Personal Statement

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Right as I moved to California, the state saw a record amount of rain, and this immense
amount of rainfall caused flooding. I live in a small farming community where the poverty rate is
high. A lot of people were directly affected and lost something in this flood. Many of my city's
residents had to be evacuated, while our neighboring town, Planada, became submerged
underwater when a levy broke. Being new to the area during this disaster, I found that the way I
could make my community a better place was to serve others. Upon moving here, my family and
I quickly became very involved in the community. This allowed us to help others on a whole
different level. My dad is the President of the local hospital, my mom is involved in the University
of California Merced Friends Circle and is the PTA President of a local private school, and I am
involved in a leadership position at my school. This has led us to see the many needs of others
while we experienced this natural disaster. In the middle of the night, my family and I went out to
fill sandbags for members of our community. We waded through water up to our knees while we
filled countless sandbags for people in desperate need of help. After the storm had passed, the
community now needed to rebuild, and the city of Planada was the most devastated. We spent
weekends gathering food, supplies, and clothing to give to these people in need. I was involved
in the gathering and distribution of these items and was part of the Helping Hands humanitarian
aid efforts to clean up the town, assisting them in this disaster. In my community service efforts,
I have been able to help others when they had lost everything in this flood. I have learned how
the impact of serving others has had on my life and the lives of those in my community. I have
also seen the influence I can have on my community as I involve myself and try to make a
difference.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to
overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
The biggest challenge that I faced was when I moved from Utah to Pennsylvania before
my Sophomore year. In Utah, I was popular, comfortable, and happy. Everyone at my school
knew me and I had a group of friends who shared my same values. I had lived there for seven
years when my parents decided to move across the country. In Pennsylvania, the culture is very
different than out west. The "East Coast" personality is very real. People would walk away from
me when I tried to talk to them, I was discriminated against because of my religion, and they
were not as warm and welcoming as I had hoped. This is one of the primary reasons I want to
go to school here in California, because of the people and social culture here. My whole life
flipped upside down when I moved. It was a very humbling experience to go from the top of the
social hierarchy to the bottom. Every day I would eat lunch alone, walk by myself to class, and
go through the day with the main goal of just "surviving" school. Throughout this time I chose to
focus on my relationships with my family. My parents quickly became my best friends, and I
would choose to hang out with them on the weekends rather than go to parties. Choosing to
stand alone protected me because, at these parties, drugs and alcohol were present. It was
once I chose to change my mindset from surviving to thriving that I saw my life start to come
around. I focused on going to school to grow academically and socially with others instead of
just goofing off with my friends. After a year and a half of living in Pennsylvania, I moved to
California. I brought with me the life lessons of resiliency, keeping a positive attitude through
trials, and many other countless things. Without this challenge, I wouldn't have been able to
grow and become the person I am today.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and
demonstrated that talent over time?
The greatest skill that I possess is my ability to connect with others. Since a young age, I
have had unique opportunities to be involved in professional settings. My dad is the President of
a local hospital. Because of his role in the community, his job is a family matter. I was taught
from a very early age that I represent my family wherever I go. I learned the importance of
healthy relationships and developed a talent for being able to carry on a conversation with
people of varying ages and backgrounds. We would go to the Tampa Bay Lightning games and
I was not there to watch the game, but instead to entertain others.
I’ve attended schools with very diverse demographic backgrounds. I started at a predominantly
white wealthy school in Utah. Then I moved to a more middle-class, slightly more diverse school
in Pennsylvania. Now I live in California where I am in the minority for race, social class, and
religion. Having lived in multiple states and attended different schools I can relate and become
friends with anyone. I have been able to develop close relationships with the people who are
making poor choices like being involved in gangs and drug use. As a white Christian male, I
have very little in common with these people but I have been able to build bridges that no one
has been able to do in my school's history. They have told me they "have my back" if I ever got
into a fight, which I hope never happens, and I have received "homie" status. I have connected
with and been friends with nerds, athletes, people who are making wrong choices such as doing
drugs and alcohol, popular people, people who are alone, and anyone who comes across my
path. My goal in life is to be a positive force for change and try to make a positive impact on
everyone I come into contact with.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively

influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
I have been very fortunate to be involved in many leadership positions throughout high
school. I am currently the Associative Student Body Vice President at my school. It is my
mission as a member of the Associative Student Body Council to help student leaders grow as
they help create meaningful activities and change the lives of the students at the school. Early
on, I memorized this mission statement so I wouldn't get lost in the power of being in charge but
instead, remember what matters and my purpose. The part in this mission statement that had
the most meaning to me was to "change the lives of the students at the school." The most
rewarding part of my job was seeing how lives can be changed by what you do. Even though
you probably don't think planning school dances and rallies changes lives, it changes the culture
on campus, which makes high school a more enjoyable chapter of someone's life. I work hard to
make it so that when people look back at high school, they remember the good memories they
have made. At every student section at each game, I stand in front and am the "hype man." By
stepping out of my comfort zone and looking often silly and stupid, I make it so that everyone
else has a fun time. At these games, I interact with others, attempt to learn people's names, and
be friends with the person who is alone. By making connections with these students I have felt
the positive influence I have had at my school. One of the things that I have discovered is that
you often don't learn of the difference you make. I have had advisors, administrators, and other
students tell me of something that I did that had left an impact months after it had happened.
This has given me a new perspective on leading others. I now focus on the difference I can
have instead of the praise I receive for doing something. Because of this, I have seen myself
become a better leader.

Please tell us about your interest in serving the SJV and about activities that
demonstrate your commitment to serving the SJV community.
I am currently someone who is experiencing the struggle of finding accessible health
care in the San Joaquin Valley. My fingers are clubbing from a condition that doctors are
working to diagnose. I've had to go out of town for my appointments because I cannot get the
testing I need here at home. This is inconvenient and I have had to miss school because it takes
the whole day to drive to and from my appointments. I have seen firsthand the need for
accessible healthcare here in the SJV. I would like to bridge that gap, first by staying in the
community to go to school and second by returning here after residency as a physician to serve
the community that I have grown to love. My roots connect me here to the SJV. My
great-grandparents were Assyrians and immigrated from Iran here to America. They settled in
Turlock and made the SJV their home. The SJV is an incredible place with people of many
cultures and backgrounds. The people in our community deserve to have access to a variety of
healthcare specialists. Many people choose not to get the healthcare they need because they
cannot or do not want to travel to receive care. Although we live in a diverse community, people
are very hesitant about moving here. They are concerned about the location, demographics of
our cities, and the quality of public education. This has caused us to have a shortage of doctors
and other healthcare providers here in the SJV. I love living in Merced, in fact, I live down the
street from UC Merced and can see the campus from my home. I would love to be a Bobcat and
be part of the second class to graduate from Medical school at UC Merced.

Please describe an experience in your life that has shaped who you are or allowed you to
be your best self.​​
One of the things that shaped my life at an early age was getting my Eagle Scout.
Throughout the process of earning my Eagle Scout, I learned many leadership skills that have
helped me in school, in various church callings, and in other civic activities. While being a scout
teaches you to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent, I learned so much more.
I learned the value of a good leader. During my years of scouting, I had some leaders
that were better than others. I learned that you can tell a person who is dedicated to their
responsibility versus somebody who is just doing the bare minimum to get by. I decided at that
moment that I would give 100% to anything that I committed myself to. I also learned that being
a good leader is more than just saying the right thing. It is doing the right thing, even when
nobody is watching.
I have learned how important it is to choose good friends and be a good friend to others.
I saw many kids fall away from their beliefs and lose focus on their goal of becoming an Eagle
Scout because they started hanging with a different crowd. Choosing good friends is so
important. I was fortunate to have good parents who kept me focused and on the right track. I
was able to persevere and receive my Eagle Scout at the age of 14. I learned the value of hard
work and the reward of doing something that I put my mind to.
While I don’t see myself ever camping again, I have taken the principles I learned in
scouting and am applying them to life.

Please describe a time when you were faced with a moral or ethical dilemma
or a situation where you had to stand up for something you believe
in and how you responded.​​
I have moved many times throughout my life and have attended three different high
schools. During my sophomore year of high school, I lived in Pennsylvania. This was a very
challenging time in my life. Before moving, I lived in an area where many of the same people
around me shared the same values and beliefs. I remember quoting Dorthy from The Wizard of
Oz, "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kanas anymore." When I first said this I was just trying to
be funny, but now looking back it encapsulates how I felt: alienated. People in Dallas
Pennsylvania have an 'East Coast' mentality. They are not outwardly kind to newcomers. The
kids at my school seemed to have the exact opposite values that I had, and I was in the
religious minority. Many people judged me for my beliefs and my religion. I discovered that when
your values are challenged by someone else, you must stand up for what you believe. I have
had to stand up for myself many times. When I got invited to parties where illegal drugs and
alcohol were present, I chose to stay home. This decision did not increase my popularity, but it
protected me from the negative side effects of underage drug and alcohol use. It also protected
me from getting in trouble with the law. I would sit alone every day at lunch when my friends
would leave to go vape in the bathroom. I made the decision when I was younger that I wouldn't
do drugs, smoke/vape, etc. I saw firsthand the damaging effects that vaping had on them
physically and mentally. Their school work suffered and they made bad choices by driving while
they were using drugs. Staying home kept me safe. Choosing to spend my weekends with my
parents allowed me to grow closer to them. My parents became my best friends, and I
depended on them as my support system. Standing up for my beliefs and morals was difficult,
but ultimately it strengthened me and helped shape the man that I have become.

In what ways have you advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion in your school, home,
or community?
I am currently the Associative Student Body Vice President at El Capitan High School in
Merced. As a leader, I have focused on my role as a representative of the students at my
school. In my Associative Student Body Council meetings, I try not to focus inward on what
activities would benefit me but instead focus outward on the activities that will leave an impact
on the people at my school. My dad has worked as a Hospital CEO for most of my life. I learned
at an early age that the sporting events, movies, concerts and galas were not for my
entertainment. It was my job to help our guests feel included and comfortable. As a young child,
I learned how to communicate with adults and I have developed the ability to get along with
anyone. I have been able to use this skill at school. I am friends with everyone and I have gotten
to know the needs of the students. I have been able to advocate for different groups so they can
be represented in our campus's culture. I have been told that I am one of the first people at my
school who has held a student leadership position that has focused on each group and has
worked to make them feel seen, appreciated, and included. In my ASB Council meetings, we
have had instances where members have made comments that make fun of and mock people
at our school who are different than them. I've been the one to stand up for these people and
put our meetings back on track. I wear a shirt to bed that says Hello Humankindness. I think it is
important to be kind and celebrate everyone's differences regardless of age, race, gender,
sexual orientation/identity and economic status. The world would be boring if we were all the
same.

What hardships have you faced and how have you worked to overcome them?​
I have struggled many times in the past with my identity and self-esteem. Like many
teens, I rooted my self-worth in my successes. How I viewed myself depended on how smart I
was, how popular I was, or what people thought of me. This was a very unhealthy lifestyle. I was
constantly insecure and self-conscious, and I let other people's thoughts and actions dictate my
life. This led me to be easily manipulated and used. When I moved across the country from
Utah to Pennsylvania, this experience was extremely difficult for me. I was no longer popular, no
one knew who I was, and I felt worthless. I struggled with anxiety and my perception of my
self-image. Every day, I would only go through the motions of life until one day, I realized that I
wasn't living the life I wanted to live. It was then that I took action. I chose to start seeing myself
as the person I wanted to become. Instead of looking at my problems, I started looking at my
possibilities. In this process of becoming who I wanted to be, I found peace within myself. I no
longer depend on external factors to dictate my self-worth because I know that I am enough.
Life is hard, but when it gets tough I have emotional resiliency, so I can overcome anything.

Becoming a doctor is a lifelong commitment. Please describe activities that demonstrate

your commitment to and passion for medicine.
Throughout my life, I have been involved in the healthcare community. My parents both
had careers in the Medical field and my sister is currently attending nursing school. My dad is
the President and CEO of Mercy Medical Center Merced. He has been the CEO of hospitals
throughout the country including Utah, Florida, Pennsylvania, and California. My dad's job
requires us to be involved at the hospital. Every year instead of spending my holidays sleeping
in and spending the day at home, I help out at the hospital alongside my dad. I have served
Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, I have delivered New Year's Eve treats and party hats to
the staff and rarely make it home by midnight to celebrate with my family and friends. I have
spent late nights delivering treats to show my appreciation to the workers, and I have spent
many Saturdays throwing holiday parties for employees and their families. I have also grown up
going to sporting and other social events where I had to talk to doctors and other professionals.
Growing up in this environment I was always asked, "What are you going to be when you grow
up?" And my response was, "I want to be a doctor." My parents have raised me to care for
others, so the best career for me is medicine. My mom has exemplified what it means to care for
others. When I was younger we were having lunch with some friends at a McDonalds when a
woman ran in saying that she needed help. Because my mom was previously an EMT she was
able to help. The woman's elderly mother was smoking in the car during a hot summer day in
Florida and became unconscious. My mom was able to provide care to this elderly lady in her
time of need and save her life. I have since lived my life using the example set by my parents to
care for others. The medical community hasn't just been something that I am committed to, it
has been a key part of my life and upbringing.