While self-driving cars and AI have made their debut this past decade, virtual reality takes the cake. Surgeons have been utilizing this advancement in technology for the greater good, by using VR to prepare and practice for surgeries, as well as use for training and education purposes. Virtual reality technology has revolutionized the field of surgery by providing a safe and effective way for medical professionals to practice complex surgical procedures, improve their skills, as well as enhance patient outcomes and understanding. When you think of virtual reality, you probably think of a game. But today, surgeons and surgical residents are using this technology to practice and study surgeries to better perform them. According to Harvard Business Review, “VR training on the Osso VR platform improved participants’ overall surgical performance by 230% compared with traditional training methods.” (Blumstein 11) This is so impactful because it is exponentially increasing the effectiveness of this training method, virtually improving the surgeons abilities. Further, with the integration of radiologic technology, used to combine the images from MRI or CT, can be used with VR to see the actual inner workings of an individual's case before the patient is even under the knife. This can be extremely helpful, considering every human body is different. It helps reduce the chance of complications, and can offer trial and error experiences to see what works best. I hope that advances will be made to use VR for even more, just like in-utero procedures. Virtual reality and radiologic technology are advancing each day to improve patient outcomes as well as surgical performance. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” By using images generated from radiologic imaging technology, people of all levels of experience can gain insight into what exactly will be operated on. For patients, this can offer peace of mind because they can see what exactly doctors are talking about, and can understand what the procedure is going to be. Surgical residents can learn so much more, as well as “practice” more in this risk-free environment, vs working on a cadaver. I hope to become a valuable, knowledgeable radiologic technologist, and aid in this advancement. More importantly, I am proud to be a woman in healthcare and a woman in STEM! WORKS CITED Blumstein, Gideon. “Research: How Virtual Reality Can Help Train Surgeons.” Harvard Business Review, 17 Sept. 2021, https://hbr.org/2019/10/research-how-virtual-reality-can-help-train-surgeons.

While self-driving cars and AI have made their debut this past decade, virtual reality takes the cake. Surgeons have been utilizing this advancement in technology for the greater good, by using VR to prepare and practice for surgeries, as well as use for training and education purposes. Virtual reality technology has revolutionized the field of surgery by providing a safe and effective way for medical professionals to practice complex surgical procedures, improve their skills, as well as enhance patient outcomes and understanding. When you think of virtual reality, you probably think of a game. But today, surgeons and surgical residents are using this technology to practice and study surgeries to better perform them. According to Harvard Business Review, “VR training on the Osso VR platform improved participants’ overall surgical performance by 230% compared with traditional training methods.” (Blumstein 11) This is so impactful because it is exponentially increasing the effectiveness of this training method, virtually improving the surgeons abilities. Further, with the integration of radiologic technology, used to combine the images from MRI or CT, can be used with VR to see the actual inner workings of an individual's case before the patient is even under the knife. This can be extremely helpful, considering every human body is different. It helps reduce the chance of complications, and can offer trial and error experiences to see what works best. To add, I am majoring in radiologic technology, and am excited to see how this technology can advance to in-utero surgeries for fetuses who suffer from conditions like spina bifida, or bilateral renal agenesis, which can be life or death matters. I personally hope that advances will be made to use VR for even more, just like in-utero procedures. Virtual reality and radiologic technology are advancing each day to improve patient outcomes as well as surgical performance. Have you ever heard someone say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Well, its 2023 and now you can see a window into the human body. By using images generated from radiologic imaging technology, people of all levels of experience can gain insight into what exactly will be operated on. For patients, this can offer peace of mind and reassurance because they can see what exactly doctors are talking about, and can further understand what the procedure is going to be. Surgical residents can learn so much more, as well as “practice” more in this risk free environment, vs working on a cadaver. Personally, I would even feel better if my surgeon told me that he or she had been practicing on a VR form of MY body, not just some textbook version of how something “should be.” Through radiologic technology, I plan to work on advancing the technology behind surgery, and improving the likelihood of successful surgeries through use of VR. Something so innovative, that we have not even discovered all of the possibilities of using virtual reality in the healthcare world. I hope to become a valuable, knowledgeable radiologic technologist, and aid in helping people who need it; as well as making these advancements and technologies available everywhere. I am proud to be a woman in healthcare, as well as a woman in STEM! WORKS CITED Blumstein, Gideon. “Research: How Virtual Reality Can Help Train Surgeons.” Harvard Business Review, 17 Sept. 2021, https://hbr.org/2019/10/research-how-virtual-reality-can-help-train-surgeons.

Over the years, I have realized more and more how important it is to be financially smart and aware. Over the years, I’ve watched my dad balance a tight budget, and always keep a ledger. Every penny was tracked, and every receipt was kept. I didn’t really ever realize that most people didn’t live like this. Most people don’t scrounge for change for the laundromat. Most people don’t check the dryer for breakfast money. Living with just my mom at home, she couldn’t work so things were tight. Disabled with no disability check—so all we had was child support. Minimal checks just to stay afloat. Only buying what we need at the grocery, none of what I really wanted. I now understand why exactly my parents aren’t sure how we’re paying for college; because they’re not financially stable enough to put money aside, or spare a dime for that matter. If there’s anything I could change, I would. But our “financially stable” ship has sailed far too long ago. At some point you realize how broke you really are, and exactly how you got there. While I might not track every penny, I do plan on using a ledger, as well as a budget sheet to set out limits for myself instead of spending as I go. I plan on using the 50,30,20 method to prioritize needs and savings. 50% goes to needs; car payment, gas, rent, utilities, etc. 30% goes to savings. Lastly, 20% goes to wants, or other things that aren’t considered a necessity. I have also learned that if you take money out, put money in. Very occasionally I do draw from my savings for car parts or repairs, but always put it back. Always keep a cushion for real emergencies, because things can change in the blink of an eye. I’ve learned to drop all the foolish, wasteful habits that I had before, including fast food or shopping. It’s much harder to save when you know you’ll need it more in a few months, than you do now. While being “poor” to some, it’s just made me more financially educated on what not to do. We all go through things that shape us into the type of adults we turn out to be, and the end goal for me is to be debt free, and financially independent, as well as smart with money. It’s so easy to lose sight of why being financially educated is important, but once you realize WHY, it comes so much easier.

Feminism to me is empowerment, self love, body positivity, self care, and so much more. Women and females all over are so much more powerful than they think, and can take on unimaginable tasks daily; so why aren’t women praised as much as men? I believe all women are strong, secure, confident, divine, encouraging, and worthy. Let’s go back a few decades. So imagine this, women are not allowed to vote, and most bear children and stay home with them, as well as completing most household duties. For one I can’t vote about anything important to me, and I have to stay home countless hours taking care of children and my home around the clock. Females have suffered being overlooked too long; which is why now we promote and encourage working moms, and self sufficient women. Feminism means so much more than protests; the female body is so strong. Childbirth is an unimaginable pain that no one would understand until they felt it. I am PROUD to be a woman knowing the strength and ability of my body to create life as well as maintaining my own! Lately I have come to be much more grateful for the body I was given, and how lucky I am to be a female. My main inspirations to being feminist were my sisters, they always pushed me to love who I am, and more importantly, being a woman! It is such a powerful feeling to know how much your body can handle—from periods to contractions, the woman body is just amazing. As well as my sisters, other women in my life have proved to me again how lucky I am to be a female, and more importantly, be apart of the female community all over with other women who support and encourage other women. Even though I am in online school, I contribute to feminism by advocating for women’s reproductive rights every chance I get, I’ve created infographics and flyers, as well as multiple school assignments to display my outlook on “the divine feminine.” I love using women’s issues as a chance to use my voice at school, and for my peers. I’m passionate about pro-choice movements and arguments, further to empower ALL women and their freedom to make their own decisions regarding their body. Enjoying my own divine femininity is one of the best feelings ever; knowing I could create life inside of my body and further, do it multiple times as well as going through immense pain and trauma to my body while doing so. I am thankful to be in a body so wonderful and worthy of love.

I believe I can most resonate with the communicator trait. Communication means everything to me; whether with family, relationships, in the workplace, or even simple conversation with strangers. With simple communication between people, you can establish friendship and understanding relationships with your peers. I love to talk, relate, and engage with people. With simple communication, you can create new, healthy and balanced relationships with whomever you come across. It can help you remain sociable and approachable, therefore ensuring even more connections! Communication is a simple yet effective trait to have, considering it’s necessary to form mutual understanding within ALL relationships. Personally, I use communication skills daily at my job with children, to ensure they feel safe and welcomed within childcare. We are all teaching each other and learning from each other, without realizing. Child development and communication play hand in hand, which is key for kid’s learning to talk, understand, and communicate what they see, and what they feel. We all communicate verbally and physically, most without realizing. Body language is super important as well as verbal, but using body language to communicate can be extremely helpful without seeming like it. Each morning, I come into work prepared to try and decipher how kids feel by what they are saying— but I can also tell by their body language and the way they move, look, and act. For example, a child that is hesitant to come in may not cry, or say anything at all, but clings to mom. While she refuses to use her words, we can still tell by body language. Since we can tell without her saying anything, we can try to communicate with her that we are welcoming and friendly, which engages the girl to be excited and happy to come inside. I also urge children who are avoiding speaking to just say whatever comes to mind. Communication back and forth is key to talking to children and also keeping them safe; because what if something happened, but a child couldn’t communicate what was going on because no one had ever communicated back and forth with them before? I do aim to communicate with each child and carry a full conversation, which has led to multiple children becoming more extroverted and talkative, which I love to see!! Simply communicating with one another could fix a world of problems; between significant others, workplaces, politics, children, and those who just need to talk about what has happened, just to feel a little bit better. Communication means the world to me, and I am more than happy to promote healthy communication between everyone.