March's Caribbean Excellence Ambassador: Soniya Bag

Every month, we at EmpowerU would like to highlight one of many amazing Caribbean students displaying excellence in the region or abroad. This month we are highlighting Sint Maarten’s very own Soniya Bag.

To learn more about Soniya Bag and her amazing accomplishments, check out our interview with her below.

Name: Soniya Bag

Island: Sint Maarten

Bio: I am 22 years old, born and raised on the beautiful island of St.Maarten to Indian parents. Growing up with Indian cultural traditions and being surrounded by a melting pot of diverse nationalities has made me the person I am today. I have been living in the Netherlands for the past 3 years, studying Medicine. I always get asked where I'm from, and I proudly say I am from the little island of St.Maarten.

Personal Mission: I believe we all have been put on Earth for a reason; we each have a purpose, a function. As we go through life, we must figure it out. Personally, I believe my purpose is to have a positive impact on the world, whether that may be on a personal level, on a community level, or on a global, societal level. I think the path I am on right now (getting my Master's in the hopes of becoming a doctor someday) will help me fulfill this purpose.

Career Field: I graduated with my Bachelors of Science (BSc) in Medicine in 2019 from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. I am currently in my 1st year of the Masters of Medicine. I have always been interested in the sciences since I was a little girl, especially biology. At the beginning of high school, I realized I can combine my interest in the human body and my passion for helping others by studying medicine and becoming a physician.

What inspires you: As cliché as it may sound, it is not about the destination, but the journey. I am focused on my personal growth and progress, trying to be the better version of myself than I was the day before. The ability to accomplish my goals inspires me to set new goals and work to achieve them.

Who has been your role model and why: My mom has been my role model; seeing how she left her home country of India, her family to immigrate to St.Maarten at 21 years old to start a family with my dad is truly incredible. I am forever grateful to her. I have learned and continue to learn so much from her. Generally, I am always inspired by women of color, black women, indigenous women, queer women that are in white male-dominant spaces that are constantly working hard, taking up space, and making themselves heard. Anyone that is standing up against oppression and societal norms is so inspirational to me.

Accomplishments:

I graduated with my BSc in Medicine; being the first person in my near family with a university degree and the first person in my family on the way to becoming a doctor. During Hurricane Irma back in 2017, a couple of friends from St.Maarten and I organized a donation drive in the city of Maastricht for 4 days, where locals and students donated food, water, hygiene products, and so on. We packed a total of 74 boxes and shipped them in a container to St.Maarten. This was the first time I have organized such a project on a massive scale, in such a short period of time. The goodness of humanity was witnessed during this time.

What obstacles have you faced as you worked to accomplish your goals? How did you overcome them?

I think the greatest obstacle I faced while studying abroad was when I was away from my family during Hurricane Irma. That was such a difficult time for all St.Maartener, but it was especially tough being away from your family, your island, your people and feeling helpless. I tried to remind myself why I was studying abroad in the first place and that my parents would want me to focus on school and do my best for them, so I pushed through for 4 months before heading back to the island to give back to the community. A rather new obstacle I am currently facing is doing my Master's program completely in Dutch. For the past 19 years, the language of instruction has been English. So, doing a Master's program in Dutch (my 3rd language) is definitely a challenge. It's been a few months and it's definitely difficult. When I make it through, I will happily share how I overcame this. For now, I am just trying to remain optimistic, open, and confident in my abilities.

Next steps: My next medical internship is in Malaysia. I am looking forward to gaining new skills and knowledge about their healthcare system. I am excited to learn about their culture and meet new people. I hope to receive my Master's degree and eventually become a physician in the future. I am hoping to travel and work in the Caribbean and other developing countries and perhaps, work in public health and have a positive impact on healthcare systems and access to healthcare.

What do you see for the future of the Caribbean?

I believe the Caribbean has so much potential; we have made many strides in the fields of technology, hospitality, arts, sports, and so on. I am hoping that we can strengthen our healthcare systems, improve access to healthcare, and be innovative in preventative and personalized medicine.

Advice for others: You are enough; never change yourself for anyone, especially a job opportunity. If they do not accept you, then that is their loss. You stayed true to yourself and no one can take that away from you.

Know someone you believe is doing amazing things and deserves to be highlighted (it can even be YOU), fill out our survey Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ empoweru.carib and check out our website @empoweru.online