As a student athlete who has persevered through injury and missed seasons, I admire those who care for these athletes such as myself. After an injury that stopped me from running track, I found myself around many therapists and doctors in order to get me playing again. I learned many things from receiving care and could imagine myself in these positions. This is when physical therapy stood out to me. The career of helping others do what they love is rewarding and inspiring to an athlete/patient watching from the other end. I now am interning in a gym/clinic during my summer and am fascinated by the profession. I shadow physical therapist and patient interactions and am eager to do the same. I have seen many doctors and professions but none of them stuck as much as physical therapy and this is due to the connection between patient and therapist. This connection is rare to find with traditional doctors who see many patients a day and are too busy to acknowledge the patients concerns. The importance of this career will continue to be valuable in the future and I want to be a part of its growth. Helping a variety of clients from student athletes to elderly is intriguing to me as the possibility to serve everyone is attainable. Making a difference in these lives and helping them do everyday things again would be fulfilling. The idea of seeing the same patients every week builds connection and trust that is rare in other careers. You see patients progress and heal due to the practice of physical therapy. Physical therapists can also work as detectives as finding the issue at hand and right exercises to combat this is crucial for the job. I enjoy this as everyday isn't routine but instead challenges problem solving skills. Interning this summer has and will continue to inspire me to pursue this career in physical therapy. Having people rely on your help and support is enough to fulfill me as a professional. Many stories are told when treating patients and each one is unique in its own way, being able to think on your feet and pivot is crucial and one thing I admire about physical therapists. As I was once in the shoes of a patient in need of these services, I understand the importance of patient connection, support, and care. Incorporating these values into my practive as a physical therapist is essential and drives my love for the career.

Sabrina Carpenter is a perfect example of the hard work it takes to become viral and become successful. It is inspiring watching her rise to stardom as she started on Disney Channel and pursued her singing career instead of acting. Her come-up was rocky as she faced backlash due to her relationships but she persisted and eventually became a star. She kept making music and did not let hate ruin her confidence. In a year Sabrina went from performing in small venues to selling out arenas upon seconds of ticket releases. Her climb to stardom inspired me along with many young girls who followed her from her first hit 'Can't Blame a Girl for Trying' in 2015. As Sabrina faced backlash from her personal life, girls can face this same negativity through bullying in school but find a way to grow from it like Sabrina did. Not only did Sabrina grow in her career but she is a wonderful role model for young girls who did not get to see her grow as a celebrity. She is a strong performer who can perform in front of thousands of people at a young age and do it in an elegant and memorable way.

The mind of a teenage girl is terrifying. Olivia Rodrigo knows this and speaks to every teenage girl in her lyrics, this is why she is popular amongst this demographic. I too know this from experience and am currently living it. A personal favorite from Olivia's sophomore album 'GUTS' is her song 'pretty isn't pretty'. The song explores the inner dialogue of a teenage girl who is reminded of her shortcomings and makes being pretty her priority. I may not have realized this damage on my own until Olivia's album. This song resonates with my own teenage experience as social media is my main source of entertainment and I am constantly wanting new clothes and makeup in order to cover my insecurities. I see these influences daily through makeup gurus and models on TikTok and Instagram who are advertising new products and expensive clothing that those of a normal income cannot afford. These influences are everywhere we look and is dangerous for the confidence of our generation. This is common amongst girls like me especially during the rise of social media influencers who seem to 'know' what is in style and what makeup and trends will make a woman look 'better'. A influential lyric from the song is, "and everybody's keeping it up, so you think it's you" which exemplifies the negative impact of social media. As girls are in the most self-conscious stage of their lives, social media advertises perfect bodies and faces with edited photos and unrealistic standards. Along with my own experience, I have seen this impact young girls who are exposed to social media rather than enjoying their childhood. This is scary as these girls are starting to wear makeup and are learning to hate their features at a very young age. This is a recent development that was not a young girls priority ten years ago. This damages the ego of girls around the world and is detrimental to their minds and vision of themselves. The pressure to be liked by others is put on girls at such a young age and follows us until we are adults who are wise enough to see that we will never be happy if we constantly compare ourselves to others. This is a factor of adolescence that teaches women how to love themselves for who they are rather than who they want or try to be. The entire song captures this issue and the constant comparison girls face on social media is explored throughout Olivia's lyrics.

As a high school senior, community service is prevalent in many clubs and programs within our schools. Not only is this for thing like National Honor Society volunteer hours, but to give back to our community. Volunteering for many communities in the Houston area has allowed me to see the impact that helping has on a group of people in need. I never realized how grateful people are for volunteers and people who just want to help others. Every community service opportunity I have attended allowed me to see this and I felt as though I was making a difference in the community just by lending a helping hand and giving my time to help others. One example I can recall of this feeling was sorting books for less fortunate children in other countries. I remember the companies workers being ecstatic that teens were there to help. Experiencing this feeling was memorable and I want to continue this practice of service throughout my career as it teaches compassion and can impact not only one person, but society.

If Peacock kept track of the amount of times a show has been watched by a customer, me and my family would likely land at 100 views of the hit show, "The Office". The TV show encapsulates the various personalities present in the workplace and depicts relatable scenarios that a viewer often finds humor in as it relates to their own lives. This is the case for myself as I find myself in Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott. Michael is a prime example of an individual who dreams big and lives his life according to his standards. I resonate with Michael as he uses often uses humor to cope with stressful or saddening situations he may have and I find myself doing this as well when faced with challenges. Although Michael finds himself in situations he puts himself in such as falling in a koi pond or hitting Meredith with his car, he learns from these mistakes and constantly grows as a character with the help of his coworkers as I am doing in my life as I am constantly evolving with the help of my friends and family. He learns to laugh at his mistakes and we can see major development of his character as he started his career in the paper business as a salesman following the immature behavior of Todd Packer and later grows to be manager and learns to become grateful for his employees. He is a down to earth character that stays true to himself as I believe I do as well. Once viewers rewatch the show multiple times, it is apparent that an office as dysfunctional as the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch was not only about their number of sales, but the small moments between characters that makes the show not only hilarious, but relatable and heartfelt. After watching the show several times, my sense of humor has become increasingly sarcastic and I often find myself looking at an invisible camera during an awkward or ironic encounter as Jim often does. I believe the different personalities in the workplace allowed for unimaginable friendships and a unique dynamic between the characters that is not seen in any other TV show.

My name is Camila Jimenez, and I am currently a high school senior looking forward to graduating this 2023-2024 school year and eagerly starting my journey as a college student. I plan to make a positive impact in my community by completing my education and obtaining a doctorate in medicine which will allow me to give back as a professional and mentor. Throughout my life, I have been recognized by others to possess the characteristics of a helper, mentor, provider, and leader in various spheres, be it my school community, my friendships/relationships, and my family. It is through these characteristics that I am drawn to the helping profession of a medical doctor. I believe that these attributes serve as the cornerstone for my mission to give back to the community I am from by pursuing a career in medicine. I was fortunate to grow up in a home where my parents instilled in me the importance of values. Among these values, gratitude stands out as one of the most important values I have learned to embrace. I have come to understand that expressing gratitude is not only for the positive events of our lives but also for the challenges and adversities that we experience. I grew up believing that it is through appreciating mistakes, errors, and failures are essential as it paves the way for personal growth. My journey toward a career in medicine is deeply rooted in my desire to help others by promoting healthy lifestyles specific in my community. Witnessing the impact of healthcare disparities within my community, especially among the young Hispanic community, has fueled my determination to become a medical professional. In addition to my academic pursuits, I take part in other roles in school that allow me to currently give to my community. As an officer of the National Honor Society, I partake in and encourage underclassmen to volunteer with local nonprofits. I also take part in our PALS program which allows me to mentor two middle school students. I am also involved in other activities such as Student Council and The Principals Advisory Council which also allow me to give back and utilize my leadership skills. Armed with this vital value of gratitude, I am eager to demonstrate my appreciation for the community that has shaped me. As a future medical professional, I aspire to mentor and support my community with the hopes of fostering positive change.