Access to healthcare is difficult in rural areas. I live in rural Nebraska, and I suffer from Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. The nearest pediatric rheumatologist is in Omaha, Nebraska, which is a long drive for me. Every month, my mom and I drive to Omaha to obtain treatment for my condition. Not only is it time-consuming, but also expensive, considering gas prices. I work in my local hospital's emergency room as a tech. Oftentimes, I see people flown out for critical conditions that we simply do not have the materials to treat. Sometimes, there is no provider on call for a specific specialty. These are the realities of rural healthcare. There will always be advantages and disadvantages to living in a rural area. Unfortunately, limited healthcare is one. This is a problem, and one I am willing to dedicate myself to. I see it now- I have just completed my residency away from home. I am beyond ecstatic to see there is a position open for an orthopedic surgeon in Hastings, Nebraska. I cannot wait to come home and continue my dream job there. That, however, is not today. Not yet. I want to become an orthopedic surgeon and return to rural Nebraska. I cannot imagine myself going anywhere else. I love the great rolling plains, the endless sky, and my mother's steaks. I do not understand those who despise rural life. It is small and simple, and to me, it is home. What I can understand, however, is the frustration with the limited healthcare and the also limited female role models within healthcare. Not only are there fewer women in surgery specialties, but female physicians often do not practice within rural areas, as compared to their male counterparts. This creates a significant deficit within rural areas for female surgeons. I aspire to be an inspiration to other young women within rural areas. I know about two female physicians in my area- an OB-GYN and amazingly, a general surgeon. I have heard amazing things about them and have had the fortune to meet and talk to these inspiring women. What they do for a job amazes and motivates me. I want to have a similar impact on the generation of women behind me. I hope that my career and success will inspire younger women as the women before me have. I am currently obtaining my private pilot's license- which could be used to further my rural outreach. How amazing would it be if instead of driving hours to the cities for treatment, your provider could fly to your nearest clinic? I know that for me, as a patient, it would be incredible. I would have extra gas money I could use for something fun. I would have more time in my day to spend with my friends. Most importantly, I would get my needed treatment quicker. That is the type of healthcare I wish to provide in the future. I have a long way to go. There is no denying that. Regardless, I am ready to begin my journey toward my dream and chase it. Though I have picked a long and challenging road, I will never be alone in my toil- family, friends, and classmates will surely be there to support and encourage my endeavors. Years from now though, I hope to make my ambitions a reality and provide more accessible and readily available treatment for rural areas, all while inspiring others to do the same.

I remember walking into my first piano lesson- I was probably about five. I remember having begged my parents to let me take lessons. We had recently bought a piano, and looking back, I realize that it was part of my parent's master plan. Throughout my youth, I became infatuated with the piano. I would spend what felt like hours playing the same song over and over again. Surely, this drove my parents mad, but they never once said a thing. They wanted to let my love of music blossom and did not dare interfere with that. I was encapsulated in my little world of music. Anything outside that world and the music I was making meant nothing. As I became older, I progressed in my talents. I spent more time on the piano, learning more complex and intricate songs. To my dismay, life began to catch up. Sports, friends, and other events began to take priority. I remember being twelve and being upset when my mother asked me to practice. I told her I was far too busy at the moment, and I would practice later. Later, laziness would overcome me and I would fail to practice. I fell behind and grew tired of practicing. To my disdain, my mother was not going to let me quit. Now, I am forever thankful for that. Within several years of encouraging me to practice, I rediscovered my love for the piano. I also discovered sheet music, which I believe was one of the sole reasons I came back to the piano. The ability to play the songs that I would listen to on repeat was nothing short of a miracle to my younger self. I once again began to spend hours sitting at the bench and putting my heart into every key I struck. I could truly feel my inner soul swirling as my fingers danced across the piano. Whatever I was feeling that day would reflect my music- perhaps it was the day the boy I liked ghosted me. For around an hour, the house would be full of lamenting, sorrowful tunes. The day I decided to transfer schools- a tune of uncertainty, anxiety, but excitement. Even now, I play what I feel. Today's tune is Clair de Lune- my all-time favorite. Perhaps it is overplayed, but that means nothing to me. To me, it is the audial manifestation of my current life situation. My fear of leaving home. My exhilaration of living on my own. The peace in living my own life. As Clair de Lune begins, the tune is gentle, quiet, and tranquil. As the song progresses, rolling chords and scales climb the keys and grow louder. Slowly, they return to the tender and soothing melody heard in the beginning. I feel as if the sheer variety and feeling within the song perfectly mirrors the inner stirrings of my soul. As the song ends though, I look to the world around me and still hear music ringing. Wherever I go, there is a melody confined to the spaces of my head. I hear the choirs of Dies Irae when I see the sickness of the world. The cannon fires from the 1812 Overture play when I have finished a task I had been avoiding. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata plays when I have had lent my trust- and had it broken. Perhaps, music has not only shaped the way I view the world. Rather, it has opened my eyes and soul to life, death, sorrow, and love. I strive to create music that does the same for others.