Finding out I was transgender was personally a huge realization for me, and it definitely impacted my beliefs and the way I see the world and interact with everyone around me. I'm highly aware of individuals who might want to harm me or who wish to ridicule or demean me, but I'm also more drawn to people who are similar to me, who are in the same situation and who feel the same way as I do. There's a lot more to be wary of and afraid of knowing that I was transgender in a world that didn't wholly accept who I was, but I was able to find a community who did do those things and they welcomed me and accepted me without question. I find that I'm more prone to being open-minded now, not just thanks to my self-discovery, but also to the people I'm surrounded by due to my identity. It has made me more prone to understanding things that may seem complicated at first to me, and it allows me to digest those new topics head on as opposed to shying away from them. The career path I'm hoping to choose involves a lot of animal care work, like veterinary medicine, animal conservation, range land management, etc. I don't think there's anything particularly revolutionary about queer people or transgender individuals being in these specific fields but since most occupations are dominated by non-queer people, this could still be a stepping stone in the right direction. Since I was young, I had always wanted to work with animals and despite how much I've changed as a person and grown and learned more about myself and my identity, that is still the same goal and dream that I have. I've been nurturing it from a very young age and I'm really excited to finally be putting that plan into motion as I'm in college. The more I learn, the more excited I am by the prospect, especially since I'm learning about the fields that are open to me. There was a time I thought that veterinarian was the only animal-related field I could get into. My family has been a major support for the longest time and they've always told me to pursue my goals, even if it seemed really hard. They've pushed for me to do the harder things and that constant pushing is what got me into the college I'm at now. They've also been supportive of my identity as a transgender person, and that's made the transition into college and ultimately this career a lot easier and less daunting. Aside from working hard in school, I'm also trying my best to get experience, trying to apply for internships, volunteering work, getting hands-on experience through my labs, etc. I'm also willing to try and be set financially and get a part time job while in college or over the summer to help pay for my tuition. Overall, the journey of my life has been one big whirlwind of a bunch of different feelings. Not all of it was pleasant but I learned from those lows and managed to pick myself up. Finding out my identity, finding those who support me regardless, and learning how to face hardships bravely with a headstrong demeanor has really allowed me to get where I am today with a proper vision of what I want to proceed with in the future to reach my goals to the fullest. I can only hope what I've learned through my identity and my individual hardships and experiences can prepare me for what I need to do now.