My future self is a respected surgeon who cares about their patient and the difference I have made in helping them feel better and live a fulfilled life.

My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic injuries. I would pull or tear tendons in my foot and ankle for many years. I dealt with fractured ankles and broke the cuboid bone in my foot. Finally, after three years, one doctor advised that since I had flat feet, this was the cause of all my injuries. The simple solution was to wear orthopedics inserts in my shoes. This is where my passion for orthopedics all began. For the past four years, I have been a volunteer coach for Bambino Buddy Ball, a baseball league for children that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are physically and/or mentally challenged. A "Buddy" assists the players during the game, helping, leading, and guiding them. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, I noticed how many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. Upon talking with the families, many were unaware of the possibilities of medical care within the orthopedic field that could make their child's lives easier. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I want to help advocate for families who are not aware of new orthopedic methods of rehabilitation and even possible corrective surgeries. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during lacrosse practice. Children and teenagers are faced daily with the possibility of sports injuries. Many of these injuries have the option of changing their future with lifelong issues or disabilities. Being an orthopedic surgeon, I can be the one to properly correct their injuries adequately, allowing them to return to their normal daily activities and return to back to participating in sports again. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother's side, the first person to ever attend college. I am part of a low-income family, and I watch my mother try to manage the bills and stress she is under. Since age fifteen, I have worked three jobs to help my family. Applying to college this year, we were unexpectedly hit with the rising cost of college tuition. With the thought of eight years of college debt, this scholarship would mean the world to both myself and my family. My parents have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. I have a long road ahead of school, but I am determined to pay it back to the community in the future.

My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic injuries. I would pull or tear tendons in my foot and ankle for many years. I dealt with fractured ankles and broke the cuboid bone in my foot. Finally, after three years, one doctor advised that since I had flat feet, this was the cause of all my injuries. The simple solution was to wear orthopedics inserts in my shoes. This is where my passion for orthopedics all began. For the past four years, I have been a volunteer coach for Bambino Buddy Ball, a baseball league for children that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are physically and/or mentally challenged. A "Buddy" assists the players during the game, helping, leading, and guiding them. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, I noticed how many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. Upon talking with the families, many were unaware of the possibilities of medical care within the orthopedic field that could make their child's lives easier. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I want to help advocate for families who are not aware of new orthopedic methods of rehabilitation and even possible corrective surgeries. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during lacrosse practice. Children and teenagers are faced daily with the possibility of sports injuries. Many of these injuries have the option of changing their future with lifelong issues or disabilities. Being an orthopedic surgeon, I can be the one to properly correct their injuries adequately, allowing them to return to their normal daily activities and return to back to participating in sports again. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother's side, the first person to ever attend college. My parents have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. I have a long road ahead of school, but I am determined to pay it back to the community in the future.

My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic injuries. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during sports. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how that impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother's side, the first person to ever attend college. My parents have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. When I was fifteen, I began working to help support my family. Applying for college this year, and our family has a very low income, I realized that I have a future that entails many loans that must be paid back. I have a long road ahead of school, but I am determined to work hard and pay it back to society in the future. Research has shown that listening to heavy metal music does help with anxiety and depression. Being a teenager comes with a lot of stress, and in today's society, one must find a way to help reduce that stress. My solution is heavy metal music. Having parents that grew up in the 80s, I guess their love for heavy metal music is embedded in my genes. Whether driving in crazy New Jersey traffic or just winding down a stressful day at school, I turn on my playlist, and the stress seems to melt away. Being a swimmer listening to my heavy metal playlist during a swim meet helps me focus and relax my nervousness. I've shared my heavy metal playlist with my friends, who have also realized that heavy metal is the only music to listen to when you need to de-stress. Who wants to listen to soft music that can put you to sleep or even create more depression? Heavy metal is the way to go! I'm sure in the future; I will be playing the same heavy metal during surgeries in the Operating Room.

Volunteering is rewarding for both the volunteer and the person receiving the service. One of my favorite volunteer programs that I take part in is Bambino Buddy-Ball, a baseball league that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are physically or mentally challenged. A “Buddy” assists all the players during the game, helping them, leading them, and guiding them during the game. I have volunteered to assist our local team for the past five years, the P.R.A.I.S.E. Buddy-Ball team, for players with physical, developmental, or social challenges ages 5-13. This baseball team is all about the children coming together in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can have fun with sports without feeling any pressure. After my first year as a team buddy, I was old enough and received my Rutgers Coaching Certification, becoming one of the team coaches. Bambino Buddy Ball has influenced my life in many ways. It has given me self-confidence and taught me compassion, understanding, patience, and diversity. All children are special, not because they are labeled as “special needs children,” but because all have unique and special qualities. I’ve learned that just because some may view a child as different from another, they have a beautiful uniqueness that puts a smile on everyone’s face when you see them smiling. Unfortunately, in today’s world, there is a lot of cruelty and harshness toward those who are looked at differently from others. Whether they are challenged by the way they look, the way they act, or their abilities or disabilities. However, we are all children of God, and everyone deserves to be treated with love, kindness, respect, and understanding. My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic boots and crutches. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during sports. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I’ve seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. I want to make a difference in every person’s life, especially children’s. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother’s side, the first person to ever attend college. My parents work very hard to ensure that my brother and I have the best that life offers. They have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. I have been working since the age of fifteen. For nine months out of the year, I work at three jobs to help my family. I have applied to and been accepted to both my first-choice and second-choice colleges, but the cost will significantly concern my attendance. I have a long road ahead of school, but I am determined! Any additional scholarship funding I receive would mean the world to me in achieving my dream. I promise to pay it forward in the future.

Volunteering is rewarding for both the volunteer and the person receiving the service. One of my favorite volunteer programs that I take part in is Bambino Buddy-Ball, a baseball league that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are physically or mentally challenged. A "Buddy" assists all the players during the game, helping them, leading them, and guiding them during the game. I have volunteered to assist our local team for the past five years, the P.R.A.I.S.E. Buddy-Ball team, for players with physical, developmental, or social challenges ages 5-13. This baseball team is all about the children coming together in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can have fun with sports without feeling any pressure. After my first year as a team buddy, I was old enough and received my Rutgers Coaching Certification, becoming one of the team coaches. Bambino Buddy Ball has influenced my life in many ways. It has given me self-confidence and taught me compassion, understanding, patience, and diversity. All children are special, not because they are labeled as "special needs children," but because all have unique and special qualities. I've learned that just because some may view a child as different from another, they have a beautiful uniqueness that puts a smile on everyone's face when you see them smiling. Unfortunately, in today's world, there is a lot of cruelty and harshness toward those who are looked at differently from others. Whether they are challenged by the way they look, the way they act, or their abilities or disabilities. However, we are all children of God, and everyone deserves to be treated with love, kindness, respect, and understanding. My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic boots and crutches. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during sports. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother's side, the first person to ever attend college. My parents work very hard to ensure that my brother and I have the best that life offers. They have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. I have been working since the age of fifteen. For nine months out of the year, I work at three jobs to help my family. I have applied to and been accepted to both my first-choice and second-choice colleges, but the cost will significantly concern my attendance. I have a long road ahead of school, but I am determined! Any additional scholarship funding that I receive would mean the world to me to me achieve my dream. I would promise to pay it forward in the future.

Volunteering is rewarding for both the volunteer and the person receiving the service. One of my favorite volunteer programs that I take part in is Bambino Buddy-Ball, a baseball league that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are physically or mentally challenged. A "Buddy" assists all the players during the game, helping them, leading them, and guiding them during the game. I have volunteered to assist our local team for the past five years, the P.R.A.I.S.E. Buddy-Ball team, for players with physical, developmental, or social challenges ages 5-13. This baseball team is all about the children coming together in a non-competitive atmosphere where they can have fun with sports without feeling any pressure. After my first year as a team buddy, I was old enough and received my Rutgers Coaching Certification, becoming one of the team coaches. Bambino Buddy Ball has influenced my life in many ways. It has given me self-confidence and taught me compassion, understanding, patience, and diversity. All children are special, not because they are labeled as "special needs children," but because all have unique and special qualities. I've learned that just because some may view a child as different from another, they have a beautiful uniqueness that puts a smile on everyone's face when you see them smiling. Unfortunately, in today's world, there is a lot of cruelty and harshness toward those who are looked at differently from others. Whether they are challenged by the way they look, the way they act, or their abilities or disabilities. However, we are all children of God, and everyone deserves to be treated with love, kindness, respect, and understanding. My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic boots and crutches. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during sports. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation. I will be a first-generation college graduate in my immediate family and, on my mother's side, the first person to ever attend college. My parents work very hard to ensure that my brother and I have the best that life offers. They have taught me the meaning of hard work and how to give back to society. I have been working since the age of fifteen. For nine months out of the year, I work at three jobs to help my family. I have applied to and been accepted to both my first-choice and second-choice colleges, but the cost will significantly concern my attendance. Any additional scholarship funding would mean that I would promise to pay it forward in the future.

My Name is Daniella Avella, and I am a senior in high school. My passion is to work hard toward my goal of becoming a surgeon. Determination will get you anywhere! And I am determined despite many people telling me the surgical field may not be the best choice for a woman. For my undergraduate degree, I plan on entering college to obtain a bachelor's degree in Health Science on the pre-med track. After graduating from college, I plan on completing an additional four years at medical school leading up to an orthopedic surgical residency in a hospital and a two-year fellowship in orthopedics. I wanted to try almost every sport when I was younger. Unfortunately, I was not the greatest in sports. However, always there cheering, and my biggest supporter was my younger brother Joey. We played together as most siblings do; however, Joey never wanted to try any sports. I never thought anything differently at the time about his disengagement from participating in sports. As time progressed, my parents enrolled Joey in baseball, my father volunteering to coach. It was finally time for me to cheer him on. It was then that I realized the challenges my brother began to face. I noticed that he didn't engage with the other kids on his team. Joey was diagnosed as having high-functioning autism along with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. My mother, my brother's most prominent advocate in 2018, found a new team in our town, Bambino Buddy Ball. A baseball league for children that welcomes all who want to participate in baseball who are both physically and, or mentally challenged. A "Buddy" assists the players during the game, helping them, leading them, and guiding them. I knew right away that this was something that I could also get involved in with my brother. So, I began as a "Buddy," and then, in 2019, I obtained my Rutgers Coaching Certificate to be an official coach for the team. Bambino Buddy Ball in our town will celebrate its tenth season this year, and I'm excited to be part of the team again. Bambino Buddy Ball has influenced my life in many ways. It has given me self-confidence and taught me compassion, understanding, patience, and diversity. All children are special, not because they are labeled as "special needs children," but because all have unique and special qualities. I've learned that just because some may view a child as different from another, they have a beautiful uniqueness that puts a smile on everyone's face when you see them smiling. Unfortunately, in today's world, there is a lot of cruelty and harshness toward those who are looked at differently from others. Whether they are challenged by the way they look, the way they act, or their abilities or disabilities. However, we are all children of God, and everyone deserves to be treated with love, kindness, respect, and understanding. Having participated in sports, I have experienced firsthand the many injuries that occur from orthopedic issues having my fair share of orthopedic boots and crutches. I have watched my brother suffer and fight through a fractured hip while simply twisting the wrong way during sports. Working with the children in Bambino Buddy Ball, many have orthopedic issues and wear braces. Through the years spent with them, I've seen how they outgrew their braces and how it impacted their ability to play sports and their daily lives. I want to make a difference in every person's life, especially children's. I want to be part of the future of orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation.