Rising Stars: Meet Hennelie Hawes of Kansas City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hennelie Hawes

Hi Hennelie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It has always been my dream to become a doctor, ever since I can remember. Not only because I love everything about the field of medicine but mostly because of the unique position a doctor holds to truly make a difference in someone’s life. The level of vulnerability and trust that is shared between a patient and their doctor, and the source of comfort a doctor can provide in a patient’s life is what really drew me to this career field.

To me, it’s a very selfless profession – dedicating 11-15+ years of your life training for a job, and one that is built on serving others every day. What an honor, and how fulfilling, to meet someone at what is potentially their lowest point, and walk with them in their journey to recovery. I have always felt called to a career in medicine and and I truly cannot wait to one day have patients of my own.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any journey, there are always many obstacles.

I didn’t get into medical school the first time I applied, and when I didn’t, I was absolutely devastated.

At the time, I was working 4 jobs so that I was able to afford all of the costs associated with applying to medical school, on top of having to pay back my student loans from college. I was also volunteering and shadowing various physicians to gain clinical experience at the same time. To say I was tired and overworked is an understatement, but it was all worth it to me if it meant I would one day get to become a doctor.

When I found out I didn’t get into medical school, I really struggled working up the will to submit myself to the entire application process once again. The process included an 8 hour long exam called the MCAT, a 2 hour long Situational Judgmental Test, a personal statement, three reference letters, two rounds of written essays for every school applied to, and finally, multiple interview rounds. This did not include the many years of jobs, clinical experience, volunteering, research, and extracurriculars I had completed prior to, and leading up to my application – all things which are not required to apply to medical school, but will significantly lower your chances of acceptance if you don’t have them.

It’s safe to say that I had worked my entire life up until that point to reach my goal of going to medical school. To work so hard for something, a lifelong dream, and feel like that chance was gone…I’ll never forget the feeling. Being rejected from 23 medical schools felt like the ultimate “No”. I wasn’t sure if it was a sign from God that becoming a doctor wasn’t what I was supposed to do in life, but for me, there had never been a Plan B. I knew getting into medical school would be extremely difficult, and I later found out that it’s actually quite common for applicants to re-apply multiple times before gaining acceptance…it’s the competitive nature of the profession.

As I struggled with the rejection, someone much wiser than myself told me, “Would you rather have a doctor who is familiar with failure and knows how to overcome it, or have a doctor that doesn’t know how to face failure when it does come?”. It was then that I knew I had to apply again.

The following year I worked harder than ever before to make myself an even more competitive applicant while continuing to work all 4 jobs in order to financially afford everything. When the following year’s application cycle came, tears filled my eyes once again, but this time in a different way, when I read the words, “Congratulations on your acceptance…”, and once more on my first day of medical school when I was addressed as, “Student Doctor Hawes”.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a full time Medical Student, Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the U.S Air Force, and model/actress.

I spoke a bit about why I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, and the reason behind my decision to join the military, to one day become a military physician, is similar.

The men and women who serve our country are to me, some of the most honorable people there are. As a physician, your job is to serve others, but as a military physician, your job is to serve those who serve you, and what an honor that would be.
I have now been in the Air Force for two years and when I graduate medical school, will become a military doctor.

Additionally, as a model/actress, I have worked both freelance and with agencies. This line of work is something I absolutely love doing and it is such a creative outlet for me. Whether it’s fashion/print or commercial work, I love the creativity that comes with it. I love making a vision come to life and creating art.

How do you think about luck?
I keep grounded in my Faith! In moments of joy I am filled with awe and gratitude at the greatness of God’s glory. In moments of struggle, I find purpose and meaning, knowing that I am a part of something greater than myself. God’s glory shines brightly through every facet of my life, illuminating my path with His grace and guidance. I would not be who I am today if it were not for His unconditional love!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hennelie_hawes?igsh=M3ZhbHpxYTZwbW40&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@hennh_?_t=8mpDsD7xiUo&_r=1

Image Credits
Brandon Roland, Natalie Hurley, Tou Yang