ESP WK29 - DY, ALYANNA (3)

CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 200th Anniversary Special IN THE SPOTLIGHT: ALYANNA DY A SMALL TOWN GIRL WITH WOMENPOWERED BYBIGCITYDREAMS

1 TeenVogue Magazine

2 Closer Look Get the inside scoop on Alyanna Dy I would say I am resilient. I guess I can think of it as if I’m a bamboo, and I believe I am very blessed that after each storm, I was able to rise up again and proceed with this 呂欣怡game called life. My name is Alyanna Michaela Sy Dy, , a 9th grader who had the nerve to dream big, and this is my profile. TeenVogue Magazine

3 TeenVogue Magazine I am from a Chinese by blood, but Filipino My Dad enrolled me in swimming by heart family. When you hear the word lessons, then Mom decided to let me Chinoy, you think there’s a specific type of take piano lessons, taekwondo, and person, who has traditions from both sides, arts as well. That’s when I started but I really identify as a Chinoy in the sense becoming a bit more outgoing. that my ancestors came to this country from Growing up, I was always the shy China and they settled in the most Chinese introverted girl who enjoyed reading place in the city which was Binondo. My by the corner. But at the same time, childhood, was quite normal, I would say. as the middle child, I was also a social Although it wasn’t perfect, for one, when I butterfly filled with spunk, in a was in nursery, my family and I got into a manner that I liked meeting new major car accident, but thankfully, there people and hearing about their stories were no deaths. My parents are strict and learning more about them. conservative parents, I guess, as all Filipino- Chinese parents are.

4 TeenVogue Magazine My parents made sure that we stayed humble by letting us join them when they go do volunteer work for marginalized groups and indigenous tribes. That really opened my eyes to different social realities that were present in our country. This combination of me wanting to create social impact and also my curiosity of the world, as well as growing up in a family of tenacious people who could do anything they put their mind into, made me question or look for the intersection between creating social impact and also perseverance.

5 TeenVogue Magazine

6 TeenVogue Magazine I often get asked what profession I'd like when I grow up, and I just can't pick one. I grew up with 2 brothers in a very active family, so we’re very competitive when it comes to sports, or games, or just being good in general. Being an only girl, I don’t like losing against my brothers, so whenever they learn something new, I ask them to teach me, then I practice it a lot. Growing up in a “Jack of All Trades” environment, I was trained to master more than one skill, so, choosing one career path for my entire life, was pretty difficult. But if I were to really choose, I want to be a good pediatrician. Although it may sound cliché, I believe the main reason why becoming a pediatrician is on the top of my list is because of the joy I experience when collaborating with younger children. We’d naturally get along after I let them sit on my lap as we watch a few Cocomelon videos and geek out on our favorite characters in Encanto. Helping others truly makes me happy, and children are much more enjoyable to be around than adults! Children have no preconceived notions about how things should work or how people should act.

7 TeenVogue Magazine They come as they are and tell it like it is, and puzzle that I enjoy. I like to question the I find their genuine honesty, combined with status quo and deconstruct presumptions their natural curiosity, refreshing and uplifting. while looking for new and better solutions I also was one of the curious children before to improve the way humanity lives. I hope who asked why the sky was painted blue, how that by becoming a good pediatrician, I birds fly, and many other questions that will be able to use my voice to advocate sparked my interest. The scientific process of for children and the people who care for wondering, questioning, and then attempting to them in any venue possible. Our children prove or disprove a theory fascinates me. I are our future, and they have the power to loved the system of science and how it answered change the course of history. That is why I my questions with evidence. Using my consider it a great honor to be able to inquisitiveness to piece together hints to figure serve them, be a part of their lives, and be out what is wrong with a child or how to best that stepping stool to their success and help them and their family is a truly amazing greatness.

8 TeenVogue Magazine

9 TeenVogue Magazine I have always envisioned myself to be working abroad, because, there are clearly more opportunities there, however, I want to first work here in my hometown, gain more knowledge, and give back to the people who have helped and supported me throughout my medical school journey. Being a pediatrician I believe, emphasizes the importance of advocacy in ensuring better healthcare for all Filipino children. Malnutrition claims the lives of 95 children in the Philippines every day. Twenty-seven out of 1,000 Filipino children die before reaching the age of five. Can you imagine how much opportunities and smiles were stolen from these children? Because of this, I believe as a child health specialist, it is my responsibility to our patients to help them manage their diseases as we prevent these diseases from occurring in the first place. Seeking a state of well-being in which a child can grow and develop while being nurtured and protected is what every child is - something every Filipino child is entitled to.

10 TeenVogue Magazine

11 TeenVogue Magazine Because I really wanted to be a doctor, I saw everything I learned as having the potential to help me save someone's life someday, so I took my studies seriously. When I make a mistake, I am saddened not because of the grade, but because of the thought that if I do not understand this, someone may die on my table someday. I think it’s more important to actually take concrete steps and actions to make your vision and your goals reality and to really act on your idea otherwise they’ll simply just be an idea. Surround yourself with like-minded people who inspire you, who challenge you, and drive you to have the courage to fail. I think that experience is the best teacher. I really learned more from failure than from my success. If I were to give advice to the younger generation, it would be it’s good to have plans but it’s also good to be flexible. It’s a very long and arduous road, sometimes you’ll ask yourself why am I even doing this, why am I subjecting myself to torture, but if you always remember or try not to forget the reason why you wanted to become a doctor, then the road will be easier and it’s wonderful the opportunity is open for you, and it’s good for us to know when these are opportunities, and we should grab them, and make the most of them but never stepping on others.

12 TeenVogue Magazine MY NAME IS ALYANNA MICHAELA 呂SY欣D怡Y and...

I strive to ignite hope and make a difference in the lives of millions of Filipino people in my home country by developing and assisting the youth, expressing unconditional love, and improving their physical and mental well-being by being a good physician, a good doctor with thoroughness, morality, righteousness, religious and spiritual commitment so that I may become an instrument in providing better health and a better tomorrow where there is no more uncertainty and the afflicted gets promoted, protected, and saved from unnecessary harm in healthcare.