Children can be shaped by their parent's military service, but I was changed after my mom's service. The constant surgeries she has faced forced premature maturity, often accompanied by pressure to do well in all aspects of my life. I knew at an early age that I wanted to help people like my mom who struggles with constant pain as a result of selfless service to our country. The most recent surgery was a partial knee replacement that canceled my spring break vacation. I was not mad at the missed opportunity to experience a new adventure because it would not be the same without my mom being able to enjoy it with me. While I never experienced my mom spending time away from home due to deployments or being in the field, I did experience the absence during family activities or depression due to dealing with daily challenges recovering from surgeries. I have missed out on time, dealt with mood swings and sometimes outbursts that are not a normal for my mom. After the 6 or 7 surgery, we have adopted a new "normal". We work together and have a better appreciation for time together. My experience as a child of a parent who has served in the military is that filled with pride. I know my mom has taught me discipline, teamwork, empathy and integrity, the framework that shaped her in the Army. I know that her tough love is to make me a stronger woman who is confident, driven, and able to use my voice for good. Because of her, I am now going to attend medical school, where I will learn more about pain management from both a medical perspective, as well as, a holistic approach, and then I can hopefully help my mom in a new way. I am proud to be a child of a parent who has served in the military. I think her experiences in the Army has shaped me into the person I am today. I even got to experience jumping out of an airplane like she did. Without my mom being in the military I don't think I would be as strong as I am today or have the desire to go into the medical field so that I can help people who struggle with pain, but don't want to depend on pain medication. I wish more people had the opportunity to experience some part of military life. Sincerely, Ariel Martin

Impact is a perception. I can impact some people through my actions while other people may be impacted by status. As a first generation premed student, I would love to become an anesthesiologist so that I can make a positive impact on people who are struggling with pain management. My passion of anesthesiology stems from my grandmother who has been being prescribed OxyContin for over 30 years for a hip replacement. I feel this is not only detrimental to her health, but also, it set her up to never recover from the initial pain. After seeing the results of her addiction, my father does not want prescribed opioids to deal with his recent multiple myeloma diagnosis, in which he struggles with pain from broken bones as a result of the bone marrow cancer. As an anesthesiologist, I will have the ability to help people understand pain and alternative ways to treat or deal with it that doesn't always follow traditional medicine of prescribing opioids. Before transferring to the University of Minnesota, I spent my first two years at the University of New England. I was a tutor, where I able to help my peers understand complex concepts while cementing my understanding of topics that are relevant in medicine. In October 2023, I completed the Certified Nurse Assistant program so I could pursue my passions of medicine and patient care during my academic enrollment. With this certification, I was able to spend my summer working at Denver Health Medical Center, where I gained valuable experiences working directly with patients and as a part of a medical team. I also work in a research lab to help understand the connection between alcohol and nicotine, and I volunteer at an animal hospital. I just finished studying the history of health and culture in Equador and learned about the intersection between human health and the environment. I grew up to a mother who served nine years in the US Army. She instilled in me the importance of education, discipline, and helping others. Through her teachings I learned the importance of a higher education that will make an impact on society. I feel that connecting with people through medicine is the best way to make an impact on the world because medicine is a universal language that relies on a specialized vocabulary and standardized practices that transcend linguistic and cultural differences, despite not necessarily sharing the same native language. While in Equador I was able to understand this more clearly and see how much they wanted to teach me, but also learn from me. Finally, this scholarship will help me towards my goal of going to medical school and becoming an anesthesiologist, so that I can hopefully make an impact on the world by helping people through pain management and by learning from my experiences. Thank you, Ariel Martin

The "C" word is probably one of the most scary words. In Latin, it means crab. This last summer I was home on college break working as a CNA and my dad was being treated for "sciatica like" symptoms. We went cliff jumping into a lake and my dad hurt his back. The lumbar X-ray didn't show a thoracic fracture, missed it on X-ray by four vertebrae and my dad already had an MRI scheduled. This led to them finding the fracture and a tumor on his tailbone, followed by a CT scan which confirmed he had osseous metastatic disease...bone cancer. Because I want to go to medical school, I was immediately curious how this could have happened, if it is contagious or even genetic. More tests and biopsies followed and the official diagnosis was Stage 2 Multiple Myeloma. I went to appointments to hear what his oncologist had to say and get my own curiosities and fears answered. After 4 months of radiation and chemotherapy, he will now be getting stem cell replacement therapy Jan 27, 2025. I will have to be back in college when my dad goes into the hospital for three weeks, but my experience with his cancer journey has impacted who I am in so many ways. First, it has impacted who I am in that I do not know how much time I have with him and it has made me have second thoughts to go to medical school to be an anesthesiologist or just go to grad school and be an anesthesiologist assistant. I want him to see me graduate and no time is ever guaranteed. Second, his journey has also made me take my own health more seriously. I found a lump in my right breast a year ago and they said it would go away, but it hasn't, so I have taken the steps to have it surgically removed. His cancer journey has made me more aware and to listen to my body. Finally, I use to "be tough", and if I was sick or injured I would fight through it and now I get everything checked out. I feel that his cancer journey will make me a better medical professional. I feel I will be more attentive, understanding, and a better listener. It has also made me more curious about all aspects of medicine which could help me in medical school. Thank you for hearing my story, Ariel Martin

Cancer is the biggest adversity I hope I will ever have to face, not physically, but mentally. It has no limits, it is a silent killer and does not discriminate. In June 2024, my dad was having back pain with sciatica like symptoms. After finally getting an MRI, on July 16, 2024, he was diagnosed with plasmacytoma, a rare bone/blood cancer with no cure. I would say this is the toughest mental adversity anyone could face. Since this adversity is so recent, my steps I have to take to continue to achieve my career aspirations is not going to change. I want to show my dad that I am as strong as he is. I am currently a biology/premed student at the University of Minnesota. I just transferred from the University of New England to better my opportunities for growth. I am taking my dad's diagnosis as an opportunity to learn about his disease and apply it to my studies. I want to attend medical school, so I attend his appointments and ask a lot of questions in hope that maybe one day I can help find a cure. I have spoke with many doctors to make sure this is the right path for me. Currently I feel confident this is what I want to do. I got my CNA certification earlier this year and got a job at Denver Health this summer so I can get patient hours. I have shadowed five doctors on several occasions in both the operating room and clinical days to learn from those already doing what I hope to do. I have applied for a research study so that I can learn how to process the data I gather, as well as, work on research needed to get into medical school. The most recent step I have taken is finding a support group to help me mentally process the emotional weight of the diagnosis. This step is probably the most important to help me stay on my career path. I know that having positive family and friends around me will help encourage me to stay focused and be supportive for my dad. I know he is proud of me and wants me to succeed so I am going to take any other steps necessary along the way to make sure that I continue to achieve my career aspirations and I know he will be around to share it with me.

"The technology you use impresses no one. The experience you create with it is everything." (Sean Gerety). I believe that technology can create an experience of helping people live a healthy lifestyle. Smart technology such as Fitbits, Apple watches, and Garmins are beneficial for health and a general well being. They can keep track of your diet goals, fitness efforts, provide workout programs, medication compliance, and even motivate you you to get up and move around or walk. This type of technology can make the world a better place by reducing obesity and improving people's mental health. It can also track sleeping habits leading to better moods and decrease risk of injury. When people are generally healthy, this reduces the strain on health care workers allowing them to focus on injuries and illnesses that are out of people's control. I plan to attend college to become an anesthesiologist. I know that people with health problems are at an increased risk of complications while under anesthesia. With smart technology people can prevent some health problems. I am inspired by this technology, because I know that it will make my job easier. When people come in for surgery and they are in good health because they use it to exercise, monitor their heart activity and even diseases like diabetes, I will be more able to tend to routine tasks. With technology constantly changing and improving how medical procedures are done, I believe that smart technology will not only help individuals live healthy and happy lifestyles, but it will benefit the medical field as well. Ariel Martin 2022

Growing up I would ask for things and my mom would say, "well, you have to buy it with your own money", and then I would decide how bad I wanted it. Most of the time I realized I didn't want it bad enough to buy it myself, I just wanted something. The most helpful piece of financial advice my mom gave me was, "before you buy it, determine if you want it or need it"!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." I am an avid Dr. Seuss fan, and this quote rings true. I am steering myself across the country from Colorado to Maine. Along the way, I know I have to set SMART goals. These are goals that are specific, meaningful, achievable, realistic and trackable. My educational goals are to attend the University of New England (UNE) in Biddeford, Maine. I am going to college to get my undergraduate degree in medical biology with a minor in neuroscience. As one of the top paying careers right at of college, I aspire to become an anesthesiologist. This is a field where I can use my intellectual skills to help others who are in a vulnerable position. This is also a career where I can use my love for math and science. I also plan to do a semester abroad in Morocco and gain valuable experience from their doctors and their cultures. I want to attend UNE's Doctorate of Osteopathic (D.O) Medicine program in Portland, Maine, which is a 12 year program. My mom did not grow up in a financially stable home, and her four older siblings did not graduate high school or go to college. My mom wanted a better life for herself, so she joined the Army. While she was on active duty she attended night school and got her associates degree. After serving nine years, she got out, and got her bachelors and masters degree. She earned her degrees and I want to earn mine. It will be a long process, but this award will help me get there.

Dr. Seuss once said, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not."  Good deeds are usually considered donations to charity or helping someone in need.  When I joined a new summer swim club, I noticed a girl always walking up and talking to everyone.  People barely paid any attention to her or they were short with their reply, but she was the happiest girl.  She was very encouraging to all the other swimmers. She was pretty, but I couldn't tell her age. I know she was a bit older than me.  I can tell she had a delayed development or an intellectual disability. She did not look like she had any physical disabilities.  Other swimmers told me that she was a swimmer on the team, and she is a great runner too.  A couple of years had passed and at our last league meet in July 2020, this young lady came up to our seating area and asked for my address and my phone number.  Her name is Nayla.  She has a genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome.  People with Angelman syndrome often smile and laugh frequently, and have happy, exciteable personalities. This explained a lot. A few days later I received a letter in the mail from Nayla.  She asked a lot of questions about me and included many stickers. I didn't reply right away and a week or so later I received another letter from her.  I wrote back and put in some stickers for her.  Nyla is very prompt about writing back, I was not. I wrote Nyla a second time, and again she wrote two letters back to back.  When I finally opened and read them both, she had included a $5 gift card to Starbucks.  I realized that she probably gave me this gift card because I responded to her more than once and other people/peers probably get tired of responding by mail to her; physically writing a letter and addressing an envelope, then trying to find a stamp. I decided to get a pack of wildlife greeting cards and a book of stamps so that she can read about the animal and I won't run out of things to say to her.  I have made it a goal now that within one to two weeks I will respond to Nyla. I can't wait to give her my new address when I go to college and tell her how far away I am and about my classes.  I will definitely include my college sticker.  I was inspired by Nyla's simply acts of kindness. It doesn't have to be extravagant or time-consuming, just enough to make someone smile or make their day.  Writing to Nyla reminds me of the quote, "Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts" (unknown).  I am glad that she saw something in me to want to ask me for my address.
 I am inspired to pay it forward.

GRANDMA Wheat Ridge Is my high school Where I get my education My grandma always tells me "They give you more vacations" I walked into the classroom The teacher said, "Ariel, you are late" After the bell had already rang I advised her "I have too much on my plate" I just want to go to college Where I can do things on my own My grandma always asks me "Don't you learn more on your phone?" I have a lot I have to do To prepare for my departure Scholarships and applications I know I will go farther I can't decide if I should Take my car to Maine My grandma always tells me "I walked uphill, both ways in the rain" I want to be a med student Because I love math and science Not the cheapest option But I want my doctors license When we got the numbers Of how much we would have to pay My grandma always tells me "Well back in my day..." I know that I can do this I just have to do the work I will show my grandma I don't just tweet and twerk!