Just Keep Swimming

When I was really little, I was unhealthily obsessed with the movie Finding Nemo. So much so that I had basically every line memorized. As I got older, and my parents would occasionally bring it up, or if I felt a bit nostalgic, I would always re-watch it. One thing that never changed and always resonated with me was Dory’s famous line, “just keep swimming.” Throughout my 19 years of life, there have been as many highs as there have been lows, but I always found a way to keep swimming. I am still in the process of figuring out who I am and learning to love myself along the way. As a sophomore in college, I think most people would expect me to have this life thing all figured out, but the truth is I don’t. Yet, I think that’s the beauty of it; we are free to explore who we are, and what we want.

Before I continue talking about myself, I’d like to briefly talk about the individuals that are the reason I am where I am today. Paola and Camilo Zambrano are my parents, both born and raised in Colombia. They came to the U.S. in their late teens with the hope that most immigrants have, the chance at a better life. They met in their early twenties, here in New York, fell in love, and had me. I was born in Flushing, Queens, and moved out to Long Island when I was about five years old; which was when my little sister, and only sibling, Isabella was born. Spanish was my first language, but as soon as I started school I was able to learn English pretty quickly. I was usually a very shy and quiet person growing up unless I was around someone I knew well. I was also a very, VERY picky eater but thankfully I outgrew that as the years went by. 

Being not only the oldest daughter, but granddaughter, and niece in the family came with a lot of pressure, as I was always met with so many high expectations that I tried to meet for as long as I can remember. It taught me discipline and determination, and I grew to be intelligent, respectful, and loving; traits that I believe my family and friends see as well. When I’m with friends, I’m always referred to as the “mom” out of all of us because I was always the one to make sure everyone was okay, and I was the “goody-two-shoes,” so to speak. I never saw this as a bad thing, and I think my friends are appreciative of it. I honestly believed this stems from my very strict parents, so I was always very extra cautious and responsible when it came down to it. My mother was always at home and around me and my sister, so I’m sure I get a lot of my tendencies from her as well. I consider how my family and friends see me as strengths, and I’m proud of who I currently am, but growth is a process. Thus, I have weaknesses that I need to work on as well. Overthinking is something I admittedly have a problem with, I’m not very trusting of others or when I’m in situations I can’t control, my thoughts usually get the best of me. Depending on the situation, I can be very impatient. Waiting for something for too long can be incredibly frustrating for me. However, because I still have so much to learn about myself and so much to experience, I know I will continue to change and grow to be someone I will always be proud of, and I hope those I love will be proud of as well.

In terms of what I’m passionate about, I care about the well-being of others, whether it be physically or mentally and I genuinely respect those whose careers are centered around that as well. I grew up with several doctors in my family and always wanted to follow in their footsteps. I am blessed to be a part of the Sophie Davis Program, majoring in Biomedical Sciences because it brings me closer to a career I’ve always dreamed about. Once I’m done with my studies, I hope to become a culturally competent pediatrician who provides children with the best care possible. I love kids and being a part of, what seems to be, a never-ending family, I was always surrounded by children. As one of the oldest, I was also always the one to watch them or take care of them. I’d like to be a doctor that kids are actually happy to see, and not one that they hate coming to when they get sick or need a check-up. With this career, I hope to get to a place where I can provide for my family as much as they have always provided for me. They sacrificed so much to ensure that my sister and I live our best lives and my goal is to make sure they no longer have to worry about that. I want them to be able to enjoy all the beautiful things life has to offer and not feel the need to constantly work so hard. 

While my family and career are something of great importance, I’d also love to be to travel as much as possible! I love exploring new places, getting to know different cultures, and trying new foods. While a job in the medical field is very time-consuming, I hope to find a balance; where I can work hard, and play hard. In addition, I’ve always liked to draw or paint from time to time, even though I’m pretty bad at it, but it always helps me relax. Even though I stopped playing soccer in high school because it became too time-consuming, it is something I will always love doing as well. Almost everyone in my family plays it, and it was usually an outlet for me to de-stress. Currently, because I don’t always have a soccer ball on hand or a field to go to, I like going on runs to clear my head. Lastly, something that nobody knows about me is that I’ve always been scared of escalators. It’s weird, I know, but I’ve always been nervous when going on them because I’m scared that it’ll collapse or my foot will get stuck on the moving stairs… It’s pretty embarrassing. 

My journey has only just begun, and while I might have different strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes a few years from now, I know I will be okay if I just keep swimming!