As I was packing up my dorm room at the end of my first year in college, I remember feeling indifferent to the summer. Although most people would be happy to know that they wouldn't be going to summer school, I had gotten used to this routine. For as long as I can remember, every summer was spent in school or some form of tutoring program; not because of my bad grades but to stay ahead. I finally had a free summer and I didn't know what to do. Not wanting to waste my summer doing nothing, I decided to make my summer productive and got an internship at my local health department. This is without a doubt one of the two main experiences that led me to pursue my Masters in Public Health. The internship at the Ministry of Health was my formal introduction to public health. It quickly became apparent how prevalent and pervasive public health practices are in our daily lives. I also gained a better understanding of the critical importance of public health to the entire healthcare system; specifically, how research and practice in areas of community need can have notable impacts. Working primarily in the nurses' clinic and birth and death records, I occasionally had the opportunity to assist in other areas such as the Black Infant Health Program. This program particularly caught my attention because of its value and demand for the African American community. They provided resources to empower and strengthen women throughout their pregnancy. The women were provided with information and courses so that they would be informed to make better choices regarding the care and education of their children, in the hope that this would have a positive impact on future generations. This is particularly important because ...... middle of paper ...... the health care community can greatly assist in garnering support at the community level. I want to participate in growing efforts to create an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and concern among minority groups who are more disproportionately affected by diseases. My desire to pursue a graduate degree in public health is driven by personal reasons and I believe that UC Irvine will serve as an essential foundation for gaining the knowledge and training necessary for my career. Through my persistence in the pursuit of knowledge, I am confident that I will be able to take full advantage of what the program has to offer so that I too can make a significant contribution to public health. To hone my health skills, I am currently taking a Human Anatomy and Physiology course at Loyola Marymount University Extension and look forward to returning to study full-time..