I am an international student born in the Philippines, raised in London and currently have been residing in the UK for the last 8 years. Outside of Medicine, I enjoy cooking and hiking and I have a deep passion for the sport of Fencing which I have been doing for over 10 years. I competed nationally and internationally when I was younger and now just participate in university competitive events. In the last 4 years of medical school I’ve come to realise that surgery is my calling, specifically the specialty of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic surgery. I value the transformative impact each surgery has on the patient whether it be for simple aesthetic pleasure or functional restoration of looks or movement. I’ve learnt about palatoplasty from the talks our plastic surgery society has hosted in the last 4 years I have been a member of and of which I am currently the President of. Through these I’ve learnt more about cleft lip and and palate as well as the CLEFT charity. I believe CLEFT plays a pivotal role in pushing through the boundaries of cleft research and knowledge which is admirable especially considering that it not only focuses on cleft care in the UK but also in developing countries. I would like to be a student ambassador for cleft to help spread awareness of the charity to the rest of our plastic surgery society.