Notes

My name is Jagad Colindres, and I was born and raised in Costa Rica. I immigrated to this country in 2014 when I was only 11 years old, and we moved to Alachua to live closer to our family. I attended the ESOL program at Westwood Middle School, and took ESOL classes in my 6th and 7th grades; now, I do not take ESOL classes anymore because I learned how to speak and write English, and I am looking for ways to further advance my education. Now that I am leaving 8th grade and considering the paths I want to take as an adult, I figured out that I would like to attend the AHP program in order to explore a future in healthcare.

For my entire childhood, I was obsessed with how doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers do their jobs everyday. My mom worked as a Nurse Assistant in a trauma hospital in the capital. One day, I had to go to that hospital because of an injury, and while I was there, my mom introduced me to the different parts of the hospital. She showed me the X-Ray room, the doctor's lounge and introduced me to all her co-workers. That day was so exciting that I became very interested in medicine, especially physical therapy.

When I was at the hospital, not only was it an exciting experience, but it was also shocking. I remember passing many rooms and seeing all kinds of suffering. There were people screaming at the top of their lungs because of their serious injuries, ranging from deep cuts to severe burns. I do not like seeing humans suffer and agonize, so I decided, thereafter, to learn more about medicine. I started reading about healthcare on the internet, watching trauma shows on TV, and asking my parents questions about medical care.

My brother started the ESOL program at Gainesville High School, and he told me about the AHP program. I had never had the chance to attend a medical program in Costa Rica, so I got very excited about having a chance to learn more about healthcare. I always shoot to be the highest in all my classes, and I am willing to devote my time to work on homework, projects, quizzes, and tests. In every single class, I always strive to get along with my peers, and get to know all my teachers. I like to be challenged, I like to solve puzzles, and I love to help people, and I feel that the AHP program will be a great foundation for my future career in healthcare.

In conclusion, I would love to attend the AHP program at Gainesville High School to start my path towards a position in healthcare . This program will teach me about medicine, and allow me to explore my interests. I can bring my experience as an ESOL student and my love of learning to the program. If I could have the opportunity to attend the AHP program, I could encourage more Hispanic involvement in the field of healthcare.