Paul Chhean
2015 UCLA Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient
University of California Los Angeles | School of Nursing
My name is Paul Chhean and I am currently studying at the UCLA School of Nursing, specializing in Pediatric Oncology. I am actively involved in community work and have been serving in the American Red Cross for the last 9 years, beginning as a youth volunteer, a youth council member, project intern and continued present day volunteer. I am also a staff member for Unicamp (which serves impoverished and under-served kids from L.A.)m Bruin Guardians (foster kids), Camp Corazon (Kids with congenital heart diseases), Den Camp (form incoming Bruins) and CampMed (high school students interested in healthcare). The reason that I am so involved in these different camps is because I myself was once a camper and was so impressed to see the people who took the time to help and guide us campers. I was really influenced by these wonderful people and their dedication ignited a flame in me to help others.
I am also heavily involved with my local and regional government. For the last three months, I’ve been working for EmposerLA at the LA City Hall where I work to help efficiently increase governmental response to local needs that are addressed by our various districts’ neighborhood city councils. I have had the pleasure to work under Mayer Eric Garcetti, who oversees my project, and I also collaborate with his Great Streets team in an effort to make LA’s great streets even greater. In September 2015, I will be going to Washington D.C. in which I will be working for the next 6 months on the healthcare reform with either a U.S. Senator on the Educations, Labor and Pensions Committee or the White House’s Domestic Policy council’s Health Policy Division. My time in Washington D.C. will allow me to be involved in the policy making process and I look forward to this great opportunity.
I am very grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given and would not be where I am today if not for my mentors and support system. They have help me understand how important it is to be a mentor myself. I would like to say thank you for the support of my family and my level of gratitude is beyond words.
