2011 Scholarship Entry #150: Aashna Duggal

'Be the change you want to see in the world.' This quote by Gandhi has been overused by many, yet ironically ignored by most. Our generation has the potential to improve our world, this improvement arising from each individuals own ambition and drive to achieve what they believe will change it for the better. When faced with the question of the biggest challenge our generation faces today, I have come to realize that really, what isn't a challenge? Each and every day, millions upon millions face adversity, and although the problems are diverse, the suffering remains the same. With problems such as racism, poverty, inequality, and violence, people in different parts of the world have their own stories of difficulty, none of which should take a backseat to another. However, I believe that because of the laziness and ignorance that exists in our society today that those challenges continue to exist. It is appalling how many people are unaware of current world events, and how many people do and show concern yet do nothing about it. People have the power to make a difference, and through awareness, and self-motivation, can this happen.

When I was younger, I remember being inspired by many passionate people who at a young age took initiative and used their talents to help those in need and spread awareness about the cause they were supporting. From then on, I began to get very involved in my school and my community, volunteering for many events and festivals, as well as at my local hospital, determined to give back and help out where I could. It was then around my time in High School when I decided that I was going to become a doctor. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life helping others, especially those suffering from illnesses in third world countries. My dedication and determination to achieve my dreams led me to applying and spending my summer doing a two month health internship at the Cross Cancer Institute, where I did hands on research alongside a professor. This opportunity definitely opened my eyes to how individuals in society today can make a difference in this world simply by collectively working towards diminishing hardships faced in our world today. Now entering my first year, I plan to work very hard to get into Medicine at the University of Alberta.

However, I am not ignorant of other issues in the world and also plan to contribute more of my time to aiding other organizations. I am currently in the process of joining Red Cross in order to volunteer in their department areas of disaster management and violence prevention. Taking a part in this organization allows me to spread awareness regarding current world issues and get others to join. In the future, I am also planning to take time off during my summers to go on mission trips to Africa. Through my volunteer work I hope to inspire the lives of our generation by getting rid of such ignorance.