I believe that a true spirit of excellence encompasses not only the pursuit of personal growth and achievement, but also the commitment to empower others to realize their own full potential. Driven by this belief, it’s been my mission to foster inclusivity in my community and advocate for health equity nationwide, particularly for people with intellectual disabilities. My journey began eight years ago, when looking for a place where my best friend’s sister would feel safe and celebrated after being bullied severely for her intellectual disability. Her bullies failed to see that her disability gave her some pretty enviable characteristics, such as her ability to unconditionally love others and her infectious happiness. Upon discovering Special Olympics, I not only found a place where she could thrive, but also a calling of my own. Since then, I’ve hosted field days, led athletic sites, tutored, planned holiday parties, taken on vice president leadership roles, and everything in between. I’ve built amazingly strong relationships with my athletes, always uplifting them at every turn, celebrating their unique strengths, and contributing to an environment that is uplifting for all. It was through these relationships that I came to understand that people with ID often encounter inadequate healthcare, disproportionately high obesity rates, and unaddressed mental health struggles — obstacles that limit the chance of fulfilling life. Combining my love for Special Olympics with my own struggles with healthcare accessibility, I made it my mission to address this intersection between ID and healthcare access during my gap year. I’ve spent this past year doing just that. In the true spirit of excellence, I’ve helped to expand Special Olympics DC’s Healthy Athletes Program, which offers free health screenings to under-resourced athletes. My goal is to increase the frequency of screenings and to eliminate transportation barriers to make quality healthcare more accessible for every athlete. In addition, l lead the health education program for SODC’s inaugural summer camp as a way to equip athletes with knowledge that will increase their ability to thrive long-term. This role not only allowed me to improve individual health outcomes, but to empower the community to take control of their well being and increase trust and confidence in medicine. This role also reinforced my belief that excellence in medicine means listening to unique stories with compassion and creating opportunities that include groups that are often excluded. My years with Special Olympics have cultivated my ability to advocate for underrepresented voices and build lasting relationships with diverse people of all walks of life. As I prepare to enter medical school, I intend to carry these experiences with me to my patient care experiences, uplifting marginalized communities and working towards building a healthcare system that serves all people equitably. My ultimate goal is now to open a free treatment center in my area of specialty so that everyone, no matter their disability or socioeconomic status, can access critical care. Special Olympics has shaped my understanding of what excellence truly means, and I now intend to pay this forward in my medical career.