Elmira Usmanova

While spending every Saturday in a warehouse may not be ideal for many people, it was a time when I felt the most useful. Packaging donated items and shipping them to vulnerable communities helped me feel valuable as if I was making a difference in someone's life. I became a volunteer lead at this organization within a month of consistency. My new role allowed me to provide the other volunteers with an engaging and structured environment. I developed strong leadership and communication skills.

Islamic Relief has sparse volunteering opportunities. Whenever I get a chance, I will attend to help others. During my time, I participated in meal packing. The meals were mainly for the surrounding communities, aiming to help feed the homeless or the less fortunate who could not afford a meal. My biggest takeaway from this organization was that I had a passion for helping others because it is luck that we are not in their position. If the roles were reversed, I would want someone to do what they can to help me.

I started working at Chilis during my senior year of high school to alleviate my mother's financial burden. I continued my work there throughout college during breaks. I obtained various qualities at Chilis, such as working well under pressure, managing my time effectively, collaborating with my team members, and leading in a stressful environment. Within a few months of working there, I quickly advanced from being a server to training others. I was overjoyed that I could build trust with my supervisors and team members to train future employees.

I spent about 5 hours a week participating in MSA events, either volunteering, learning about Islam, or building and strengthening friendships. Being a part of the Muslim Student Association on campus incredibly impacted me. It provided an opportunity for me to build a community and gain a better perception of my religion. This organization pushed me closer to Islam and allowed me to learn more about my purpose in life. It guided me to better, beneficial friendships and learn about diverse cultures.

Conversing with medical professionals who came to speak at this organization allowed me to foster a love for medicine. In this organization, we helped the community by volunteering for soup kitchens, the campus football games, organizing bake sales, and more. I participated in global issue discussions revolving around medicine and gained an understanding of the medical school admission process.

A leadership role I had was as a treasurer for Phi Eta Sigma through UIUC. It was an organization that recognized and encouraged academic excellence. I allocated resources for the different events and scholarships we organized and tracked expenses. Ensuring the accurate handling of funds was also one of my responsibilities. My role required strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a commitment to financial integrity. I further developed my ability to multitask and collaboratively work with my team.

Once a week, I would walk into the research facility excited to play a small role in possibly changing the world. Individually placing 100 probes on the participants' heads in the designated locations allowed me to start conversations with them to ease their nerves. I also set up the tasks and activities they had to do while we recorded their brain activity. This experience allowed me to learn that even the most minor task responsibilities play an essential role in changing the world.

I had the privilege of attending weekly meetings and participating in a medical outreach program that aimed to deliver free healthcare in vulnerable communities. Collaborating with healthcare professionals and learning essential skills such as patient intake and dedication, I increased my knowledge and hands-on experience with medicine. I learned about global health disparities, which only increased my passion for becoming a doctor.

As a patient registrar in the emergency department, I played a critical role as I was the first point of contact for patients in high-pressure situations. My responsibilities included gathering patient information, verifying their insurance, and ensuring accurate medical records were assigned to each patient. My strong attention to detail and ability to remain calm under pressure allowed me to be successful in this position. Although I was able to deepen my understanding of the administrative side of medicine, I also saw the need for more quality care patients received.

Volunteering in the day surgery department, I supported patients and medical staff throughout the pre- and post-operative process. My role consisted of assisting with patient check-in and providing them comfort while they waited for their family members to finish their procedures. Transportation patients allowed me to communicate with them and ease their nerves before they went into surgery. I was exposed to the surgical environment, which I have considered pursuing. This role allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation for patient-centered care.

I spent my limited undergraduate career at a local elementary school on campus. I assisted the teachers in maintaining an organized classroom while building a positive student environment. My responsibilities ranged from helping students with homework to creating fun activities to entertain them during their free time. Working with children taught me to prioritize what we can control and learn to let go of the rest.