At the age of 14, I decided that I wanted to become more independent make my own decisions, and make my own money. To do this I applied and took a job at Publix where, initially, I expected it would be simply completing menial tasks and just showing up on time. Since taking this job, I have had countless interactions with customers, colleagues, and managers that have enhanced my ability to communicate effectively. Speaking with all different types of people; hurried shoppers, small children, elderly people, and vacationers each with unique preferences and personalities have pushed me entirely out of my comfort zone. This diversity has taught me how to adapt my communication style to connect with different types of people. My confidence and sense of personal growth have been brought on because of this job requirement. For this job, I was responsible for resolving conflicts professionally and making decisions under pressure which strengthened my interpersonal skills and assertiveness. With time, I found myself engaging in these situations with ease. Another job requirement was to collaborate with my colleagues. These interactions taught me the importance of active listening and empathy. The skills that I have learned in the workplace have translated directly into my personal life and have allowed me to communicate with teachers, parents, and friends more effectively. With each interaction, I have become a more outgoing and self-assured person, which will follow me for the rest of my life. Time management is also an essential skill that I've honed through my experience at Publix. Initially, I may have underestimated the importance of effectively managing my time in the workplace, expecting the job to primarily involve completing tasks and showing up punctually, as explained above. However, as I immersed myself in the role, I quickly realized the critical role that time management plays in ensuring productivity and success. Balancing various responsibilities, from assisting customers to collaborating with colleagues and resolving conflicts, required careful planning and prioritization of tasks. I learned to allocate my time efficiently, identifying urgent tasks that demanded immediate attention and allocating adequate time for more complex customer service issues. In addition, the skills I've cultivated through my experience at Publix will undoubtedly serve as invaluable assets in my post-graduate life. My interactions with customers, colleagues, and managers have enhanced my ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. Whether it's sharing ideas, resolving conflicts, or collaborating with others, strong communication skills are essential in various professional settings that I may encounter in my post-graduate future. Dealing with unexpected challenges and making quick decisions under pressure are also skills that I've developed while working at Publix. Whether it's addressing customer concerns, helping to resolve conflicts among coworkers, or adapting to changing circumstances, the ability to think critically and problem-solve effectively is crucial in any professional role. These skills will enable me to navigate complex situations and make informed decisions in my post-graduate career. Managing multiple tasks and responsibilities within a fast-paced environment has honed my time management skills, which is one of the most important things I have taken away from my time at Publix. These time management skills will enable me to handle demanding workloads and meet deadlines efficiently in my future career. My communication skills, ability to problem-solve, and time management skills are some of the most important things that I have learned through my high school years, specifically from working and going to school at the same time. I hope to utilize these skills in my post-graduate future to work most effectively in my career.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare because I have been interested in the medical sciences ever since I started visiting my mother at work, at the age of 7. I also have discovered that throughout my years in high school, I have been passionate about my science classes, specifically Biology and Chemistry, and wish to apply this knowledge on a broader scale. On a more personal level, I wish to become a physician to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Whether that be simply comforting a family member or succeeding in a medical procedure to better a person’s health, I want to make a greater difference in my community. In addition, I have a great passion for learning in general, as I have taken every science and language class I was allowed to take. I believe that becoming a physician will allow me to challenge myself to take on complex intellectual projects, as the evolving medical field requires lifelong learning. My mother is a Neonatologist, and I have always found the work that she does fascinating. During one of my visits, I arrived when my mother was in a meeting with the other physicians in her practice. I waited in the staff break room for her to finish, and when she came back, she seemed disgruntled. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she and her coworkers had a disagreement. A few years later I found out that the new male physicians had mistaken her for a nurse and caused a commotion because they thought she was wrongfully listening in on sensitive medical information. Since that day, I have made a promise to myself that I will become a physician and carry on what my mother was so brave to do. In doing this, I hope to destigmatize the perception that only men can be physicians. My mother is the most intelligent and strong-willed woman I know, and I feel great honor to continue the work she has done in the medical field. My avidity for gender equality also stems from the fact that throughout my education, my interests have always been very STEM-based, which is quite a male-dominated field. At times, I have felt overshadowed by male achievements and have often wondered why most of the parts of the body, notable experiments, or even procedures are named after men. It is not possible that only men have made notable discoveries, and I intend to change the general perception that men are more suitable for the physician profession. I am extremely passionate about pursuing a Biochemistry degree in particular, in the hopes of becoming a physician. Being someone passionate about all aspects of science, I believe I can make a difference in the healthcare industry, and destigmatize the perception that women can only be nurses, or that they aren't meant to be physicians. My ultimate goal is to break these stereotypes and to prove to myself, my mother, and all women who wish to pursue a career in medicine, that we are stronger and smarter than we are often given credit for.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare because I have been interested in the medical sciences ever since I started visiting my mother at work, at the age of 7. I also have discovered that throughout my years in high school, I have been passionate about my science classes, specifically Biology and Chemistry, and wish to apply this knowledge on a broader scale. On a more personal level, I wish to become a physician to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Whether that be simply comforting a family member or succeeding in a medical procedure to better a person’s health, I want to make a greater difference in my community. In addition, I have a great passion for learning in general, as I have taken every science and language class I was allowed to take. I believe that becoming a physician will allow me to challenge myself to take on complex intellectual projects, as the evolving medical field requires lifelong learning. My mother is a Neonatologist, and I have always found the work that she does fascinating. During one of my visits, I arrived when my mother was in a meeting with the other physicians in her practice. I waited in the staff break room for her to finish, and when she came back, she seemed disgruntled. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she and her coworkers had a disagreement. A few years later I found out that the new male physicians had mistaken her for a nurse and caused a commotion because they thought she was wrongfully listening in on sensitive medical information. Since that day, I have made a promise to myself that I will become a physician and carry on what my mother was so brave to do. In doing this, I hope to destigmatize the perception that only men can be physicians. My mother is the most intelligent and strong-willed woman I know, and I feel great honor to continue the work she has done in the medical field. My avidity for gender equality also stems from the fact that throughout my education, my interests have always been very STEM-based, which is quite a male-dominated field. At times, I have felt overshadowed by male achievements and have often wondered why most of the parts of the body, notable experiments, or even procedures are named after men. It is not possible that only men have made notable discoveries, and I intend to change the general perception that men are more suitable for the physician profession. I am extremely passionate about pursuing a Biochemistry degree in particular, in the hopes of becoming a physician. Being someone passionate about all aspects of science, I believe I can make a difference in the healthcare industry, and destigmatize the perception that women can only be nurses, or that they aren't meant to be physicians. My ultimate goal is to break these stereotypes and to prove to myself, my mother, and all women who wish to pursue a career in medicine, that we are stronger and smarter than we are often given credit for.

One technology, specifically in biomedicine, that I believe is meaningful to society as a whole and is a quintessential example of the way technology can make the world a better place is the ability to resuscitate premature newborns. This breakthrough is quite literally life-changing for all of society, but it also has a personal impact on my life. My mother is a Neonatologist, a physician in the NICU, a specialty that did not exist before 1975. This specialty was created after she was born, so she did not have the benefit of receiving special care as an ill newborn herself. This prompted her to pursue a career in Neonatology to further and advance the care of newborns. The standards of caring for high-risk and pre-term infants have expanded logarithmically with the stunning technological developments that have been made in neonatology in particular compared to other specialties. This is because Neonatology has existed for considerably less time than other areas of medicine. Some infants need resuscitation because they are born prematurely and have underdeveloped lungs or because they are born at term but have some other issue such as an infection or a genetic abnormality. Everything from basic bedside care of a premature infant to repairing structural issues in fetal surgery has been invented in the last few decades and has revolutionized the way the scientific community views the care of premature newborns. In the short span of the last few decades, the prognosis for some preterm infants has changed from near 95% mortality to near 95% survival. While being a woman in science and working in a male-dominated field, my mother was able to graduate at the top of her class and now works for Orlando Health as a physician in the NICU. This is what makes her my role model and inspires me to pursue my interests and further my learning in fields that I am interested in, no matter what. Having witnessed first-hand the amount of intelligence, hard work, and compassion that is required to be a physician in this field, I have a unique perspective as the daughter of a woman in medicine. Her dedication to her work is what inspires me to never give up. The technology in Neonatology is always changing; Neonatologists must continuously learn new techniques and new information to stay at the top of their game for the care of the babies.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare, more specifically Biochemistry, because I have been interested in the medical sciences ever since I started visiting my mother at work, at the age of 7. I also have discovered that throughout my years in high school, I have been passionate about my science classes, specifically Biology and Chemistry, and wish to apply this knowledge on a broader scale. On a more personal level, I wish to become a physician to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Whether that be simply comforting a family member or succeeding in a medical procedure to better a person’s health, I want to make a greater difference in my community. In addition, I have a great passion for learning in general, as I have taken every science and language class I was allowed to take. I believe that becoming a physician will allow me to challenge myself to take on complex intellectual projects, as the evolving medical field requires lifelong learning. My mother is a Neonatologist, and I have always found the work that she does fascinating. During one of my visits, I arrived when my mother was in a meeting with the other physicians in her practice. I waited in the staff break room for her to finish, and when she came back, she seemed disgruntled. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she and her coworkers had a disagreement. A few years later I found out that the new male physicians had mistaken her for a nurse and caused a commotion because they thought she was wrongfully listening in on sensitive medical information. Since that day, I have made a promise to myself that I will become a physician and carry on what my mother was so brave to do. In doing this, I hope to destigmatize the perception that only men can be physicians. My mother is the most intelligent and strong-willed woman I know, and I feel great honor to continue the work she has done in the medical field. My avidity for gender equality also stems from the fact that throughout my education, my interests have always been very STEM-based, which is quite a male-dominated field. At times, I have felt overshadowed by male achievements and have often wondered why most of the parts of the body, notable experiments, or even procedures are named after men. It is not possible that only men have made notable discoveries, and I intend to change the general perception that men are more suitable for the physician profession. I am extremely passionate about pursuing a Biochemistry degree in particular, in the hopes of becoming a physician. Being someone passionate about all aspects of science, I believe I can make a difference in the healthcare industry, and destigmatize the perception that women can only be nurses, or that they aren't meant to be physicians. My ultimate goal is to break these stereotypes and to prove to myself, my mother, and all women who wish to pursue a career in medicine, that we are stronger and smarter than we are often given credit for.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare because I have been interested in the medical sciences ever since I started visiting my mother at work, at the age of 7. I also have discovered that throughout my years in high school, I have been passionate about my science classes, specifically Biology and Chemistry, and wish to apply this knowledge on a broader scale. On a more personal level, I wish to become a physician to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Whether that be simply comforting a family member or succeeding in a medical procedure to better a person’s health, I want to make a greater difference in my community. In addition, I have a great passion for learning in general, as I have taken every science and language class I was allowed to take. I believe that becoming a physician will allow me to challenge myself to take on complex intellectual projects, as the evolving medical field requires lifelong learning. My mother is a Neonatologist, and I have always found the work that she does fascinating. During one of my visits, I arrived when my mother was in a meeting with the other physicians in her practice. I waited in the staff break room for her to finish, and when she came back, she seemed disgruntled. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she and her coworkers had a disagreement. A few years later I found out that the new male physicians had mistaken her for a nurse and caused a commotion because they thought she was wrongfully listening in on sensitive medical information. Since that day, I have made a promise to myself that I will become a physician and carry on what my mother was so brave to do. In doing this, I hope to destigmatize the perception that only men can be physicians. My mother is the most intelligent and strong-willed woman I know, and I feel great honor to continue the work she has done in the medical field. My avidity for gender equality also stems from the fact that throughout my education, my interests have always been very STEM-based, which is quite a male-dominated field. At times, I have felt overshadowed by male achievements and have often wondered why most of the parts of the body, notable experiments, or even procedures are named after men. It is not possible that only men have made notable discoveries, and I intend to change the general perception that men are more suitable for the physician profession.