This scholarship will allow me to get one step further in my goal of becoming an Emergency Medicine Physician. My interest in medicine was kindled by my early experiences as an Emergency Medical Services Cadet. I embarked on this journey when I turned 15, delving into the fundamentals of Emergency Medicine under the guidance of experienced EMTs and Paramedics. Initially, our classes were introductory, providing us with insights on tasks such as setting up IV drips and manually auscultating blood pressure on patients. As we delved deeper into our training, we felt progressively more prepared to engage with patients and assist EMTs and Paramedics on calls. A crucial aspect of completing the program was the opportunity to actively support emergency personnel throughout their shifts. This involved performing life-saving procedures, like CPR, but also helping with more mundane tasks like maintaining the ambulance's exterior and ensuring it remained free from grime. Upon graduating from the program, I embarked on my very first ride-along. During this 12-hour shift at the age of 15, I conversed with patients and their families, operated the sketcher, gathered patient histories, obtained vital signs, and performed CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. This particular shift reshaped my perspective on life significantly. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping my community through the worst of times. Whether we were called to perform life-saving interventions or provide solace to a lonely patient, our mission was clear: to make their darkest days a tad brighter. After this first ride-along, I embarked on around 10 more within a span of a year and a half, witnessing a plethora of different life-altering scenarios such as car wrecks and strokes. After having obtained over 120 hours of experience as a cadet, I was eager for the next step to further my involvement within my community As soon as I turned 17, I enrolled in an EMT certification course, determined to become an on-site EMT at community events. Being the youngest in my class was initially intimidating, as I was surrounded by peers with an average age of 27. During my coursework, I completed four shifts in the Emergency Room, where I had the privilege of treating hundreds of patients during my clinical rotations. During one memorable shift, I was tasked with applying a mechanical CPR device (called a LUCAS device) to a patient in cardiac arrest while transporting them from the ambulance to the Emergency Room. Thanks to our efforts, we successfully resuscitated the patient, enabling him to talk with his wife just 30 minutes later. Treating and talking with patients from so many diverse backgrounds was something that only furthered my love for medicine. Through my journey, I've come to embrace the realization that my desire to serve my community is not a choice. It’s an intrinsic calling for me rooted in empathy, resilience, and my commitment to make a meaningful impact. Starting this journey at a young age allowed me to become a catalyst for change within my community, and I am eager to have this same impact as I continue my journey to become an Emergency Medicine Physician. This scholarship will allow me to pay for a large sum of my college fees and allow me to partake in more community-oriented events. Beyond the financial assistance it provides for my education, it signifies an investment in my aspirations. It will alleviate the burden of tuition costs, enabling me to focus on my studies, gain practical experience, and participate in programs that will further enhance my love for medicine.

My experiences within the realm of medicine has been one that epitomizes the transfer of knowledge. My journey started with my early experiences as an Emergency Medical Services Cadet; I embarked on this journey when I turned 15, delving into the fundamentals of Emergency Medicine under the guidance of experienced EMTs and Paramedics. I made many mistakes, but was also able to help others in the program by performing basic introductory tasks such as setting up IV drips and manually auscultating blood pressure. A crucial aspect of completing the program was the opportunity to actively support emergency personnel throughout their shifts. This involved performing life-saving procedures, like CPR, but also helping with more mundane tasks like maintaining the ambulance's exterior and ensuring it remained free from grime. Upon graduating from the program, I embarked on my very first ride-along. During this 12-hour shift, I conversed with patients and their families, gathered patient histories, obtained vital signs, and performed CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. Following this first ride along, I embarked on around 10 more within a span of a year and a half, witnessing a plethora of different life-altering scenarios such as car wrecks and strokes. After having obtained over 120 hours of experience as a cadet, I had engaged with a plethora of different patients and I was able to share some of the knowledge I had learned with close friends and family. I was eager for the next step to further my involvement with EMS and in my community. As soon as I turned 17, I enrolled in an EMT certification course, determined to become an on-site EMT at community events. Being the youngest in my class was initially intimidating, as I was surrounded by peers with an average age of 27. Despite the age barrier, I was able to help and guide many during the course thanks to my previous experiences in the field. On top of regular class, I completed four shifts in the Emergency Room, where I had the privilege of treating hundreds of patients during my clinical rotations. During one memorable shift, I was tasked with applying a mechanical CPR device (called a LUCAS device) to a patient in cardiac arrest while transporting them from the ambulance to the Emergency Room. Thanks to our efforts, we successfully resuscitated the patient, enabling him to talk with his wife just 30 minutes later. Treating and talking with patients from so many diverse backgrounds was something that only furthered my love for sharing my experiences in medicine. Having obtained my EMT certification, I seized the opportunity to establish an EMS Club within my high school. In this club, I guide fellow students through the foundational principles of emergency medicine, equipping them with essential knowledge on how to respond in critical situations. Central to any healthcare provider's skill set is the ability to assess a patient, and through the EMS Club, I've taught the necessary information for obtaining a patient history before first responders arrive. Sharing the wealth of experience gathered across my three years in emergency medicine has been a privilege that has inspired many I have interacted with to obtain their own EMT certification during high school. Teaching, for me, extends beyond personal fulfillment—it's a means to positively impact others and set in motion a chain reaction, encouraging more to follow suit. My hope is that the influence I've had in my community and school perpetuates a cycle of knowledge-sharing, fostering continual improvement and inspiring others to contribute to the well-being of those around them.

As I approach the culmination of my high school journey, I often find myself reflecting on how the volunteer experience I’ve had has shaped my career goals. My ultimate goal of becoming an Emergency Medicine Physician was kindled by my early experiences as an Emergency Medical Services Cadet in Johnston County, North Carolina. I embarked on this journey when I turned 15, delving into the fundamentals of Emergency Medicine under the guidance of experienced EMTs and Paramedics. Initially, our classes were introductory, providing us with insights on tasks such as setting up IV drips and manually auscultating blood pressure on patients. As we delved deeper into our training, we felt progressively more prepared to engage with patients and assist EMTs and Paramedics on calls. A crucial aspect of completing the program was the opportunity to actively support emergency personnel throughout their shifts. This involved performing life-saving procedures, like CPR, but also helping with more mundane tasks like maintaining the ambulance's exterior and ensuring it remained free from grime. Upon graduating from the program, I embarked on my very first ride-along. During this 12-hour shift at the age of 15, I conversed with patients and their families, operated the sketcher, gathered patient histories, obtained vital signs, and performed CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. This particular shift reshaped my perspective on life significantly. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping my community through the worst of times. Whether we were called to perform life-saving interventions or provide solace to a lonely patient, our mission was clear: to make their darkest days a tad brighter. After this first ride-along, I embarked on around 10 more within a span of a year and a half, witnessing a plethora of different life-altering scenarios such as car wrecks and strokes. After having obtained over 120 hours of experience as a cadet, I was eager for the next step to further my involvement with EMS and in my community. As soon as I turned 17, I enrolled in an EMT certification course, determined to become an on-site EMT at community events. Being the youngest in my class was initially intimidating, as I was surrounded by peers with an average age of 27. During my coursework, I completed four shifts in the Emergency Room, where I had the privilege of treating hundreds of patients during my clinical rotations. During one memorable shift, I was tasked with applying a mechanical CPR device (called a LUCAS device) to a patient in cardiac arrest while transporting them from the ambulance to the Emergency Room. Thanks to our efforts, we successfully resuscitated the patient, enabling him to talk with his wife just 30 minutes later. Treating and talking with patients from so many diverse backgrounds was something that only furthered my love for medicine. Through my journey, I've come to embrace the realization that my desire to serve my community is not a choice. It is an intrinsic calling for me rooted in empathy, resilience, and my commitment to make a meaningful impact. Starting this journey at a young age allowed me to become a catalyst for change within my community, and I am eager to have this same impact as I continue my journey to become an Emergency Medicine Physician. I carry a profound sense of responsibility to keep shaping positive change wherever I go. It's a path I'll pursue with unshakable conviction, driven by the fact that a single positive impact can catalyze remarkable change.

As I approach the culmination of my high school journey, I often find myself reflecting on the permanent mark I've had on the lives of those in my community. My path towards community service was kindled by my early experiences as an Emergency Medical Services Cadet in Johnston County, North Carolina. I embarked on this journey when I turned 15, delving into the fundamentals of Emergency Medicine under the guidance of experienced EMTs and Paramedics. Initially, our classes were introductory, providing us with insights on tasks such as setting up IV drips and manually auscultating blood pressure on patients. As we delved deeper into our training, we felt progressively more prepared to engage with patients and assist EMTs and Paramedics on calls. A crucial aspect of completing the program was the opportunity to actively support emergency personnel throughout their shifts. This involved performing life-saving procedures, like CPR, but also helping with more mundane tasks like maintaining the ambulance's exterior and ensuring it remained free from grime. Upon graduating from the program, I embarked on my very first ride-along. During this 12-hour shift at the age of 15, I conversed with patients and their families, operated the stretcher, gathered patient histories, obtained vital signs, and performed CPR on a patient in cardiac arrest. This particular shift reshaped my perspective on life significantly. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to dedicate myself to helping my community through the worst of times. Whether we were called to perform life-saving interventions or provide solace to a lonely patient, our mission was clear: to make their darkest days a tad brighter. After this first ride-along, I embarked on around 10 more within a span of a year and a half, witnessing a plethora of different life-altering scenarios such as car wrecks and strokes. After having obtained over 120 hours of experience as a cadet, I was eager for the next step to further my involvement with EMS in my community. As soon as I turned 17, I enrolled in an EMT certification course, determined to become an on-site EMT at community events. Being the youngest in my class was initially intimidating, as I was surrounded by classmates with an average age of 27. During my coursework, I completed four shifts in the Emergency Room, where I had the privilege of treating hundreds of patients during my clinical rotations. During one memorable shift, I was tasked with applying a mechanical CPR device (LUCAS device) to a patient in cardiac arrest while transporting them from the ambulance to the Emergency Room. Thanks to our efforts, we successfully resuscitated the patient, enabling him to talk with his wife just 30 minutes later. Treating and talking with patients from so many diverse backgrounds was something that only furthered my love for medicine and community involvement. Through my journey, I've come to embrace the realization that my desire to serve my community is not a choice. It is an intrinsic calling for me rooted in empathy, resilience, and my commitment to make a meaningful impact. Starting this journey at a young age allowed me to become a catalyst for change within my current community, and I look forward to extending my influence to a new community when I leave for college. As I continue along this path, I carry a profound sense of responsibility to keep influencing positive change wherever I go. It's a journey I'll pursue with unshakable conviction, driven by the fact that a single positive impact can catalyze remarkable change, both in and outside my community.