The field of medicine equips me with the knowledge to invest, empower, and transform my community. Investment starts at a young age and for me it began when my mother emigrated from Haiti. I was raised in a single parent household in the diverse neighborhood of Roxbury, MA. Similar to my friends who shared the 02119 area code, we were aware that this neighborhood was different from the suburban areas of Boston. Not only was our hometown frequently mentioned in news crime headlines, it also contained structural boundaries not present in other neighborhoods. One of the most pronounced differences is the bulletproof glass surrounding the counters of our corner stores that more so resembled a bank. As I have grown to know, the barriers are more …show more content…
I mentioned the current conditions of my neighborhood and influence of my doctor to ultimately show how it has changed my life. In a world where being an African American male raised by a single parent can immediately cast me into the 1 in 3 prison statistic, others believed there was more for me. The young Haitian mother could have easily been my mother over twenty years ago. Struggling to find her footing in a new county, she found someone to guide her. My doctor took the mentorship role in my life and has not left since. By informing me on how to take better care of my body and sharing her community resources, I learned about myself and responsibility I have to the community. My neighborhood has given me the room to experience this growth and taught me the appreciation of various ways of life. These experiences have transformed my prospects from an “at risk” youth to an empowered adult. Possibly one of the most advantageous components of an inspired, healthy life is the many that benefit. It would be an honor to provide this new outlook for other urban youth and they can do the same. What better way to be there for someone, than to by helping them be there for