Cultural Autobiography

I am Burmese, I am independent, I am intelligent, and I am Muslim! Culture is something that many are proud of, including me. I have been exposed to many different cultures throughout my life. Being Burmese-American and Muslim, I have learned about my own culture from others. The cultures within my religion and ethnicity have made me the person that I am today. I have a strong belief in my values, and intend to use my knowledge and personal inferences to help me achieve all that I aspire to achieve throughout my life.

Months before I was born, my mother intended to raise me in the city of Singapore. But, she eventually decided to relocate to America. Life in the U.S. as a Burmese immigrant was hard for my mother, however, she persevered, and

I was taught appropriate ways of behaving, how to be respectful towards others as well as how to be proficient decision makers. My mother taught me several invaluable lessons about life and making decisions. Although I knew my mother was there to help me, I also knew that she wanted me to be an independent thinker. Coming from a culture where women were rarely allowed to make decisions on their own, this was of utmost importance for my family. Fitting into the two cultures and being proficient proved to be very challenging time and time again. However, I was able to combat these challenges by my mother's advice. Knowing that my mother was able to overcome many challenges and was proudly teaching me the ways in which an independent Burmese woman should perform brought me great pleasure. I vowed from that moment on, to embrace both of my cultures and pursue my dreams despite any hardships along the

Time and time again, I have tried to blend myself into the backgrounds of crowds. I now realize this embarrassment was not warranted, although I felt it was necessary at times. This embarrassment that was once felt has now been replaced with empowerment. Having a newly found sense of empowerment has allowed me to excel to heights unimaginable for a young woman of my decent. Being an American born Burmese is an obstacle within itself, my career goals will also have challenges as they are directly associated with my culture, education, and personal values. As I am aware of possible discrimination, that I may face, I have decided to be bold and take chances. With this boldness, I plan to pursue and achieve my dreams. This boldness will be expressed in all that I do and will ultimately allow me to become the doctor I aspire to be. By understanding “the colors of myself”, and all of the diversity within, I know that I have an advantage over many. Therefore, I vow to use the colors of myself in a positive way each and every day within the medical