When I work out and eat right, I push myself not only for the sake of improving my physical appearance, but also for the sake of improving my mental stamina. The resilience and strength built in the gym are reflections of my determination in other areas of my life. I am not just fighting to break my running record, or to hit a higher target heart rate, I am fighting for my dreams, goals, and passions. My name is Priyanka R. Oza and I am a recent graduate and aspiring writer. My love and adoration for health from early childhood. My father passed away of heart disease when I was twelve years old. Thereafter, my family members went through immense struggles. When my father left this Earth, his suffering had ended, but the suffering that my family had to go through in order to become functional again, had only begun. My family went through numerous interpersonal and financial struggles after the death of my father. When my mother’s full attention went to taking care of autistic brother, I was left with an identity crisis.
At twelve years old, I was forced to make every decision that would determine the outcome of my life on my own. Funding my education, supporting my dreams of taking dance lessons and earning money to help support my family were just a few. As an out of shape teenage, I quickly realized that none of my goals would get accomplished if I did not have motivation and discipline. After committing myself to learning about healthy eating and regular exercise, I morphed myself into an individual that was driven enough to achieve her goals. Committing to a healthy lifestyle set me apart from the crowd; mediocrity was no longer an option. I still live by this principle. And whenever I forget, my struggle in the gym to become my best self serves as a constant reminder. I began to make the “preventative maintenance” of health a part of my thought process. I took an Honors level health class in high school, I was simply astounded at what an impact it had on my attitude towards nutrition, fitness, and health. As a result, I decided to pursue Public Health in college in an attempt to reach out to the masses and to inspire them to build superior health. After holding multiple positions in the 9-5 world I believe it is time for me to transition from cubicle culture to directly working with people and most of all, writing. My passion for writing and health has led me to write for EmpowHER. I firmly believe in the power of healing through self-education, proper nutrition and exercise. Committing to one’s health goals can bring a level of commitment, dedication and productivity that can lead individuals to success in all areas of their lives. For this sole reason, I research, I write and have chosen health as my main area of interest.
During my undergraduate education, I had the opportunity of job shadowing numerous physicians. The exposure which I gained from those experiences opened my eyes to professions outside of traditional medicine which are also committed to improving patient health. I found that professionals such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and nurses could also have a positive impact on a patient’s quality of life. After interacting with patients, I realized the most important part of the puzzle: personal responsibility. If a patient is not committed to his or her well-being, no amount of professional help will drive him or her to seek superior health.
I connected the dots back to my first case study: my father. The attitude “I am going to die one day anyway” is a very crippling conclusion which prevented my father, and prevents millions of people around the world, from obtaining optimal health. Life deprives nobody of any experiences, positive or negative. When people increase the incline on their treadmills just a little bit higher, curl just one more rep, cook more healthy meals and research their own ailments for self-improvement, they internally get in touch with the powerful men and women whom they must become to face life’s challenges and triumphs. I find that struggle is Mother Nature’s way of strengthening us all. While Mother Nature’s process can be very gradual, it is without a doubt very thorough. Thus, I have realized the impact which I want to have on people: I wish to motivate others and to inspire them to take personal responsibility for their health.
I like to summarize the pathway towards building health with fundamental tenets, most importantly education. I appreciate you giving me your attention along the way to your superior health and my superior efforts. If there is anything more I can do for you, please feel free to get in touch. Feedback is critical for writers!
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