about me!
My name is Maggie Tolar and I am a senior public health major at the University of South Carolina. I was born and raised here in Columbia, South Carolina and I am so proud to call myself a third generation Gamecock! Growing up I knew that UofSC was a special place and I am so grateful I allowed this institution to shape me into the woman I am today. Through my time here at South Carolina I have grown as an individual, leader, and student. I have been involved in many organizations that have left a lasting impression on me. I have served on the staff of UofSC’s largest student organization, Dance Marathon. Dance Marathon raises money for our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, raising close to $3 million during my time here at Carolina. I have also been involved in public health organizations such as Carolina Health Outreach and Public Health Society. My most recent endeavor has been serving as a peer mentor and instructor for a University 101 class, serving 19 freshman and helping them transition as a student here at UofSC. I intend to graduate in May 2020 and apply for a master’s program in physician assistant studies. I am hopeful that I will graduate with leadership distinction through professional and civic engagement.
When I was younger I developed a love for sports but unfortunately I got the clumsy gene from my mother and ended up in the athletic trainer’s room more than the average athlete. The trainer encouraged me to apply to college as an exercise science major and from there I discovered a passion for science, leading to developing a passion for medicine. I changed my major freshman year to public health when I learned that I enjoyed the personable side of medicine. Public health has shown me a side of medicine that I didn’t know existed. Through several classes and experiences I have developed an interest in preventative medicine. In the United States so many diseases and health issues can be prevented and this has sparked a fire in me to head towards a career in health care. I want to change the lives of people in my community and give people the best opportunity to live a healthy and happy life. Currently I am interning at an orthopedic office here in Columbia and I have seen first-hand how sometimes people do not have control over their health. I have also seen that in order to effect change you have to be passionate and persistent because change is difficult. Ultimately, public health combines leadership, passion, and medicine and it allows people to make a change before damage is done to their health. My experiences through my undergraduate years have led me to the development of three key insights:
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Socioeconomic status and social determinants of health play an important role in medicine.
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Leaders are fueled by motivation and passion and are able to channel that passion into perseverance.
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Public health interventions will save lives and the future of the health care industry.
My leadership section, “Is Your Diet Your Fault?”, outlines a plan to close the health gaps that food deserts in rural South Carolina cause. Food deserts are just one cause, yet a preventable cause, of health disparities throughout the world. I propose mobile farmers’ market trucks that are parked in central locations of communities where healthy and affordable foods are not accessible.