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Sarah Wiggill

Biography

Sarah Wiggill, 19, a native of South Africa who cleaned toilets to help her family of immigrants, has achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the honors program at Broward
Community College in Coconut Creek, FL, in a difficult pre-med course. She decided to become a doctor after her thyroid gland had to be removed. She is the notetaker for a student with a disability, plays guitar and serves as secretary for her church, and won an award for community service. Ms. Wiggill, who cannot be employed because of visa restrictions, helps her parents in their specialty store.

After arriving with her family as an immigrant from South Africa, Ms. Wiggill decided to do whatever was necessary to add to the family's limited funds. She agreed to clean apartments in the building for elderly people who no longer were able to handle this task. "At first, I found the job of scrubbing other people's toilets extremely humbling, but I also learned there is dignity in hard work and a job well done," she wrote. "I was able, as a girl of 16, to contribute in a small but meaningful way to the well-being of my family .. It cemented in me a work ethic that I apply to all of my endeavors."

Ms. Wiggill decided on a difficult pre-medicine course at Broward Community College (BCC) but won honors and earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average that led to her election to the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, a merit scholarship, and membership on the National Dean's List. At the same time, she won a gold service award for community work, tutored in chemistry, and took notes for a disabled student at BCC. She played guitar and served as secretary for her church.

After facing difficult health problems that led to the removal of her thyroid gland, Ms. Wiggill was more determined than ever to follow her childhood dream of becoming a doctor. "I've been fascinated with the intricacies of the human body since I was a young child and this interest has steadily heightened as I continue to study biology," she wrote. "Since I have an ability to learn complicated material, I believe the field of medicine will challenge me and feed my hunger for knowledge." Still, it is less the learning than being able to serve others through medicine that drives her. "Although the miracles of modern medicine are remarkable, the most powerful instrument of healing will always be my personal touch," she explained. She intends to follow a pre-med course toward a bachelor's degree and then pursue a medical degree with a specialty in pediatrics.

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