I’d always struggled with what people thought of me, more so if that person controlled my playing time. I tried to fly under the radar of most male coaches to avoid being subjected to inappropriate comments or attempts to pit my teammates against me. This tactic was unsuccessful and subjected me to a plethora of things, including a comment about “not coaching fat girls.” After putting up with maltreatment for two seasons, I finally decided that I wasn’t going to be defined by what this coach thought of me. I quit the team, and when asked why, I said that I didn’t have to put up with a grown man’s attempts to make me feel bad about myself. This experience taught me that what a man in power thinks of me doesn’t define who I am as a woman, and that I have the right to walk away from a situation where I am mistreated. It taught me resilience as I faced the backlash of players. I realized that I was not only resilient enough to stand up to a male coach but was also resilient enough to ignore the negative comments of teammates who didn’t understand my struggle. My class load is heavily AP-oriented; I took eight APs in three years. Balancing practices, homework, and a social life, all while trying to give myself time to decompress, became a superpower. I learned very quickly that to get everything done, I had to be efficient with my time. Efficiency meant that I was taking notes for class on the way to practice, using the weekend to get assignments done, and making sure that I had an hour before bed to relax. As I got better at managing my time, it became my superpower as I was able to get homework done days before it was due, giving me time to see friends and practice soccer. Time management is a skill that is still being mastered well into adulthood, so to be able to learn how to do it in high school gives me the ability to have an advantage when I go into the workforce. As a woman, this gives me a unique opportunity to stay ahead of male counterparts who may have not learned this skill, allowing me to have the upper hand in male dominated areas. Lastly, sports have taught me the importance of confidence as a female. When I was younger, I was a competitive Irish dancer. My teacher taught us that in order to stand out on stage, we needed to be confident in our abilities and hold ourselves with pride. Utilizing my confidence from dance, I began to be more self-assured and noticed that as I showed more confidence in my abilities at school, my male counterparts were more likely to listen to my ideas. In comparison, when I’d spoken my thoughts or opinions in a less confident manner, my ideas were usually pushed to the side in favor of male students' ideas. The assertiveness that my dance teacher helped instill in me, helped me express my ideas in male dominated situations. Since I want to be a part of the male dominated medical field, using my self-confidence, I will be able to present ideas with the same poise as my male counterparts. Participating in sports has taught me resilience, not to worry about what others think about me, how to manage my time with a busy schedule, and how to use confidence to promote ideas. These skills will allow me to thrive in male dominated fields and be a stronger female.

I am one of the students everyone else hates because my hand is always raised to answer or ask questions. As I progressed through my academic career, I continued to be that student, causing me to take all AP and honors classes. My performance in these classes led me to keep a 3.94 GPA and earn the AP Scholar with Distinction award after receiving an average score of 3.75 on my tests. A scholarship will continue to help me expand my knowledge and foster my love of learning, allowing me to achieve my goal of receiving a doctorate. When I took Anatomy and Physiology in my junior year, I fell in love with the subject. I had already been exposed to the subject when I’d torn my meniscus. Dr. Anderson, the orthopedic sports medicine doctor I went to, had noticed that I was interested in anatomy and expanded my knowledge while explaining my injury to me in detail. Sitting in the exam room hearing the explanation, I was hooked on the idea of becoming a doctor. This experience combined with the class, helped me to discover what career path I wanted to pursue: an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. A scholarship would support my future academic success in this field. I chose this path for myself because I love Anatomy and Physiology, but I also chose it because I want to help make a difference in the female sports community. Many female athletes understand their bodies are different than male athletes, but they don’t always know that their recovery from the same injury may be different or that they may be at a higher risk for certain injuries. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer realize this risk increases during menstruation. As a female, I can provide a different perspective on injuries and help female athletes navigate their bodies. Additionally, getting my doctorate would help me achieve my personal goal and be a familial accomplishment. I would become the first girl in my family to get my doctorate and only the third to graduate from a four-year university, which is something that I hold very close to everything I do academically. Scholarships will be a crucial part of furthering my education in my chosen field. Although my family can help me attend college, it will be a strain on them as I have two siblings who are involved in extracurriculars and school. I have also started a part-time job to help fund my education to ensure I can contribute to my schooling. Receiving this scholarship from would help fund my education and make sure my parents don’t feel pressured to help me every step of the way, knowing that I will be attending school for a while and my siblings need help with their college careers.

In my professional career, I plan to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. When I was younger, I tore my meniscus during the soccer season and had to visit an orthopedic sports medicine specialist to receive care. The doctor I visited was a top specialist in our area and hooked me on the idea of orthopedic sports medicine. He explained what was happening to my knee in an easily digestible way, allowing me to feel more comfortable in my understanding of the diagnosis. After this experience, I realized that this was a career that I could see myself holding. This was further confirmed for me when I took an Anatomy and Physiology class and learned so much about the human body and how it works. I knew I wanted to help others understand their bodies as well. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes, understand that their bodies are different from male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer don’t know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL on their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have throughout their careers. Although Dr. Anderson was a pivotal part of finding my career path, if I had a female doctor, I would’ve been able to see myself in her. Only 5.3% of orthopedic sports medicine specialists are female, meaning that young female athletes are more likely to see a male specialist. These specialists will help them understand their injuries; however, by seeing a female doctor, they can see themselves in that position. Having representation is integral in all walks of life as it shows people of that group that they can hold that position. By becoming a female specialist, I want to help bring representation to this field while possibly influencing other young women to become a part of it. In hopes of expanding my ability to help female athletes from other cultures, I have taken four years of Spanish, including a self-study AP Spanish class. Recently, I won the world language department award at my school for going above and beyond in language studies. My goal is to continue to take Spanish lessons online during my university years so I can improve my fluency in the language. While I take these classes, I want to specifically study medical terms so that after my years of medical school, I can take my expertise to a variety of areas. Globally, female athletes are increasing as more opportunities are given to them. However, studies regarding the female body have not increased to match the needs of athletes. By being able to use my knowledge of Spanish, I can more effectively apply methods of sports medicine to female athletes from various backgrounds. Overall, I chose to pursue a medical career as a female because of the anatomy and physiology class and Dr. Anderson. As an orthopedic surgeon, I hope to use my experience as a female athlete to help other female athletes to understand how their bodies differ from male athletes. I also want to be able to help female athletes in other cultures while also giving female patients representation of a female orthopedic surgeon to show them that they can be in the medical field too.

In my professional career, I plan to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. When I was younger, I tore my meniscus during the soccer season and had to visit an orthopedic sports medicine specialist to receive care. The doctor I visited was a top specialist in our area and hooked me on the idea of orthopedic sports medicine. He explained what was happening to my knee in an easily digestible way, allowing me to feel more comfortable in my understanding of the diagnosis. After this experience, I realized that this was a career that I could see myself holding. This was further confirmed for me when I took an Anatomy and Physiology class and learned so much about the human body and how it works. I knew I wanted to help others understand their bodies as well. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes, understand that their bodies are different from male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer don’t know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL on their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have throughout their careers. Although Dr. Anderson was a pivotal part of finding my career path, if I had a female doctor, I would’ve been able to see myself in her. Only 5.3% of orthopedic sports medicine specialists are female, meaning that young female athletes are more likely to see a male specialist. These specialists will help them understand their injuries; however, by seeing a female doctor, they can see themselves in that position. Having representation is integral in all walks of life as it shows people of that group that they can hold that position. By becoming a female specialist, I want to help bring representation to this field while possibly influencing other young women to become a part of it. In hopes of expanding my ability to help female athletes from other cultures, I have taken four years of Spanish, including a self-study AP Spanish class. Recently, I won the world language department award at my school for going above and beyond in language studies. My goal is to continue to take Spanish lessons online during my university years so I can improve my fluency in the language. While I take these classes, I want to specifically study medical terms so that after my years of medical school, I can take my expertise to a variety of areas. Globally, female athletes are increasing as more opportunities are given to them. However, studies regarding the female body have not increased to match the needs of athletes. By being able to use my knowledge of Spanish, I can more effectively apply methods of sports medicine to female athletes from various backgrounds. Overall, I chose to pursue a medical career as a female because of the anatomy and physiology class and Dr. Anderson. As an orthopedic surgeon, I hope to use my experience as a female athlete to help other female athletes to understand how their bodies differ from male athletes. I also want to be able to help female athletes in other cultures while also giving female patients representation of a female orthopedic surgeon to show them that they can be in the medical field too.

In my professional career, I plan to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. When I was younger, I tore my meniscus during the soccer season and had to visit an orthopedic sports medicine specialist to receive care. The doctor I visited was a top specialist in our area and hooked me on the idea of orthopedic sports medicine. He explained what was happening to my knee in an easily digestible way, allowing me to feel more comfortable in my understanding of the diagnosis. After this experience, I realized that this was a career that I could see myself holding. This was further confirmed for me when I took an Anatomy and Physiology class and learned so much about the human body and how it works. I knew I wanted to help others understand their bodies as well. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes, understand that their bodies are different from male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer don’t know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL on their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have throughout their careers. Although Dr. Anderson was a pivotal part of finding my career path, if I had a female doctor, I would’ve been able to see myself in her. Only 5.3% of orthopedic sports medicine specialists are female, meaning that young female athletes are more likely to see a male specialist. These specialists will help them understand their injuries; however, by seeing a female doctor, they can see themselves in that position. Having representation is integral in all walks of life as it shows people of that group that they can hold that position. By becoming a female specialist, I want to help bring representation to this field while possibly influencing other young women to become a part of it. In hopes of expanding my ability to help female athletes from other cultures, I have taken four years of Spanish, including a self-study AP Spanish class. Recently, I won the world language department award at my school for going above and beyond in language studies. My goal is to continue to take Spanish lessons online during my university years so I can improve my fluency in the language. While I take these classes, I want to specifically study medical terms so that after my years of medical school, I can take my expertise to a variety of areas. Globally, female athletes are increasing as more opportunities are given to them. However, studies regarding the female body have not increased to match the needs of athletes. By being able to use my knowledge of Spanish, I can more effectively apply methods of sports medicine to female athletes from various backgrounds. Overall, I chose to pursue a medical career as a female because of the anatomy and physiology class and Dr. Anderson. As an orthopedic surgeon, I hope to use my experience as a female athlete to help other female athletes to understand how their bodies differ from male athletes. I also want to be able to help female athletes in other cultures while also giving female patients representation of a female orthopedic surgeon to show them that they can be in the medical field too.

In my professional career, I plan to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. When I was younger, I tore my meniscus during the soccer season and had to visit an orthopedic sports medicine specialist to receive care. The doctor I visited was a top specialist in our area and hooked me on the idea of orthopedic sports medicine. He explained what was happening to my knee in an easily digestible way, allowing me to feel more comfortable in my understanding of the diagnosis. After this experience, I realized that this was a career that I could see myself holding. This was further confirmed for me when I took an Anatomy and Physiology class and learned so much about the human body and how it works. I knew I wanted to help others understand their bodies as well. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes, understand that their bodies are different from male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer don’t know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL on their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have throughout their careers. Although Dr. Anderson was a pivotal part of finding my career path, if I had a female doctor, I would’ve been able to see myself in her. Only 10-12% of orthopedic sports medicine specialists are female, meaning that young female athletes are more likely to see a male specialist. These specialists will help them understand their injuries; however, by seeing a female doctor, they can see themselves in that position. Having representation is integral in all walks of life as it shows people of that group that they can hold that position. By becoming a female specialist, I want to help bring representation to this field while possibly influencing other young women to become a part of it.. In hopes of expanding my ability to help female athletes from other cultures, I have taken four years of Spanish, including a self-study AP Spanish class. Recently, I won the world language department award at my school for going above and beyond in language studies. My goal is to continue to take Spanish lessons online during my university years so I can improve my fluency in the language. While I take these classes, I want to specifically study medical terms so that after my years of medical school, I can take my expertise to a variety of areas. Globally, female athletes are increasing as more opportunities are given to them. However, studies regarding the female body have not increased to match the needs of athletes. By being able to use my knowledge of Spanish, I can more effectively apply methods of sports medicine to female athletes from various backgrounds. Overall, I chose to pursue a medical career as a female because of the anatomy and physiology class and Dr. Anderson. As an orthopedic surgeon, I hope to use my experience as a female athlete to help other female athletes to understand how their bodies differ from male athletes. I also want to be able to help female athletes in other cultures while also giving female patients representation of a female orthopedic surgeon to show them that they can be in the medical field too.

My biggest educational goal has always been to get my medical doctorate. Not only would getting my doctorate be achieving my personal goal, but it would be a familial accomplishment as well. I would become the first girl in my family to get my doctorate and only the third to graduate from a four-year university. During my undergraduate work, I want to receive a bachelor's in sports and exercise medicine in order to further my career by attending medical school and becoming an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. I chose this path for myself because I love Anatomy and Physiology, but I also chose it because I want to help make a difference in the female sports community. Many female athletes understand their bodies are different than male athletes, but they don’t always know that their recovery from the same injury may be different or that they may be at a higher risk for certain injuries. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer realize this risk increases during menstruation. As a female, I can provide a different perspective on injuries and help female athletes navigate their bodies. My experiences outside of the United States have happened more recently. At school, I took Ethnic Studies and Spanish, both of which allowed me to learn about more cultures that I had previously not been introduced to. I also had the opportunity to travel to Sweden to play in a global soccer tournament. While at the tournament I watched athletes from around the globe share their culture while showcasing their love of soccer. These experiences learning about other cultures in school and traveling outside of my local area have exposed me to the importance of learning about cultures outside of my own. Part of the reason that being an international student is so appealing to me is because I will be introduced to not only the culture of the UK, but also the cultures of other students who attend the university with me. By using this experience, I can take what I learn about other cultures to help grow my global understanding, which will in turn allow me to better connect to my patients who could be from many different parts of the world. In hopes of expanding my ability to help other parts of the world with female sports medicine, I have taken four years of Spanish, including a self-study AP Spanish class. Recently, I won the world language department award at my school for going above and beyond in language studies. My goal is to continue to take Spanish lessons online during my university years so I can improve my fluency in the language. While I take these classes, I want to specifically study medical terms so that after my years of medical school, I can take my expertise to underprivileged areas. Globally, female athletes are increasing as more opportunities are given to them. However, studies regarding the female body have not increased to match the needs of athletes. By being able to use my knowledge of Spanish, I can more effectively apply methods of sports medicine to more female athletes, allowing them to thrive globally.

I would use the scholarship to help relieve the stress of paying for my portion of college. I will be attending Leeds Beckett University in the UK next year. Unlike American universities, I don’t have a food plan and will have to pay for my groceries out of pocket, along with the portion of my tuition that is expected by my parents. My current job will help pay for my first year, however, I am unsure if I will be able to work while in school and only working during the summer will not allow me to pay for both my food and tuition. As of now, I've applied to over 130 scholarships, and I have not received any.

By definition, empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident by controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights. However, as a young woman, I see empowerment as not only occupying spaces where it is male-dominanted, but also as something that other women need to help each other with to become stronger as a group. From a young age, the women in my life have told me that whatever I wanted to become, I could as long as I believed in my ability. Their support and the confidence they instilled in me from a young age allowed me to become one of the most outspoken students in my classes. It also allowed me to dream bigger than they were able to due to the time they grew up in. This caused my biggest educational goal to be to get my medical doctorate. Not only would getting my doctorate be achieving my personal goal, but it would be a familial accomplishment as well. I would become the first girl in my family to get my doctorate and only the third to graduate from a four-year university. The empowerment that the women in my family taught me has propelled me to take on a male-dominated career with full confidence in my ability to succeed. Additionally, the empowerment that I was shown by my female family members has shown me that to continue the progress of women’s empowerment in male-dominated fields, I need to contribute as well. Part of my interest in sports medicine will help me to empower female athletes who have been given information from male doctors about their bodies that may not work. When a female athlete goes to the doctor for an injury, they are trained on how to treat the injury in the same way as a male athlete’s body. The problem with this practice is that the female body is completely different from the male body, especially when it comes to injury. I want to use my unique perspective as a female athlete to help female athletes be empowered to care for their bodies in ways that work for them. This empowerment will allow those athletes to take care of their injuries and prevent future injuries with confidence. I have also volunteered in organizations that preach women’s empowerment. Every year, Girls On The Run (GOTR), goes to local elementary schools and teaches girls to be empowered in who they are through activities and running. At the end of the program, the girls run in a 5k, where they are celebrated. Teaching young girls in elementary school to be confident in who they are and claiming what’s theirs helps them in their future endeavors. As many people know, by ten years old, 38% of girls have dropped out of sports due to societal pressures or stereotypes they feel in sports. GOTR’s mission is to help lower that number through empowerment. By volunteering, I feel as though I am helping girls learn the same confidence and claim to their rights I was lucky enough to learn at a young age. Overall, empowerment is an important part of being a woman in a patriarchal society. The empowerment I was taught at an early age has allowed me to dream big enough to want to become an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon to help female athletes who may be struggling. It has additionally taught me that the best way to make women stronger as a whole is to empower others through volunteering or through a general mission in life.

What could possibly be interesting about a movie highlighting eating habits? Of course, we all know that eating greasy food on a regular basis isn’t good for you. However, Super Size Me… was the movie that had the greatest impact on my life. The premise of eating McDonald’s every day, for every meal, disgusted me. I couldn’t imagine how that would make someone feel, as even a few days of eating out for dinner weighed me down. I also didn’t know how impactful it would be to watch someone transform while eating fast food for every meal. However, as the film progressed, I became more intrigued with the changes Morgan was experiencing, and I felt more and more inclined to never eat fast food again. While this documentary was just something that I had to watch in health class, it dramatically changed my view of fast food, especially McDonald’s. Morgan began by showing the effects that fast food was having on the population of the United States, with more people becoming obese than in any other country in the world. As Morgan began to talk to the dietitian who was helping him through his research, she started to worry that he would get diabetes or tachycardia. I knew that fast food wasn’t healthy, but I was completely unaware that the risks of eating fast food for a sustained period while exercising, just as Morgan was doing, were so high. As an athlete, this was particularly surprising to me. I always thought exercising would help reduce the negative effects of fast food. My family generally eats healthy, focusing on vegetables and proteins in hearty home-cooked meals. That didn’t mean, however, that we wouldn’t stop for a McDonald’s cheeseburger for dinner on the way home from sports practice. After I had watched this documentary, everything changed. My perspective of what was actually in McDonald’s transformed as I saw the actual ingredients and what the long-term effects of eating it were. In the span of just a few days, Morgan began to feel sluggish and tired, unable to do his usual workout routine. As an athlete, the idea that food could do this to my body terrified me. When I told my parents about the effects it was going to have on our bodies, we stopped eating at McDonald’s altogether, opting for healthier options when we had to pick something up on the way home. The documentary also made me more aware of the need to check the ingredients of prepackaged food at the grocery store. Many of the products that are advertised on the label as natural are full of ingredients that are purely chemical. This realization led me to start to make my own granola, use whole kernel popcorn instead of microwaveable popcorn, and also bake my own sweet treats. This allows me to control what ingredients I am using and how much sugar and salt is going into my food. It also keeps me away from the stabilizers and preservatives of prepared foods at the store. Without this documentary, I would have never realized just how bad McDonald’s was for my body, even with consistent exercise. It is definitely easier to opt for fast food, but that doesn’t mean that fast food like McDonald’s is a good choice. It also influenced me to become more aware of ingredients in the food I eat from the grocery store. This documentary opened my eyes to the effects of consuming too much fast food, and truly has had the greatest impact on how I choose to fuel my body.

I am one of the students everyone else hates because my hand is always raised to answer or ask questions. As I progressed through my academic career, I continued to be that student, causing me to take all AP and honors classes. My performance in these classes led me to keep a 3.94 GPA and earn the AP Scholar with Honors award after receiving an average score of 3.75 on my tests. A scholarship will continue to help me expand my knowledge and foster my love of learning, allowing me to achieve my goal of receiving a doctorate. When I took Anatomy and Physiology in my junior year, I fell in love with the subject. I had already been exposed to the subject when I’d torn my meniscus. Dr. Anderson, the orthopedic sports medicine doctor I went to, noticed that I was interested in anatomy and expanded my knowledge while explaining my injury to me in detail. Sitting in the exam room and hearing the explanation, I was hooked on the idea of becoming a doctor. This experience, combined with the class, helped me to discover what career path I wanted to pursue: an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. A scholarship would support my future academic success in this field. I chose this path for myself because I love Anatomy and Physiology, but I also chose it because I want to help make a difference in the female sports community. Many female athletes understand their bodies are different than male athletes, but they don’t always know that their recovery from the same injury may be different or that they may be at a higher risk for certain injuries. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer realize this risk increases during menstruation. As a female, I can provide a different perspective on injuries and help female athletes navigate their bodies. Additionally, getting my doctorate would help me achieve my personal goal and be a familial accomplishment. I would become the first girl in my family to get my doctorate and only the third to graduate from a four-year university, which is something that I hold very close to everything I do academically. Scholarships will be a crucial part of furthering my education in my chosen field. Although my family can help me attend college, it will be a strain on them as I have two siblings who are involved in extracurriculars and school. I have also started a part-time job to help fund my education and ensure I can contribute to my schooling. Receiving this scholarship would help fund my education and ensure that my parents don’t feel pressured to help me every step of the way, knowing that I will be attending school for a while and that my siblings need help with their college careers.

In the last few minutes of an important district playoff game, a player received the ball from her teammate and began to dribble towards me. As a defender, I was determined not to let her pass me. That’s when I made one last plant and turn movement—sharper than the others—and heard a loud pop. Popping is typically not a noise you want to hear while you’re running, but I put it in the back of my mind because I was still able to run and didn’t feel any pain. In a lapse of judgment, I decided that I wouldn’t do anything about what I heard and continued to play the last thirty minutes. The next morning, I tried to get myself out of bed, but realized that my knee was locked in place, and it wasn’t budging. When my mom walked in and noticed I was in pain, she called my pediatrician, who referred us to Dr. Anderson, a nonoperative orthopedic doctor who specialized in pediatric sports medicine. Unlike my pediatrician, Dr. Anderson took the time to explain what was actually happening to my knee. He began to walk me through each step of how his diagnosis worked. He explained that using my symptoms, he could apply the type of pain I was experiencing to a certain tear. From there, he could establish the best treatment plan for me. When you sit in his office, you’re uncertain of your recovery and when you can return to your sport. After he begins to tell you what’s going on, you feel a sense of relief wash over you. He is thorough in his process and breaks it down into digestible chunks. In that moment, I realized that I wanted to help people experiencing setbacks in things that they loved have the same relief as I felt. I sat on the exam table, intently listening to everything he said as I began to mentally create my career path. At that point, it no longer mattered to me if I couldn’t play soccer for a few months; I wanted to know everything that I possibly could about how I was going to become an orthopedic doctor. This led me to add anatomy and physiology to my class load the following year. The class expanded my knowledge and interest in going into the medical field. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes, understand that their bodies are different than male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL during their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have experienced throughout their careers. Only 10-12% of orthopedic sports medicine specialists are female, meaning that young female athletes are more likely to see a male specialist. These specialists will help them understand their injuries; however, by seeing a female doctor, they can see themselves in that position. Having representation is integral in all walks of life as it shows people of that group that they can hold that position. By becoming a female specialist, I want to help bring representation to this field.

My biggest educational goal has always been to get my medical doctorate. Not only would getting my doctorate be achieving my personal goal, but it would be a familial accomplishment as well. I would become the first girl in my family to get my doctorate and only the third to graduate from a four-year university. During my undergraduate work, I want to receive a bachelor's in either kinesiology or sports and exercise medicine. Having this qualification would allow me to attend medical school at a top program. I also hope to study abroad in the future to help further my understanding of other cultures. Studying abroad will also expose me to different ideas about the medical field, which I can use to help improve my own practices. England in particular, has immense growth in the field of sports medicine due to their tradition of elite athletes. Being able to learn about these techniques will foster my knowledge in a way that staying local would not allow. In my professional career, I plan to become an orthopedic sports medicine specialist. When I was younger, I tore my meniscus during the soccer season and had to visit an orthopedic sports medicine specialist to receive care. The doctor I visited was a top specialist in our area and hooked me on the idea of orthopedic sports medicine. He explained what was happening to my knee in an easily digestible way, allowing me to feel more comfortable in my understanding of the diagnosis. After this experience, I realized that this was a career that I could see myself holding. On top of becoming an orthopedic sports medicine specialist, I want to help athletes, especially female athletes understand that their bodies are different than male athletes, meaning their recovery may be different. For example, many female athletes don’t know that they are four to eight times more likely to tear their ACL than male athletes, and even fewer don’t know that they are even more likely to tear their ACL on their period. I believe that it is crucial to help female athletes navigate their bodies better, and as many doctors are male, I can provide a different perspective on injuries they have throughout their careers.

As someone who loves playing sports and also loves learning, playing both high school sports and club soccer, I have faced a variety of challenges. The biggest challenges were time management with my academic course load, maintaining social connections, and dealing with difficult coaches. The first time I had an issue with time management was during my sophomore year. I was taking AP European History and the bulk of the class revolved around taking extensive Cornell notes. These notes could take hours to complete depending on the load we were given that week or how our teacher was feeling. The stress of attending club practice four days a week and keeping up with my other honors classes caused me to very quickly have to learn time management. I learned to prioritize assignments based on due dates and the length of time needed to complete them. For example, I would take my Cornell notes and break them into 30 to 45-minute sections, enabling me to stay on top of my work and sports. Balancing a social life with my academics and soccer was another issue I faced as a high school athlete. While my friends were hanging out or going to school functions, I was going to practice, traveling for tournaments or games, or getting ahead on my schoolwork. At times, it was difficult for me to create time for all three, especially when I wanted to have fun but I knew I had to keep up on my academics and practices. I was able to find a balance between everything when I improved my time management. Being able to balance academics, soccer, and social life will be helpful for my future as I can take on tasks that all take time, and thrive while maintaining a social life. A social life is important so as to not burn out, which was an integral lesson I learned while trying to juggle everything at once. Difficult coaches also proved to be a major challenge I faced. Although playing soccer has been a great way for me to grow as a person in many different aspects, there was a time when I thought about quitting due to coaching. As many athletes know, coaching plays a major role in whether or not there is team comradery and overall enjoyment of the game. When I started playing my freshman year of high school on the varsity team, I was unfortunately met with a coach who was the poster child for dysfunctional coaching. He often spent practices creating unhealthy rivalries against teammates, pitting others against each other so often that during games comradery was nonexistent. This experience sucked the life out of the game for me as I know happens for other athletes who face similar issues. By taking a step back from the environment I was in and choosing to not let this experience ruin my love for soccer, I regained my love for the game and reminded myself why I started playing in the first place—because I loved it. The challenges I have faced while balancing school and soccer have prepared me to manage my time wisely and to persevere through tough circumstances in college. Regardless of whether I’m in the classroom or on the pitch, I know these lessons will continue to guide me to pursue my goals in the future.

The best book-to-film adaptation is the 2005 film adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. This version stars Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfayden as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy; all being directed by Joe Wright. Out of all of the book-to-movie adaptations I have watched, this one holds best to the original book, while adding a thematic element you can’t get while reading the story, making it more gripping than other adaptations. One of the most talked about scenes is when Mr. Darcy helps Elizabeth into the carriage and flexes his hand. In the story, this scene is depicted as shocking both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy but does not hold the same gravity as the movie. Mr. Darcy’s hand flex in the movie is the height of earlier moments in Netherfield Park, in which Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have clear romantic tension. These moments consist of Mr. Darcy talking about how he wants to marry an accomplished woman, noting Elizabeth's traits as traits of an accomplished woman. When he flexes his hand, it's often described as him feeling electrified or excited that he has been able to touch Elizabeth. The hand flex, matched with the elements of nervousness depicted in his perfect match all convey the message that the book got across, but this time the cinematography helps to add to the tension that was not there before. Another point in the book that is dramatized for the better in the movie version is the moment when Lady Catherine and Elizabeth have their argument. The camera gets purposefully more and more shaky as the scene progresses, showing the increasing tension in the air. In the book, this scene is just as filled with tension, with depictions of an angry argument happening while the Bennets listen on. The movie gives this scene more life as it makes it seem more life-like. The lighting also adds to the tension as it’s dark and gives Lady Catherine the appearance of an old woman, pointing out every one of her wrinkles and lines. This causes Lady Catherine to look sharper and angrier than she was in the book. Again, the added cinematic details give the book a new life and make it the best book-to-movie adaptation. The final part of the movie that makes the 2005 Pride & Prejudice the best book-to-movie adaptation is the final scene when Darcy and Elizabeth find each other in the field. The sun begins to rise as Elizabeth sees Darcy adding to the romantic aspect of their relationship. When they finally meet in the center of the field, the sun is in between them once they meet, making it so their relationship has the essence of being light and their coming together is jubilant for them. This is different than the book in which Darcy simply proposes to Elizabeth, so the field gives a more romantic element to get the viewer invested in their story. Overall, the film adaptation adds to elements of the book to make the story more romanticized and a story in which the viewer can be immersed in the plot. The plot stays true to the original story, only adding elements that enhance the story and give it more life, making it the best book-to-film adaptation.

When looking towards the future, I have three major goals in mind: commit to playing collegiate soccer, become the first female doctor in my family, and help increase the study of the female body. The first goal is the one I am most close to achieving. I’ve played soccer since I was three, and throughout the process, it has helped me grow in many aspects. For example, soccer has taught me that hard work pays off in the end. The first year I joined a club team, I made the lowest level team, but after hard work and outside practice, I eventually moved up to the second team. Additionally, soccer is something that I enjoy taking the time to do. It's a constant stress reliever, whether it’s practicing with my team, playing in a game, or passing the ball with a wall. I want to commit to playing college soccer because I would like to continue to be around the atmosphere of soccer teams. I also want to be a part of the increasingly high level of play that college soccer has to offer. My next goal is to become the first female doctor in my family. My mom was the first female in her family to graduate from university, as before many of her female family members became secretaries or weren’t given the option to attend university. I want to use the opportunities that I have been provided through both the education I get currently and the higher education I can receive to reach this goal. I first decided that I was going to be a doctor when I stepped into anatomy sophomore year. The idea that the human body has so many functions that self-regulate fascinated me. I began to look forward to going to class every day just to learn more about anything I could. I also love the idea that doctors use their knowledge to help people. When I tore my meniscus in my freshman year of high school I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine. He explained to me exactly what had happened and why I was feeling pain in a specific area, which allowed me to understand the condition of the ligaments in my knee. After he’d made sure I was aware of the seriousness of my injury, he used his knowledge to give me treatment that eventually allowed my injury to heal quickly. Through the knowledge that I would gain, I could better help those who are suffering from an injury or illness. My last goal is to further put research into women’s studies through a medical lens. I’ve grown up in a community that is full of female athletes, who unfortunately have suffered from injuries that doctors can’t always explain. There are very few studies that have been devoted to figuring out why female athletes especially suffer from knee injuries more than their male counterparts. My community of female athletes has really been the reason this has been brought to my attention, if I hadn’t had their experience around me, I wouldn’t have understood the true gravity of the situation. With the doctorate I will receive, I want to research further how and why female athletes are more susceptible to knee injuries as well as why female diseases aren’t as focused on.