Who We Are

Cassidy Habel – Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship Essay

I believe that all human beings are a product of their experiences. Some of those experiences can be difficult to overcome at the time, but make us stronger individuals in the long run. I had two substantial challenges growing up that helped me become the person I am today. I know now that I can overcome virtually any obstacle that is placed in front of me, and I am defined by my ability to persevere.

The first challenge came with the diagnosis of an auto-immune disorder. I was a young elementary student that really could not grasp the magnitude of my condition. It was a tremendously scary and uncertain time for me, but after a number of visits to the National Institutes of Health, I was able to get my condition under control. I missed quite a bit of school to travel to the NIH for treatment, but I never let it slow me down academically or socially. I now know what I need to do to keep myself healthy, and remember it only as a minor bump in the road.

The second event was quite different, but no less scary. I was enjoying an after school walk with my middle school friends when I was struck by a motorcycle as I was crossing the road. I looked down to find that my lower leg was shattered and a million thoughts rushed through my mind. Would I lose my leg? Would I cheer again? Would my life ever be the same?

I was airlifted to Children’s Hospital where I underwent emergency surgery. The doctors were able to save my leg and fix my internal injuries, but I would have along recovery ahead. I pushed every day to get better and amazed the doctors with how quickly I healed after such a horrific accident. Once again, I proved to myself that I could overcome virtually any obstacle. I even have an award named after me at Faubion Middle School, the Cassidy Habel Perseverance Award.

I missed quite a bit of school in both instances, but it never impacted my academics. I could no longer compete in Cross-Country but I never allowed it to derail my goal of becoming a high school cheerleader. I spent four years in high school as a cheerleader and earned three letters, all while maintaining a 3.71 grade point average. Those are two accomplishments I am very proud of considering what could have been.

Not only did those two events teach me about what I can push through in life, they also provided me with my hopeful educational and career path. I now know that I aspire to be a teacher. I want to be there for my future students like my teachers were there for me. I want to be able to tell kids first-hand that they can recover from just about anything, and I would love to be able to say that all of it started with an Education degree from Texas Tech University.

Connor Phillip Tompkins – Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship Essay

I took 5 years of Spanish courses before coming to Baylor, but an internship at Waco’s Family Health Center (FHC) was my first opportunity to practice this language in a real world environment. It was my job to interview patients about their social determinants of health and communicate these needs to a low cost, legal services provider. There was limited time to conduct these interviews, so I needed to make my questions clear and concise. This was generally not an issue, until I had my first Spanish speaking patients. Even though I had confidence from my high school Spanish experience, I was surprised at how challenging it was to converse with this family. I was unaccustomed to the fast-paced speed of native speakers, and I was unable to understand the mother’s description of her living conditions.

My grandfather is a physician. He told me stories of how he saved the lives of servicemen as a surgeon in the U.S. Navy, and of the feeling that you get when you do something good in the world. I grew up with these stories, and they inspired me to become a physician. He is also fluent in four different languages, and he used these languages to connect with and treat patients from different backgrounds. Like him, I want to provide quality healthcare without worrying about language barriers. I struggled through my first Spanish interview and decided this was an area I needed to improve. How can I treat the individual needs of a future patient if a language barrier separates us? I was discouraged by my initial interview and had the option to pass along my future Spanish speaking patients to the FHC’s translators.

However, I would not be able to improve my skills if I gave up this real world opportunity. I took my first medical Spanish course that semester, and I worked to apply the vocabulary and grammatical skills from class to my interviews. Additionally, I increased my Spanish vocabulary with words such as “landlord” and “citizenship” that I needed for my internship. This work, combined with simple practice and repetition in the clinic, helped me to gradually improve my conversational skills. By the end of my first semester at the Family Health Center, I was conducting Spanish interviews much more effectively. The nurses working the clinic noticed and began giving me some responsibility as a translator. When they needed to make a call in Spanish but there was no professional translator available, they would have me interpret for them.

I believe the Spanish language is an increasingly important tool for physicians in the United States. I am glad I persisted despite the hard work these interviews required, and I have continued to seek out medical Spanish opportunities in medical school. Through these experiences, I am now confident I can use medical Spanish in my future practice.

Kelan Lawson – Burress Injury Law Underdog Scholarship Essay

When I was born, I had a stroke on the right side of my brain, I was left with Cerebral Palsy. I was told I would never walk or talk, but I overcame that. I have done multiple motivational speeches, I am a manager for the Centennial High School football team, I hunt and fish, I walk with a walker, which surpassed everyone, but my mother’s expectations.

That said, I have worn thick skin from the start. I have always been told “You want to achieve something, good, go after it.” No one is going to give me anything because I am disabled. I always understood that, and I would not ask anyone to give me anything, because of Cerebral Palsy. I am better for that. I have not always been willingly included depending on the situation, but I hold no resentment to the people who have taken this action. I have either found a way to include myself or move on to a better opportunity.

Speaking of my disability has never been an issue with me. If you ignore it, as if it is not there, you are already limiting yourself. How can a person with a disability expect others to be understanding of accommodations and needs if they themselves are not outspoken about the disability? You need to be your own advocate first and foremost.

What I have learned about having a disability is that just because someone does a few things different or looks different than you does not mean they are wrong, they are simply different. Like my mother, for example, it is quite funny when she was more nervous than I was when I spoke at the Frisco Independent School District annual convocation of ten thousand plus people in fifth and seventh grade. My mother was more nervous than me to speak in front of people, but it does not make her wrong, she is different than I am.

I do the absolute best that I can with what I have; I won’t accept anymore or take any less. I would rather be honest, and fail, than be academically dishonest and pass. I have been raised on the philosophy, “accept little, but give a lot.” I have tried to implement that into my daily lifestyle, by making myself known in the communities I have visited, as well as the one I have been a lifelong resident of.

If people need something they can depend on me. I have given to the community by doing meals on Wheels multiple times. My grandmother has worked with Meals on Wheels for over 50 years, so this gives me an opportunity to help others in my community with my grandmother. Through this experience, I have interacted with many interesting elderly people. I have realized that just being an open ear to people can be just what they need. I am that person and I know I will continue to make a difference in the world, despite my differences.