Rotary has been a source of exploration and stability over the past 11 years.  In my Oakland neighborhood with 150 countries represented, I naturally gravitated toward Rotary’s focus on local and international communities.  After my grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s and my father experienced a stroke, I led members of my Rotary-sponsored high school chapter to canvass low-income neighbors and assist them with health care enrollment.  

Gathering at a health fair in Sobrante Park to grab clipboards and Medi-Cal enrollment information before canvassing the neighborhood

Transitioning from an insolvent school district into a rigorous college environment deepened my commitment to Rotary.  My chapter for Stanford-area students and professionals was invaluable during this transition.  As the Director of Professional Development, I created a mentoring program encompassing five Bay Area Rotaract Clubs to encourage mentees, including myself, to embrace change.  Once Secretary (2006-2007) and President (2007-2009) of my local chapter, I led an Executive Board of 8 peers to rally 200 members.  Consistent coaching from Rotarian mentors helped me explore my interests: I raised $75,000 for medical and industrial equipment in three annual projects focused on global health in India and on life-saving energy-efficient stoves in Guatemala.  As I led teams of 7-9 passionate Rotaractors into slums I better appreciated ambiguity as well as how my parents grew up. 

Finishing our final energy-efficient stove for Maria and her family took us a lot less time than building our first few stoves for other Mayan families

Riding on the backs of pickup trucks up muddy mountains meant multicolored ponchos that elicited bird nicknames, like duck, swan, and blue jay

In 2009, I joined the Rotary Club of San Francisco.  As the youngest member of the world’s second oldest club, I quickly traversed the hierarchy.  Within months, I was selected to lead curriculum development for a district-wide initiative, Camp Enterprise.  Drawing on my own 2002 camp experience, I led fourteen other Rotarians to help low-income high school students develop business plans and leadership skills.  Finally, I celebrated my decade of service to Rotary in 2011 as my city’s selected PolioPlus Ambassador in India.  The opportunity to immunize 446,000 children in Delhi and Ghaziabad slums cemented my lifelong advocacy for polio eradication.  

Personally vaccinating ~500 infants and toddlers in India's PolioPlus immunization campaign was an eye opening experience in vaccine politics, a very narrow yet crucial area in global health

While every change in residence spurs membership with a different Rotary chapter, I’ve drawn strength through the international network to consistently live my values while embracing change.