I owe Children's Health in Dallas, Texas, my life. That is a gift that can never be fully repaid -- because all human life holds a value so high, a dollar amount could never be placed on it. I am grateful to my family, too, as they paid for the financial burden of that experience. No parent should ever need to go through that and watch their child nearly die. So, what exactly happened? Back in 2015, I was seven. I had complained to my mom that there was a "lump in my throat." I had been throwing up at every meal that had ever been given to me and had quit growing. My mom made several phone calls to get an appointment to have me evaluated. I met Dr. Nandini Channa, a gastroenterologist at Children's Health; she evaluated me, and she recommended that I have a esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) to see what was happening in my throat. So, they scheduled it for February 5; they put a camera down my throat, and they discovered that my esophagus was narrowing, and I had severe furrows. This was causing me to throw up, because the food was getting stuck in my throat. On that day, I was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), a rare disease that effects the white blood cells and the esophagus whereby the white blood cells mistakenly attack the esophagus when normal food is consumed and results in a narrowing on the esophagus - making it difficult to swallow. From there, I was placed on the six food elimination diet (NO milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish) as the standard was at the time. We had to adapt as a family to find food that I could eat. We bonded over recipes trying to find close equivalents to things that I had lost the ability to consume. Then, we had another EGD that showed signs of healing, then, gradually I began to add back in foods. In July 2015, was the last time I was able to consume dairy. I had another EGD in August 2015 that showed all of the white blood cells returning to create the same lines that were there earlier in the year; milk was one of the offending foods that was making it difficult to swallow. Additionally, at that EGD, we discovered that I also had Celiac Disease (CD), where the villi of the small intestines flatten, unable to absorb nutrients; it is an autoimmune response the the consumption of gluten. In September 20215, I was admitted for the intensive feeding program at Our Children's House at Children's Health, and I had a nasogastric tube placed to provide enteral nutrition to supplement my oral intake since my growth had been poor. Since my nutrition status and growth had been poor, they drew labs once the enteral feeds were started, and they discovered that I had refeeding syndrome. This is a life threatening metabolic disturbance that kills between 6-71% if it is not corrected/repleted in a safe and timely way. My time at Children's gave a life long fascination with medicine. Being diagnosed with an anaphylactic dairy allergy when I was thirteen really cemented it for me. To pay it forward, I want to be a nurse. My plan is to go to Kansas State University and major in kinesiology and nursing and minoring in cognitive neuroscience. I want to give kids their lives back like Children's did for me. Everyone deserves a chance to live fully, I got mine. I want the privilege to provide that gift to others.

Making up stories is something that is incredibly natural to us as humans. Think about all of the oral traditions and folk stories we have all heard throughout our lives. I have always been absolutely fascinated by them. I have loved to read since I was a little girl, and it engrossed me into new worlds. I loved learning about new people and fantastical places, because they were an easy escape out of the boring world. The summer before seventh grade, I was introduced to a book series written by a local fantasy writer and teacher, and I went and borrowed all of her books from the library. I read the four books within a week and a half -- four huge, 100,000 word books. Then, once the school year started, I got the chance to actually meet the writer -- Krissi Dallas. She was my English teacher that year! She was publishing her fifth one in October of 2020, and I was so excited to actually be a part of something bigger than myself. I went to her book signing, with all five of her books in my hands, and I listened to speaker panels. It was magical, and I thought, "If she can do it, so can I, too." So, that's the story of how I got into writing, and my first attempt at writing a story was so incredibly pathetic. I almost quit, but I just decided to wait. The experience of writing is fascinating, because you are working on something that will outlast you. In eighth grade, we were given an assignment to create a short story. So, I picked out one that my sister and I had played out with Legos some number of months earlier. You see, I had an advantage of coming up with a story -- I had an incredibly active imagination and a younger sister who would always ask "and, then what happens?" From that experience, I wrote "The Harmony of A Secret Romance." It was about three teen pop-star sisters and their young secret agent body guard. The bodyguard was supposed to protect the girls from their terrible parents, and the eldest sister begins to fall in love with him. The girls get kidnapped, but he comes and saves the day. It was a little cheesy, albeit my English teacher was frankly impressed that I had pumped out twenty-three pages (I divided chapters, so it wasn't actually that long). Then, I remember Ms. Dallas, and reminded myself that if she could do it, so could I. I had a blank canvas; anything I wanted to write was mine and mine alone. Writing has become my primary coping mechanism through high school. I actually published my first book called "Legends of the Blood Moon" right before my senior year started. I had a lot of fun writing a medical-romance-drama-thriller. I took ideas from TV, books, life experience, and wove it into something unforgettable. Now, frequently when I walk into a room someone shouts, "Amelia Parks! I didn't know you were a published author!" Writing a book has created something that will out last me, and it's own a piece of intellectual property. I plan on continuing to write through college as it gives me a creative outlet and has become a form of therapy for me. My next book comes out in February (It is called Love, Briefly). I have a couple of other ideas I would love to continue creating. After all, words create worlds. These worlds will inspire others, and I am proud to be a part of that.

My grandfather, Colonel David L. Pointer, was in the ARMY from 1975-2003; he served in the Field Artillery, then did the FLEP (Funded Legal Education Program) Program, and then became part of the JAG (Judge Advocate General) Corp for the United States Army. He grew up in a tragic household, his mother died before he turned fifteen, and as a result he was a terrible student. All his teachers pushed him towards trade schools, but he wanted to overcome his academic challenges and prove them wrong. So, he ultimately became an attorney for the US Army. My grandfather has taught me the true meaning of perseverance, hard-work, and dedication to the craft. The most important lesson he instilled in me from his experience was that education was one of the the most important things that you can get your hands on. It has made my life motto: Education is something that should be a lifetime pursuit. Growing up, I thought about this a lot, then after doing a lot of wrestling with the past, I realized I wanted to be a nurse. Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be involved in healthcare due to my own experiences. I have a rare esophageal condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) and that, combined with Celiac Disease, lead me to be malnourished. At the age of seven, I was hospitalized with re-feeding syndrome and spent twenty-five days in the hospital.. On top of that, I had undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, which left me scared and alone (At the age of 17, I was finally diagnosed with Autism Level 1, and this has further pushed me to pursue my dreams of job in healthcare!) The doctors and nurse made me feel at home; they took care of me like I was their own child. That one month has made a lasting impact on my life, leading me to be eternally grateful that my whole world turned upside down when it came to food. Since I was discharged form the hospital, I have wanted to give back to the people who gave me the second chance to live. Even after ten years of my EoE in remission, I am still dealing with anaphylactic food allergies that require emergency room visits due to accidental exposure or ingestion. I want to show my patients that they have a person who understands what it is like to be in their situation. I want to make the hospital environment less scary for young children. My hope is to major in kinesiology and nursing and receive a minor in neuroscience. I desire to learn how the mind and body work together, understand how and why mine is different and apply this to the practice of medicine. My ideal future includes possibly going back for my masters to eventually become a nurse practitioner, so I can gain the extra experience to be able to learn something else, something in more detail! I am thankful for the opportunity to pursue higher education, and I am excited to fulfill my dream to become a pediatric nurse!

My name is Amelia Parks. I have wanted to be nurse since I was a little girl. I did not think I was going to be able to see the moment that I would graduate to achieve my dreams. You see, I have a rare condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) and combined with Celiac Disease lead me to be malnourished. At the age of seven, I was hospitalized due to re-feeding syndrome and spent twenty-five days in the hospital in 2015. On top of that, I had undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome, which left me scared and alone (I was later diagnosed with Autism Level 1/Asperger's syndrome at the age of 17, and I believe that this has impacted my desire to be a part of the healthcare team, too!). The doctors and nurses made me feel at home, they took care of me like I was their own child. That one month has made a lasting impact on my life, leading me to be eternally grateful that my whole world turned upside down when it came to food. Since I was discharged all of those year ago, I have wanted to give back to the people who gave me the second chance to live. Even after ten years of my EoE in remission, I am still dealing with anaphylactic food allergies that require emergency room visits due to accidental exposure or ingestion. I want to show my patients that they have a person who understands what it is like to be in their situation. I want to make the hospital environment less scary for young children. My hope is to major in kinesiology and nursing and receive a minor in neuroscience. I desire to learn how the mind and body work together, understand how and why mine is different and apply this to the practice of medicine. I have spent a long time trying to even look for mentors and role models who are neurodivergent and think like me. Watching shows like "The Good Doctor" made me realize, that there were not many neurodivergent healthcare providers out in the world -- let alone female ones. I am very fortunate to be considered "high-functioning." Being on the spectrum, long before I was diagnosed, I was dismissed a lot. I do not want that to happen to anyone anymore. Enough is enough, I want to change that across the field. People need to feel seen AND heard. My vision has already beginning to be a reality. I got accepted into Kansas State University last month. I will apply for their joint program with Wichita State's nursing program in the spring of my sophomore year. I want to be a role model to other neurodivergents. I believe that we can do anything we set our minds to! I desire to understand that mind and body connection and use my knowledge to help others. I am already pushing to make this dream come true and help my future patients like me go from striving to thriving.

I have wanted to be nurse since I was a little girl. I did not think I was going to be able to see the moment that I would graduate to achieve my dreams. You see, I have a rare condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (pronounced eo-sin-o-fil-ick e-sofo-gi-tis; also known as EoE) and combined with Celiac Disease lead me to be malnourished. At the age of seven, I was hospitalized due to re-feeding syndrome and spent twenty-five days in the hospital in 2015. On top of that, at the time, I had undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome (Autism Level 1) which left me scared and alone (I was later diagnosed with Autism Level 1 at the age of 17, and I believe this has also shaped my path to becoming a pediatric nurse!) That one month in the hospital back in 2015 has made a lasting impact on my life, leading me to be eternally grateful that my whole world was turned upside down when it came to food. Since I was discharged from the hospital all those years ago, I have wanted to give back to the people who gave me the second chance to live. Even after ten years of my EoE being in remission, I am still dealing with anaphylactic food allergies that require emergency room visits due to accidental exposure or ingestion. My ultimate career goal is to become a pediatric nurse; I plan to major in kinesiology and nursing and pursue a minor in neuroscience. I desire to learn how the mind and body work together, understand how and why mine is different and apply this to the practice of medicine. I hope to make it less scary for young children. Although my health conditions do not define me, they are a part of me. I am also a classically trained violinist as well as published author. As a nurse, I will need to be empathetic towards my small patients, because I was once in their shoes. It is important to understand that they are human, and so am I. My hope it that I can help keep them as calm and comfortable as possible while performing my job. I also want to be transparent about what is happening. When I spent time inpatient, I felt like I did not understand what was going on. I want to treat these children that they get to play a part in what happens in their body. I want to help people like me, paying it forward from all the people who helped me first. The quality of my work is something that will affect these children for the rest of their lives. Kindness is something that is not easily forgotten. It serves human nature best to be kind. My journey through the world of healthcare can be a blessing to those that I encounter in the future, and I am thankful for the opportunity to fulfill my calling as a nurse.

I have wanted to be nurse since I was a little girl. I did not think I was going to be able to see the moment that I would graduate to achieve my dreams. I have a rare condition called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (pronounced eo-sin-o-fil-ick e-sofo-gi-tis; also known as EoE), and combined with Celiac Disease lead me to be malnourished. At the age of seven, I was hospitalized with re-feeding syndrome and spent twenty-five days in the hospital in 2015. On top of that, at that time, I had undiagnosed Asperger's syndrome (Autism Level 1) which left me scared and alone. Throughout my hospitalization, the doctors and nurses made me feel at home; they took care of me like I was their own child. That one month has made a lasting impact on my life, leading me to be eternally grateful that my whole world was turned upside down when it came to food. Since I was discharged from the hospital all of those years ago, I have wanted to give back to the people who gave me the second chance to live. Even after ten years of EoE being in remission, I am still dealing with anaphylactic food allergies that require emergency room visits for accidental ingestion or exposure. Recently, I was diagnosed with Autism Level 1 (Asperger's syndrome), and it made all of the confusing and scary world and situations make that much more sense. I want to show my patients that they have a person who understands what it is like to be in their situation. I want to make the hospital environment less scary for young children. I plan to major in kinesiology and nursing and receive a minor in neuroscience. I desire to learn how the mind and body work together, understand how and why mine is different, and apply this to the practice of medicine. Sunflowers make me happy, I have exactly six of them sitting against my bedroom vanity. I keep one for every time I should have died to remind me of the second chances that I have been given. I look at them anytime I need to remember that, I was kept here on this earth for a reason. I shine light with sunflowers I have on everything -- on my purse, in my hair, on articles of clothing, and one pair of Vans. I want to spread that light to patients who are in their darkest hour like I was. I believe I am supposed to be a nurse and spread the light across hospitals with my magical sunflowers. I want to help those neurodivergent patients be able to express their needs in a health care setting. I will help others in need, people who were in the same place as I was so many years ago. People say what goes around comes around, I hope my kindness is one of those things that reverberates for someone else someday.

My younger sister had shoulder surgery the summer before my senior year of high school. For six weeks, Berkley was stuck in a sling, taken away from her precious volleyball training. From the type of surgery she had, recovery was going to take a very long time. Her dream of playing colligate volleyball was over. She was miserable. She had every right to be. No sports, no work, and now she could not brush her hair on her own. I wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. Around this time, I was wondering how good I would be with pediatric patients. Berkley was my guinea pig, my first patient. When I got home from work the day of her surgery, I found her eating an ice pop as I presented a huge "Get Well Soon" card from the company we both worked for. My mom knew that I needed to learn how to care for her wounds as we would be taking a trip out of town soon -- just the two of us. I watched carefully on how Berkley's four laparoscopic surgical scars were carefully bandaged. On one of the days when she was on the cusp of passing out from the pain, I offered solutions; I also stuck her in front of a fan while I helped carefully peel away the bandages. I helped her shower, brush her hair, and would remind her to work on her physical therapy. Once we were on our trip together, I was in charge of helping her ice her shoulder and strapping on the fancy shoulder pad ice pack. I gave her a new pain scale where I would ask "On a scale of stub my toe to we need to amputate, how bad does your shoulder hurt?" It never failed to make her smile. I helped her pick out fun bandaids at Walmart and put them on her surgical wounds every night. I helped her in and out of her sling for every outfit change and break she needed. Once, I even undid her sling and stuck a fan on it, so she would not get overheated. Caring for Berkley taught me that nursing was my calling. I am sorry she had to experience this temporary disability through injury and surgery, but I am thankful for the opportunity to practice my caregiving skills. Through this experience of caring for Berkley, it has solidified my decision on pursuing my degree in nursing, and it has also encouraged me to add an additional degree in kinesiology. Every night I still help her work on physical therapy and remind her to keep going -- even on days where it hurts. I reminded her that, while she could still play volleyball, she could also play other sports. Next school year, she is planning on trying out for basketball, soccer, as well as and volleyball. We still have running jokes about me being her caretaker. This caregiving experience with Berkley has piqued my interest in kinesiology, she has inspired me to be a caretaker for others in her same situation.

Cross country gives you a lot of time to think. Long stretches of time with no one around you, early in the morning. It is you, the sound of your breath, the distant rush hour traffic buzzing as the sun rises behind you. In Texas, the summer runs cook you even early in the day, but running has created a profound view of the world for me. It has given me a way to develop my world view, identity, and gives me a sense of purpose. In that time of thinking, that I am sure Kalia did, too, I started to wonder what am I meant to do with my life? What was the meaning of it? What defines the meaning of life to begin with? One hot afternoon on a run, it broke through to me. The science of medicine was something that fascinated me, and I always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. So, I decided that nursing was the field that I wanted to pursue. My calling is to help others. I want to be a nurse to neurodivergent patients in the hospital setting; I believe that I can comfort and console them while providing medical care. I am neurodivergent, so I believe that I will be able to share a special insight to my patients as I can understand the intensity of everything associated with being neurodivergent. It is a way to heal my inner child in the best way possible -- by serving and giving to others what I never had. I love to serve people. I am apart of my local National Honors Society chapter where I have given over three hundred services hours over the past three years. My favorite projects are when I get to work with kids. After reading Kalia's story, I wonder what her favorite service activity was? I have been described on multiple occasions as "strong willed, strong morals, strong mind, and an unbreakable spirit." I think we could have been friends if I had known her while she was on this side of heaven. The money that Kalia's memorial scholarship would provide an opportunity for me to pass on her legacy of living, laughing, and loving my community, as well as help to pay for school. I would use it to pay for classes, allowing me an opportunity I might not have otherwise. Service opportunities and sports have helped shape who I am, and I am thankful for my involvement in these extra curricular activities as they have helped diversify my high school experience to go beyond just academics. I believe that I have the drive to become one of the greatest nurses for someone someday, and this financial support through this scholarship will help me on my journey to achieve my dream!

I am interested in pursuing a degree in nursing as well as kinesiology with a minor in psychology and neuroscience. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to work in medicine. It has been a familiar environment to me, as I have spent a considerable amount of time both inpatient and outpatient receiving various services for health issues through the years. When I tell people my educational goals, they say that seems overly ambitious, but when I set my mind to something I want, I am determined on getting there. It is an upside to having Asperger's syndrome (Level 1 Autism) -- determination. In my spare time , I decided to learn all I could about myself, so I can ultimately help neurodivergent patients in the hospital setting. I do not like using the term "disabled" or really disclosing my diagnosis to others. I get scared that people will turn their backs on me or pass judgment before they get to know me just based on their previous experiences. Asperger's gives me a superpower; I have an amazing ability to visualize things. From what I have learned about medicine, I can see how veins and muscles and bones interact in my head and use my knowledge to help others. My goal is to become a nurse someday, and I know school will be hard, but I am determined to help others. Asperger's has made it difficult to find friends, but has made me a phenomenal student. With my "sponge brain," I pick up information and can memorize it thoroughly. When everything has a logical place, that is where I shine best. My favorite subject was chemistry because of that. School was hard sometimes because not everything was like that -- there were some more abstract subjects which I had a harder time grasping. Even though it has been hard to make it through the public education system, I will finish in the top twenty of my class with 3.2 GPA (unweighted or 4.02 weighted)! I believe that having learning differences has taught me how to persevere and has helped create empathy as I am discovering that everyone is dealing with something! Independence is something I am confident I can achieve. I want to be a functional person, capable of paying my own taxes and having a job despite my brain having some different wiring. Independence means freedom to live how I want to. It gives me a chance to get the education I want at the pace I need. I can make friends on my own terms. I am excited for this next chapter of life and pursuing higher education and working toward my career goals.

I decided to put my health first after August 31, 2024. Why that specific date? That was the day I had a nearly fatal allergic reaction that left me hospitalized, beaten and bruised both physically and emotionally. To understand what actually happened, let me take you back in time to exactly 3:42 pm that day. I stood in line at a local Smoothie King. I have multiple food allergies (dairy, gluten, peanuts, and tree nuts), and they had reorganized the menu board. I ordered my drink with no nonfat milk powder and requested oat milk as a substitute. I have played the restaurant game like this for ten years, so I knew what I was asking for, what allergy protocols are in place there, and how to request appropriate substitutions. Unfortunately, they made my drink wrong and put whole milk instead of oat milk; however, I did not discover that until I was driving alone back to my house when I started having the allergic reaction. That afternoon I used two epipens and spent the night in the ER having a massive toll taking on my body. I did not sleep well, I got bronchitis (a common complication of allergic reactions) two weeks later. I was started on antibiotics, and then found out I was allergic to the antibiotics that the doctor had given me. Penicillin is now on my list of "no-no" substances. I was dissociating, losing friends, lonely, screwed up, and scared. Later, I found out I have complex PTSD from this incident. I felt like I was being beaten over and over again having a chronic issue flare up again, requiring a biopsy which meant another medical procedure. Then, I met Rebecca -- a nurse at Children's Health Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Rebecca was my pre-op nurse, and she made me feel less lonely and seen. She treated me like I was a real person and not some medical mystery to be solved. The day I met her, all the plans I had carefully shaped went out the window for what I was really meant to do. November 15, 2024, I decided I wanted to be a nurse like Rebecca. From everything that happened in those three months, I decided to take care of my mind and body. I sought out counseling and felt like I was finally starting to heal. That August afternoon turned my entire life upside down, but the November morning put everything right back where it was supposed to be. With Medicine being one of my hyper- fixations, I have been able to help so many people including my sister after she had a major surgery. I helped rehab my cross country teammates when I could not run. Now, I realize that it is my mission in life is to help create a healthy lifestyle which includes prioritizing mental, emotional, and physical health for myself as well as my future patients. I learned a lot of lessons during that tough season. One of which being that our lives are not our own, and we should do everything in our power to take care of our bodies and minds. As a nurse, I want to make that my mission, a mission to make people healthy again.

The high school teacher who most deeply influenced me and changed my approach to life is Mr. Jake Papageorgiou. He taught me Government and was stuck with a "side hustle" elective called college career path that I was enrolled in my junior year. The class taught useful skills after spending a semester on the seven habits book. We all called him "Mr. P," because his greek name was so hard to pronounce. He jokingly told us that he used the exact same slideshows every year to make things easier on him. During the second week of school, I fell in love with his teaching style, because he was knowledgeable on "how to do life" and added in jokes to keep us on our toes. Mr. P had a lot of things that he has said that have changed my perspective on how I approach life. When we were working on resumes, I asked him during that time if a person had to disclose an autism diagnosis. His response -- never do it, then I asked why. He said to me, "I have AuDHD. There are people out there who will always underestimate you because of the labels you possess. Don't give them ammunition to keep you from succeeding." When I officially got diagnosed with Autism and ADHD in April 2025, he was the first teacher I told. I came to his room early on a Wednesday morning after debating with myself for ten minutes (I had fifteen before the bell rang). I knocked three times on room 153, he glanced up from his laptop, and waved me in. I sat in a desk right in front of his, the little wheels sliding between two boxes he had duck taped to the floor. "So I was a recently diagnosed with Autism." I started off slowly. "And ADHD, and you were the first person I thought would understand, what do I do? Do I tell people? Do I stay quiet? Do I try medication?" Mr. P sat there, hands folded, putting them by this scruffy mustache and light stubble he had been trying to grown for three months to make his fiancé mad. He blinked twice, did nothing, then said, "Oh, I could have told you that." I panicked. He gives me a reassuring look when I asked him how, then said, "When you are diagnosed on the spectrum, you get very good at seeing things in other people. You're good at masking it though." "How old were you when you were diagnosed?" I asked. It was personal, he was 27, maybe he knew what it was like at my age. Maybe he was too young to remember or did not want to. "Seventeen." He said. He put his hands down, closing his laptop knowing this was going to take a lot. I spilled out my heart, my fear, my relief, everything I could, I had spent fourteen years not knowing, and now the dam had broken. He cut off the stream of panic running though my head. "I can't tell you what you should do. I can tell you though, you'll find the real ones." That conversation changed how I saw myself. We went back and forth about it while I straightened the chairs -- least I could do since I disrupted his quiet work space for a minute. He did not see me as disabled, he saw me as something special. He saw my intelligence and determination. That day I learned to see it, too. Every time I see him in the hallway now, I smile remembering that moment.

I was ten when I was originally diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It was mild though, so I never spent much time thinking about it. I was seventeen when a series of circumstances led me to an AuDHD diagnosis with "mild" OCD -- that was when things started to change, when friends started to leave, and I stopped talking. At some level I finally felt validated that I really was different from my peers, but then some of the details I had overlooked came into focus. Little habits I never put much thought to became clear as day to me -- like when I felt weird walking out a different door than I came in, when I chewed my fingernails and cuticles into bloody stubs, why my calluses along my feet looked like a war zone. Things like patterns and consistency were the reason I stayed sane. There were thoughts I failed to realize I spent so much time in were beginning to haunt me. I kept a mask up so high, that the moment I came home I would shower trying to scrub it away. Churches would tell me that "It wasn't real, just ask Jesus to fix it." This was not an easy fix, this was something I needed to fight. There are days now where it is better or worse. I now have a therapist who is helping me understand the social aspects I am missing on my own. AuDHD was different, it was hard to figure out what I was doing compulsively and what was a stim. I was more accepting of this title, it gave words to why I would get fixated on things. It helped me to understand why I was so honest to the point it would be brutal. It made me happy though; I could do things that other people couldn't. I had a memory that often scares people. I was creative, high above my peers. Different forms of art and art therapy were how I saved myself, coming up with a way to make me feel validated. I am healing now. There are good days and bad days, but I am happy now and that's important. My goal is to become a nurse someday with a focus on psychology and supporting the mental health fields. I am also fascinated by neuroscience, and I want to understand how my brain works in order to help someone else understand theirs. I want to help people in a creative way that others could not. I would love to work with mental health patients and do art therapy for a sense of healing. Empathy is not something I easily understand, but compassion is something that requires nothing, but a drive to help someone. While OCD is something to fight, it has also been a blessing to open up opportunities that I would not have otherwise. I believe my own personal mental health struggles will help be to be able to relate to others and support them on their mental health journey. I am thankful the opportunity to pursue a degree in higher education and use my own personal struggles a means to help me persevere, so I can ultimately help support others with mental health issues.

There is an iconic line in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Anakin says, "You underestimate my power." While over the last twenty years it has been memed into oblivion, it has a relevant truth that speaks to the learning disability community. Often times, I am underestimated in my abilities. People assume Autism and ADHD means I am incapable of doing things. Many comments and criticisms through the years have stuck with me, and I was destined to prove them wrong. For example, I had an art teacher in third grade tell me that I was a terrible artist and needed to work on fine motor skills. (At that time I was receiving occupational therapy services for my fine motor skills.) Rather than giving up and letting her criticisms kill my creative spirit, I chose to take art classes all through middle school and high school becoming the master of a paper and pencil. Academically, I went from a C student to an A student, because I was set on making myself successful. I would spend hours studying and practicing. Teachers would question accommodations that I had as part of my education plan, and I learned to advocate for myself to make sure my needs and accommodations were being met, so I could find success in the classroom. Additionally, I wanted to play violin since I was four with the goal of playing at my high school graduation someday. I would spend hours alone in my room practicing scales until my fingers turned black from the tape. Throughout my schooling career, holding a conversation has been too hard, so I would spend time in books that lit my fancy. Often, friends and family would be taken aback by information I happened to have known off the top of my head. I overcome challenges with an awkward-like grace. I make mistakes -- a lot of them, I want to learn how to navigate this world that seems so upside down to me. I choose to be myself even if it means I may not have many friendships. At least the friendships I have, I know are genuine. I have compassion towards animals and children. My "superpower" is that I pay attention to things that others overlook. I see through facades that others put up and choose to protect the ones I care about. I have been told I am incredibly brilliant and have the power to do anything I can put my hands on. The information I learn because of passion? I enjoy sharing fun facts at work and school. My hyper-fixations toward medicine have educated and helped countless people. My goal is to become a nurse and help neurodivergent patients in a stressful situation of being hospitalized. It is something I am passionate about which is why I believe I would be good at it. My plan is to double major in kinesiology and nursing at Kansas State University. Education is something I would like to pursue for as long as I breathe. I want to get a minor in psychology and neuroscience because the subjects interest me. I want to study the brain to better understand my own brain, too, and help me to best help my patients. My learning difficulties have taught me how to persevere, and I believe this will take me far as I continue to pursue my education and enjoy lifelong learning.

"You have Level One Autism." The psychologist explained to me as I sat outside a Black Rifle Coffee Shop in North Richland Hills, Texas. "And ADHD... signs of alexithymia... Generalized Anxiety... 'mild' OCD and I'm worried you're at risk for depression." Most of the tele-heath call was a bit of a blur. I sat there, my mother less than two feet from me with the other half of our shared AirPods, and I watched tears spring from her eyes. She explained later that she was so happy that after fifteen years someone believed her. I smiled, too, because I knew since I was in middle school, but now at seventeen I began to see things differently. Well, I've always seen things differently. I would ask Mom stories about me as a little girl, and she would tell me about how I was so creative and highly sensitive with this long blonde hair that I refused to let anyone touch. One day, she told me when I was four I'd drawn a picture of a dog and Mom told me she could not see it. I told her that it was the dog from the top view, and she began to appreciate that I could see three dimensional models in my head but had no words to explain this. Mom would tell me how when people would try to touch me, I would cower away, or I'd scream and cry and beg for mercy. We did not even try to cut my hair, it was a once yearly ordeal that the whole family dreaded. Eye contact was forced by relatives but my own immediate family understood that it was too much. Social dynamics were something I took a back seat in until middle and high school. It was written off as "Sensory Processing Disorder," and I spent three years in occupational therapy. I was able to get basic life skills and discovered that the hospital setting was where I wanted to work forever. When my occupational therapist took notice, she suggested to get testing for Asperger's syndrome which we did not know had been put under the autism umbrella. The psychologist that did my initial testing said I had "OCD with lots of Anxiety, try to talk her through it." I read a book some time later (Obsessed by Allison Britz) before realizing that it is not how I think or anything. Secondly, there were no social dynamic things she noticed, and I wished she had seen me in a crowd to know how I just stopped functioning. As I got older though, I saw how people who were considered "weird" were shunned or treated poorly. I vowed to never let anyone see this and slowly though high school I felt like the facade was slowly crumbling. There were a few days I had meltdowns and was very good at hiding when they happened. More days I shut off becoming almost catatonic and no one would notice. I would want to rock back and forth in my chair or listen to the same thing over and over again just to feel some sense of calm. There would be nights I would come home and lean against the door letting out a sigh feeling so exhausted that I would melt on the spot into the floor. Now after being diagnosed I realize that I have to be vulnerable which has been very hard to accept. I've spent a good stent in therapy working on some interpersonal skills I never really grasped. Very few friends know still about my diagnosis, but the ones who do try to make sure I am comfortable. I decided I want to write a book about my experiences and try to publish it before I graduate from high school. There are many people out there who are the same kind of different as me. I want to show them that even though empathy is not my strength, I understand. I am hoping to go to Kansas State University (one of my dream schools and a bit of a hyper fixation) to pursue a double major in nursing and kinesology with a minor in psychology and neuroscience. The minors are to better understand how my own mind works. My hope is to work with other pediatric autistic patients and be able to put it in a sensory terms that we both understand. I also think I could provide some reassurance to the parents as well. I believe I can provide some unique insight to this patient population!

I have autism, and I, too, have experienced bullying. People often like to pick on individuals who are different than them, and this spring, I was on the receiving end of this. It all started with a school group project that went awry. I was assigned to a group project, and I was excited for the creative opportunity. Unfortunately, the others in my group chose to not show up. A classmate asked how my project was coming along, and I responded, "My group hasn't shown up or participated." This was a true statement, but not well-received by my group when this information got back to them. In turn, they started spreading rumors about me and what a terrible person I was and how I hadn't let them participate in the project and that I was just trying to make them look bad. I was so confused, I work in a very logically oriented fashion, why blame me for something you did? They bombarded me with text message about what a terrible person I was, unrealistic group member, selfish, rude, and just wanting to make them look bad. The text messages just kept pouring in. I asked them to stop; however, it continued. 33 screen shots in all. I escalated things to my professor, because I was overwhelmed, sad, and unsure how to handle this barrage of terrible messages that created a lot of stress and inability to sleep. The professor called our group together, trying to address the issues in the group dynamic. Ultimately, she told my uncooperative group members to quit being problematic and forbid any communication with me. Also, she reminded me that people can be mean and difficult to work with - especially in a group setting. So, I blocked them both. We completed the project, but we have not spoken since then. To keep children/youth safe from bullying/cyberbullying, there need to be protections set in place online to help kids. My parents have adopted a "no social media" or "restricted social media" option. Many kids/teens are not mature enough to handle the responsibility of being online, and many would say things on there that they would never say in person. Based on my recent experience with being bullied via text message, I have no interest in social media. My time online is focused on educational things or Pinterest to gain inspiration for projects. A lot of the content online is toxic, and I do not want this nonsense in my head, so I am thankful my parents have set limitations online. With the bullying that occurred in person, I reached out to someone I trusted to help me sort this out. The teacher, my mother, and the administration at my school were each involved at some level to help me sort out this terrible situation. Despite everyone seeming to hate on me, I chose to be kind. In terms of volunteering, I have accumulated 275 hours over my high school career. Every year before school starts I volunteer to do childcare for the teacher inservice days. I love kids because they are so pure and innocent. I also volunteer at robotics competition days performing a variety of tasks. I encourage the team from my high school as well as others. Financially speaking, I have a small college fund in my name, but it is not enough to cover a year of school. This scholarship would help off-set the cost of college. I would like to graduate college debt free, so I do not have the stress of payments hanging over me as I launch my career.

Connections: Can you solve it before reading the rest of the essay? Sun Office John May Jada Rocking Cauli Hound Micheal W. Wall Folding Rogue Scoundrel Will Arm Canine Answer Key: Last name is Smith -- Jada, Will, Micheal W., John. These are all famous singers, actors, as well as people in history (John Smith). Since these are names and the rest of the words are nouns, I thought this would be an easy one to start with before requiring more critical thinking. Types of Flower -- Sun, Wall, May, Cauli. These are fill in the blanks stemming from the actual plants to the name of the ship and a common expression to shy people. This one is significantly harder seeming that the words have no connection otherwise or could be independent words except for "Cauli" which is only a portion of a word. ____ chair -- Office, Rocking, Folding and Arm. This is another fill in the blank section except it is different kinds of chairs commonly seen and referred to. It is simpler than the flower types but also mixes up some verbs and nouns which may throw people. Synonyms for Dog -- Hound, canine, rogue, scoundrel. Referring to the actual living animal and the expression "You dog". Each have differing origins from around the world (Archaic, Latin, among others. This one may be the hardest given that "dog" is used in two senses which may cause immense frustrations. As one who is ADHD, finding weird connections is something I find entertaining. Thank you, New York Times, for giving me something to do while I drink my coffee that doesn't prey on my terrible spelling.

His name was William David Harris -- protector, David for the king and named after my grandfather. We never called him that tough, William was too big a name for such a little guy, so we called him Liam, or as he referred to himself as "Lima". We were not biological siblings, but our bond goes deeper than blood. I was raised with my cousin via my mother's sister. Instead of just one sister, I became the second eldest of six (now eight, he now would have two younger siblings). However what tragedy would occur in his short life time would shape how I would discover my purpose even a decade later. I was four when he was born on a warm August afternoon in 2012. He was a big baby, healthy at just over nine pounds, his biological siblings and I absolutely adored him the day he came home from the hospital. When it was my turn to hold him, he went from fussy to completely calm and my aunt knew I had the master touch. We became the best of friends at just under five years apart, which is what made his loss so much harder to bear. Just before his second birthday, he had a black eye and his abdomen was all swollen. He had had hernia surgery relatively recently at the time, so we all assumed the surgery site was infected. My aunt took him to urgent care, but the results were so unexpected for such -- well, what we thought -- a healthy toddler. Liam has neuroblastoma stage IV -- a cancer which attacks the adrenal glands. By the time we discovered it, the tumor was the size of a cantaloupe and had spread everywhere. We had no idea, and were devastated;. Our Liam was not a quitter however, he fought gallantly for thirteen months before tragically passing six weeks after his third birthday on September 21, 2015. A failed bone marrow transplant, 13 rounds of chemo, and so many scans. I still remember barely processing my mother telling me that my best friend had departed from this world at four thirty that morning in his sleep. Peacefully and quickly and I thank God for not extending his suffering any longer than it had to be. He loved donuts, Curious George, pumpkin spice lattes "with an L on it" (his words, not mine), he was a Texas Ranger's fan -- we went to game for his Make-A-Wish. His mother however, was a chemist and did not know much about sports, so it became a bonding moment between my father and her to explain baseball. My family and I imagine him running the bases in heaven without pain or suffering. I guess the hard part is telling you how I felt after, to be honest, I barely remember. I spent a long stent in the hospital myself after and did not get to process really until about a year later. I was aloof, but seeing him in the PICU before he finally passed made me realize that I wanted to work in medicine. His eldest brother is becoming an oncologist and I, a nurse. Liam gave me and idea of what compassion and resilience looks like and that I apply to my life daily. Even though this world is now deprived a bright light, there were so many more people besides me affected by his life, he had to be with the angels to create saints here. I am so grateful for the short three years I had him on this earth to know him.

Starting the end of my freshman year, I was inducted into the National Honors Society. With them I have completed over 260 service hours since then. My favorite event I have gotten to help with though was childcare during staff development. It has become a tradition -- the last week of summer I spend with some really awesome kids who I teach and they teach me something too. Childcare is almost exactly what it sounds like, I take care of kids with usually two other teenagers and one or two older adults. It is like a full time job during that week -- eight to four-thirty. It is in a medium sized church not terribly far away from their parents at school decorating their rooms or going over safety plans for the year. We usually start the morning off playing games -- like Janga or war, it really depends what they are all in the mood for. Some mornings the girls and I made bracelets (which I still have hanging in my room and I smile every time I look at them). We talk about what they did over the summer and if they are ready for school yet ("NO!" a few cry as they sprawl against the table, "I want summer to last forever!"). Since we are in a church, then we go over a bible story -- which has taught me a lot and the kids too. After, we take them to the gymnasium adjoined to the church and let them run around -- often a game of soccer, basketball or simply a game of tag (I loose on purpose so they can have a little bit more fun). Then we watch a movies like after school specials before we play charades and have lunch, go to the gym again and play some more before finally they go home for the day and we clean up. My memories of doing childcare will always exist in what I see as an eternal state of innocence. I hope these kids can grow up as a result to help others and that teenagers are not as they are portrayed in the movies as these out of touch rebels. I want them to see that there are people who still as they grow up have the innocence of a child. That there are people who want to mentors to them and that they can pay it forward in the future. I hope we are inspiring the next generation of teachers and doctors as much as the teachers that they get to meet by the end of the week and learn from that year. I am so grateful I have had the opportunity for the last three years to encourage others and satisfy my own inner child.

There is something about that feeling of emptiness inside you. It is something you try so desperately to fill with things, like drugs, relationships that weren't so great, and maybe you leave it open just hope it consumes you someday rather quickly. I would say that my journey does not look the same as Ella's, or anyone else's for that matter, it is my story that I get to tell, it is a story of healing and redemption. My story involves Autism, which may not necessary fall under the mental health umbrella, but a lot the way I see the world through that lense makes it significantly harder on my mind and soul. As a little girl, my parents thought they had a perfectly healthy child, until my sister came along and they realized that I was not supposed to be this way. I hated day cares, loud noises, foods I did not recognize, and bright lights. My sister barely noticed these things, and it has always vaguely felt like a game of compare and contrast. We may have nearly identical faces, but we have very different temperaments as a result. My mother, the saint that she is, took me to three different psychologist before the age of ten, all of whom gave different results before finally trying to call it "OCD". But OCD -- obsessive compulsive disorder, has no sensory component, which is what everyone seems to miss yet is the biggest interference of my life. My parents went along with this for years until I did some digging on my own to figure out I aligned more with Autism in terms of traits. They never treated me differently, if anything, they protected me in some ways from the cruel world around me. Often times in school, as great a student as I was and still am, I frequently felt invisible in a room full of people who found me "odd", "quirky", or just "weird". I embraced these harsh words that seemed to hold a place into my soul eventually causing a sense of sadness that words cannot define. I panicked at buffet lines, crowded restaurants, lunchrooms or classes filled with substitute teachers. I came home after long days just longing to sleep off the sense of no belonging. While I am still waiting for the results after beginning to advocate for myself for more autism testing, I am starting to feel good enough, and climbing out of the depths. I have grown stronger, as life has dealt me a cruddy hand, I am not afraid anymore of it. I have gained resilience and a story that I carry with me everyday. I hope to work in medicine, which has been a field that has greatly impacted the way I think and see the world. It has given me hope to create a better tomorrow in an overwhelming place for people much like myself. I am going to go to school to get my bachelor's in nursing and Kinesiology with a minor in psychology -- to understand my brain and my patients as well. I am still recovering, I am staying away from the things that drug me down, dumped a group that got me into the mess in the first place. I also found an online support group I am becoming a part of slowly -- to have a community of people who have gone through something so similar is a gift that is priceless. Creative outlets like writing, art and becoming a violinist though, those have been the places I have been able to thrive in. With these, I can see the future growing brighter with every day becoming more limitless.

I would love to say spending the last decade with severe food allergies -- dairy, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts and digestive issues (Celiac and Eosinophilic Esophagitis) have been easy. If anything, it's been far from it. Those only scratch the surface. That is who I am on paper, what the medical records say. It's pages and pages found in a children's hospital's basement somewhere in a binder about two inches thick (lots of appointments). It took me a long time to learn this, but these are something I have, not what define me. Grand total for procedure numbers: I have had five biopsies, two allergy panels, four food/drug challenges, a barium swallow study, twenty five days in the hospital for refeeding syndrome plus a terrifying night from an anaphylactic incident, three total anaphylaxis accidents, two nasogastric tubes placed, finally spending three years in speech therapy, three and a half in occupation therapy and eleven months in physical therapy. It has been a lot and as a result I have gotten stronger. Other than influencing what I eat regularly, it has also encouraged me to be conscious of what makeup, pills, soaps and lotions I use. I got left out a lot as a kid, I could not eat, birthday parties were stressful, and even when I was a teenager, going over to people's houses and rejecting a home cooked meal was something I felt guilty over. I have also learned to self advocate -- I think I explain my issues at least once sometimes twice a day. Empathy is another thing that comes with the territory, I have learned it thoroughly spending time with people who fail to understand and filing it away to remind myself to be better. Over the past year with my most recent biopsy, I have decided to go into nursing, specifically pre-op/post-op or gastroenterology to pay it forward. Between periodic flares of both my Celiac and EoE, my GI team is always on my side to help me find the quickest solution to get them back under control. It has made me want to advocate more because not a lot of people know that those too are different forms of an allergy. I recently reached out to my high school to have a food allergy seminar where I share some of my own experiences to educate and empower others so that the world can be a safer place. I have also been nominated through the Food Allergy Resource and Education (FARE) organization as one of their "food allergy champions" -- a person who advocates and lives with this invisible disability. I hope in the future to keep advocating for myself and others and change the way we look at food allergies and help others.

My name is Amelia Parks, and this is the story of my own near death experience at sixteen. It has shaped my sense of gratitude and has made me so thankful that I am still here. It started with an accident. I have multiple food allergies, I carry an epipen and benadryl and they are never further than about twenty feet from me at any moment. I decided after a bible study to go to Smoothie King, my logic was "they had snacks that I couldn't enjoy, I'll get one that I can". I drove over to one that was about six miles from my house that was by the library where I had been. I walked in and disclosed right off "I have a dairy and gluten allergy" and ordered an angel foodie smoothie with oat milk. Unfortunately, this employee either misunderstood or didn't care and I was given whole milk instead. In retrospect, I should have been paying more attention to them make my drink, I took a sip decided we were good and hit the road. About three miles down the road I could feel it, my throat was closing slowly and I was alone. I popped to benadryl at a stop light and sped home in terror clenching the wheel. I was praying that nothing would happen while I was behind the wheel at least. I parked ran inside, my brain foggy from the shock setting in, saying "they messed up my order!" repeatedly. My mom took me into the light said I was gray, hit me with the epipens (my first time ever needing one), threw me in the car and started speeding off towards the children's hospital. It was a miracle I got home fast enough and I lived after two doses of epinephrine. I spent the night there, I could not sleep, I started to loose weight, I was angry. My parents said I disappeared, from being a happy healthy person into a shallow shell of who I was. I dissociated often and my straight As slipped into Cs. If that wasn't enough, I ended up contracted bronchitis for two weeks (a common complication) and then I found out I was allergic to the antibiotics that I was taking, my entire body looking like a tomato from the reaction. It was a lot, I was grateful, but wasn't sure why I had been left on this earth, what was the purpose? After my parents started to get worried we talked to my school's guidance counselor and she introduced me to TCHATT -- Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine, where I met my therapist Celes. I told Celes everything, from how I was scared to eat out again, how my friendships were falling apart, how I felt lost, and it felt like it was all my fault. We met every Thursday for two months. She told me I was extraordinary, that I had a right to be angry, and it wasn't my fault. She set me up with new tools to deal with my PTSD from this event. I now practice mindfulness regularly, I try to focus on the things I can control. I am now a happier, healthier and better version of myself. I figured out that I was left here to tell my story and advocate. I want to help people like all those doctors and nurses did to save my life. Even though my world was turned upside down, it was all for something good and I will forever be grateful.

I have always wanted to go into medicine. It was easy to admire such a noble profession since my mother was a dietitian at the children's hospital I was in when I was a little girl. She used to tell me stories about how she was on the cadaver dissection team and saving the day using her mathematical knowledge. The stories aren't the only reason I want to go into the field, it's my own experience too. I was a patient for over a decade at children's health through their gastroenterology (GI) program. For years, we didn't know what was wrong with me -- I would throw up after every meal, wasn't growing, refused to eat and my parents knew that I wasn't supposed to do that. Eventually after at the age of six I was able to verbalize what I felt my detective mom finally had the realization, "Oh, this is EoE!" EoE is short for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a rare esophageal disorder. When a trigger food is consumed (for me, it is dairy), the white blood cells are sent to attack the esophagus causing me to throw up -- getting rid of the "invader". After four biopsies, we also discovered I had Celiac Disease (autoimmune gluten intolerance) and a fifth in my teens also confirmed acid reflux. When discovering this and cutting out the top six allergens (the six food elimination diet) and I slowly started to gain weight again, I had refeeding syndrome -- a metabolic disturbance from reintroducing food too quickly. These life altering matters never seemed to stop as I also was later diagnosed at age 13 with anaphylactic food allergies too (dairy, peanuts and treenuts). The scary adventure I had been on for over five years made me realize that I wanted to do something in medicine. It was what I was made for -- all these experiences I had, I can help someone else cope with these too. I didn't have anyone in my life who really understood the severity of my issues and I wanted to the person someday, who could help others with that too. After my last biopsy in November 2024, I knew I was called to nursing especially pre-op/post-op surgical care because of my nurse. Her name was Rebecca and she made me laugh and feel safe even though my world had been turned upside down after an anaphylactic attack a few months prior had potentially brought my EoE out of remission. Her kind actions showed me I had to pay it forward. My dream is to do the Pathway to Nursing through Kansas State and Wichita State Universities. I will obtain a bachelor of science in kinesiology, and a bachelor of science in Nursing with a minor in psychology. I hope to achieve this to help so many more people by being a beacon of light in their darkest times.

Tennis is something I have loved since the moment I stepped on the court the first time. I still remember, it was a hot July morning in Texas when my sister dragged me to a tennis camp with our mother's old racket from when she played in the early 2000s. It was a low attendence camp, which was a positive advantage for me so someone could show me the ropes without rushing me. The coaches taught me how to forehand, and not knowing my own strength, I hit it so hard that when it bounced, it richocheted off the far wall. One of the coaches gave me a slap on the back and told me I was a natural. From that moment, I was unstoppable. It gave me this feeling that I have been chasing forever. For me, that "feeling" is the satisfaction of hearing the ball slap against my racket as I overhead slam it back down on my opponent's side. Since my beginning of tennis, I've learned the true meaning of discipline-- weather aim or otherwise. I've learned how to be a good sport even if I've lost, stay respectful and work in a duo. This has influenced my work across the board -- I am better in groups now, stay calm even when things go south or when I can't nail the right amount of top spin I still think of ways to improve. It has taught me to triumph over injuries and brought my family closer together too. With my tennis team and love of kinesiology, I was the unofficial "nurse" who took care of people when they twisted their ankle, got a cramp, or pulled a muscle when I was the one injured. It made me realize that was what I was supposed to do. When I got back on the court for the first time again after that, I knew those memories of helping others while playing a sport I love would live in the back of my mind forever. I know it sounds a bit cliche, but tennis has shaped me into a better person. It has turned me into a better woman as a result. Tennis is a sport that has taught me true discipline, respect, teamwork and staying positive no matter what. I hope to be like the older couple I saw on the courts a few weeks ago getting a slow rally going, something I continue to love and play for the rest of my life.

As a child, I spent a lot of time in and around hospitals, my younger cousin, also one of my closest friends, tragically passed from cancer six weeks after his third birthday. Five days prior, I saw in the PICU, and I was mesmerized by the machines. Since then, I have spent a total of twenty-five nights in the hospital (referring syndrome) and one freak overnight accident (anaphylaxis). I also have had five biopsies, a barium swallow study, and countless specialist look at my case. Eventually, being diagnosed with a rare esophageal disorder (eosinophilic esophagitis), Celiac Disease, multiple food allergies, and sensory processing disorders, I realize that medicine was a fascinating subject. Every doctor and nurse in these hospitals were so kind and told me to keep fighting because I would get better. They were right and I aspire to be like that. I knew that was what my purpose was now, to help others and this was the way that I knew I was supposed to do it. After doing a bit of research during my beginning high school years, I strived after the Wichita State/Kansas State Pathway to Nursing Program. The Pathway to Nursing Program is a five year program where I would receive my bachelor's degree of choice as well as a Bachelor's in nursing from two different universities. In high school, I have already received almost twenty-four hours of credit going into school. I already am beginning to understand the basics of college while still living at home. I also spent three years in Occupational Therapy because of my own sensory processing issues, so I also plan on tacking on a minor in psychology. All of these will work together -- nursing, to apply what I know to treat the patients, kinesiology, to understand the body mechanics and psychology, knowing how to keep patients calm. Eventually I may aspire to a master's level of education depending on how my career begins to shake out. I never had Tebra Hopson, but I would have loved to have her as a teacher and see her put in to me a life long love of learning. I imagine her encouraging me not just to dream, but do. That's something I have and why I would like to continue my education, not just for college, but to keep learning even in the workforce and as long as I walk this earth.

The human mind is a very intricate piece of complex functions, seven trillion nerves each connecting to communicate to the body, the millions of neurons stretching to see, feel, hear, and connect us to memories and sensations that are on the verge of being indescribable. Now, imagine all those sensations multiplied by about two thousand, and it goes from being a miracle to pain quite regularly. I have lived in the Dallas-Fort Worth area my entire life. Every thing is so bright, so loud, and there is so much to take in. It leaves me exhausted most days. Before my diagnosis, my parents thought I was overreacting or being dramatic, until the sweet, tender age of seven we didn't know what I had was (and described is) Sensory Processing Disorder. Now older, I have a deeper understanding of this disorder and the unique view point it has given me on the world. The one person I knew who would probably sympathize with it most is my grandfather - whom I lovingly refer to as my Opa, Colonel David L. Pointer. Opa served in the army for 28 1/2 years (1975-2003). He started out in Field Artillery, and eventually made his way into the Judge Advocate General Corps. A more stoic type who loves the outdoors, Opa helps and cares for others - whether replacing worn out fences for free or mowing lawns for people who could no longer do it themselves (or afford it), he has always been there for as long as I can remember. Even if it was a conversation about how I was mad at God, he simply sat and listened. I love my Opa to pieces, he is incredibly funny and had the servant's heart I now proudly wear on my sleeve. He and my grandmother, Oma, are part of the reason I want to do Occupational Therapy (OT). Oma has a background in psychology, and Opa loves to serve which lead me to the road of OT. After the death of my cousin, Liam, who was my closest childhood friend, Oma and Opa were the two people who could draw me out of my shell the easiest to see the only smile that Liam ever saw. Liam got me interested in medicine because of his cancer (stage IV neuroblastoma). With that background and my own personal experience of being an OT patient for 3 years, Oma and Opa encouraged me to go into that as my field. I am now a junior in high school trying to get all my things together to honor Liam's legacy and my grandparent's values. Occupational Therapy is my way of giving back to the world to tell kids who were in my shoes, "I understand, I've been there myself, I can show you how to cope." My grandparents continue to show me their servant's heart -- teaching me how to help, and now I can return the favor after I finish school.