort my family made until, after a couple of months, I experienced one of the biggest miracles of my life—I got better.
Years passed, and I found myself at significant milestones: finishing high school, serving a mission, earning an undergraduate degree in social work, getting married, and having a daughter.
“Inhale… exhale… Inhale… exhale.” The only other time I have verbalized these words was when my wife was in labor, giving birth to our daughter in Hawaii. Her experience with accessibility, affordability, and quality of care was the opposite of what I had experienced. I desire for my people to have this privilege as well! I envision rural health clinics; affordable and accessible healthcare; health promotion programs for women, people with disabilities, and children; a better and healthier country.
This experience solidifies my passion for gathering light and knowledge. I am determined to pursue a career that will allow me to help parents and children receive the assistance and care they need when they are sick. I want to ensure that no child has to endure what I did and that every family can experience the same relief and support we did.
My journey is driven by the hope that my hard work will lead to knowledge and that knowledge will open doors to new opportunities and experiences. Now, I am pursuing a degree in public health at BYU, making me the first in my family to graduate college and step into graduate school. When a close friend asked why I chose Public Health, I paused. The same desire that led me to social work came to mind—I wanted to help my countrymen flourish. However, I told him something even bigger: “I’m doing it for the benefit of the world.” Little did I know that this exact phrase was written on the school shuttles. When I saw it, I felt it was confirmation that I had chosen a path leading to a lifetime of service. Additionally, I was in awe after typing the phrase into a search bar and finding a BYU page illustrating efforts to combat chronic diseases globally and sharing stories of groundbreaking discoveries.
“Inhale… exhale… Inhale… exhale.” This is what my mind would say if it could speak for itself as I slowly walked up the stairs from the base floor of the LSB to reach my class on the second story. If I am early for class, I take my time. When I am late, I hurry. One day, I asked myself: is this how God designed seeking knowledge? Must one travel a great distance or read hundreds, if not thousands, of pages to discover new things? This is almost like crossing an ocean or climbing a mountain just to grasp a piece of His message, His light, and His truth that benefits people across generations. Indeed, He did!
In Doctrine and Covenants 84 it teaches that truth translates to light. We find truth through knowledge and understanding, which ultimately benefits others. I share my light by speaking up in class, dedicating myself to my assignments, and participating in university events like devotionals. I share the light with my cohort when I use my expertise and talents in group projects and other collaborative work. In return, I also receive light when I step out of classes filled with knowledge from more experienced learners.
As I continue my journey in Public Health, I am committed to breathing life into my passion, ensuring that every “inhale” and “exhale” I take is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of my fellow Filipinos. My experiences have shaped my resolve to advocate for accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for all, especially for those who need it the most. This is my mission, my calling, and my way of letting my light shine before men.