I started wanting to be a vet when my dad showed me an Animal Planet show called “Dr. Jeff Rocky Mountain Vet”. Dr. Jeff ran a low-cost veterinary hospital in Denver, Colorado. Through that show, I learned the importance of veterinarians to people's lives. I saw the people he helped and the animals he saved, and I hope to help communities like that someday. Growing up in a city meant I rarely had access to farms or large animals, but that didn’t stop me from seeking out every opportunity I could to help animals. Since I was 13, I have volunteered at three different animal shelters and my local zoo, working with dogs, cats, rabbits, goats, and the occasional spunky guinea pig. I’ve logged over 500 hours of service through walking dogs, cleaning cages, and socializing animals. I’ve learned a dog refusing to walk isn’t “difficult”, it’s scared of the passing train. Instead of frustration, I can respond with patience and empathy. As a dyslexic student with ADHD, I’ve worked to build a stronger, more inclusive school community, for students with learning differences. I chose to be the Neurodiversity Affinity Group representative on my school’s Diversity Council my Junior year. The Council brainstormed ways to increase engagement, and I helped come up with the idea of “spotlight weeks,” where each affinity group celebrates its culture/identity in a specific week vs. over scattered days. This idea is now being implemented, giving every student group a platform in our community. This year, as a Senior, I am officially the President of NDA and the group's membership has doubled.