Have you ever heard of a cowlick? Well, I happen to have one in my hair, and until the age of 10, I believed my Dad when he said that I got it when one of our cows licked my hair when I was a baby. I've lived on a dairy farm for most of my life. My Mom, Dad, and 5 younger siblings own a farm called Triple M Dairy in Northwest Indiana. From a young age, I was notorious for needing my pockets checked before I came into the house for the risk that I was bringing some hurt bird, frog, or other small critter to nurse back to health in my room. Being on the more timid side, I naturally found comfort in working with and providing for animals. Now, being a very involved high school senior, I have found my voice in organizations like FFA, 4-H, and AQHA. These organizations have given me a chance to nurture my passion while simultaneously giving me the drive to pursue leadership roles that I otherwise would have shied away from. My love for animals and involvement in agriculture-based organizations have worked in tandem to shape me into the person I am today. Despite living on a dairy farm, I would have to say the animals I have been called to the most are horses. From the first pony, my Mom got me, I was hooked. I now show Quarter Horses on a national scale and have been very fortunate to have the opportunities I do. To take advantage of these opportunities, I have shadowed many equine veterinarians and have found a particular interest in sports medicine and equine reproduction. Seeing horses with injuries ranging from damaged flexor tendons to chronic kissing spine find relief at the hands of a veterinarian has been monumental for me. I want nothing more than to help animals and owners find solace in whatever way possible, and hope that I can perform research to help expedite the healing process for animals when possible. I hope to use the knowledge I have gathered from working with horses ranging from miniature horses to draft horses around local farms, 4-H workshops, and AQHA shows to expand veterinary care for animals as we know it. Coming from the background of a dairy farm, I know the value of a herdsman. Someone who is in charge of the animals and knows when something is outside of the ordinary. Working as a veterinarian for an inpatient equine facility, I would be able to use a watchful eye and notice the small discrepancies in patients that only a trained professional would see. I know the value animals have to their owners and want to pursue a career in which I can be trained to help them in the best way possible. The person I am now looks very different because of the animals I have come to cherish over the years. I have firsthand experience with how animals provide a pathway to becoming a better, more outspoken, more driven person. My cows and horses have taught me the value of hard work. From my roots on a dairy farm to my ambitions of becoming a trained equine veterinarian with the capabilities of serving horses with the highest quality care available, I am confident that my past has prepared me for the future challenges I want to tackle. I am more than determined to devote my life to the study, protection, and care of the animals that have given us so much.