Freshmen year of college, I found myself looking at my full-length mirror, not happy with what I saw. For the first time in my life, I didn't dig in the cupboards for breakfast, pass through the line in high school, and at the end of the day plop myself into a chair for dinner. College was a whole new ball game. Our food plan had a mix of "block" which was used for the dining hall, and "flex" which you could use at the various fast food places. Anything besides what they offered on campus, was an additional expense. After a year of eating Chick-fil-A, desserts in the commons, and a multitude of other things I noticed a change. Not only had I gained weight, but I tended to get less sleep, lose focus, and just become less joyful overall. My sophomore year came around and I knew that I needed a change. A blood kit was ordered online, where I pricked my finger and within weeks got a list of foods that I was sensitive to. This opened my eyes to how foods affect me. This is where I began my health journey. I started by taking the list and cutting out the foods that I was sensitive to. I worked with the school to try and get off the meal plan and started cooking meals of my own. Then, with time, I started to expand the color palette of my meals and learned for myself the importance of eating. From studying medicine in school, and working at the hospital it is not surprising that heart disease is the leading cause of death. Lack of exercise combined with overeating is the main culprit. Not only outwardly is there a change, but inside the body it can cause disastrous events. I have been able to evaluate cadavers in which their arteries and veins are clumpy from the buildup of cholesterol. This doesn't happen overnight. My grandpa, from 50 years of bad habits, had an 80% blockage of his carotid artery. His case in particular motivates me to be better. In particular, I did a college research experience working with the exercise science department in the school, I dove deep into article after article specifically on the impact of fat percentage in individuals. When people do not exercise the very mitochondria within cells lessen the metabolic ability to burn fat, leading to more issues. Looking at a psychological perspective, being a runner myself in college, it is known that exercise releases dopamine, the "happy" neurotransmitter. Eating unhealthy is not good for you. No multivitamin can come close to replacing the essential components found in natural foods. I cannot speak for others, but I can tell the difference cleaning up my diet made in my life. Multiple areas of my life improved by just swapping foods. Eating processed food made me bloated and puffy. I would deal with cramping which slowly went away after making simple changes like breaded chicken for grilled chicken. Secondly, my energy was much greater. I found that when I eat more balanced meals I stayed full longer, and had more energy throughout classes and practices. Eating healthy is important for keeping the body, mind, and soul refreshed. So many things in life are connected, food is no different. Cleaning up my plate has made me happier, healthier, and more full of life.

My asics kayano shoes have permanent residence on the right corner of the rug near the front door. Day in and day out I slip on these shoes and test the strength of each fiber as I continually pound them into the concrete. Running is what brings me joy, peace, struggle, and fulfillment. I started running in my sophomore year of high school. Since then it has brought me on a journey of climbing up the ladder of success and a spot on the South Dakota State cross country and track team in college. When that letter of intent was signed I knew that I signed up for some hard work, although nothing prepared me for what came. In high school going from sport to sport, my mother always feeds me. Food was never a second thought, if I had a gallon of ice cream it was soon heaping in the bowl before me. All of that changed my freshmen year of college. When I packed up and moved into my new dorm room I shared half of the room with my new friend, roommate, and teammate. As we navigated college life together I noticed something in particular, she didn't eat like me. Lunches consisted of granola bars, and dinners were more greens than grains. These habits subconsciously started to affect my behavior. When I sat in the dining hall I began to question "Is this too much?", "Is this healthy?", and "What are others eating?". Slowly my meals became smaller and smaller as these thoughts only amplified. Food from now on was never the same. My true health journey started at my downfall. Only after days of coming back from holiday break did the months of depleted nutrients hit my body. My foot ached, and running was taken away in a moment by my athletic trainer. I was a wreck, to say the least. Running was the only thing that allowed me to feel like I could eat. Now I was without an escape for my mind and body. In the slippery slope of eating habits, mine had to change for better or worse. Google was filled with search after search. My mind started to become aware of just how off the mark I had become in my habits. Running 40 miles a week I learned that not only could I eat, but I had to be eating. No longer should I compare to others because put quite simply, I was doing more activity than the general population. Not only do inadequate calories cause injury, but it doesn't allow your body to grow, heal, and build strength from the miles put on your legs. Eating right after runs is important for carbohydrate storage. My mind became perceptive to the acquired information, and if I wanted to be better, I knew I had to change. Junior year of college I finally started to put these dietary practices into place. I can happily say that my plate is more colorful and bigger than ever. I completed my first year running in college injury free. I upped my mileage to 55 a week, and have started creeping my way onto colligate time lists. More importantly, I have helped other female athletes. Being a leader on the team I help navigate new girls into what fueling your body looks like. The thing I preach the most is to have enough. I give my recipes, encourage snacks after meals, and host dinner parties before meets. Food will always be something that fills my mind, but I learned I can use that for good.

I wake up in the morning, walk to the bathroom and brush my teeth. My daily routine follows with a brush of the hair, a change into whatever sweatshirt and pants are clean, and then loading my backpack. My hand sweeps through looking for the shape of my long rectangular calculator, when this familiar object is not recognized in the collection of notebooks and folders panic sweeps through my entire body. A normal person would take a deep breath and search again, perhaps check the room and move on with their day. However, this small incident sends me into a fury of quick breathing and a racing heart. Anxiety is the true culprit behind these actions, and it has plagued me for many years. GAD is short for generalized anxiety disorder, something that I was diagnosed with following the COVID-19 pandemic. In my freshmen year of college, I struggled with handling the burden of school along with being in a new environment far away from the comfort of home and familiar friends. One thing brought me great comfort and ease to my ever-racing mind, and that is running. I started running on the cross-country team in my sophomore year of high school. From week to week, I found myself starting to climb my way to the top of the team. That season I helped lead the girl's team to a state qualifying spot. Little did I know toeing the line that November day that I would chop 4 whole minutes from the first race that season. Following the success of that first season, running started to consume my mind. That track season I qualified for the section team and won a medal running the 4 by 800-meter relay. Each season I found myself in the middle of new opportunities and events. Little did I know that in my junior season, I would start being recognized by coaches. South Dakota State University had a warmth of home and peace from my walk around the campus. Schooling was great, and I was overjoyed that a coach had a spot for me on the team. On November 15, 2020, I officially signed my letter of intent to become a Jackrabbit. That March the world was sent into a frenzy following the first widespread pandemic. During this time the invisible virus hit me in the form of worry, panic, and distress. It affected my relationships with family and friends. I found it harder to relax due to the constant worry of the world along with perfectionism in school. College brought on battles in my mind that tormented me every waking minute. That fall along with the start of school, was the beginning of my time on the cross-country and track team. Practices started distant, but come that spring was the first time that the team could openly meet and compete. Bonds started forming with teammates, and my legs became accustomed to the increase in mileage. No matter what was going on around me, I always found my escape by lacing my shoes and hitting the open roads. Gravel roads in South Dakota are a commonality. I found that the more I poured into the sport the more it gave back. My mind and soul were rested and finally more at ease. Running to me is more than a sport, it provides a comfort that no medication can offer. Each morning I wake up not dreading, but looking forward to the discipline each run takes. My brain still is drowned with worry at times, but running has taught me that I am grounded.

Splash, the sound my body makes against the water after an epic backflip was performed from the front of the pontoon. This event takes place in Alexandria Minnesota, the town in which 18 years of my life was spent. This is the town where I grew up playing volleyball, gymnastics, and track. The town where I walked across a makeshift stage for my 2020 high school graduation. The town in which every summer I come back to work because I cannot get away from this town. Growing up I have always enjoyed the experiences that living in Minnesota has granted me. In the summers I want every minute to be spent soaking up the sun with intermittent breaks for recreational water sports. Surfing during the day, bonfires by night, and the sweet relief of washing off the excessive amount of bug spray are what fills the summer days. Winters come with the revival of heading to the ice for skating and my favorite activity, ice fishing. In school, I worked hard on my degree, along with participating in Key Club, National Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and leading Sunday School at the local church. Never did I think that in a few short years, I would be competing at a Division I school, have a 4.0, and come home to the greatest summer job. Come August I make the 3-hour drive to Brookings South Dakota where I am an undergraduate student. During the day I attend classes that contribute to my Human Biology along with some extras that go towards both a chem and psychology minor. When 3 o'clock rolls around I gather my bag and head to the track. Weekends are spent traveling across the country to run and compete for the South Dakota State cross-country team in the fall and the indoor/outdoor track team in the spring. In between I am involved in Student-Athlete Advising Committee, and volunteer for the church in town. All of the hustle and grind is for the dream of becoming a physician assistant. As I apply to schools this summer I cannot wait to return to Minnesota to finish my education. The endless possibilities of jobs within my town and the surrounding area where I wish to work someday. My ultimate goal is to work as a pediatrician and share the same energy as the children who come in. This dream is only three short years away. School and sports take precedence from August through May, however, summer is the time in which I can give back to the community presently. The summer months are not only when I return to the lakes, but when I can give back to the community. Alomere Health is the hospital that resides in Alexandria, which doubles as my place of employment. This is the position in my life in which I feel I make a lasting impact on people. My title is a phlebotomist, in which my job is to draw blood. I go from the oncology department to OBGYN, the emergency room, all the way across to the surgery center. Some people are having their first baby, some finally getting that surgery on a broken knee, and others have a bad accident. I, though having a small part of their care, can try to bring the most comfort and positive experience to something dreadful. I have heard many life stories, and celebrations, shared some tears, and most of all felt like I made a real difference. With my current and future job aspirations, I hope to continue to give back to my favorite state.

Science is a topic that brings a variety of emotions from those who experience it. From a young age, I always gravitated towards the subject. Not only did I have a newfound appreciation for all that I did not know, but I could look at the world differently. Throughout the elementary years of my youth, I looked forward to the growing of plants and watching the lifecycle of butterflies, like many others. This passion extended beyond middle school and high school. I was a junior in high school when I first decided that I wanted to become a physician assistant. CAPS was the name of a class that I took in the final semester of my senior year of high school. Within that class, we were able to dissect animals and shadow in the local hospital. These experiences are the propelling force of my continued college success. An important component of the encouragement of others into science is finding the topics, the passion, and the light at the end of the tunnel. A niche is a small specialized section of a population. Young kids have similar career aspirations such as "doctor", "firefighter", or "baker". Encouraging more students in the field of science means exposing them to what the world has to offer. There is the study of plants, rocks, animals, the sky, human bodies, birds, and so much more. Growing up I only knew there to be doctors and nurses. My high school did a good job of having assignments incorporated which forced us to search for jobs not yet known. When a student finds their niche in science it makes the continued study of the subject that much more interesting. Providing more information about the opportunities within science could increase the involvement. In my freshmen year of college, I entered South Dakota State University as a human biology major. Beginning college is a fresh experience for many, although I had the unique opportunity of starting in the year 2020, the first incoming class since the COVID-19 pandemic. As I entered my online classes I could only think of the missed opportunities in the classroom, campus, and beyond. This weight seemed to be universal among my classmates as the attendance in general biology, chemistry, and psychology progressively declined throughout the year. This trend continued into my sophomore year when organic chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and genetics were introduced. I believe the biggest reason for this phenomenon is not finding passion. Choosing to shadow in high school I not only understood the job that I was to enter, but the road that it takes to get there. Having realistic expectations for the schooling and work required helped me stay focused in classes even when it felt like more than I could handle. One day I will stand on a stage and receive a white coat with my name on it. Dreaming of this coat helps drive my desire and continued my science education. Not only do I enjoy what I am learning about, but I can turn that into a passion and career which it can benefit others. If science is not about ultimately being engaged and turning that into a better society then it turns people away. Keeping those reminded of the end goal of education keeps motivation. Science is something that has always been a passion of mine. Finding my interest within the field, having clear expectations of the hardships of school, and most of all keeping my mind on the end goal is important. These are three key aspects to integrate for continued science education.

It was the year 2020, the month of March I sat in my house contemplating all the things that I would miss out on. The events running through my head were imaginative because I knew because of COVID they were no longer a reality. Me leading the team to a conference championship in track, walking down the stage in my blue prom dress, and most of all throwing my hat in the air to celebrate the four years of hard work that I had just completed in high school, gone. However, in April came a surprise. With lots of free time on my hands, I reached out to our local nursing home and completed an application to be a CNA. Not soon after I started my training and picked up shifts during this lonely time. When I came to work, however, I realized that I had a special role in this powerless time. The residents that I worked with every day were isolated from their friends and family. I was the one person during my shift that they got to communicate and interact. This experience changed my outlook on healthcare forever. Each shift I knew that I, being in the health role I was hired for, could make a lasting impact on every person that I cared for. It was through my passion for medicine that during this hard time, I could cater not only to their physical but social and emotional needs. This job fueled the fire for the upcoming years at South Dakota State University. As a junior in college, I will never forget the lessons that working amid the pandemic taught me. This determination came in a different form while at school. Throughout my first three years in college, I have encountered many highs and lows. While in persuit of a human biology degree, I have completed such courses as human anatomy, physiology, organic chemistry, cell biology, genetics, biochem, and more. These needless to say have brought their fair share of tears, stress, and sleepless nights but also sparked curiosity and interest. The love that I still hold for understanding the body and helping others has allowed me not only to pass these classes but excel in them. My love of science has furthered me to work towards a minor not only in chemistry but psychology as well. As I work onto my senior year of college I cannot help but be optimistic about the future. After the completion of my undergraduate degree, I wish to enter physician assistant school. I long to be a working professional and feel the same way I did as a senior in high school, just using my role to aid others. Being a woman in a STEAM major I can't help but be excited about what the future can hold. This field of study is only growing and evolving. I hope to not only care for various disorders that I will encounter but leave people with support in all areas of their lives. Women can make such a big impact on patients in all areas of medicine and beyond, and I cannot wait to be a part of that. One area that interests me is orthopedics. In college, I am a cross-country and track and field athlete. I want to help other people bounce back from injuries. Medicine is a unique passion of mine which I want to use to help others and meet all their needs.

The goal of life has always been one thing, to stay alive. In the primitive years, this included fending off animals and searching for food. These early years created a world in which life expectancy was low. In our world today the advancements of technology have created an entirely new perspective. No longer do most people worry about building shelters, but instead think about careers. With everything this new world has to offer, life expectancy is continuing to go up. Despite the fact that people do not have wolves circling around their homes, the scares of death are just as apparent, only they are not seen. Things like cancer, Alzheimer's, and heart disease are among the highest killers here in the United States. Not only is research being done to combat these massive disorders, but I have taken a special interest in it for myself and my future. There are so many things that can pioneer the way to human longevity. Epigenetics is one huge area of research that is showing very promising results. Epigenetics is the study of expressing genes. Humans have an astronomical amount of genes in the body. However, despite the number of genes and traits humans have, only a small number of these are expressed. The expression of genes are the traits that show and affect our lives. For Alzheimers, manipulating the genes that are expressed can slow down or prevent the gene from expressing. Many diseases that can be tested in terms of whether a person carries that gene or not could benefit from epigenetics. People may have the gene that can cause disorders like multiple sclerosis, but if scientists control whether that gene ever gets expressed or not, that could stop that deterioration process from occurring in the first place. Immunotherapy is another scientific treatment. Immunotherapy is using the human body to fight diseases. The main source of immunotherapy is for cancer treatments. Human immune systems are incredible in the way they can keep people safe. Macrophages, t-cells, b-cells, antibodies, and dendritic cells are all part of the team that fights off germs on a day to day basis. The problem with diseases like cancer is that the body does not recognize it as abnormal. With immunotherapy bodies have been able to recognize cancer cells, and actually kill them with great success without as much chemotherapy. I have committed to attending South Dakota State University in the fall of 2020. I am excited to future my education in the form of human biology. With a focus on science there is a great number of research opportunities at the school during my undergraduate education. In the lab I can future research such advancements in the medical field. Beyond undergrad I plan on continuing my education as a physician, or a physician assistant. In both of those careers I will have the opportunity to help those who come into my care. I do not know what specialty will be in store for me, but I am ready to jump in and help people anyway possible. Both of these scientific advancements have been heavily researched and are high areas of interest for me. The reason I find these two treatments particularly interesting is the fact that they both use the body in its purest form to fight truly awful disorders. With guiding both genes and the immune system the bodies can do incredible things. These treatments, although highly experimental, don’t involve putting unknown chemicals into the body. My belief is that my body is remarkable, and just guiding the body in small ways to further help combat such things is necessary. Treatments like these can give people more longevity, more great years, and give people time to do the things they love. I hope with my future education I will continue to do research and carry out such treatments. Everyone wants to live, scientific advancements like these allow people to fight what they cannot see.

Mental health is different, you can see a rash, hear a cough, and feel soreness, although you can’t understand the brain. Unfortunately in our society mental health is oftentimes dismissed because it isn’t a disease that you can see and test and treat the same way. I have experienced mental health in the form of anxiety. In my life, I have heard things like “it’s not a big deal”, “stop worrying” and “just get over it”. Anxiety is something that people don’t understand, it has affected me in a real way with relationships, and my job in the future. At the start of high school, I had a group of friends that I enjoyed but didn’t connect deeply with. As high school progressed the classes naturally got harder, and I had much more responsibility in class and sports. This, in turn, increased my anxiety which affected me in a real way. Many days I would go to school in a daze, the days would pass in a blur, I lost the joy in the day. My friends and I would have fun, but as soon as they would leave I went right back to my sadness. I constantly questioned everything that I was saying, and doing, meanwhile striving for perfection in school and sports. Then my worst fear came true, I became isolated. In my isolation, I started going to church again more seriously. There I was reunited with my friends from middle school. They would talk to me about what I was going through, and with them, I wasn’t scared of saying or doing the wrong thing. My anxiety remained although I started to stabilize my feelings around things that won’t change. It was hard learning to center my feelings around God, family, and friends. At the start of senior year, I was surprised in the way that I handled myself. Things like classes and sports were no longer the biggest part of my life. I learned that the more and more I read my Bible and trusted in God the better I felt. This year I have found the joy that I was missing before with the help of those around me. Mental illness is something that I am familiar with. My grandma suffers from anxiety and depression, my mother has anxiety, my uncle deal with depression, and my aunt suffers from substance abuse. I have seen the toll that mental illness has taken on the lives of people I love and within my own life. I understand the feeling of going to bed sad, waking up sad, and just wishing that you didn’t have to spend another day sadly. I get not even wanting to sleep because you’re so worried about some test, or situation, or person that you don’t want to run into. I also know that I was not stuck. There were many days that I thought I would never feel any different, but the most important part is that eventually, I started to feel the joy again. That being said I understand that anxiety, depression, and many other mental disorders are not just feelings, they tend to be genetic and it’s definitely not just a phase. In school, being science is one of my favorite subjects I plan on entering the medical field. Next year I plan on attending South Dakota State University for a human biology degree. After my undergraduate degree, I will attend a master’s program to become a Physician Assistant. After shadowing a physician assistant in the emergency room I decided that the ER is the specialty that I want to go into. One of the things that the emergency room has been treating more and more is mental illnesses. Simply put, many communities do not have the necessary mental institutions and services able to help people, so they end up going to the ER. Having a role in the emergency room means that I not only can treat people but give them my experiences since I have struggled with similar things. The biggest thing that I have learned throughout my experience with anxiety is that it’s difficult, it tries to take the joy out of your life. It makes you feel like you don’t have control, but through my family, friends, and church I took back the reins. I also understand that many people are still in chains. My mental illness is still a challenge today, but it also made me the way I am, which is why I am going to become a Physician Assistant and have the opportunity to help others. My mental illness does not define me, no longer slows me down, and will never take away my dreams.

Your driving and doing your usual errands, all of a sudden your chest tightens and you have trouble breathing. Immediately you drive to the emergency room and first, you are greeted by a nurse. Shortly after I do an exam on you, doctors rush you to emergency surgery. Then you wake up, sore but alive, and you are told you just survived a cardiac arrest. My interests, skills, and desire to help people are why I was able to treat you in the emergency room. My plan in the future is to be a physician assistant in emergency medicine. Next year I plan on starting the four-year process to obtain a human biology undergraduate degree at South Dakota State University. During that undergraduate program, I am looking forward to lab work and preparing myself for a Master’s degree as a physician assistant. This is a natural fit for me because of my core values. From the perspective of my six-year-old self, if you asked me what I wanted to be I would respond, “like my mom”, which she was a nurse. Throughout elementary school and middle school, this dream still persisted within my mind. In high school, the medical field was ever of interest to me especially within the classes that I enrolled in.The sciences of biology and chemistry may seem like a burden for most students, although those topics were the classes I looked forward to every day. Sophomore year I took AP Biology, junior year was AP Chemistry, and by senior year I continue to crave those subjects. When I was in the class I just wanted to learn more and more, that first biology class is where I solidified that I wanted to be in healthcare, and I haven’t looked back ever since. Besides my interest in science, I also just want to help people. When thinking about my future one of the biggest career factors was who it impacted. Health care is one of the most meaningful and rewarding sections that one can go in. Emergency medicine reaches out to me in the fact that it’s face-paced and has all different kinds of patients. For many people that can be the worst day of their life. I want to be there not only to treat that person, but be there for them physically, mentally, and socially. I know that if I have the opportunity to help people every day then I can walk away from the ending of my shifts feeling good about the work that I do. Day in and day out the world needs more care. As a role in the emergency room, I can care for people in a very physical aspect. With everything going wrong in this world I want to do my part to help, one patient at a time. Accidents happen, people get sick, and the unexpected happens all the time. As a physician assistant, it allows me to spend more time with individual patients to get to know them and get to the root of the problem. Sending home a single mom to her three kids, letting a father walk his daughter down the aisle, helping a kid get back to school and friends, these are all hypothetical situations, but realistic patients that I could help in the future. It’s not about me, but about the patients, and helping them get back to their life, well that’s what I think makes this world better. I cannot wait for the future ahead of me as a physician assistant. My love of science, helping others, and striving for a better world are all things that support my future job career. I know that I can and will work hard when it’s something important to me. After shadowing experiences, hospital visits, and medical experiences, the role of a health care provider is what I aspire to be. Going into a medical role is tough and requires a lot, but the reward and fulfillment outweigh any negatives. I want to make the world a better place, one patient at a time. In the near future, I may pace around the emergency room awaiting the new person that may come, and I’m ready to help whatever world they are in.