“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt. This quote, although admittedly confusing to me at first, finally makes sense after realizing exactly what impact I ultimately want to make.

 I am a First-Generation Hispanic student at the University of Florida (UF) in the Honors Program. After graduating with my Bachelor’s in Nutritional Sciences, I plan to attend the UF College of Dentistry to earn my dental degree. Career-wise, I plan to provide high-quality care to help the underserved as a dentist.

Health disparities have largely shaped my motivation in pursuing dentistry, where my goals include helping bridge the gap between healthcare and those in need. As a Hispanic, I know that minorities such as mine are often underserved when it comes to meeting proper healthcare needs. To counter this, my dream is to serve as a representative and advocate in dentistry for disadvantaged minorities like mine to reduce the suffering born from language barriers and health disparities.

Because I come from a low-income Hispanic immigrant family, helping these underprivileged communities is incredibly significant to me. These individuals face the same problems my parents faced when immigrating to America. The combination of language barriers and the stresses of being alone can be overwhelming, and I have seen how this has negatively impacted my own family. I hope that having more dentists like me who speak Spanish and understand the problems that underserved communities face can provide comfort and support to disadvantaged immigrant families. Consequently, this scholarship provides a remarkably meaningful opportunity for me to accomplish my dream of supporting the underserved community, and I am truly honored.