Sara Martinez '21

Healthcare

Since I was young, I have always been fascinated with the study of our natural world. At William & Mary, I've explored the sciences through my Neuroscience major, Public Health minor, research, and volunteering. My sophomore year, I began to explore a potential medical career by volunteering at Olde Town Medical and Dental Center. There - I used my skills as a native Spanish speaker to interpret between the patient and the doctor. This experience propelled me to learn more about the healthcare system in the United States, and strive toward a career in medicine. There is an increasing need for Latina women- a historically marginalized group- in the medical field. I hope to develop my interpreting skills and use them to bridge the gap between non-English speakers and native English speakers. I want to empower the Latinx community, both undocumented and documented, to thrive by providing access to medical resources they may be missing.

Humanity

I have had the incredible opportunity to be both mentored by, and to serve as a mentor for those in the Williamsburg community. Through my participation in Aim4 with the Office of Community Engagement, I learned what it means to be an Active Citizen. I put this lesson into action by volunteering first at the Grove Christian Outreach Center with the food pantry, and later with Lafayette Kids, where we work mostly with underserved, minority children helping them to excel academically, socially, and emotionally. I am also the Service Chair for the Latin American Student Union (LASU), where I've promoted service opportunities for LASU members, hosted service events geared toward the Latinx community, and collaborated with other organizations to volunteer and/or advocate. Through my time volunteering and serving as a mentor for others, I've learned more about myself and how I can best be of service to my community.