Since my childhood I want my life and profession to be connected with helping people or animals. Having studied 9 grades at a school with advanced study of foreign languages, I realized that I wanted some changes to move on. So, I found out about the scientific lyceum. From there will go the roots of my interest in science. To study at the regional scientific lyceum it was necessary to pass entrance exams, which I did. Having entered the biology-chemistry faculty I felt what space for studying and potential there is in this direction. This all coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, which made the whole learning process much more difficult. Despite this, my supervisor and I decided to conduct a research paper on the epidemic of the invasive plant in our region and present it at the national level to draw attention to this acute problem. I was very happy to have such an opportunity to work in the scientific sphere with a professional mentor. But soon there was a turning point that divided the life of our family into 'before' and 'after'. On a vacation trip, which was planned for a week, we were caught in a full-scale war in Ukraine. Air travel to Ukraine was stopped and we were unable to use our return tickets home. We had to start life from scratch in another country. After traveling to Cyprus with a backpack of swimsuits and fun t-shirts for a week of fun, we stayed there for 10 months. Suddenly our family was hit with problems with finding a place to live, a new job, finances, important paperwork and a state of complete uncertainty and fear in the future. In parallel with attending the Cypriot school, I studied at my Ukrainian lyceum remotely. This was the format in which I was completing my research paper. Then, we learned about the program for Ukrainian refugees in the United States "Uniting for Ukraine" and flew to a town in Michigan. Here we again faced the same difficulties with finding housing, jobs, language barrier, culture shock and a different time pole. A few days after arrival, I went to the local school and continued my studies at the Ukrainian lyceum. With my supervisor, we created a second research paper on flora studies in the Mediterranean climate. It happened that we arrived in the U.S. well after the deadlines for admission to many universities when the deadlines for most financial aid applications (grants, scholarships, etc.) had passed. It seemed like all this effort was in vain and I wouldn't be able to continue my studies. But it turned out that I was accepted by all the universities to which I had sent applications. My happiness had no limits. However, the question of tuition fees arose. We quickly realized that we would not be able to pay for any of them. Because of the difficulty in finding employment in a town in Michigan, we moved to Florida. I ended up going to a local college. The FAFSA grant helped in part, but tuition for a non-resident of the state remains very expensive, especially for our family under the circumstances. I really want to continue my education, but financial need is very much a barrier to that. My dream is to get an education and become a doctor to help people. This profession requires a lot of knowledge, practice and hard work, and I am ready to do it to fulfill my desire. This profession has a very positive impact on the world by providing help and saving the most important thing - lives.

My first-grade teacher imparted to me a crucial lesson in caring for the environment. This instilled in me a deep fascination for natural sciences. After 9th grade, I enrolled in a scientific lyceum. The research opportunities motivated me. So, in 10th grade, with a supervisor, I wrote and defended my first research paper on "Viscum album L. invasion and its danger for natural phytodiversity of urban ecosystems" for the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. We took a prize-winning place at the national level. In this work, based on the results of observation and recording of specimens, I told how the plant, which is not peculiar to the studied region, has absorbed the local fauna and continues its expansion. One of the reasons for the mistletoe infestation of trees was pollution. At the time, people were photographed with bunches of this semi-parasite, thinking it to be a "love plant" instead of fighting it. I believe that works of this nature help to develop environmental awareness among the public. Therefore, I am continuing my studies in the field of biology-chemistry. Its unbelievable how interconnected everything in nature is. The greedy pursuit of fossils, the hunting of animals, industrial and technological emissions - it all shows how selfish and thoughtless mankind is. Fortunately, lately the topic of conservation is starting to be publicized. So if I were to leave a message for mankind from the top of a mountain, I would probably say: "Look at yourself through nature's eyes."

A very important choice that each of us faces at some point is the choice of profession. It should be chosen so as not to make a mistake and not to be disappointed in your choice in the in the future. After all, a job should not only bring money, but above all, it should give joy, satisfaction from the work done, and be loved throughout your life. Only in this case can you achieve success and become a true professional. In addition, it is good to have certain aptitudes for your chosen profession. Health and life are the most valuable human treasures. And it is doctors who protect these values. People go to a hospital when they feel sick and need help. Doctors accompany us throughout our lives: from the moment we are born, even helping with fertilisation, and until our last days. That is why this profession is one of the few that is spoken of as a vocation to help and save others. A true doctor must study medicine and clearly understand his or her task to people. One must be prepared for the fact that a medical career is quite difficult, has a long way to go, requires responsibility and perseverance. After all, mistakes in this profession are unacceptable, as they can cost lives. As you might have guessed, the profession I chose for my future is a doctor. I have always wanted to bring benefits to people. Especially now I have become firmly established in my desire. In my country, many soldiers and civilians are killed and injured every day. Due to the constant nervousness, civilians' health is also deteriorating and chronic diseases are getting worse. Almost everyone needs professional medical care. Since childhood, I have always clearly understood that I want to dedicate my life's work to helping people in any way possible. Today I am sure that I will be able to do this best by obtaining a medical degree. Moreover, recent events in the world only strengthened my confidence in my choice. Due to the constant nervousness, civilians' health is also deteriorating and chronic diseases are getting worse. Almost everyone needs professional medical care. Since childhood, I have always clearly understood that I want to dedicate my life's work to helping people in any way possible. Today I am sure that I will be able to do this best by obtaining a medical degree. Moreover, recent events in the world only strengthened my confidence in my choice.

In spite of all the difficulties I now face, I will become such a cool doctor that every patient of mine will definitely have a new successful and happy life after finishing treatment.

I am now 17 years old and lately my life has been full of unexpected unpredictable events. Until 2022, everything in my life was stable and quite planned out. I spent the first 9 years of my life in a school with profound study of foreign languages. Every year I participated and won prizes in competitions at various stages (school, city, regional, all-Ukrainian) in various subjects (Ukrainian language and literature, English, biology, geography, chemistry, ecology). For 7.5 years I went to the School of Arts, where I had regular training in ballroom dancing, also had lessons in solfeggio and piano. Then I got interested in biological sciences. That is why I passed entrance examinations and entered the 10 class of Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum on biology&chemistry profile. Being deeply interested in biology and chemistry, with the help of the professor I defended my first research work in the field of ecology for the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JAS) and won a prize at the all-Ukrainian level. Then, one day, my life was divided into "before" and "after." In February 2022, my family and I decided to celebrate my birthday in Cyprus. We packed for a week of carefree vacations and flew backpacking. Who knew that we would have to stay there much longer than planned because of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Thus, my migrant story began. Together with my younger sister we studied at schools in Cyprus. At the same time I continued my studies in the Ukrainian lyceum. I had to adapt to a new country with a different culture and language. At that time I also started to learn Greek. It was a period of total uncertainty. Before that I had never had to deal with so many "adult" problems. By the way, it was there that I had to go to work for the first time. I also began to create a second research project in botanical comparisons and observations. In February 2023 we arrived in Michigan. The culture shock, the 8-hour time difference with Ukraine, the language barrier, the different laws and rules of life - all this and much, much more came upon us when we came. That time I had to combine my senior year at a Ukrainian school with my senior year at an American school. Combo! For a very long time, I just couldn't adjust to the new time zone. I ended up graduating from two schools at the same time: Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum and Forest Park High School. I got a gold medal for 11 years of diligent study and a diploma with honors (GPA of 4.0) from the Lyceum and a 3.9 from Forest Park High School. Because of the difficulty in finding employment in Michigan, our family moved again, this time to Florida. Telling it is many times easier than actually living it. I can say with certainty that in this year and a half, which for me is already an eternity, it is as if I have matured a lot more. Nevertheless, it's hard not to say that it's a priceless experience that only helps me move forward. For several years now, every year I've grown stronger and stronger in my desire to help people. Events in the world prove to us that nothing is more important in life than health. Without it, no achievement or material accomplishment means anything. That's why I want to keep learning so that I can do what I want to do, which is to help people.

I am now 17 years old and lately, my life has been full of unexpected unpredictable events. Until 2022, everything in my life was stable and quite planned out. I spent the first 9 years of my life in a school with a profound study of foreign languages. Every year I participated and won prizes in competitions at various stages (school, city, regional, all-Ukrainian) in various subjects (Ukrainian language and literature, English, biology, geography, chemistry, ecology). For 7.5 years I went to the School of Arts, where I had regular training in ballroom dancing, also had lessons in solfeggio and piano. Then I got interested in biological sciences. That is why I passed the entrance examinations and entered the 10 class of Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum on biology&chemistry profile. Being deeply interested in biology and chemistry, with the help of the professor I defended my first research work in the field of ecology for the Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (JAS) and won a prize at the all-Ukrainian level. Then, one day, my life was divided into "before" and "after." In February 2022, my family and I decided to celebrate my birthday in Cyprus. We packed for a week of carefree vacations and flew backpacking. Who knew that we would have to stay there much longer than planned because of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Thus, my migrant story began. Together with my younger sister, we studied at schools in Cyprus. At the same time I continued my studies in the Ukrainian lyceum. I had to adapt to a new country with a different culture and language. At that time I also started to learn Greek. It was a period of total uncertainty. Before that, I had never had to deal with so many "adult" problems. By the way, it was there that I had to go to work for the first time. I also began to create a second research project in botanical comparisons and observations. In February 2023 we arrived in Michigan. The culture shock, the 8-hour time difference with Ukraine, the language barrier, the different laws and rules of life - all this and much, much more came upon us when we came. That time I had to combine my senior year at a Ukrainian school with my senior year at an American school. Combo! For a very long time, I just couldn't adjust to the new time zone. I ended up graduating from two schools at the same time: Chernihiv Regional Scientific Lyceum and Forest Park High School. I got a gold medal for 11 years of diligent study and a diploma with honors (GPA of 4.0) from the Lyceum and a 3.9 from Forest Park High School. Because of the difficulty in finding employment in Michigan, our family moved again, this time to Florida. Telling it is many times easier than actually living it. I can say with certainty that in this year and a half, which for me is already an eternity, it is as if I have matured a lot more. Nevertheless, it's hard not to say that it's a priceless experience that only helps me move forward. For several years now, every year I've grown stronger and stronger in my desire to help people. Events in the world prove to us that nothing is more important in life than health. Without it, no achievement or material accomplishment means anything. That's why I want to keep learning so that I can do what I want to do, which is to help people.