When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and came to the U.S. when he was 17 years old. His condition is believed to have been something he contracted there as a result of poor living conditions and drinking water. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. Many of these groups are minorities and immigrants with limited resources. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. It has been a long road to get here and my parents were not always able to be at important events as a result of my dad's condition but I've been able to focus on my goal despite the interruptions and distractions.

My name is Andrea and I am blessed to come from a Filipino\American family. I'm the youngest of three and the only girl. I have always enjoyed learning and my organizational skills and work ethic have guided me throughout my high school and college years. As a high school student I participated in the CCP program at my local Community College. This allowed me to receive dual credit for my classes and enabled me to graduate from high school at the same time I graduated from the community college with an associates degree. During those years I was a high school cheerleader at Mentor High School and was the captain my senior year. It was probably during this time, with such a heavy workload, that I learned skills that I continue to utilize today. One of my favorite aspects of study and learning is to get a day planner. I may not be the typical student who is my age. I utilize technology for everything but I hate trying to use the calendar on my computer. I find that getting a physical planner, that I can write in and see everything at a glance, helps me to stay focused the best. I have also found that I need to work ahead and not procrastinate. I have learned the hard way a few times that you just never know what might come up and prevent you from completing an assignment or studying when you think you will have the time. With this in mind I try to complete all the weeks assignments by Wednesday or Thursday so that I can then take Friday and Saturday for other commitments and fun. Finally, there is a part of my personality that won't allow me to skip an assignment or blow off studying. I am paying for my own education and have realized that too much is at stake for me not to do everything in my power to be successful. My goal is to get a BSN and then continue on to become a nurse practitioner. I almost didn't pursue this dream because the amount of financial aid needed to make this a reality is scary. However, I grew up in a family that had some major health struggles and working in a medical field was something that I felt called to at an early age. So I took a leap of faith, and some large loans, in order to become a nurse. I know that I will complete the program and become a nurse compassionate and empathetic towards the patient as well as their family members.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. My vision of myself as a nurse in the future is to be the type of caregiver that was there for my dad. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. My vision of myself as a nurse in the future is to be the type of caregiver that was there for my dad. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. My vision of myself as a nurse in the future is to be the type of caregiver that was there for my dad. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. My vision of myself as a nurse in the future is to be the type of caregiver that was there for my dad. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a career in medicine. I currently work in a research lab which studies the survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups. I feel that my Filipino background has allowed me to see how various communities can be overlooked when it comes to healthcare. Often times immigrants and none English speaking individuals are intimidated and do not get the care they need or deserve. I hope to use my background and what I've learned in my current research position to foster a bond with patients to make them feel heard and represented.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. My dad was born and raised in the Philippines and they believe his condition possibly stemmed from something he came into contact with there. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion of pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. An aspect of my job that I love focuses primarily on understudied and underserved populations of individuals diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I look at survival and treatment disparities amongst different racial and ethnic groups that might be caused by biological factors and/or socioeconomic factors. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner. My vision of myself as a nurse in the future is to be the type of caregiver that was there for my dad. I want to be someone who takes excellent care of the patient, listens to them intently, and is there for the family members as well. I believe as a Filipino\American that I can relate to under-represented populations and that my level of empathy and kindness will truly touch everyone I work with.

When I was 7 years old my dad was diagnosed with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Throughout the 18 years since his diagnosis I have followed his medical journey. We are blessed to live just outside of Cleveland, Ohio which is home to some of the most amazing hospitals in the nation. I have spent countless hours at the Cleveland Clinic's main campus while my dad has underwent tests, treatments, and lengthy hospital stays. The most memorable to me was during my senior year of high school when my dad's condition led to a common complication called ventricular tachycardia. By this point he already had a pacemaker\defibrillator which had restarted his heart once. It was a scary time for my family but we don't look back on that time with sadness or ill feelings. It was during that time specifically that I found my interest and passion in pursing a degree in a medical field. We had some of the best doctors, certified nurse practitioners, and nurses caring for my dad and quite honestly for our entire family. I came to realize that working in medicine isn't just caring for the patient but it's also showing empathy and concern for the family as well. I was so touched and motivated by the caregivers at the Cleveland Clinic that I soon realized that when I went to college that fall I was going to pursue a pre-med degree in Biology. My dad was in and out of the Cleveland Clinic (probably more in than out actually) for over a month in June of 2018. He missed taking pictures with me before prom, high school award ceremonies, and my high school graduation. Even throughout this time when it was disappointing for him not to be there I knew he was exactly where he needed to be and was getting excellent care. I found myself spending hours a day during those weeks sitting with him in the hospital since I was now on my summer break and had extra time. I enjoyed talking to his nurses and learning more about his condition and test results from the doctors and CNP's. It was their mentoring and compassion that brought me to where I am today. Much of my college experience was during the pandemic but I did achieve my degree with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry. I immediately got a job at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in a research lab where I have worked ever since. One of my favorite aspects of my job is that I get to visit patients and enroll them in our clinical trials. I love the interaction with the patients and it's why I am continuing my journey to work in medicine. I recently enrolled in an ABSN program through Xavier University and started school again just a few weeks ago. My plan is to finish the BSN degree in December of 2025. At that time I'd like to find a nursing position where I can start pursing my passion. My plan is to then continue on to become a certified nurse practitioner.