NIH Personal Statement

As a passionate, dedicated, dynamic, and enthusiastic Political Science undergraduate student at Villanova University, I profoundly wish to receive exposure in our affairs and missions abroad and obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the role our nations holds in our global community.

The meaning of life gave me its first sigh as I looked into the glistening eyes of a Peruvian orphan when I was four. It was two days before Christmas. I told them that I had something for all of them; I had their Christmas presents, toys that I had loved so dearly for the first four years of my childhood. I handed them out to each one of them. The joy in their faces was astonishing. I realized that I was giving more than just a doll or a toy car;

Upon my arrival at NIH as a volunteer when I was 17, I noted the immense lack of opportunities for high school students interested in a profession in the clinical research realm. I took the initiative to express these concerns to my supervisor and at that very moment I was assigned to the creation of a proposal of a Medical Discovery Program, which seeks to engage students early and expose them to the different career opportunities at the Clinical Center in the world’s largest medical research facility. Our proposal was successfully approved by the Director of the Clinical Center at NIH. Executing such an incredible project was a difficult task but was most definitely a truly exceptional journey. Our program had a phenomenal first year; our students had the opportunity to connect with renowned clinician scientists and collaborate with 75% of departments at the Clinical Center and our second year program is now underway. My time at NIH expanded my knowledge on research, resource management, collaboration among many disciplines, and the execution of projects of high importance. It also molded me to hold myself to an outstanding standard of professionalism that is required to work in the federal

I had the privilege of serving our nation as a Congressional Intern for the Office of Congressman Peter DeFazio. I was immersed in the many political discussions regarding the Iran Deal with staffers and was able to obtain a different perspective from the community at the U.S. House of Representatives. I spoke with a plethora of concerned constituents who were uncertain about the future of our nation and the potential impact of this very complex deal. Here, I was exposed to the many intricacies that a deal with this caliber has within our nation as well as abroad. I also had the immense honor to represent Villanova University when The Honorable John Kerry, United States Secretary of State made his Iran Deal address at the National Constitution Center on September 2, 2015. As I sat in the audience, overlooking Independence Hall, admiring our nation’s flag, listening to our nation’s Secretary of State, I felt so honored to be a witness to this exceptional venture. My immigrant heart sored with such tremendous pride and joy to be a part of this great nation, to be able to call this nation my own. This nation has opened doors for me and for my family that I never thought possible. My journey as a global citizen has created such a grand respect for our democracy, for our government, for our system, and for our values as a