Bio about myself,
I am A Nubian, people indigenous to south of Egypt and North Sudan along the Nile river since ancient times. my friend, a history major would always refer to me as "a living fossil" .
At age five, my family has escaped an impending genocide, and fled to a neighboring country- Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, lacked the educational opportunity for foreigns like us, since the political sphere, dictated that we return to our established country at the time, and declare our leave from there. hence, the strong ties between Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the political ramification of taking people like "us" for a status of refugee had a political ramification.
Think of us as Native Americans without a homeland AND in addition without passport or even a birth certificate. In Sudan, you can get away with anything, if money involved. hence, bribing officials at the desk to obtain a legal birth certificate and passport was not hard.
Our escape to Saudi Arabia was not without any hinderance, Father was blessed with a job, but "us" the children still lacked the education opportunity. despite the circumstances, my father through his hard-work, climbed the ladder until he met the ceiling. the pay was not great, but was enough to place food on our table, our life was fortunate than many others. still faced with scrutiny, bullying and belittling from the Saudi Arabian, and Racism in a mask of structural violence justified under their definition of their religion teaching, albeit, we share the same belief.
I had a moment of awakening, I was illiterate in a sense i could not read Arabic, nor understand the language at the time. Our ancient language lacked the written system due to extinction. henceforth, i took it upon myself to teach myself how to read and write Arabic, I was 9 years old. By age 10, i was already reading arabic, and understanding grammar on the same level of second grader. it was not much, but it was a progress, a great leap. a Wonderful man, a saudi Arabian, around 8:30 AM, while children were on their way to school, i was by the Deli Shop, borrowing brochures and reading, highlighting and conceptualizing the meanings of the advertisements. i was not blessed with a book that contained rich contexts.
That man, asked me why i was not in school. i did not reply to him honestly, because i developed deep distrust in people at the time. he bought me a soda and a bag of chips and kept talking but i was not listening. until he grabbed by my hands and took me to school. He payed all the necessary requirements for my entrance.
Time has passed since then, and i have never met him again. I took school seriously, excelled at my academics, and i was ranked first in class every year. My parents were proud. despite the bullying and racism, been singled out in class, teachers were fair to me, they in fact grew to become my mentors, spending my lunch hours with them, and sometime invited to their house for extra studying.
2003, i was two years into middle school, and the war started in Iraq. My father was displaced into the near border with Kuwait for work, and we had to move. on one gloomy night, my father was driving his car to work, and an explosion has occurred on the bridge he was crossing. at that hour, when we heard the news, we thought he was dead, everything became dull, a void, and all of us, the mother and my siblings sat in one room, never spoke on word. until we finally heard the news two days later, that he was fine. it was a relief, indeed.
that day, that night, i understood that was not a life to live, a life without future or plans. a life that is plagued by the thoughts of "what if?" , "why us". these simple questions were dangerous, the combination of "what" and "if" were intoxicating, left me to distaste this life.
I decided to learn English, on my own. I was determined to leave this place, with my family and never look back, but never forget where i came from. i studied english everyday, until i possessed the skills to apply for the American Lottery, i forged my father signature. Used his information to fill the provided documents, took the necessary pictures using a camera i borrowed from a friend, while informing my family that it is for a school project. I did not want to raise their hope up, i was 15.
A year later, i was informed that i have won the lottery to migrate to USA. to my delight, finally a chance to make something happen. i was struck with the requirements it carries, financial and other miscellaneous. It did not stop me, i walked around the city raising money, lying to Saudis since many distaste America, but to others nationals i spoke the truth. i received donations from many many great people, until i have reached the threshold required. I eventually spoke the truth to my parents, and my father took the money, endowed the money into his check account. we were ready to leave, and we left everything, and everything behind.
we came to USA ,settled in the state of NY, my father immediately found a job, and my mother too. things were going well, I registered myself into high school. the language was a barrier, indeed. but i knew, i was illiterate previously and taught myself arabic. i can do the same with English. it took me three years to become somehow a "normal", but english proved to be cumbersome with grammar. grammar was and still a needle in my throat. i suffered from grammar and still do.
graduated from high school and enrolled into one of the top 40 universities in USA, to be precise 35 at the time. the first two years, i was lost on my plans, did not plan that far. but my grades averaged "A's" throughout the time, including chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, cell biology and genetics. second semester of second year, i decided to take the path of Biomedical Engineering. i set for it, and performed not exceptionally well, but i have my B's and B- (four classes), but never below a B-.
I lose motivations due to the economic crisis, and my father and mother losing their job. i took two part time job at a restaurant and deli shop, respectively. earned the necessary money and sent home, while sparing times for weekends to go home to tutor my siblings, never missed a weekend, skipped on partying and student social life.
i was involved in many extracurricular activities, not too many. focused on public health, and humanitarian organizations. became a president for one ,and also permanent member at my school student health committee. refugee programs established by NY state, and gave speech at UNICEF summit snowflake ball at my campus. other organizations that are primarily physical, soccer and breakdancing.
i started also doing photography with intentions to document the life of refugees here in USA, and the public health. youth programs that empowers communities through sustainable organic agriculture and education with Cornell Cooperative Extension program and over 200 hours volunteering at a clinic situated next to the refugee program.
in my final year in college, i worked in a close relationship with one of the prominent CEO'S for my senior year project (fun facts: he developed the system used on WWW, to share music) to develop a catheter to treat primary hepatic Carcinoma, using the delivery of Yttrium 90 isotope. it was successful, with other three students, we developed the catheter CAD model, the computational modeling and fluid and reflux dynamics, range effects and delivery methods. it was published on the school news paper and department brochures. unfortunately, our effort did not grant us the patent, since it is solely decided that the patent will belong to the company, and we agreed since there was no other way around it, however we were honored to have our name on the catheter instead (this can be verified)
after my graduation, i Joined APSA, and rose to become the chair of public relation committee, published in two of their newsletters and was a chief editor in one of them.
two years with APSA, i departed for a year to two years traveling, because i was still unsure how to use my biomedical engineering in a sense i feel is right. visited homeland, and met whoever was left there. until i was introduced to german doctor, who was helping the Nubians, primarily out of goodwill. i saw his intentions was genuine, he was not bothered by the dirt, sandstorm, the lack of sanitary sewage system, or the basic life necessity he was used to. in fact, he was happy, he loved what he does. i worked with him on daily basis tending to the people, and developing a modest sanitary system, really modest, and kept log of patients that needs treatments on the basis of need first.
I cam back home after hearing my father had a stroke. tending to him and my family. his stroke, fortunately did not cause any permanent damager. i felt lucky, we felt lucky. i decided to go to medical school, more specific the DO path, due to the ideology and belief of the "whole". a skill i will need for what i have in mind, and with my education in Biomedical engineering.the german doctor passed away, and was buried in our land, while i still kept some of his writings with me for inspirations, he was the reason i am taking a different path. a path that combines holistic approach to medicine and biomedical engineering, since i believe these two discipline can make a different together.
I am currently studying for MCAT, started studying and borrowing MCAT materials from university library (privilege of an alumni) three months ago
on old three practice tests, i have scored, 31, 33, and 36. i was not keeping up with news regarding MCAT overhaul and change, and the new of changing came as a surprise (my mistake for not been up to date).
My GPA is 3.2 cumulative and 3.4 science.
you may wonder, why i wrote so much, and that it was not necessary? indeed it may have unnecessary, but i took it upon myself to speak about myself, to understand who i am, and what i am pursuing.
if you do not mind, with care, please provide me with your thoughts, what may help me, not only to gain admission, but more importantly to become a better student and better doctor in the future.
sincerely
I am A Nubian, people indigenous to south of Egypt and North Sudan along the Nile river since ancient times. my friend, a history major would always refer to me as "a living fossil" .
At age five, my family has escaped an impending genocide, and fled to a neighboring country- Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, lacked the educational opportunity for foreigns like us, since the political sphere, dictated that we return to our established country at the time, and declare our leave from there. hence, the strong ties between Sudan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the political ramification of taking people like "us" for a status of refugee had a political ramification.
Think of us as Native Americans without a homeland AND in addition without passport or even a birth certificate. In Sudan, you can get away with anything, if money involved. hence, bribing officials at the desk to obtain a legal birth certificate and passport was not hard.
Our escape to Saudi Arabia was not without any hinderance, Father was blessed with a job, but "us" the children still lacked the education opportunity. despite the circumstances, my father through his hard-work, climbed the ladder until he met the ceiling. the pay was not great, but was enough to place food on our table, our life was fortunate than many others. still faced with scrutiny, bullying and belittling from the Saudi Arabian, and Racism in a mask of structural violence justified under their definition of their religion teaching, albeit, we share the same belief.
I had a moment of awakening, I was illiterate in a sense i could not read Arabic, nor understand the language at the time. Our ancient language lacked the written system due to extinction. henceforth, i took it upon myself to teach myself how to read and write Arabic, I was 9 years old. By age 10, i was already reading arabic, and understanding grammar on the same level of second grader. it was not much, but it was a progress, a great leap. a Wonderful man, a saudi Arabian, around 8:30 AM, while children were on their way to school, i was by the Deli Shop, borrowing brochures and reading, highlighting and conceptualizing the meanings of the advertisements. i was not blessed with a book that contained rich contexts.
That man, asked me why i was not in school. i did not reply to him honestly, because i developed deep distrust in people at the time. he bought me a soda and a bag of chips and kept talking but i was not listening. until he grabbed by my hands and took me to school. He payed all the necessary requirements for my entrance.
Time has passed since then, and i have never met him again. I took school seriously, excelled at my academics, and i was ranked first in class every year. My parents were proud. despite the bullying and racism, been singled out in class, teachers were fair to me, they in fact grew to become my mentors, spending my lunch hours with them, and sometime invited to their house for extra studying.
2003, i was two years into middle school, and the war started in Iraq. My father was displaced into the near border with Kuwait for work, and we had to move. on one gloomy night, my father was driving his car to work, and an explosion has occurred on the bridge he was crossing. at that hour, when we heard the news, we thought he was dead, everything became dull, a void, and all of us, the mother and my siblings sat in one room, never spoke on word. until we finally heard the news two days later, that he was fine. it was a relief, indeed.
that day, that night, i understood that was not a life to live, a life without future or plans. a life that is plagued by the thoughts of "what if?" , "why us". these simple questions were dangerous, the combination of "what" and "if" were intoxicating, left me to distaste this life.
I decided to learn English, on my own. I was determined to leave this place, with my family and never look back, but never forget where i came from. i studied english everyday, until i possessed the skills to apply for the American Lottery, i forged my father signature. Used his information to fill the provided documents, took the necessary pictures using a camera i borrowed from a friend, while informing my family that it is for a school project. I did not want to raise their hope up, i was 15.
A year later, i was informed that i have won the lottery to migrate to USA. to my delight, finally a chance to make something happen. i was struck with the requirements it carries, financial and other miscellaneous. It did not stop me, i walked around the city raising money, lying to Saudis since many distaste America, but to others nationals i spoke the truth. i received donations from many many great people, until i have reached the threshold required. I eventually spoke the truth to my parents, and my father took the money, endowed the money into his check account. we were ready to leave, and we left everything, and everything behind.
we came to USA ,settled in the state of NY, my father immediately found a job, and my mother too. things were going well, I registered myself into high school. the language was a barrier, indeed. but i knew, i was illiterate previously and taught myself arabic. i can do the same with English. it took me three years to become somehow a "normal", but english proved to be cumbersome with grammar. grammar was and still a needle in my throat. i suffered from grammar and still do.
graduated from high school and enrolled into one of the top 40 universities in USA, to be precise 35 at the time. the first two years, i was lost on my plans, did not plan that far. but my grades averaged "A's" throughout the time, including chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, cell biology and genetics. second semester of second year, i decided to take the path of Biomedical Engineering. i set for it, and performed not exceptionally well, but i have my B's and B- (four classes), but never below a B-.
I lose motivations due to the economic crisis, and my father and mother losing their job. i took two part time job at a restaurant and deli shop, respectively. earned the necessary money and sent home, while sparing times for weekends to go home to tutor my siblings, never missed a weekend, skipped on partying and student social life.
i was involved in many extracurricular activities, not too many. focused on public health, and humanitarian organizations. became a president for one ,and also permanent member at my school student health committee. refugee programs established by NY state, and gave speech at UNICEF summit snowflake ball at my campus. other organizations that are primarily physical, soccer and breakdancing.
i started also doing photography with intentions to document the life of refugees here in USA, and the public health. youth programs that empowers communities through sustainable organic agriculture and education with Cornell Cooperative Extension program and over 200 hours volunteering at a clinic situated next to the refugee program.
in my final year in college, i worked in a close relationship with one of the prominent CEO'S for my senior year project (fun facts: he developed the system used on WWW, to share music) to develop a catheter to treat primary hepatic Carcinoma, using the delivery of Yttrium 90 isotope. it was successful, with other three students, we developed the catheter CAD model, the computational modeling and fluid and reflux dynamics, range effects and delivery methods. it was published on the school news paper and department brochures. unfortunately, our effort did not grant us the patent, since it is solely decided that the patent will belong to the company, and we agreed since there was no other way around it, however we were honored to have our name on the catheter instead (this can be verified)
after my graduation, i Joined APSA, and rose to become the chair of public relation committee, published in two of their newsletters and was a chief editor in one of them.
two years with APSA, i departed for a year to two years traveling, because i was still unsure how to use my biomedical engineering in a sense i feel is right. visited homeland, and met whoever was left there. until i was introduced to german doctor, who was helping the Nubians, primarily out of goodwill. i saw his intentions was genuine, he was not bothered by the dirt, sandstorm, the lack of sanitary sewage system, or the basic life necessity he was used to. in fact, he was happy, he loved what he does. i worked with him on daily basis tending to the people, and developing a modest sanitary system, really modest, and kept log of patients that needs treatments on the basis of need first.
I cam back home after hearing my father had a stroke. tending to him and my family. his stroke, fortunately did not cause any permanent damager. i felt lucky, we felt lucky. i decided to go to medical school, more specific the DO path, due to the ideology and belief of the "whole". a skill i will need for what i have in mind, and with my education in Biomedical engineering.the german doctor passed away, and was buried in our land, while i still kept some of his writings with me for inspirations, he was the reason i am taking a different path. a path that combines holistic approach to medicine and biomedical engineering, since i believe these two discipline can make a different together.
I am currently studying for MCAT, started studying and borrowing MCAT materials from university library (privilege of an alumni) three months ago
on old three practice tests, i have scored, 31, 33, and 36. i was not keeping up with news regarding MCAT overhaul and change, and the new of changing came as a surprise (my mistake for not been up to date).
My GPA is 3.2 cumulative and 3.4 science.
you may wonder, why i wrote so much, and that it was not necessary? indeed it may have unnecessary, but i took it upon myself to speak about myself, to understand who i am, and what i am pursuing.
if you do not mind, with care, please provide me with your thoughts, what may help me, not only to gain admission, but more importantly to become a better student and better doctor in the future.
sincerely
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