Several years ago, one of my goats had a set of twins wrapped around each other in the birth canal. After a very long and difficult delivery, with my parents and my assistance, my goat had both kids, alive and appearing to be healthy. A week later, the boy's health began to decline rapidly, and despite trying everything I could to save him, I was unable to. We brought him in the house to keep him warm and I held that sweet boy in my arms as he passed. I sobbed over him while trying to perform CPR, but it was no use. That night, I cried harder than I ever had in my life. Though I knew his death was not my fault, I blamed myself. The next day, something within me shifted. I developed a strong sense of resolve in my path toward becoming a doctor. I knew that I had the compassion and skills to save animals, as I have saved several before, as well as people. I knew that his death would not be in vain. Seeing him in my mind's eye pushes me every day when I feel exhausted or drained. It motivates me to make a difference and never allow his situation to happen again. I know some patients will not overcome sickness or disease, but I will do my best to ensure that that will not happen on my watch. His situation has pushed me harder to become a reproductive endocrinologist or OB/GYN because I want to be able to help parents and babies in the same way that I currently do as a goat farmer. My most meaningful achievement is my summer job. It doesn't initially make sense to most, because I have won scholastic awards and service awards, but working as a Medical Assistant is the most fulfilling feeling I have ever felt. My work in a podiatry clinic allows patients to walk out feeling much better than they walked in. This could be from an ulcer, a bone infection, or simply getting their toenails trimmed by the doctors. I have had WoundVac patients and post-op visits thanking me for taking the time to help them feel better and making sure that I bandaged them comfortably and correctly. It is truly something special to know that I may have made a small difference in someone's life, and it motivates me during the school year to recognize that I have the wonderful opportunity to continue my work when the school year is complete. The image that I have attached below is of me and my favorite goat, Stella, back when I showed her in my last year of high school. I do not have any showing images accessible of showing the grandma of the goat I discussed above, but this is her best friend.

As my high school's Valedictorian, my teachers tell me that I can do anything I want to do with my life, but my career plan will be far from easy. I have been accepted into Western Oregon University to study biology. I will graduate with my Bachelor of Science and pre-requisites for medical school and apply there. I then will go to wherever I am accepted, then study radiology in 5 years. I will return to the town I am from and complete my residency. I will then complete a fellowship and hopefully become an interventional radiologist. I hope that by the end of ten years, I will have a house and return to showing horses and goats in my free time and raise a family with a loving husband. These dreams sound big, and to some, unachievable, but I know that I have the drive and passion to become the doctor I have dreamed of becoming since I was 5 years old. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.