PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (June 12, 2020) – At age 12, my immediate family and I migrated to Texas from Pakistan with hopes of realizing the American Dream. Soon after, my siblings and I began our struggle to try to fit in at school while my parents worked relentlessly to provide for us. Nevertheless, I was raised in a household where education was valued above all else. My siblings and I were constantly reminded of the sacrifices my parents made to come to this country and of all the pain they faced.
Kinza Rizwan
Life for my parents did not get easier once they came to America. They had a harder time learning the new language and assimilating into a culture more than my siblings and I. Throughout high school, I worked hard because I am a firm believer that life would only become easier for my family if I earned an education. With education comes awareness of not only our role in society, but our rights as humans. Because of this belief, I was not given any room to fail. I worked hard in school because I knew that I had so much riding on my education.
I learned how to fill out forms and documents, only leaving a signature for my mom to sign while she was half-asleep in the morning. Even as I was applying to colleges, I remember the anxiety I had looking for scholarships. Attending college meetings on my own was a challenge unto itself. I had to take notes, look at financial aid options, and set up my tours for colleges. I remember telling my parents I was applying for college and seeing them respond with a tired and silent nod. This is what many first-generation students have faced and continue to face. Our parents have been surviving and not yet thriving in the land of the free. The American Dream is only half-realized by our parents, but when I close my eyes, I can finish this so-called “American Dream.”
I graduated from high school with over 70 hours in college credit and was the Salutatorian of my graduating class. I was blessed enough to gain a support system outside my family once I started college at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). For four years, I excelled as an undergraduate honors student at PVAMU and discovered that I enjoy the academic challenge of conducting research in the field of biomedicine. I worked with my advisor, Professor Kazeem Olanrewaju, on a research project to investigate the pathophysiological effects of Fluid-Structure-Interaction (FSI) in Cardiovascular, Nervous, and Lymphatic System. From this experience, I discovered I wanted to continue researching the relationship between the physiology of diseases and their treatment path taken. Therefore, I applied to, and was accepted by, the American Heart Association Fellowship in 2018 as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station. My research participation resulted in a scientific publication in Frontiers in Physiology.
The next summer, I conducted research at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to identify biomarkers that can be used for diagnostic and prognostics purposes in Pancreatic Cancer. In looking back at this summer experience in 2019, my confidence as a budding researcher evolved exponentially as each week progressed. For the first time, I understood how solid scholarship could play a role in shaping discoveries that can ultimately influence the medical field and community at large. For me, this reality was mind-boggling because I grew up without knowing a single scientist in my community, which meant no access to understanding their significance.
In addition to academic work, I held multiple jobs throughout college, sometimes two at the same time. I volunteered every week, interned, and still assisted my family with daily tasks. During my senior year, I served as President of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honor society. One of my major initiatives involved organizing a research symposium and developing a scientific writing workshop for undergraduate students.
As a first-generation college student, I have devoted my time to academic excellence, community service, and leadership development to overcome the adversities of my upbringing. Perhaps, the most rewarding aspect of my undergraduate experience was serving as a role model and as an example of someone who believes in the power of resilience. My undergraduate involvement in activities with the Undergraduate Medical Academy (UMA) allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
Today, I have a degree from Prairie View A&M University – a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Bioengineering and minors in Chemistry and Biology. However, my graduation from college was much different than I had anticipated. I always imagined it being a day when my parents and two younger siblings would watch me walk the stage. I wanted to use that moment to inspire my siblings to show that we can achieve anything we set our minds to through hard work and dedication.
Nevertheless, I graduated with a 4.0, Summa Cum Laude. I was also accepted into some of the top graduate school programs to pursue a Ph.D. In the fall, I will attend Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center to obtain a Ph.D. in Cancer and Cell Biology, continuing in my journey towards my American Dream.
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By Kinza Rizwan