From a young age, I wanted to be involved in healthcare, but I wasn't sure in what field. I considered medical research, pharmaceuticals, and pediatrics. I was so convinced I would enter the world of medicine one way or another, so I took as many science, medical, and health-related courses as I could. Plus, I love chemistry and biology. The summer of 2023 has opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities in the world of nursing. When I returned home, I volunteered at our local hospital. I was able to work and job shadow with many departments, including nurses, support staff, surgeons, and CRNA's. During my time at the hospital, I was in the operating room and viewed over 10 surgeries. My time as a hospital volunteer was eye-opening. There are countless opportunities to improve healthcare for our community. I'm sure it is the same way in many more communities across the United States (and the world). During my time, I was most drawn to the responsibilities of nursing and CRNA's. They are so skilled, observant, and detail-oriented. Plus, there is more to "nursing" than I originally thought. Nurses are the backbone of patient care. They are the link between the person in need of proper care. It is mind-blowing how hard nurses work and how much they give. When I learned that many areas of the United States are experiencing shortages in nursing, it clicked for me. I want to enter the world of nursing starting in the Fall of 2024. The world needs great nurses + I want to be a great nurse = win!! I believe the world of medicine is about to experience significant advancements. My dream is to be part of this. I aim to enroll in a nursing or pre-med program and explore career paths that will help me realize this dream. I intend to pursue a BSN degree, later my DNP doctorate, and eventually become a CRNA. During my career lifetime, we will be able to cure many illnesses with the help of technology, artificial intelligence, and the discovery of new medications. Did you know that AI technology will also allow us to discover new uses for existing medicine? I want to learn more about medicine and provide the best patient care possible. To do so, I want to know the latest medical advancements and apply them in my everyday life. I want to apply science through healthcare in a way that will have a direct improvement in people's lives. Once I obtain my degree (or degrees) I dream of traveling the United States (and hopefully the world), to provide healthcare to people of all races, ethnicities, social statuses, and income levels. I want to directly apply my education and knowledge to give back.

My heart was racing, water filling my lungs; I was drowning. When I popped out of the womb, I was determined to eat the most and cry the loudest. I begged my mom to let me go to school. She said, "You can when you know your ABC's." I stood on the couch with hands on hips. I spouted off "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXY and Z!" at warp speed. She enrolled me in school soon after. In school, I would not settle for a B. I was the teacher's favorite and enjoyed the spotlight unless I had to be alone on a stage. I asked for vocal lessons. I was afraid to sing in front of my teacher but finally belted out "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" Later, she wanted me to try a challenging song. She picked a song from the Broadway play Wicked. It was out of my range. Afraid to fail, I cried and quit lessons. Then, I began piano lessons. I loved it because it was easy. I knew how to read music from playing trumpet. As it got harder, I lost the desire to learn. I would play parts I knew and avoid hard parts. I didn't practice because I wasn't good at every part of it. My secret was discovered during recital. I was not the best because I could not get through the song. The fear of failure and embarrassment froze me. I cried and refused to go on stage. I quit taking piano lessons. Back to academics, where it was all gravy! I wanted my grades to be the best. I was the kid who slammed the pencil loudly to ensure everyone knew I finished first. High school was no different. I strove for excellence. My dreams were shattered during Freshman year. I received a 92 in Honors Geometry. My first and only B. My response? I overloaded myself. I signed up for difficult classes, harder homework, a couple of jobs, and marching band. Instead of "failing," I was determined to do it all. The only thing I focused on was my mountain of responsibilities. Panic attacks, enter stage left. They happened at school, home, anywhere. I was a bomb that would go off at any time. I did not talk to anyone about my feelings. All people saw were situations I ran out of. An attack started with chewing my nails, biting the inside of my cheek, shaking a foot, and fidgeting. I could not hold back tears. I cried uncontrollably and then hyperventilated. The pressure in my chest felt like someone was stepping on my lungs. Like I was drowning. One day I bought a planner. I wrote down everything, even small stuff like going to the store or cashing a check. It helped me visualize my tasks. Planning was the first step to taking control. I now work 20+ hours weekly after school and have never felt better about my "mountain." I tackle each task one by one. I am not afraid to challenge myself to the "hard parts." I talk to my family and friends about my anxiety. Instead of doing things I am good at, I also try things to be a better person. I possess confidence in my abilities and awareness of my weaknesses. I embrace failure with my success. I don’t run out of the room. Thankfully, the panic attacks are gone. My life has not been uprooted. I don’t have the best story to tell, but it is not a competition. I only need the story that holds importance to me. I changed my life.

From a young age, I wanted to be involved in healthcare, but I wasn't sure in what field. I considered medical research, pharmaceuticals, and pediatrics. I was so convinced I would enter the world of medicine one way or another, so I took as many science, medical, and health-related courses as I could. Plus, I love chemistry and biology. The summer of 2023 has opened my eyes to the amazing opportunities in the world of nursing. This summer, I participated in the National Congress of Future Medical Leaders. There, I learned from amazing mentors including Nobel Prize winners, current leading doctors, and young innovators in medicine. I was able to view a live surgery as well. When I returned home, I volunteered at our local hospital. I was able to work and job shadow with many departments, including nurses, support staff, surgeons, and CRNA's. During my time at the hospital, I was in the operating room and viewed over 10 surgeries. During this time, I was most drawn to the responsibilities of nursing and CRNA's. They are so skilled, observant, and detail-oriented. Plus, there is more to "nursing" than I originally thought. There are so many opportunities and specializations within the nursing field. When I learned that many areas of the United States are experiencing shortages in nursing, it clicked for me. I want to enter the world of nursing starting in the Fall of 2024. I believe the world of medicine is about to experience significant advancements. My dream is to be part of this. I aim to enroll in a nursing or pre-med program and explore career paths that will help me realize this dream. I intend to pursue a BSN degree, later my DNP doctorate, and eventually become a CRNA. During my career lifetime, we will be able to cure many illnesses with the help of technology, artificial intelligence, and the discovery of new medications. Did you know that AI technology will also allow us to discover new uses for existing medicine? I want to learn more about medicine and provide the best patient care possible. To do so, I want to know the latest medical advancements and apply them in my everyday life. I want to apply science through healthcare in a way that will have a direct improvement in people's lives. Once I obtain my degree (or degrees) I dream of traveling the United States (and hopefully the world), to provide healthcare to people of all races, ethnicities, social statuses, and income levels. I want to be involved in medical organizations that work with government, healthcare, and insurance companies to improve Healthcare for all Americans. Whether that be through work collaborations, medical research, independent studies, or committees, I want to be involved in making this change.