When I think about my future, I see more than just a white coat and a check. I see an impact, I want to heal, lead, and make a change. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon and improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Specifically in African American communities, where African American patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower resourced hospitals. A disparity like this means that people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to make a change in that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people who are often missing in the surgical field. I have always been interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping our blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and ultimately, how it can be healed. For me, the more knowledge I intake, the more fascinated or obsessed I become with the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. I think this is another factor that drives my dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. I need to be the hands that bring aid to patients and the person that explains their condition with clarity and compassion. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first generation student, making this dream attainable has been a tough journey. There were many times I felt like giving up because I felt like I didn’t have a lot of guidance. In terms of not having a lot of help from my parents, I always felt like I had to figure out everything on my own. For example, how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for college applications. These circumstances often made me feel like I have a lot of expectations to live up to. I carry my family’s hopes and sacrifices everywhere I go. But every obstacle only makes me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. Volunteering at VITAS Healthcare and participating in Breakthrough Miami has shown me the value of helping others and the power of education. I know that the journey I’m about to head on will not be easy. But I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. I’ve overcome challenges that could have broken me and made me want to give up, but they have, in return, built me into someone I would have never thought of when I was younger. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

When I think about my future, I see more than just a white coat and a check. I see an impact, I want to heal, lead, and make a change. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon and improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Specifically in African American communities, where African American patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower resourced hospitals. A disparity like this means that people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to make a change in that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people who are often missing in the surgical field. I have always been interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping our blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and ultimately, how it can be healed. For me, the more knowledge I intake, the more fascinated or obsessed I become with the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. I think this is another factor that drives my dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. I need to be the hands that bring aid to patients and the person that explains their condition with clarity and compassion. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first generation student, making this dream attainable has been a tough journey. There were many times I felt like giving up because I felt like I didn’t have a lot of guidance. In terms of not having a lot of help from my parents, I always felt like I had to figure out everything on my own. For example, how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for college applications. These circumstances often made me feel like I have a lot of expectations to live up to. I carry my family’s hopes and sacrifices everywhere I go. But every obstacle only makes me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. Volunteering at VITAS Healthcare and participating in Breakthrough Miami has shown me the value of helping others and the power of education. I know that the journey I’m about to head on will not be easy. But I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. I’ve overcome challenges that could have broken me and made me want to give up, but they have, in return, built me into someone I would have never thought of when I was younger. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

When I think about my future, I see more than just a white coat and a check. I see an impact, I want to heal, lead, and make a change. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon and improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Specifically in African American communities, where African American patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower resourced hospitals. A disparity like this means that people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to make a change in that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people who are often missing in the surgical field. I have always been interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping our blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and ultimately, how it can be healed. For me, the more knowledge I intake, the more fascinated or obsessed I become with the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. I think this is another factor that drives my dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. I need to be the hands that bring aid to patients and the person that explains their condition with clarity and compassion. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first generation student, making this dream attainable has been a tough journey. There were many times I felt like giving up because I felt like I didn’t have a lot of guidance. In terms of not having a lot of help from my parents, I always felt like I had to figure out everything on my own. For example, how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for college applications. These circumstances often made me feel like I have a lot of expectations to live up to. I carry my family’s hopes and sacrifices everywhere I go. But every obstacle only makes me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. Volunteering at VITAS Healthcare and participating in Breakthrough Miami has shown me the value of helping others and the power of education. I know that the journey I’m about to head on will not be easy. But I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. I’ve overcome challenges that could have broken me and made me want to give up, but they have, in return, built me into someone I would have never thought of when I was younger. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

When I think about my future, I see more than just a white coat and a check. I see an impact, I want to heal, lead, and make a change. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon and improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Specifically in African American communities, where African American patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower resourced hospitals. A disparity like this means that people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to make a change in that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people who are often missing in the surgical field. I have always been interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping our blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and ultimately, how it can be healed. For me, the more knowledge I intake, the more fascinated or obsessed I become with the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. I think this is another factor that drives my dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. I need to be the hands that bring aid to patients and the person that explains their condition with clarity and compassion. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first generation student, making this dream attainable has been a tough journey. There were many times I felt like giving up because I felt like I didn’t have a lot of guidance. In terms of not having a lot of help from my parents, I always felt like I had to figure out everything on my own. For example, how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for college applications. These circumstances often made me feel like I have a lot of expectations to live up to. I carry my family’s hopes and sacrifices everywhere I go. But every obstacle only makes me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. Volunteering at VITAS Healthcare and participating in Breakthrough Miami has shown me the value of helping others and the power of education. I know that the journey I’m about to head on will not be easy. But I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. I’ve overcome challenges that could have broken me and made me want to give up, but they have, in return, built me into someone I would have never thought of when I was younger. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

When I think about my future, I see more than just a white coat and a check. I see an impact, I want to heal, lead, and make a change. My goal is to become a cardiac surgeon and improve healthcare access in underserved communities. Specifically in African American communities, where African American patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower resourced hospitals. A disparity like this means that people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to make a change in that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people who are often missing in the surgical field. I have always been interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping our blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and ultimately, how it can be healed. For me, the more knowledge I intake, the more fascinated or obsessed I become with the function and structure of the cardiovascular system. I think this is another factor that drives my dream of becoming a cardiac surgeon. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. I need to be the hands that bring aid to patients and the person that explains their condition with clarity and compassion. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first generation student, making this dream attainable has been a tough journey. There were many times I felt like giving up because I felt like I didn’t have a lot of guidance. In terms of not having a lot of help from my parents, I always felt like I had to figure out everything on my own. For example, how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for college applications. These circumstances often made me feel like I have a lot of expectations to live up to. I carry my family’s hopes and sacrifices everywhere I go. But every obstacle only makes me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. Volunteering at VITAS Healthcare and participating in Breakthrough Miami has shown me the value of helping others and the power of education. I know that the journey I’m about to head on will not be easy. But I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. I’ve overcome challenges that could have broken me and made me want to give up, but they have, in return, built me into someone I would have never thought of when I was younger. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

I want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon to improve healthcare access in underserved communities, specifically in African American communities, where patients are more likely to be treated in underfunded or lower-resourced hospitals. Meaning people who need important life saving procedures will never receive them. I want to change that, advocate for equal treatment, provide efficient care, and represent the people often missing in the surgical field. I am interested in how the heart functions to help us survive. It amazes me how one single organ works diligently to keep us alive, pumping blood, oxygen, and life throughout our body. I want to understand how it works on an anatomical level, how it beats, what causes it to fail, and how it can be healed. I not only want to memorize the parts of the heart, I want to perform procedures that restore its rhythm within the human body. Understanding how the heart works means understanding life, and there’s no greater purpose than using that knowledge to save lives. As a first-generation student, making this dream a reality has been tough. There were many times I felt like giving up because I didn’t think I had guidance. I had to figure out how to network for opportunities and make sure everything was lined up for my future. But every obstacle only made me more determined to succeed. I learned how to advocate for myself, learn from communities, and stay focused when I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders. I started by becoming an EKG Technician in my junior year of high school. Completed an internship for VITAS Healthcare the summer after, and for my bachelor’s degree in “Clinical Professions”, I plan to attend Florida State University. To gain the knowledge and experience needed to get into medical school and soon become a cardiologist. I want to join organizations like the American Medical Association, the Cardiology Interest Group, and the Black Student Union. These organizations will help me gain the insight needed to make a strong impact in the healthcare field. Ultimately, the path I’m about to head on will not be easy. I am ready to meet it with the same durability, curiosity, and heart that made this dream appear in my head. My goal is bigger than just a name, it’s about how I can impact, represent, and restore hope in communities that have gone unseen for way too long. In due time, I hope to be known not just as a cardiac surgeon but as someone who made a real difference in people’s lives. This path is very important to me. It reflects the things I've been through and everything I believe in.

It was very early on that I realized how much I enjoyed watching movies. Whether it was watching my favorite movie, “Twilight”, or starting a new movie like, “Dead Poets Society”, I'm constantly amazed by how much I can learn, enjoy, and get lost in the ideas filmmakers share through their work. In a world of fiction, I connect deeply with characters who represent traits I admire and want to develop. Just as these movies have helped me learn emotional boundaries, they remind me of the deep empathy needed in pursuing my goal of entering healthcare. Before, I was confused about what career path I wanted to pursue in the medical field, fighting between cardiology and neurology. But it wasn’t until I took my Electrocardiography class in 11th grade that I became interested in radiology. Although doing an EKG isn’t completely tied to radiology, I fell in love with how machines could relay information about the body to pieces of paper. It would be very exciting to engage and contribute to the healthcare field with Medical Imaging. I find that excitement and thrill for life when I learn and care for others. Within inspiring me to become a radiologist, movies have taught me how important it is to be able to support and understand others during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. In the movie “Patch Adams”, Patch discovers that helping others makes him happy and alleviates his depression. He uses humor and empathy to connect with his patients, dressing up as a clown and entertaining sick children. Patch Adams shows that true healing comes from forming personal connections with patients, understanding their emotions, and treating them as individuals, not just cases. I also find that excitement and thrill for life when I learn and care for others. My passion for movies has transcended far past mere entertainment, playing a pivotal role in shaping my decision to pursue a degree in healthcare. From an early age, films have been a source of joy, learning, and inspiration, teaching me the importance of empathy, compassion, and human connection. Watching characters navigate through their journeys has profoundly impacted me, instilling in me the desire to make a meaningful difference in patient's lives by understanding and supporting them during their most vulnerable moments. I aspire to bring the same level of empathy and care that I have admired in these cinematic narratives to my future patients. My journey of self-discovery has been significantly guided by the inspiring stories I have encountered in films and the excitement of exploring medical imaging. The intricate process of how machines can reveal the inner workings of the human body has fascinated me and fueled my passion for radiology. As I embark on this path, I am eager to contribute to the field of healthcare with the same passion and dedication that has driven me thus far. The lessons learned from movies, coupled with my enthusiasm for medical imaging, will enable me to offer holistic and compassionate care to those in need. I am committed to upholding the values of empathy, understanding, and support, ensuring that each patient I encounter feels valued and cared for. My ultimate goal is to blend the art of storytelling with the science of medicine, creating a meaningful and fulfilling career in healthcare.

My favorite athletes to cheer for on Team USA were the Woodhalls. When Tara and Hunter came across my fyp on TikTok, I was in awe at their relationship. I found myself scrolling through their page and getting to know them. Their love and support for each other is unmatched with Hunter being there with Tara at the Olympics, and Tara at the Paralympics with Hunter. I love how they take their supporters along with them on their journey, not just from TikTok, but also, YouTube and Instagram. They show the raw and uncut of what life is like as a professional athlete. Tara shows the struggle of being a woman, having your menstrual cycle, but still having to fight through the pain to compete. She shows the methods and precautions she takes to get her body and mind aligned to make sure she performs to the best possible. Then there’s Hunter. I admire and think that it is so cool that he is a paralympic activity. Having an impairment such as his can make someone not happy with their life. For him to stay determined and have an amazing support team, is an inspiration for not only me but numerous people around the world. The Woodhalls are just wonderful people and continue to inspire and motivate many people on and off the track and field.

Most people would say the perfect ending for “The Bear” would be Carmy and Sydney ending up together. Although I completely agree, "cousin" is the person I want to have a happy ending. In the beginning, I did not particularly favor Richie. I felt like he was so extra and just annoying. But as I got to know him, I learned how misunderstood he was. I discovered his love for his family, and how much he values and cares about his connections. He may come off as rude, but that’s just how passionate he is about his love for others. Therefore, my perfect ending for Richie would be for him to find his match. Someone who can deal with his ups and downs, and tell him when he’s wrong, but also supports and understands who he is. He would still live in Chicago working at “The Bear”, maybe have a few more kids, and see his daughter regularly. I also would want him to talk to someone about the loss of Mikey. I want him to have acceptance and be at peace with everything that happened. As far as everyone else, the family would stay in touch with each other. Sugar and Carmy would develop a better relationship with their mom. Luca would come to work at the Bear and be a part of the family.