Wendy Pozo Padron

The world that I come from is imperfect, but a beautiful, and blessed. I am a student at Oakwood University now, but it was not always like that. I was born in Cuba in 1993, and I grew up in Havana City until I was 24 years old; the moment when I left my country, and I decided to come to the United States of America. I had to go to my mother in Cuba, who is still there, to find better economic opportunities for my life.
My father, who lives in Florida now, came to the USA in 2012, and since then, he had tried to bring his children ( my brother Jonny and me) to this country. Finally, he got it in 2017, and my brother and I got here. I was neither rich nor even belong to the medium class in my country because, in Cuba, everybody is inferior. My father always tried to help us and sent some money for us to eat. He used to visit us every year and to give us clothes to dress in. I learned from him who to take care of the family and provide for them what they need. My father is not a doctor or an attorney, he is a driver, but he always loves me, and shows me that I must fight for my dreams until I get them.
My mother was my inspiration in life because she never gives up, and she is very faithful to her beliefs, perseverant, and consistent. My mother is a seventh-day Adventist because she believes in God and his promises. She was not able to study any carrier in Cuba, even when she wanted because the Cuban government did not let the Adventist believers keep the Saturday as a rest day. They put finals exams and other assignations essential to pass classes on Saturday, so Adventists had no more options than fall and left the schools. However, my mother finished High School and went to College to do an Associated in Arts without violating her principles. My mother was very faithful, and I learned that faithfulness to God because of her. These experiences with my mother helped me to understand that when we want to achieve our goals, we must be consistent and tried as many times as it is necessary to get it. I learned to be perseverant even when the way to obtain the dream has obstacles.
The only thing that I must leave when I came to the USA was not my mother, and it was also my career. I was a medical student for five years, and I loved it. I enjoyed the time at the hospital with the patients in every rotation, and I like more the Orthopedics Surgery specialty. That is why I want to become an Orthopedic surgeon. God has blessed me because all of what I lived, helped me to get and improve the skills and virtues that I need to obtain my goals. I could not get my degree in MD ( Medical Doctor) because I left my country before the Cuban government would forbid me to leave Cuba( all medical Doctors in Cuba can only leave the country under strict government permission).
When I came to the USA, I still wanted to study medicine, but it was almost impossible for me because I lived in Florida, and the bills that we have to pay required a full-time job for me. I worked full time as a caregiver in a company called Trust and Hope in Orlando, Florida; so, I could not study more than three hours per day. Even though I started to learn English (ESL)at Seminole State College in Florida, while I was praying God for an opportunity to become a physician at the same time. No longer after, I heard about Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and I decided to leave my father in Florida and came to Alabama to study Biology and to complete the first step to get into Medical school: the pre-med degree. God gave me this opportunity, and I take advantage of it.
I am a senior at Oakwood University now, and in May 2021, I will get my degree in Biology. I have improved like a student, like a person at Oakwood, and my faith has grown up. I am preparing myself to get into Medical School in August 2021. I have been fighting to achieve my goals, and I have been perseverant and consistent. I cannot wait for what the future holds for me.