I grew up on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in a family that has always had a connection to our community. It’s a large part of why I want to become a doctor and get my master’s in public health: I want to serve my community and be a part of it in an even greater aspect. Now, I’m a first-year senior at Northern Arizona University (NAU), on a five-year track with NAU’s Interdisciplinary Global Program (I’m in my fourth year studying at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan), majoring in biomedical sciences and comparative cultural sciences. Once I’m finished, I plan on pursuing my MD and MPH, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.
Whiteriver, Ariz., on the White Mountain Apache tribal reservation, is very rural. Being born and raised there, I feel a strong connection to my community, and nature. As the oldest of four children with a single mother, I grew up with little boredom and a lot of responsibility. We were always swimming in the rivers and dodging the fierce rainstorms that came through! Having to watch out for my siblings at a young age helped me to be a better caretaker, something that I want to integrate into my future career.
I have been incredibly lucky to have the support of both my mother and grandmother, two strong Apache women who are always there for me. Their support was especially important throughout my time at Blue Ridge High School, where I was one of the few people of color in most of my advanced classes. I knew that very few Native American students where I am from pursue education after high school, especially an education in medicine. I leaned on both my mother and grandmother as well for strength and advice for my next chapter: applying to college.
My ACT and SAT scores weren’t what I hoped they would be, and my dream college was out of state and outside my price range — but I wasn’t going to let those things stop me from pursuing my dream. Instead, I applied and was accepted to Northern Arizona University.
While I have enjoyed my time at NAU, it has not always been easy. During my first semester, it was difficult to keep up with my financial situation. I have multiple scholarships, but was living in the most expensive freshman dorm. As a result, I struggled to focus on my studies while being so worried about my payments. Once I was able to work through that, I began to get involved in my classes and extracurriculars, and truly found my place on campus.
I am an active member of NAU’s Honors College; I helped to start the Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (OSTEM) club, which focuses on STEM students who identify as LGBTQIA+, and I participate in AISES. Being able to create safe spaces for students has become very important to me. I know how it feels to finally find a space that is comfortable, so I want to be able to help as many Native American students as possible do the same.
Through my coursework for my biomedical sciences major, I have been fortunate to meet incredible individuals and explore amazing opportunities. As a freshman, I was lucky enough to be a part of an amazing laboratory experience, which helped me learn how to be creative with problems and provided in-depth details about the public health issues that heavily affect the Native American population. I also shadowed doctors at my local Indian Health Service, which has allowed me to better understand what my life as a doctor on the reservation could be like.
Even though studying abroad in Japan may not seem to align with my goals, it has been a welcome change and helps me better understand other cultures. Having this experience has made me even more excited to come back to the U.S. to pursue my MD and MPH. I want my global experiences to help me inspire younger generations of Native American students.
Many Native American students experience self-doubt and don’t believe they are good enough to accomplish their dreams. I believe that resilience and diligence are key to succeeding, and while it’s difficult being a high-achieving student, failing is a part of trying. If you’re trying, it means you’re improving. For Native Americans especially, it’s important to remember that test scores do not define you. A prestigious college does not define you. What you decide to do for your community is what truly defines you. I know you can succeed, and I can’t wait to see how you define yourself!
