I believe a life of service is not defined by one big action, but by consistent, everyday choices to put others before yourself. For me, service begins with my faith and is lived out through both my church involvement and the way I treat people in daily life. I am actively involved in my church, where I look for opportunities to serve whenever I can. One meaningful way I serve is through participating in Feed the Hunger events. During these events, we come together as a community to package meals for families in need around the world. What I love most about this experience is the reminder that small actions, when multiplied by many hands, can make a powerful impact. Even though I may never meet the people receiving the meals, I know that taking the time to serve can ease someone else’s burden. It has taught me that service does not always have to be visible to be valuable. Beyond organized events, I try to embody service in everyday situations. Whether it is helping a classmate understand an assignment, supporting a friend who is struggling, or simply being kind in moments when it would be easier to be impatient, I believe service is rooted in attitude. Living a life of service means choosing compassion over convenience. It means being aware of the needs around you and responding with humility rather than seeking recognition. My faith reminds me that loving others is not optional, it is a responsibility. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a career as a chiropractor. My desire to enter this field is deeply connected to my commitment to serving others. Chiropractors do more than treat back pain; they help people improve their quality of life. When someone is living with chronic discomfort, it affects every part of their daily routine, how they sleep, work, exercise, and even how they interact with others. By helping patients manage pain and restore mobility, I will be giving them the opportunity to live more fully. I am especially drawn to being in chiropractic care because it focuses on holistic wellness. Rather than simply masking symptoms, it seeks to understand the root of the issue and support the body’s natural ability to heal. I want to be the kind of healthcare professional who listens carefully, treats patients with respect, and prioritizes long-term well-being over quick fixes. Service in this field means taking the time to truly care about each person who walks through the door. Education will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve effectively. Learning about anatomy, physiology, and patient care will allow me to provide safe and informed treatment. However, I also recognize that serving others requires more than technical skill. It requires empathy, integrity, and patience. My experiences in church and community service have already begun shaping those qualities in me. As I continue my education, I hope to grow not only academically but also personally, so that I can combine competence with compassion. Ultimately, I want my career to reflect my values. Service is not something I plan to start after graduation, it is something I am already practicing. Through my faith, volunteer work, and daily interactions, I strive to live in a way that lifts others up. As a future chiropractor, I will use my education to improve lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually by creating an environment where people feel heard, supported, and cared for. A life of service is a lifelong commitment. Through my education and future career, I intend to continue answering that call by helping others heal, grow, and thrive.

One of the most defining challenges I faced during school was navigating my dad’s struggle with prescription pill addiction. For a long time, I didn’t have the language to describe what was happening. I just knew that something had changed. The person who used to be steady and present sometimes seemed distant, irritable, or emotionally unavailable. Other days he acted almost like nothing was wrong. That inconsistency created an atmosphere at home that felt unpredictable, and as a student trying to stay focused and motivated, that unpredictability affected me more than I realized at the time. When you’re in school, there’s an expectation that you show up ready to learn, participate, and perform. But there were days when I walked into class already mentally exhausted. Some nights were filled with tension, worry, or simply the heavy feeling of not knowing what version of my dad I would get. I often lay awake thinking about whether things would get better or worse. That constant background stress followed me into my school day. I would sit at my desk trying to concentrate on lectures or assignments, but my thoughts drifted back home. It was difficult because I didn’t feel like I could openly talk about what was happening. Addiction carries a stigma, and I didn’t want people to look at my family differently. I didn’t want pity, and I didn’t want to explain something I barely understood myself. So instead of sharing, I internalized it. I smiled when I needed to, turned in my work, and tried to appear unaffected. On the outside, I seemed fine. On the inside, I was carrying confusion, disappointment, and sadness. There were moments when I felt angry. I struggled with questions like, “Why isn’t our family enough?” or “Why would he risk so much?” At the same time, I felt guilty for feeling that way because I knew addiction is complex. That emotional conflict was exhausting. I was trying to be understanding while also protecting myself from being hurt. It forced me to grow up quickly and think about issues that many of my peers didn’t have to consider. Academically, I had to make a decision about how I would respond to the situation. I couldn’t control my dad’s choices, but I could control my own. Over time, I began to view school as something stable in my life. While home sometimes felt uncertain, my classes, assignments, and goals were clear. There was comfort in knowing that effort led to results. If I studied, I improved. If I worked hard, I saw progress. That cause-and-effect relationship gave me a sense of control when other parts of my life felt unpredictable. Instead of letting my circumstances become an excuse, I allowed them to become motivation. I wanted a future built on stability, integrity, and health. I wanted to break patterns rather than repeat them. On days when I felt distracted or discouraged, I reminded myself that my education was a pathway forward. Every completed assignment, every good grade, and every accomplishment became proof that my environment did not define my potential. My faith also became an anchor during this time. When I felt overwhelmed, I reminded myself that even when family situations feel broken, God remains constant. Believing that I am loved and guided gave me peace when emotions ran high. It helped me shift from resentment to compassion. Instead of only seeing my dad’s mistakes, I began to recognize his struggle as something deeper than simple bad choices. That perspective did not erase the hurt, but it helped me carry it differently. This experience shaped me in ways that go beyond academics. It taught me resilience, the ability to keep going even when circumstances are not ideal. It taught me empathy, because I now understand that many people carry private battles that others never see. It taught me emotional awareness, as I learned to recognize and process complex feelings instead of ignoring them. Most importantly, it taught me responsibility for my own path. There were moments when it would have been easy to become bitter or disengaged. But I realized that allowing the situation to negatively define me would only extend its impact. I chose instead to grow from it. The challenge strengthened my independence and deepened my determination. It pushed me to think intentionally about the kind of person I want to become and the kind of family environment I hope to create one day. Although my dad’s struggle was painful, it also clarified my values. I value stability because I have experienced instability. I value honesty because I have seen the consequences of secrecy. I value perseverance because I know what it feels like to keep moving forward when it would be easier to give up. What began as a challenge that felt overwhelming gradually became a source of strength. Looking back, I would never choose that experience, but I cannot deny how much it shaped me. It forced me to confront adversity at a young age and respond with maturity. It taught me that circumstances can influence you without controlling you. Most importantly, it showed me that challenges do not have to limit your future, they can refine it.

My understanding of mental health did not come from a textbook or a classroom, it came from my own home. Growing up, my family was deeply affected by my dad’s addiction to pain pills. What began as something medical slowly turned into something that changed the emotional atmosphere of our household. Addiction does not only impact the individual struggling with it. It affects everyone who loves them. Watching my family navigate this reality shaped my goals, my relationships, and the way I understand the world. As a child, I did not fully understand what was happening, but I could feel it. There was sadness, tension, and uncertainty that lingered in our home. The person my dad once was felt distant, and the unpredictability of addiction created emotional stress for our entire family. I learned early on that mental health struggles can be invisible yet incredibly powerful. They can change behaviors, relationships, and daily life in ways that outsiders may never see. This experience forced me to mature quickly and become more aware of emotions, both my own and those of others. Living through this shaped my relationships in profound ways. I became more empathetic and observant, learning to recognize the emotions people do not always say out loud. I value communication and emotional honesty because I know what it feels like when silence replaces understanding. I also learned the importance of boundaries, forgiveness, and resilience. While addiction brought pain into my family, it also taught me that love does not disappear during hardship. It adapts, struggles, and hopes for healing. These lessons have influenced how I show up for the people in my life, encouraging me to be patient, supportive, and compassionate. My goals were also shaped by this experience. Seeing firsthand how mental health and substance dependency can affect a person’s life inspired me to want to help others who are struggling, whether physically or mentally. I now understand that healing is not always immediate and that recovery is not linear. This awareness has strengthened my desire to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can support people through vulnerable moments and remind them that they are more than their struggles. I want to be someone who offers hope, understanding, and guidance, qualities my family needed during some of our hardest times. Most importantly, my experience has changed how I understand the world. I no longer see people only for their actions, but for the battles they may be fighting beneath the surface. Mental health struggles and addiction are often misunderstood and stigmatized, yet they are deeply human experiences. I have learned that compassion matters more than judgment and that strength often looks like asking for help. While my family’s journey was painful, it gave me a deeper sense of purpose and awareness that I carry with me every day. My dad’s addiction shaped my life in ways I never would have chosen, but it also shaped the person I am becoming. It taught me empathy, resilience, and the importance of mental health. Those lessons continue to guide my goals, my relationships, and my understanding of the world, and they have inspired me to be a source of support and hope for others facing their own struggles.

In March of 2023, I experienced an unexpected injury that led me to the realization that I was meant to work in the healthcare field. At the time, I was a sports medicine member pursuing baseball, and I absolutely loved being involved in athletics and helping others stay active and healthy. Sports had always been a major part of my life, and I believed it would continue to shape my future. However, everything came to a sudden stop when I was hit in the eye by a foul ball during a game. In a single moment, my plans, routines, and sense of certainty about my future changed. Following the injury, I endured numerous hospital visits and consultations with several doctors. Each appointment left me feeling more discouraged than the last. Many of the doctors I encountered focused solely on the damage that had been done and repeatedly told me that my future would look very different because of it. Hearing those words made me feel as though something important had been taken away from me. I began to question not only my athletic future, but also my confidence, independence, and long-term goals. On my fourth hospital visit, however, everything changed. I met a woman who became one of the most impactful doctors I have ever encountered. Unlike the others, she took the time to listen to me as a person rather than viewing me only as an injury. She spoke with kindness, patience, and honesty, and for the first time since my accident, I felt understood. She explained that surgery would not be necessary as long as I took care of myself and followed proper guidance. More importantly, she gave me hope. Her reassurance reminded me that my injury did not define me or limit my potential. That experience inspired me to finalize my decision to pursue a career in healthcare. Until that moment, I struggled to determine exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Seeing how one compassionate professional could completely change someone’s outlook made me realize the impact I wanted to have on others. I hope to become a chiropractor one day, where I can help people overcome injuries, manage pain, and regain confidence in their bodies. I want my patients to feel supported, understood, and hopeful, even during difficult times. In the future, I want to be a woman of hope and guidance, just as that doctor was for me. I believe healthcare is about more than just medical treatment. People need encouragement, reassurance, and someone who believes in their recovery when they are struggling to believe in themselves. Injury and illness do not always mean the end of one’s future; sometimes, they mark the beginning of a new path. With the right people and the right guidance, healing can become a powerful new start.