As I packed my things from the dorm at the end of my freshman year in college, I remember feeling indifferent to the summer. While most people would be happy to know they wouldn't be going to summer school, I had gotten used to this routine. As far as I can remember, every summer was spent in school or some form of tutoring program; not because of my poor grades, but to keep up. I finally had a free summer and was unsure of what to do. Not wanting to waste my summer idle, I decided to make it productive and landed an internship position at the local health department. Undoubtedly this was one of the two most important experiences that led me to obtain my Master's degree in public health. Interning with the health department was my formal introduction to public health. It quickly became apparent how prevalent and ubiquitous public health practices are in our daily lives. I also gained a better understanding of how critical public health is to the entire healthcare system; in particular, how research and practice in areas of community needs can have notable impacts. Working primarily in clinical nursing and birth and death registries, I occasionally had the opportunity to help out in other areas such as the Black Infant Health Program. This program particularly caught my attention because of how valuable and in-demand it was for the African American community. They provided resources to empower and empower women during pregnancy. Women were provided with information and training so that they could make better choices for caring for and raising their children, in the hope that this would have a positive impact on future generations. This is especially important because… at the heart of the paper… the healthcare context can greatly help gain support at the community level. I want to participate in the growing effort to create an atmosphere that allows dialogue and interest among minority groups who are most disproportionately affected by disease. My desire to pursue a degree in public health is personally driven, and I believe that UC Irvine will serve as a vital foundation in obtaining the knowledge and training needed in my career. With 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 sharpen my health skills, I am currently taking a course in human anatomy and physiology at Loyola Marymount University Extension and am eager to return to studies full-time.