Right now, I give back to my community in ways that help me stay connected to the people and traditions that mean a lot to me, while also supporting younger kids as they grow. One of the main ways I do this is by volunteering at my local rodeo, which is a nonprofit that’s really focused on giving back to the community. The organizers work hard to keep the event affordable so families can actually come out and enjoy it together. It creates a fun, welcoming environment where people of all ages can spend time together, and I love being part of something that brings everyone closer and keeps local traditions alive. What makes volunteering at the rodeo especially meaningful to me is that the money raised doesn’t just go toward running the event, it goes straight back into helping people in the community. For example, the rodeo has used its profits to buy bikes for kids and support other local needs. Knowing that my time and effort help make those things possible gives what I do a real sense of purpose. It’s not just about putting on a fun event, it’s about making a difference. Being part of a group that works together to support families and create positive experiences has shown me how much impact people can have when they care about their community. I also give back by volunteering as a coach for a 12U softball team with my mom. This is especially meaningful to me because I played softball from the time I was nine until I graduated high school at eighteen. Getting to coach now feels like a full-circle moment. I get to help younger players grow not only as athletes, but also as individuals. Coaching has taught me a lot about patience, encouragement, and leadership. Every practice and game is a chance to help the girls build confidence, learn teamwork, and push through challenges. I love helping them improve their skills, but what matters most to me is creating a supportive environment where they feel encouraged and proud of themselves. Coaching has also helped me realize just how important role models can be in a young person’s life. Sometimes kids just need someone to believe in them, encourage them, and show them they’re capable. Watching the girls gain confidence, support each other, and get excited about their progress is incredibly rewarding. It reminded me that giving back doesn’t always have to be something huge, sometimes it’s just about showing up, being present, and investing your time in others. Looking ahead, I want to keep making a positive impact by staying involved in my community and finding new ways to help the people around me. I plan to continue supporting local events, mentoring young athletes, and helping families whenever I can. No matter where my future career takes me, I want to use my time, energy, and skills to make the communities I’m part of stronger and more supportive. Volunteering has taught me that even small acts of service can make a real difference, and that’s something I want to carry with me for the rest of my life.

My career goal is to become a large animal veterinarian. I love animals and have always wanted to become a veterinarian, so this education and career path is perfect for me. Not only do I want to help animals because of my love for them, but I also want to help animals for their owners’ sake. I have been a pet owner most of my life, so I know the emotional struggle of witnessing a decline in your animal’s health for various reasons. The first step for me to become a large animal veterinarian is to earn my bachelor’s degree with a major in animal science from Oregon State University. I plan to apply to the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State with the hope of gaining acceptance. Being accepted to the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine would mean the world to me since it is close to home and therefore close to the people that I love, but I do plan to apply to other veterinary programs as well since acceptance is very limited and competitive. My motivation to achieve my goals comes from being raised by a single mother. I have watched her give up many things in life to take care of me, and for that, I am eternally grateful because I know I will never be able to repay her. Achieving my goals would make my mother proud and hopefully will allow me to take some financial burdens away from her. A veterinary career would allow me to make money while enjoying my job, which is very important to me. I have always wanted to have a career that I am passionate about and love. This has been my dream since I was 5 years old, so this is a chance for me to make my younger self feel happy and accomplished. All of my hopes should be possible with my intended degree, which is one of the reasons that it will have a large positive impact on my life. My degree will allow me to take the next step in pursuing a dream that I have always had. Another reason that my degree is so special to me is because in my eyes, education is a privilege that not everyone has access to, so it should not be taken for granted. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to get any form of education, especially an education at the college level.

My career goal is to become a large animal veterinarian. I love animals and have always wanted to become a veterinarian, so this education and career path is perfect for me. Not only do I want to help animals because of my love for them, but I also want to help animals for their owners’ sake. I have been a pet owner most of my life, so I know the emotional struggle of witnessing a decline in your animal’s health for various reasons. The first step for me to become a large animal veterinarian is to earn my bachelor’s degree with a major in animal science from Oregon State University. I plan to apply to the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State with the hope of gaining acceptance. Being accepted to the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine would mean the world to me since it is close to home and therefore close to the people that I love, but I do plan to apply to other veterinary programs as well since acceptance is very limited and competitive. My motivation to achieve my goals comes from being raised by a single mother. I have watched her give up many things in life to take care of me, and for that, I am eternally grateful because I know I will never be able to repay her. Achieving my goals would make my mother proud and hopefully will allow me to take some financial burdens away from her. A veterinary career would allow me to make money while enjoying my job, which is very important to me. I have always wanted to have a career that I am passionate about and love. This has been my dream since I was 5 years old, so this is a chance for me to make my younger self feel happy and accomplished. All of my hopes should be possible with my intended degree, which is one of the reasons that it will have a large positive impact on my life. My degree will allow me to take the next step in pursuing a dream that I have always had. Another reason that my degree is so special to me is because in my eyes, education is a privilege that not everyone has access to, so it should not be taken for granted. I am very blessed to have the opportunity to get any form of education, especially an education at the college level.

As a member of a small rural timber-based community, I have realized the value education holds and I know that my life will not amount to what I hope if I do not further my education after high school. The average high school graduate in my community moves on to work at one of the many mills in the area or stumbles their way into a job with a logging company. With the recent decline in timber prices, these jobs are still easily obtainable but they do not come with the benefits I see in my future. My hopes for my future are much greater than what my current community can provide. I am not saying that I will not end up remaining in my current community, since that is where my roots are, but I have discovered that to be the best version of myself I must venture out of my small town and gain a higher education. Financial security is huge to me because I grew up with young parents and did not always have certainty with money. Having said that, young parents did not mean that I had no money or that I was not provided the necessities, it just meant that sometimes the bills were paid late so that my school supplies and clothes could be bought. This is why, in the future, I plan to enhance my education at Oregon State University and major in animal science. I plan to attend for four years to complete my associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Once I have completed my master's degree, I plan to enter their veterinary program to become a large animal veterinarian after college. My plans for education and career come from my love of animals and my drive to help them. The reason I would like to become a large animal veterinarian is because I am passionate about larger animals, like cows and horses, more than smaller animals, like dogs and cats. I have always had a love for horses, especially after my grandfather purchased my first, and so far only, horse for me when I was a child, which will help me stay on track to becoming what I have always dreamed of. My motivation to achieve these plans stems from my determined attitude and resilience. I will strive to give large animals the best chance they have at being healthy and making their owners happy. I also enjoy the idea of being my own boss, which is why I decided that I would enjoy being a veterinarian rather than a vet tech and having financial stability.