I was told I wasn't good enough...

Growing up in a small Romanian town is quite the challenge and daring to dream about having a successful career is not taken too seriously.

From a very young age I knew I was built for a better life, I knew I had to work my way up and be someone who has the power to make a change in the world. Unfortunately my family at the time wasn't supportive of my dreams; I remember my uncle saying that I should marry young otherwise I will never achieve anything in life. I still feel the anger I felt over 15yrs ago when I first heard that. My parents weren't there to teach me about life or guide me through it, so I figured it out on my own. Telling me I wasn't good enough only gave me another reason to prove them wrong, to prove to myself and everyone else that with hard work and perseverance I could achieve anything in life.

I had my first job when I was 14 years old and never stopped working since; I was living with my godmother at the time and she made sure to be a strong role model for me. She created a path for me to go on, gave me the tools to build myself and made sure I was independent and I wouldn't accept less than I deserved.

Unfortunately the safety net she provided me with was taken away from me too soon, I felt I wasn't ready to be on my own at 16. For a while I felt lost and angry at the world for taking her away from me, but then I remembered everything she thought me so I stood up, left Romania and never looked back. I worked very hard to get where I am today. And trust me, life wasn't kind to me afterwards either. Looking back, I am happy it was difficult, because now I am even prouder of my achievements and I am highly motivated to become a doctor and make the world a better place. The secret is, to believe in yourself even when no one else does, be bold, be brave to take risks and remember that you do have a voice. You have the power to create your own life the way you want it, to overcome any obstacle and help others do the same. Surround yourself with people who appreciate you and lift you up, because life is too short to spend it with anyone who isn't contributing to your happiness.

I am leaving you with a passage from a book written by my favourite author Joan Didion: 'I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m just telling you to live in it. Not just to endure it, not just to suffer it, not just to pass through it, but to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it.’