In the modern era of education, I refuse to accept that physical presence in a traditional laboratory is the only way to demonstrate scientific competency. It is not that I lack the desire to be in the lab; I am deeply passionate about the work. However, there are times when my health—specifically, my experience with heart failure—makes that physical presence impossible. The current system treats these necessary absences as the student’s fault, rather than a failure of the lab’s design. I refuse to accept that a student’s academic future should be derailed simply because our educational infrastructure lacks the flexibility to meet them where they are physically capable of being. In order to understand the root of this issue, I looked at the lab goals vs the administrative requirements. The goal of the lab is to understand and be able to apply what is learned in class. While this is best done in a physical lab, students can still prove their learning through digital or paper worksheets. However, there is currently a limit to how many labs you can miss before you must withdraw from both the lecture and lab course. By observing how remote learning tools and digital software are used in other classes, it appears that there isn’t a limitation, but rather lack of institutional progression. The school system is built for the idealized, perfectly healthy student, rather than addressing that there are events out of some individual’s control. I plan to fix this by advocating for a structural alternative: worksheet make-up labs. While we currently have this in our classes, there is still a limit. By removing these limits, students that are absent for weeks or longer can still participate in the lab and get the credit for completion. By changing from a rigid model to a flexible one, we can prevent students from unnecessary withdrawals. By redesigning how we handle practical science requirements, we can reshape the future of higher education and healthcare. When we remove arbitrary attendance penalties and replace them with flexible, competency-based virtual lab options, we stop weeding out brilliant minds simply because their bodies are unpredictable. The future I hope to create is one where disabled and chronically ill students are not treated as logistical exceptions, but are welcomed as essential contributors to science and medicine. By building accessibility into the very architecture of our academic training, we ensure that the next generation of healthcare professionals and researchers reflects the full diversity of the human experience—proving that a disability is never a disqualification from a life of discovery.

The human body is an incredibly complex, finely tuned ecosystem. In my studies as a nutrition student, I spend hours analyzing the delicate balance required to keep our biological systems running smoothly. But my deepest understanding of this balance didn't come from a textbook or a lecture hall; it came from a hospital bed, a terrifying diagnosis of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), and a calculus exam I will never forget. A few years ago, I hit a physical and mental wall. Navigating a severe crisis that left me unable to sleep or eat for days, my body’s defenses completely collapsed. Unknown to me at the time, an underlying infection had taken hold, sending my immune system into an aggressive, systemic tailspin. Driven by a fierce—if misplaced—sense of obligation to my academics, I actually showed up to sit for a calculus examination while harboring a raging fever. I ended up scoring a 39%. While that grade felt like a devastating failure in the moment, the reality of what was happening inside my body was far more critical. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with SIRS, an intense, full-body inflammatory response triggered by the combination of an active infection and extreme physiological stress. My biology had quite literally hit its breaking point. Because the crisis was caught and treated relatively quickly, I made a full recovery. Yet, the horrifying vulnerability of watching my own body rapidly lose control left a permanent mark on my perspective. Living through a systemic inflammatory crisis fundamentally reshaped my trajectory. It sparked a profound fascination with clinical nutrition and metabolic health. I realized firsthand how intimately our nervous systems, immune responses, and metabolic baselines are intertwined. When we push our bodies past their evolutionary boundaries through sleep deprivation, lack of nourishment, and unmanaged stress, the structural cascade can be catastrophic. Today, as I prepare to return to university to complete my degree, that 39% calculus score is no longer a source of shame. Instead, it stands as a monument to my sheer, stubborn determination. If I were willing to show up and fight through a math exam while my body was actively fighting off an escalating infection, I know exactly what kind of grit I possess when I am healthy, focused, and aligned with my purpose. My ultimate goal is to work directly with patients in a hospital environment, helping them rebuild their health from the cellular level up. Having sat in the patient’s chair, feeling utterly powerless against a rapid biological crisis, I bring a unique level of genuine empathy to clinical care. I know what it feels like to try to perform when your biology is at war with itself. This scholarship will allow me to channel that lived experience into my education, ensuring that I can enter the healthcare field as a resilient, deeply compassionate provider who understands exactly what it takes to heal.

As a disabled college student, I truly value the resources and opportunities my school provides. However, I notice that gaps in accessibility turn the college experience stressful and often exclusionary. For me, accessibility is not just a convenience; it is a mandatory right as an individual. More often than not, the systems we live in—from college to the clinic—use an “all-or-nothing” model that forces people to choose between their health and their ambitions. My goal is to dismantle this forced dichotomy. By pursuing a career in the medical field, my passion for disability rights becomes a commitment to patient-centered care, ensuring that every individual receives the empathy, dignity, and structural support they deserve, regardless of their medical reality. My heart failure diagnosis has shaped my perspective. While I was fortunate enough to receive high-quality care, I understand that my experience is not a universal standard. Good care should not be a luxury; it should be a human right. Having knowledge as both a patient and a future healthcare provider, I have noticed the difference that supportive, patient-centered care makes. That's why I chose a career in medicine: I want to ensure that the level of care and support I received is the baseline for every patient, regardless of their medical complexity. Moving forward, my goal is to bridge the divide between clinical data and the human experience. As I continue my academic journey, I am not just learning the mechanics of medicine; I am studying the systemic structures that prevent quality care from reaching every patient. I intend to bring my voice as an advocate for 'accessibility-by-design,' pushing for healthcare environments that view medical complexity not as an administrative burden, but as a call for more creative, flexible, and inclusive solutions. By integrating my personal journey with my professional training, I am committed to a future where healthcare is a collaborative, empowering process. My goal is to ensure that when a patient walks into a clinic—or a student walks into a lecture hall—they are met with a system designed to support their potential, rather than one that forces them to defend their right to exist within it. Ultimately, my career in medicine will be defined by one core principle: that patient care should never be a matter of luck. My journey through diagnosis and treatment has shown me the incredible potential of a system that works, and my commitment to this field is to ensure that this potential is accessible to everyone. The Maxwell Tuan Nguyen Memorial Scholarship would be a transformative step in my education, allowing me to focus fully on the rigorous academic training needed to become a provider who listens, adapts, and advocates. I am ready to carry forward a legacy of compassion, transforming the 'patient experience' from a system of survival into a structure of genuine support. I am not just studying to enter the medical field; I am studying to ensure that the future of healthcare is one where no patient is ever left to navigate their reality alone.

As a disabled college student, I truly value the resources and opportunities my school provides. However, I notice that gaps in accessibility turn the college experience stressful and often exclusionary. For me, accessibility is not just a convenience; it is a mandatory right as an individual. More often than not, the systems we rely on - from college to the clinic - use the “all-or-nothing” model that forces people to choose between their health and finances. My goal is to dismantle this forced dichotomy. My passion for disability rights is that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their medical reality. A critical gap in healthcare is the lack of structural support for both disabled individuals and their families. Too often, the medical model of disability focuses on curing or preventing disability - something that strips disabled individuals of their autonomy, or, if diagnosed prenatally, their right to exist. This model treats disability as a problem to be eradicated rather than a fact of life. I am passionate about challenging this model - the problem is not disability, but rather how society treats it. True healthcare should not focus on the elimination of disability, but rather on supporting every life, regardless of its medical reality. My perspective on this gap comes from my diagnoses of ADHD, Autism, and heart failure. As a college student, I have had to balance taking classes with frequent yet necessary hospitalizations, to the point where I took the past year off. I know what it’s like to be a bright young student who had to put my education aside because a system wouldn’t support the necessary absences. However, rather than giving up or letting these moments define me, I chose to let them define my mission. My goal is more than just earning a degree; it is to rewrite these scripts I’ve been given for my education and career. I am committed to a future in healthcare because I have seen the system fail, and I want to rebuild it from the inside into something that fully supports the disabled experience. I do not want to see other students or patients forced to choose between their survival and their potential; my professional career will be dedicated to creating the structural flexibility that should have been there for me. My vision for the future is the implementation of accessibility-by-design in academic and professional settings. We must move from reactive case-by-case accommodations that place the burden of proof on disabled individuals and instead establish proactive standards. For students with chronic conditions, this means implementing hybrid classes by default and virtual labs as make-up work for missed classes, rather than a certain number of absences before dismissal from the course. These standards would transform education from an exclusionary hurdle into an accessible foundation, ensuring that a medical crisis never again mandates a forced departure from one’s academic goals. Overall, my goal is to transform the institutional narratives that focus on rigid structures into those that support human potential. The TRAM Panacea Scholarship will help eliminate the financial barriers that I will face in both returning to school and my medical journey. I am ready to channel my experiences into a career of impact, working to ensure that the next generation of disabled scholars and patients will never again be forced to choose between their survival and their ambitions. I look forward to bringing this vision to life, proving that with the right support, the disabled experience is not a path of limitation, but one of profound potential.

Living with heart transplant complications has largely interrupted my education. Back in sixth grade, I missed a large amount of the school year due to the transplant itself. Since then, I’ve had to miss school for monthly out-of-state medical appointments. In 2023, I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. This messed with my education spectacularly because I had several ER visits and eventually had to go off my ADHD meds the next semester. Due to the exhaustion combined with the lack of medication, I struggled to stay awake during classes and had to repeat two of them, which was a huge financial strain. After I received a pacemaker, my tricuspid valve started leaking, which caused additional problems. I eventually had to take the year off for my health. Throughout this time, I have been hospitalized for a total of three months. However, I have been studying subjects related to my degree, and I look forward to returning to school. Despite these setbacks, taking this year off was a necessary pause I needed to get my physical and mental health back together. I have consulted my cardiologists, and they anticipate that I can return to school. With the support of my family and my home base, I plan to commute. Developing this plan has taught me that advocating for my health is not only important but necessary for a healthcare career. My medical journey as a patient is what fueled my passion for medicine. Between navigating complex appointment scheduling, ordering and taking medications, and managing chronic symptoms, I have a unique understanding of the healthcare field. I am returning to college to study biology, specifically nutrition, and I plan to work in a clinical hospital setting. My goal is to use targeted nutrition therapies to increase physical resilience in patients fighting their own battles. Being a patient on the receiving end of healthcare has taught me something that textbooks cannot: empathy. I know what it’s like to sit in a hospital bed, to be overwhelmed by a diagnosis, and to worry about my future. I can use these experiences to better connect with patients as a nutritionist because I understand their vulnerability. Receiving the Jules Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Resistance Scholarship would be extremely helpful in my return to campus. Having to retake classes due to my health has placed an enormous financial strain on my family. This funding would alleviate that burden, allowing me to fully focus on my health, coursework, and my goals. My medical history has defined my life, but it is not the end of my story. With the support of this scholarship, I am ready to transform my experience as a patient into expertise as a healthcare provider.

For as long as I can remember, the hospital has been more than a building to me; it has been a place of transformation and second chances. I appreciate the team's efforts to address, care for, and treat patients. This is especially important to me as a cardiac patient, as I have spent a lot of time in the hospital throughout my life. While I am interested in several career options in medicine, I currently plan to be a pediatric physician’s assistant. I am specifically interested in the PA role because it allows both high autonomy and the chance to directly care for patients. When I was a patient, the providers explained what my condition was and what my treatment plan was. Having navigated the healthcare system as a child, I understand the unique fear a young patient feels when they don't understand their own body. I want to be the provider who bridges that gap, turning clinical jargon into comfort and clarity for families. Born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, I received a heart transplant when I was eleven years old. A heart transplant at age eleven defined my early life, but it did not limit it. While most children were focused on sports, I was focused on the grit required to recover from major surgery. That early experience with the healthcare system built a foundation of resilience that has carried me through every academic and health challenge since. While my health remained stable for years, my first semester of college brought on a new challenge: atrial fibrillation. This diagnosis forced me to withdraw from four classes. However, I was able to retake and pass three of them, and I plan on retaking the fourth this upcoming semester. These Ws on my transcript aren’t just withdrawals; they represent the moments I paused, healed, and fought to return to my path. I also used this year as a gap year so I could focus on my health. My curiosity about the healing arts even led me to shadow at a local veterinary clinic. It was there that I faced the sobering reality of medicine for the first time. I remember a dog that passed away during my shift; I assisted the staff in respectfully wrapping her up for her owners. It was a heavy, quiet moment that taught me healthcare isn't just about successful surgeries and recoveries—it is about dignity, empathy, and being present for others during their hardest moments. This experience didn't deter me; it solidified my resolve. It proved that I have the emotional strength to handle the weight of a medical career. My journey has not been a straight line, but it has been defined by an unwavering determination to serve. Navigating life as a transplant recipient and cardiac patient has given me a perspective that cannot be taught in a classroom; it has taught me that healthcare is a mission of protecting the innocent and restoring hope. I am returning to my studies with a clear vision and a resilient heart, ready to face the challenges of becoming a Pediatric Physician Assistant. By receiving this scholarship, I hope to honor Christina Taylese Singh’s legacy of perseverance, proving that our medical challenges do not limit our potential—they fuel our purpose to heal others.

I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five. I chose this career because of my love for animals and positive experiences receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier to understand hospitalization and make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. I created and designed a website (https://allin4everyone.org) that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities and mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients. As a veterinarian, I plan to positively impact the world by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is important to me because I lost my first dog to lymphoma a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. Having my dogs has given me a deeper understanding of animals' role in society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate like we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my first dog to lymphoma a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five. I chose this career because of my love for animals and positive experiences receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier to understand hospitalization and make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. I created and designed a website for this project that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients. Having my dogs has given me a deeper understanding of animals' role in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate like we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

My name is Cora Guerin and I'm an upcoming sophomore in college. I'm studying biology and plan to become a veterinarian. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my first dog to lymphoma a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. Having my dogs has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

My name is Cora Guerin and I'm an upcoming sophomore in college. I'm studying biology and plan to become a veterinarian. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my dog to lymphoma almost a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my dog to lymphoma almost a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my dog to lymphoma almost a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my dog to lymphoma almost a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I knew I wanted to study veterinary medicine since I was five years old. I chose this career because of my love for animals and the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. For example, I read about dogs every week in kindergarten. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I recently completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I created and designed a website that provides resources to teens and young adults with disabilities or mental health conditions. I chose this idea because, as a disabled teenager, I noticed there weren’t as many resources for disabled teenagers as there were for parents of disabled children or young children, especially with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. This goal is especially important to me because I lost my dog to lymphoma almost a year ago, and there is a history of cancer in my father’s family. Fortunately, finding treatments for animals can open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I hope to find lifesaving treatments that can benefit multiple species. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.

I've lost a lot of people and animals in my life. My first significant loss was when my grandmother died of ovarian cancer. I was eight years old at the time. My grandmother was a strong woman. Not only did she raise six kids, but she also managed her illness with dignity. She taught me to see beauty in our everyday world and helped me become the creative person I am today. Another significant loss in my life wasn't a death but rather a renewal of my life. I received a heart transplant in November 2016. While I am grateful for this gift of life, I can't help but grieve over it as well. One of the many reasons for this grief is that someone had to die for me to live. The other part of my grief is admitting how scary the experience was. I realize now that I was dying before the transplant, which is hard to comprehend. Recovering from the surgery was also a rough experience, and staying in the hospital for so long harmed my social skills. Fortunately, my hospitalization had some positive effects as well. For example, being hospitalized taught me to be more independent and sparked my interest in medical biology. My organizational skills improved because of the discipline required to make up missed schoolwork for appointments. Hospitalization has also made me more compassionate toward others. These experiences prepared me for a career in medicine. My most recent loss was the death of my dog, Waggles. She had lymphoma, and we spent the last two months spoiling and spending as much time with her as possible. In the end, we had to put her down. It was a tough decision but reminded me her quality of life was most important. I miss her, but this experience has further inspired me to become a veterinarian. I shadowed at a veterinary clinic for a school project while she was ill. I came to appreciate the time I had with my dog and the effort veterinarians put into caring for animals. I want to help find a cure for cancer in both humans and animals. I plan to become a veterinarian so I can achieve this goal. All of the loved ones I lost are still with me in spirit, and they empower me to study hard so I can become the best veterinarian and person I can be.

I possess an interest in and compassion for animals that first stemmed when I was an infant. My mom would take me to the dog park as I could not play with other children indoors due to my fragile condition. I was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning my heart was missing the left ventricle. As I grew up, I had palliative surgeries and eventually a heart transplant; being in the hospital gave me an understanding of medicine from a patient perspective. It also allowed me to appreciate the company therapy dogs would bring during their visits. In my Kindergarten year, I would check out a book about dogs at the library every week. I knew then that I wanted to be a veterinarian, even though I had not yet realized what that would entail. However, as I grew up, I realized the heavy workload would be worth the time and effort. When I was nine years old, I created a Girl Scout badge about Pet Rescue, where my troop helped out at an animal shelter. We did not expect to be doing the amount of work we did, as we did much physical manual labor. Part of this badge included a pamphlet on how to care for and approach dogs properly. Recently, I started job shadowing at a local vet clinic. I am not allowed to perform examinations as I am under 18, but I observed the procedures and comforted the pets and their families during visits. As a veterinarian, I plan to positively impact the animal world by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. Finding treatments for animals will open up possibilities for treatments of similar conditions in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma, "Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research." [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. I am planning to major in biology so I can study veterinary medicine. This would involve providing animals with medical care. I chose this path because of my love for animals and my positive experiences while receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two motivators in my life.

I am pursuing a career path in veterinary medicine. I chose this path not only because of my love for animals but also because of the positive experiences I’ve had receiving medical care in the hospital and throughout life. Combining both areas of interest will allow me to show appreciation for the two major motivators in my life. I have been interested in animals since childhood. In fact, in kindergarten, I read about dogs every week. I also organized a service project with my Girl Scout troop in third grade, where we helped clean and organize an animal shelter. In addition to this project, I wrote an informational guide that explained how to handle dogs correctly. In eighth grade, I wrote a guide for other children going through hospitalization based on my experiences for my Girl Scout Silver Award. My goal with this pamphlet was to make it easier not only to understand hospitalization but also to make the experience more comfortable. I am currently working on my Girl Scout Gold Award Project. For this project, I am creating and coding an app that helps autistic teenagers manage their daily life. I chose this idea because, being an autistic teen myself, I noticed there aren’t as many resources for teenagers with autism as there are for children with autism and their parents. My knowledge of being a hospital patient and working with animals will enhance my ability to connect with patients and clients alike. I plan to make a positive impact on the world as a veterinarian by discovering effective treatments and cures for serious diseases that animals face. Finding treatments for animals will open up possibilities for treatments of similar diseases in humans. For example, osteosarcoma is a bone cancer that is ten times more common in dogs than humans, allowing researchers to focus on the canine variant of the disease. The information learned about canine osteosarcoma can then be used for research in human osteosarcoma. “Bone cancer in dogs also bears many similarities to human osteosarcoma, making it ideal for translational research.” [Osteosarcoma Institute, 2022]. Having my dog has given me a deeper understanding of the role animals play in our society. This prompted me to begin to study the psychology of animal behavior. As a society, we have shifted our focus toward mental health. This shift is a positive change because mental health and physical health directly impact each other. However, understanding mental health in animals is a lot more complicated, considering they don’t communicate in the same way we do. Learning about animals' mental health will help us better communicate with our pets, which could strengthen the bond between humans and animals.