In the space provided, please write a concise narrative in which you describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your ideas about student responsibility, academic integrity, campus citizenship or a call to service.
"Meow, meow", abuela says as my mother tries to talk to her. Meanwhile my dad focuses on getting his mother to eat the snack bag of chocolate chip muffins and drink a strawberry shake. He has to feed her himself because she no longer can move her fingers freely. Late stage Alzheimers causes the victims toes and fingers to crumple together. Her mentality is that of a child. She no longer recognizes and hasn't for years now. My mom is Maria to my abuela; not sure why she thinks that way because Maria is abuela's name. Tia Nancy, my dad's sister, visits abuela everyday but even she has been forgotten by her.
Family is beyond just important to me. I believe that having connections and bonds to others is what defines a person. Yet the fact that a disease like Alzheimers exists, which erodes at the bonds, the memories, and the connections that a person has is nothing but tragic and an abomination. The first time I looked into her eyes and saw nothing was what pushed me onto the path I take to this very day. I remember being devastated that the person I knew, had developed memories with was incapable of recognizing me. The wise woman who protected her family and worked so hard all her life in order to provide a good life for her children was gone.
I can still see her when she visited my home back in 2001. Back then she was lucid, talking, laughing and enjoying herself. We visited museums and went to the zoo. Yet even then we saw the signs of what was happening to her. She would randomly accuse us of not wanting her and not liking her and crying in the guest room. Three years later she was diagnosed with Alzheimers; by this time short term memory was gone.
My goal is to become a researcher. A person who strives everyday to find the reasons behind a disease and what we can do about it. The reason for this is because people, friends, and family, the things that make up a community, are important to me and seeing a disease so easily wipe away cherished bonds is unbearable. I enjoy being involved with a community and whether it be at UF or elsewhere I will always have people I can develop trust with. If the UF community can help me achieve my goal, then there is nowhere else I can wish to be.
"Meow, meow", abuela says as my mother tries to talk to her. Meanwhile my dad focuses on getting his mother to eat the snack bag of chocolate chip muffins and drink a strawberry shake. He has to feed her himself because she no longer can move her fingers freely. Late stage Alzheimers causes the victims toes and fingers to crumple together. Her mentality is that of a child. She no longer recognizes and hasn't for years now. My mom is Maria to my abuela; not sure why she thinks that way because Maria is abuela's name. Tia Nancy, my dad's sister, visits abuela everyday but even she has been forgotten by her.
Family is beyond just important to me. I believe that having connections and bonds to others is what defines a person. Yet the fact that a disease like Alzheimers exists, which erodes at the bonds, the memories, and the connections that a person has is nothing but tragic and an abomination. The first time I looked into her eyes and saw nothing was what pushed me onto the path I take to this very day. I remember being devastated that the person I knew, had developed memories with was incapable of recognizing me. The wise woman who protected her family and worked so hard all her life in order to provide a good life for her children was gone.
I can still see her when she visited my home back in 2001. Back then she was lucid, talking, laughing and enjoying herself. We visited museums and went to the zoo. Yet even then we saw the signs of what was happening to her. She would randomly accuse us of not wanting her and not liking her and crying in the guest room. Three years later she was diagnosed with Alzheimers; by this time short term memory was gone.
My goal is to become a researcher. A person who strives everyday to find the reasons behind a disease and what we can do about it. The reason for this is because people, friends, and family, the things that make up a community, are important to me and seeing a disease so easily wipe away cherished bonds is unbearable. I enjoy being involved with a community and whether it be at UF or elsewhere I will always have people I can develop trust with. If the UF community can help me achieve my goal, then there is nowhere else I can wish to be.