Alwyn Mendoza Gegajo

When I was a kid I was afraid of change, until I learned that staying the same was far scarier.

Looking back at the little kid I was, I remember being constantly rushed to the hospital because of my weak immune system. I spent days in a quiet room, missing school, playtime and almost everything that seemed normal for other kids. For days I watched my parents struggle with my hospital bills, my parents trying to balance their income to provide for my other 4 siblings, I saw them quietly worrying but still doing everything to give us comfort. It was in those times where I realized staying weak won’t do anything and wouldn’t help you but would give you strength to be better. This is when it clicked. I wanted to do more, I wanted to grow, not just for me but for them too I wanted to see changes.

Through my journey as a weak kid I remember one day a doctor constantly visited me with a big smile painted on his face, a smile filled with determination and care, making sure that I will recover. At this point I cannot stop being mesmerized by his resilience, treating every patient especially me as if their life mattered all of the above. That day I found myself dreaming to be one, I want to be like him too, I want to be a doctor, not just to heal but to give hope, to make a difference and to become someone, like him, could give light to others’ dimming spark.

I grew up seeing my family struggle with financial problems. I’m a girl who didn’t always get what I wanted, but with these I am glad to understand and appreciate what we had. For my parents, handling 5 kids was never easy for them. I saw my parents repeatedly fall but still managed to put a smile on their faces. My father, a retired teacher, is now taking sidelines in selling fish, where income is never stable along with my mother, who is a housewife taking care of me and my siblings. Through tough times my older brother had to stop school and work to help ease our family’s daily needs. Seeing all these I realized that despite all the hard times they do not give up, this gave me courage to build every dream of mine with determination and make a difference in the lives of people in simple ways.

Now I still carry these lessons with me through my school journey. I am doing my best and trying my hardest every day to fuel that dream I carry. I work hard in my studies, take on leadership roles, and participate actively in school activities with dedication. I want to see myself achieving my goals, and to graduate with flying colors. I want to see myself as a young woman who can help others through determination. I know this will take a while, a lot of effort and patience. But I’m willing to take each step with courage.

With this scholarship it would mean more than just easing our financial struggles. It will be my reminder that my hard work and dreams are seen and valued. It would give me the courage to keep pushing forward, knowing that I have support behind me. This will help me to fully focus on my studies and growth, instead of constantly worrying about how to cover school expenses or materials needed for my learning.

In the future, I hope to see myself, wearing a white coat, a stethoscope laying on my shoulder and a young woman just like the doctor who inspired me as a child. I want to be someone who can make a change and support someone who needs it the most. This scholarship is important for me to step forward making that dream a reality.