Li

I was born in TaiShun, a village in Southern China, but immigrated to America at a young age. Although I have labeled New York as my primary hometown, I also view Hong Kong, China as my second hometown. Ever since my first visit to Hong Kong last summer, the flavor of the sweet “cha-suey,” pork chop, sauce is still engraved into my taste buds. As I walked and navigated through thousands of people in the humid Hong Kong streets, the inevitable rubbing onto other people’s sweaty arms reminded me of the New York’s crowded Uptown 6 train. I am currently living in Chinatown with my mother, who works for minimum wage as a home care assistant for two elderly citizens by day and is a janitor by night. Despite our obstacles that occurred a few years ago, she has taught me perseverance and hope. I will continue to mimic her hardworking qualities that would help lay the foundation for my long term dream of becoming a doctor.

I am currently enrolled as a Sophomore at CUNY Hunter College studying Biochemistry. Thus far, my favorite college courses have been Chemistry and Psychology because the professors who taught these subjects inspired me to be a critical thinker, innovative, and a competitive scholar. In addition to being part of the NYNY Fellowship of 2012, I also enjoy playing the acoustic guitar, volunteering at the Beth Israel Medical Hospital and with the American Cancer Society, and participating in events within the District One Community. This summer, I am working part-time at Dr. Kin Lam’s clinic in Chinatown, and studying at the NorthEastern Regional Alliance (NERA) Medprep Program at Columbia University. Obtaining the NYNY Fellowship and studying at the Medprep Program at Columbia University are my most relevant accomplishments because they allow me to get one step closer to my dream of becoming a doctor.

As the first person in my family to attend college, I am proud to be part of the NYNY Fellowship community. I know that participating in this program will offer access to unlimited resources: guidance and networking. My career goal is to become a doctor who aids people who have illnesses, researches in clinical facilities, and devotes all I have to my patients. However, I am currently looking forward to continuing my undergraduate studies at Hunter College and then apply to Medical schools. Although pursuing a career in the medical profession will be competitive and rigorous, my commitment to “work even harder in school,” as Dr. Kin Lam told me, will continue to be my motto.