Crossing Borders, Finding Purpose: My Latin American Pre-Med Journey
- Ambie
- Jul 21
- 3 min read
I didn’t come from a long line of doctors. I didn’t have the typical pre-med story. But I had something that couldn’t be taught in a lecture hall... compassion, curiosity, and a calling that kept showing up in unexpected places. My journey into medicine didn’t begin in a classroom. It began in two countries that would shape my path forever: Peru and Guatemala.
peru: Learning Through Humility
I first traveled to Peru during a summer break. I had volunteered to assist at a local hospital in the mountains of Cusco, not fully realizing the emotional and cultural weight that awaited me. The language was familiar, but the environment wasn’t. Dirt roads, crowded waiting rooms, minimal supplies, and yet endless patience and strength from the patients and providers alike. My days consisted of helping with intake and offering a listening ear to patients who often waited hours to be seen. It wasn’t about white coats or perfect diagnoses. It was about presence.
Guatemala: Dentistry, Scarcity, and Strength
In Antigua Guatemala, I had the opportunity to assist a Canadian dentist at a health clinic serving families. I quickly realized that this was more than just shadowing, it was witnessing real problem-solving in real time. With limited tools and basic supplies, the dentist treated patients with a level of care and patience that stuck with me. There were no high-tech machines or fancy equipment... just skill, compassion, and adaptability. I saw firsthand how a doctor could still make an impact despite scarcity. It was medicine in its rawest, most human form.
I helped organize supplies, prepared instruments, and assisted wherever I could. And while I wasn’t the one providing the treatment, I was learning something no textbook could teach: that empathy, resourcefulness, and human connection are just as important as clinical knowledge.
All of these moments stays with me: patients coming in with different problems with their teeth, and though the resources were limited, the care wasn’t. I watched the Dental physician do everything she could with what little she had and I felt the raw humanity of medicine here. A similar feeling that I had in Peru!
Language: The Bridge That Changed Everything
Being bilingual in Spanish gave me a bridge that many didn’t have. I wasn’t just shadowing, I was connecting. I was translating fears, symptoms, hopes, and sometimes heartbreak. It gave me access to people’s stories in a deeply personal way.
And with that, I understood something vital: language is a tool of healing. Trust starts with being heard, and dignity begins with being understood.
How Latin America Shaped My 'Why'
Those experiences solidified my desire to become a physician. Not for prestige. Not for a title. But because I had seen what healthcare looked like at the margins and I wanted to be part of the solution.
They also helped me realize that the road to medicine didn’t need to be traditional. I didn’t need to follow a blueprint... I needed to follow my purpose. That's precisely why I'm incorporating Latin America into my medical studies. All of the hard work I put into learning the Spanish language is finally paying off.
mY FINAL THOUGHTS
Guatemala and Peru gave me more than clinical exposure. They gave me purpose.
They reminded me that medicine isn't about memorizing facts, it's about showing up. With empathy. With courage. With an open heart and the willingness to learn from every patient, no matter the setting. And I carry that with me now, as I walk a non-traditional path with full intention... crossing borders, still finding purpose.
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