When I first stepped onto a college campus, I was the first in my entire family to do so. Coming from a humble immigrant background, community college was my gateway. Like many community college students, I was nontraditional, new to the country, starting from scratch. This was my first exposure to the American educational system, and I was just trying to figure it out while working multiple jobs.
Eventually, I served in leadership roles in Phi Theta Kappa and the Honors Program, where I led incredible teams that created meaningful change for many students like me: immigrants, nontraditional students, first-generation learners with no one in their families to guide them. That experience shaped me deeply. It taught me that success is not just about personal achievement, but about lifting others who walk similar paths behind you. Leadership, I learned, is about showing up for others.
As I transitioned from community college to Cornell University, then to medical school, and now into my final year of residency at Johns Hopkins Bayview, this conviction has only strengthened: Leadership is not about claiming the spotlight or chasing prestige. It is about pulling others up and leading with purpose grounded in service and humility.
Leadership in medicine often carries the connotation of authority or recognition. Yet the most meaningful leadership I have encountered is quiet and focused on the growth of others. Along the way, I was fortunate to meet mentors who saw my potential beyond my résumé and invested their time without expectation of personal gain. Their example inspired me to do the same: mentoring community college and first-generation students, advocating for those whose voices are often unheard, and supporting peers navigating challenges I once faced.
One of the most humbling and rewarding roles I have had is mentoring first-generation students at Cornell. Many arrive uncertain if they belong, wrestling with doubts and systemic barriers. I recall a mentee who confided her fears of being overwhelmed and invisible. Together, we navigated summer research program applications, academic planning, and self-care strategies. Watching her confidence blossom reminded me that leadership is less about accolades and more about creating meaningful, lasting impact in others’ lives.
This ripple effect (where lifting one person builds a network of support) is essential, especially in medicine where burnout and isolation threaten our well-being. When we lead with service rather than status, we foster stronger, more compassionate teams and communities, and deeper human connection. At our hospital in Baltimore, I see every day how much it matters to show up, not just for patients, but for each other.
Purpose has been my compass through moments of challenge (whether navigating medical school, residency, or advocating for equitable health care access through op-eds). It grounds me and keeps me focused on what truly matters beyond titles or recognition.
My legacy, I hope, will live not in awards or positions, but in the hundreds of students (from community college learners to resident physicians) I have had the privilege to mentor, coach, and walk alongside. Someone showed up for me, so I show up for them. Their stories (of hope, resilience, big dreams, and the balancing act of overcoming barriers) echo my own. In them, I see reflections of the student I once was. And there is no better feeling than the act of giving back.
Looking forward, whether providing primary care, teaching future physicians, or stepping into leadership roles, I carry the belief that leadership is about creating opportunity and empowerment for others. The path is not marked by the size of an office or a string of credentials, but by the depth of one’s commitment to service and community.
To those beginning their leadership journeys, I offer this: Do not chase the spotlight. Instead, look around and see who you can pull up with you. That is where real impact begins.
Sagar Chapagain is an internal medicine resident.
