Every time I place an order at Starbucks, I change my name. Placing an order with a new name gives me a rush of adrenaline, something to spice up my monotonous daily routine. Instead of just being Mumba, I could be anyone. In an instant I could evolve into a character from the latest book I was reading; I could be an astronaut, a celebrity, or even the president. Standing in front of both the cash register and the barista...

For most of my life, I subscribed to the label "artistically challenged." I had always written myself off as not only lacking in artistic ability, but also creativity. Until I signed up for graphic design solely to fulfill my art requirement to graduate, I had always perceived artists as people who are hidden behind easels, slaving away at canvases meticulously graced by acrylic paint. My graphic design class was the last place I expected to find fascination, but as the...

Every February, members of my community and over half of my school gather on the football field in order to participate in our annual cancer fundraiser, Walk for Life. Braving the chill of California's 67-degree winter, students, faculty, and local residents assemble to commemorate those who have lost their battles to cancer and recognize those who are still tirelessly fighting. I've participated in Walk for Life since eighth grade,and it is an experience near and dear to me, due...

Every time I place an order at Starbucks, I change my name. Instead of just being Mumba, I could be anyone. In an instant I could evolve into a character from the latest book I was reading; I could be an astronaut, a celebrity, or even the president. As I waited in line one afternoon, contemplating who I wanted to be that day, I started to question why I was so eager to change my name. Why waste time meticulously...

When I was two years old, I contracted malaria while living in Zambia. Through the subsequent years I lived in the United States, I became increasingly aware of exactly how rare and uncommon contracting malaria is in developed nations compared to in underdeveloped countries. From this understanding stemmed my fascination with healthcare in different countries across the globe. How is healthcare approached in nations such as Cambodia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania? I found myself becoming more and more captivated...

When I was two years old, I contracted malaria while living in Zambia. Throughout the subsequent years that I lived in the United States, I became increasingly aware of how uncommon contracting malaria is in developed nations. My fascination with healthcare in different countries across the globe stemmed from this newfound understanding. I became interested in how healthcare is approached in vastly differing nations such as Cambodia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania. I found myself becoming more and more engaged...

Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will provide me with the academic tools necessary to pursue a career in global health. The Health Science major, accompanied by extensive research opportunities will allow me to familiarize myself with the complex and multifaceted field of health. The Global Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) seminar perfectly aligns with my career goal of working at WHO. In addition to the major, the minor in Public Health will enable...

Throughout my four years of high school, I have chosen to spend a couple weekends every month competing in Model United Nations conferences. Spending my Saturdays cooped up in a classroom with 40 other high school students may sound like torture to some, but to me, giving up a portion of my weekend to . Working with others to build solutions to the world’s problems has lead me to think more about my place in the world, and what I can...

From jocks to robotics nerds to dancers, my group of friends is comprised of individuals who, on the surface, seem to have nothing in common. Surrounded by a school environment that is primarily composed of cliques identified mainly by race, my friends and I are quite the anomaly. From brown skin to blue eyes, we form a spectrum of different races, cultures, and colors. While these may seem to be factors that drive us apart, our differences are what brought...

When I was two years old, I contracted malaria while living in Zambia. Throughout the subsequent years that I lived in the United States, I became increasingly aware of how uncommon contracting malaria is in developed nations. My fascination with healthcare in different countries across the globe stemmed from this newfound understanding. I became interested in how healthcare is approached in vastly differing nations such as Cambodia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Tanzania. I found myself becoming more and more engaged...