Initially, I joined SHIP because I had done a similar lane of volunteer work in high school, with the difference being that I served under resourced communities abroad. SHIP was my first exposure to local underserved communities, and I was heartbroken hearing the stories of our patients and their struggles. I once listened to one of our patients choke up telling me how he couldn’t receive the treatment he needed elsewhere, how his father silently passed away from Covid because they couldn’t afford a hospital bill, how he wanted to end it all sometimes because it felt like the world didn’t care. I remember blinking back tears—feeling so sorry for how little we could do and providing the few words of comfort that I had. He held every right to be angry at a broken healthcare system that failed him so miserably, yet he responded with such overflowing gratitude and thanked me for even just giving him the space to talk. There aren’t enough tears to cry for the amount of tragedy in our world and I only have my one heart that can break for those who have been neglected by our healthcare systems, but when I am with my SHIPmates who also believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege, we can act together and become a meaningful source of change. When asked “Why SHIP?”, this is my why. 

Looking back on the endless hours we poured into safely re-opening our clinic doors during the chaos of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, I feel so beyond grateful to all my board and general members who worked tirelessly together to make it possible and so honored to have served so many patients across all our clinics. I also have so many fond memories of our fundraisers, from cutting countless onions (chem lab goggles on, no shame) stress-making pounds of salsa the night before a taco fundraiser to chit-chatting and joking around in between taco sales at our Ring Road stand the next day~ There are so many moments I cherish from my time in SHIP, but here are just a few more honorable mentions: writing silly little poems for my executive board members during our Valentine grams fundraiser and seeing their reactions, getting surprised with heartfelt graduation messages by my SHIPmates, and having fun with my SHIP friends at a bunch of events, socials, and meetings!

After graduating from UCI, I studied at Johns Hopkins for a master’s degree in nursing; I recently graduated and passed my licensure exam, and I’m now preparing to transition into practice! I hope our current SHIP members make the most of their time in SHIP and I wish all past, current, and future SHIPmates best of luck in their own journeys :)