On Saturday, June 17, 2023, I swam the 200 breast in prelims placing 6th, meaning I would swim it again that night for finals. I headed to the pool with two things on my mind: get that cut, go under 2:54.86! I was excited, I was in the top heat, and I just needed to swim fast. All I had been training for, all the 50s pace, all the 400 IM sets, all of the all-out 100s, they led me to this moment. Standing behind the blocks I told myself “You can do It”. The starter sent us off, my first 50 was strong, the second 50 stronger, the third 50 I held on, and the fourth I gave everything left. I touched the wall and I saw it 2:53.91! I did it, I had finally gotten the sectionals cut! I reached my goal, I was going to Texas! This moment showed me how far I was able to push myself to reach my goals. It was a validation of my efforts and a reminder that with determination, anything is possible. This achievement gave me the confidence to continue pushing myself and setting even higher goals for the future. Swim-My passion for swimming began when I was 3 months old and my Mom took me into the pool for the first time. I started swimming for my summer swim team in Colorado at the age of 5 and then moved to a competitive team when I was 13, as I wanted to better prepare myself for the next level. I moved to Arizona before my freshman year in high school and now swim for both my High School, the Eastmark Firebirds, and my Club Team, Mesa Aquatics (MAC). I was named captain of my high school swim team, the first freshmen captain, and I am honored to still have this responsibility. Swimming has and will always be a big part of my life and I am excited to share my passion with my high school teammates and my mentee at MAC. Holding leadership and mentorship positions has built me into who I am. Eastmark Nursing- I have been with Eastmark nursing for 2 years. My nursing teacher has made a big influence in my life and helped me find path in the medical field. Ever since I was little I knew I wanted to make a difference and help people, and then I fell in love with nursing. Through my nursing program I am also a member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America). Nursing and HOSA allows me to volunteer for blood drives, do clinicals in hospitals, and learn from many medical professionals about their jobs. Class of 2024- Vice President: I have been a member of The Class of 2024 and have been Vice President for 4 years. Throughout my time, I have set up fundraisers for our club, made class shirts for senior year, and planned Prom, Senior Sunrise/Sunset, Graduation and Senior gift. I have learned so much from being Vice President, and I have loved being very involved in my school. Getting to plan events for my peers was an amazing experience. Track-I have been on the Varsity Track team at EHS for 4 years. I have been a team captain since my Sophomore year, and I have loved every minute of it. My Track coaches have helped me become a better runner and leader. FCA- I have been a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) for 4 years. We meet every Friday morning before school to play a game and learn about God's impact on athelets. FCA has helped me with my faith and helped me build stronger relationships with my friends. My long-term goal is to become a registered nurse specializing in Pediatric Oncology care and later on moving to the nutritional side. Combining a lot of my passions and being able to help children and their families through the effects of cancer. I believe that this career path would allow me to grow as a person and help build meaningful connections with the people I care for and work with. Along with giving me the opportunity to give back to those who have taught me so much!

School and education has always been a part of me. My dad is a Principal and my mom is a Teacher, so I've grown up as an education child. I have seen my parents work really hard for their schools and I have also seen the same hard work given to me by my teachers. I believe education is a privilege. One that many of us take for granted. When I was in 8th grade, my English class had a debate on the importance of school. Through that debate, I learned how many children don’t get the opportunity to go to school. While that may sound nice sometimes to have to do work for a day, it doesn’t help in the future. Getting an education helps boost you towards your goals in the future. For myself, I want to go into nursing, but I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t been able to go to school. My Freshman year is when I decided I wanted to pursue nursing. I joined athletic training as it was the closest thing my school had to offer to nursing and I instantly loved it. Learning about the body and all the muscles, bones, organs and tissues was really interesting. Getting to learn helped me make plans and goals for my future. School has also helped build me into the person I am. Kids are in school for a hundred-plus days and throughout that they are faced with many experiences. School teaches time management, problem-solving, and personal development. Deciding when to do your homework or if you should do your school work at all is taught in school. Should you turn your work in on time or turn it in late is taught in school. Failure and being okay with failing are taught in school. School isn’t just a place where you go to learn about math, science, and reading, it's a place where you go to learn about yourself. Teachers, Aids, Administrators, and Security Guards are all influential people who build up the school and build up individuals. When asked why education is important, I say because it is the building blocks of yourself and it is a privilege to experience. Without education, society would be lost and it would be hard for many to formulate goals for their future, but with it, life is a beautiful thing, and learning is a beautiful thing.