I'm in my final days of being a college student, even though I could have sworn yesterday was Freshman Move-In Day. They say college is one of the most formative experiences of your life, that the friends you meet and the memories you make slowly mold you into the person you are meant to be. But college did more than just mold me. It has begun to restructure, reframe, and renovate me. Though I know the renovation is far from over, I'm grateful and proud of the progress I've made so far and am excited to see what the future holds. Many times, before any renovation can begin, there are long, hard days of demolition. Workers spend hours removing old carpet, tearing down unwanted walls, and the like. It takes destruction to prepare for restoration, and I experienced just that through my mental health challenges during college. Growing up, I was always a perfectionist. I consistently associated way too much of my self-worth with my grades and achievements. So of course, those thought and behavior patterns continued in college. And then the pandemic hit. Like the rest of the world, I experienced months of isolation and uncertainty, When students at my university were allowed to return to campus for in-person instruction during my sophomore year, my demolition days began. I felt immense pressure to not only excel but to be perfect in all domains of my life - in class, in my on-campus jobs, within my friendships, everywhere. It was exhausting. In my effort to appear perfect, I put a shield around myself so no one would know about the thoughts I was having, the tears I was crying, or the deep pang of loneliness and gnawing ache of anxiety I was experiencing. I had problems with some of my friends. I nearly failed some assignments in my classes. I felt so trapped like I was suffocating in my own thoughts and emotions. This went on for months and months. But not everyone was oblivious to my struggle as I had thought. One of my friends noticed something wasn't quite right. He was exceedingly patient and kind, and in time, I lowered my shield when I was with him. His support and friendship enabled and empowered me to get help. So, a nurse practitioner diagnosed me with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and she prescribed me my first antidepressant. I started going to therapy. Throughout the rest of my sophomore year, the duration of my junior year, and the first semester of my senior year, I continued to undergo my days of demolition. My treatment plan included multiple dosage and prescription changes, and all the while, my perfectionism persisted, and I consistently stretched myself too thin. Truth be told, I considered ending my life multiple times throughout that time, and one time in particular, I had to be taken to behavioral health urgent care. After my experience at the urgent care for behavioral health, something shifted. I finally realized how bad it had gotten, and the restructuring started. I saw how strained my relationships were with my friends and family. Slowly, I began taking concrete steps toward healing. I continued therapy and found a combination of medications that worked for me. I took fewer classes, reduced the number of hours I worked per week, and stepped away from some extracurricular activities, things that would not have even crossed my mind previously. My beliefs about myself and views of the world shifted. I have begun to reframe my thinking and believe that I am wildly capable of great things. I'm beginning to understand that I can't physically do everything all of the time and that I need to allow myself to rest, relax, do things I enjoy, and have fun. I feel freer to be myself and be vulnerable with my friends, and I feel closer to them now. I have found myself laughing harder, louder, longer, and more frequently than ever before. My faith in God has grown immensely, and I am genuinely happy. I'm no longer just surviving but thriving. I'm hopeful and excited about life. And this is only the beginning of the renovation. Following graduation in May of 2023, I will be doing an internship through the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before beginning classes for my Master's in Public Health in the fall. Now, my goal is to become a public health researcher and focus on health disparities and access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved communities.

I'm in my final days of being a college student, even though I could have sworn yesterday was Freshman Move-In Day. They say college is one of the most formative experiences of your life, that the friends you meet and the memories you make slowly mold you into the person you are meant to be. But college did more than just mold me. It has begun to renovate me. Though I know the renovation is far from over, I'm grateful and proud of the progress I've made so far. Many times, before any renovation can begin, there are long, hard days of demolition. Workers spend hours removing old carpet, tearing down unwanted walls, and the like. It takes destruction to prepare for restoration, and I experienced just that through my mental health challenges during college. Growing up, I was always a perfectionist. I consistently associated way too much of my self-worth with my grades and achievements. So of course, those thought and behavior patterns continued in college. And then the pandemic hit. Like the rest of the world, I experienced months of isolation and uncertainty, When students at my university were allowed to return to campus for in-person instruction during my sophomore year, my demolition days began. I felt immense pressure to not only excel but to be perfect in all domains of my life. It was exhausting. In my effort to appear perfect, I put a shield around myself so no one would know about the thoughts I was having, the tears I was crying, or the deep pang of loneliness and gnawing ache of anxiety I was experiencing. This went on for months and months. But not everyone was oblivious to my struggle as I had thought. One of my friends noticed something wasn't quite right. His support and friendship enabled and empowered me to get help. So, a nurse practitioner diagnosed me with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and she prescribed me my first antidepressant. I started going to therapy. My treatment plan included multiple dosage and prescription changes, and all the while, my perfectionism persisted, and I consistently stretched myself too thin. Truth be told, I considered ending my life multiple times throughout that time, and one time in particular, I had to be taken to behavioral health urgent care. After my experience at the urgent care for behavioral health, something shifted. I realized how bad it had gotten. I saw how strained my relationships were with my friends and family. Slowly, I began taking steps toward healing. I continued therapy and found a combination of medications that worked for me. I took fewer classes, reduced the number of hours I worked per week, and stepped away from some extracurricular activities. My beliefs about myself and views of the world shifted. I've begun believing that I am wildly capable of great things. I'm beginning to understand that I can't physically do everything all of the time and that I need to allow myself to rest, relax, do things I enjoy, and have fun. I feel freer to be myself, and I find myself laughing harder, louder, longer, and more frequently. I'm no longer just surviving but thriving. And this is only the beginning of the renovation. Following graduation in May of 2023, I will be doing an internship through the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before beginning classes for my Master's in Public Health in the fall. Now, my goal is to become a public health researcher and focus on health disparities and access to mental health care.

I'm in my final days of being a college student, even though I could have sworn yesterday was Freshman Move-In Day. They say college is one of the most formative experiences of your life, that the friends you meet and the memories you make slowly mold you into the person you are meant to be. But college did more than just mold me. It has begun to restructure, reframe, and renovate me. Though I know the renovation is far from over, I'm grateful and proud of the progress I've made so far and am excited to see what the future holds. Many times, before any renovation can begin, there are long, hard days of demolition. Workers spend hours removing old carpet, tearing down unwanted walls, and the like. It takes destruction to prepare for restoration, and I experienced just that through my mental health challenges during college. Growing up, I was always a perfectionist. I consistently associated way too much of my self-worth with my grades and achievements. So of course, those thought and behavior patterns continued in college. And then the pandemic hit. Like the rest of the world, I experienced months of isolation and uncertainty, When students at my university were allowed to return to campus for in-person instruction during my sophomore year, my demolition days began. I felt immense pressure to not only excel but to be perfect in all domains of my life - in class, in my on-campus jobs, within my friendships, everywhere. It was exhausting. In my effort to appear perfect, I put a shield around myself so no one would know about the thoughts I was having, the tears I was crying, or the deep pang of loneliness and gnawing ache of anxiety I was experiencing. I had problems with some of my friends. I nearly failed some assignments in my classes. I felt so trapped like I was suffocating in my own thoughts and emotions. This went on for months and months. But not everyone was oblivious to my struggle as I had thought. One of my friends noticed something wasn't quite right. He was exceedingly patient and kind, and in time, I lowered my shield when I was with him. His support and friendship enabled and empowered me to get help. So, a nurse practitioner diagnosed me with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, and she prescribed me my first antidepressant. I started going to therapy. Throughout the rest of my sophomore year, the duration of my junior year, and the first semester of my senior year, I continued to undergo my days of demolition. My treatment plan included multiple dosage and prescription changes, and all the while, my perfectionism persisted, and I consistently stretched myself too thin. Truth be told, I considered ending my life multiple times throughout that time, and one time in particular, I had to be taken to behavioral health urgent care. After my experience at the urgent care for behavioral health, something shifted. I finally realized how bad it had gotten, and the restructuring started. I saw how strained my relationships were with my friends and family. Slowly, I began taking concrete steps toward healing. I continued therapy and found a combination of medications that worked for me. I took fewer classes, reduced the number of hours I worked per week, and stepped away from some extracurricular activities, things that would not have even crossed my mind previously. My beliefs about myself and views of the world shifted. I have begun to reframe my thinking and believe that I am wildly capable of great things. I'm beginning to understand that I can't physically do everything all of the time and that I need to allow myself to rest, relax, do things I enjoy, and have fun. I feel freer to be myself and be vulnerable with my friends, and I feel closer to them now. I have found myself laughing harder, louder, longer, and more frequently than ever before. My faith in God has grown immensely, and I am genuinely happy. I'm no longer just surviving but thriving. I'm hopeful and excited about life. And this is only the beginning of the renovation. Following graduation in May of 2023, I will be doing an internship through the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before beginning classes for my Master's in Public Health in the fall. Now, my goal is to become a public health researcher and focus on health disparities and access to mental health care, especially in rural and underserved communities.

In July 2020, my father suffered a heart attack that resulted in him requiring double-bypass and stent placement procedures. As a biology major, watching him go through surgery, treatment, and recovery inspired me to become interested in cardiovascular health. I have been conducting research to address racial health disparities. My project is titled “Racial Disparities in Native American Cardiovascular Health.” Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and Native Americans are at higher risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular health events, such as a heart attack. These differences in cardiovascular health outcomes are known as health disparities. The goal of my paper and presentation is to bring more awareness to the cardiovascular health disparities faced by Native American populations by identifying and analyzing both biological and social factors that contribute to such disparities. I also aim to offer insight into potential culturally-appropriate interventions. Much of the information gathered for this project was gleaned from various peer-reviewed journal articles through a review of biological and sociological literature. Some data about biological factors come from my time as a student researcher in Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana, where I studied platelet reactivity in Native Americans. Overall, I found that cardiovascular health is influenced by a multitude of factors, biological and social. Some of these include genetic variation, the effects of historical trauma and racism, comorbid conditions, socioeconomic status, nutrition, physical activity levels, and healthcare access. Differences, especially inequalities, in these factors may lead to disparities in cardiovascular health outcomes. However, there are several potential interventions that can be employed. These include providing ongoing cultural competency training for healthcare providers, ensuring a diverse clinical and public health workforce, improving access to telehealth, emphasizing preventive care, pushing for legislative action, policy, and future research, using traditional dance to encourage physical activity, and providing community education initiatives. My research has affirmed my decision to pursue a Master’s in Public Health after graduating from Augustana. Bettering our understanding of cardiovascular health disparities is a vital part of helping healthcare providers and public health workers develop culturally-appropriate interventions and prevention strategies. I have learned what it means to live a life shaped by the themes of deputyship, pertinence, justice, and freedom. And, as a result, I have truly found what Frederick Buechner describes as the place “where [my] joy meets the world’s greatest needs.” With time and tangible change, I am confident we may come closer to achieving health equity for all.

My heart’s beating in my chest, Faster and harder, I can barely catch my breath. Silence roaring in my ears As I wipe away my tears. Like a sheep gone astray, Each man to his own way. My thoughts are racing in my head, Louder and louder, everything I’ve left unsaid. Wanderers, squanderers, It looks like sin’s the conqueror. Child, why so much anxiety? Just keep your eyes fixed on me. It will all be okay. Child, let me handle the uncertainty, For you are loved and adored by me. Good King, oh come with rescue speedy And make whole all the poor and needy. Wash me in Your Word and Water, Abba, make me Your beloved daughter. I will at the last trumpet’s sound Receive that priceless, golden crown. Though once I’d been lost, I am now found. Father, I’m full of anxiety! Please help me keep my eyes fixed on Thee. I trust it’ll all be okay. Abba, I give you all my uncertainty, For I am loved and adored by Thee.

Freshman orientation week can be intimidating. Your parents have just left after helping you move all of your stuff into your dorm room. You’re not quite sure how living with a roommate is going to go, yet. There are so many new faces and names to learn, not to mention you have no idea where anything is on campus. Luckily, first year students at my university don’t have to go through their first week on campus on their own. The Office of Student Affairs has designed freshman orientation as a celebration fondly referred to as Welcome Week, which is put on by students for students. All of the new students are put into groups based on the first-year seminar class they are registered for, and two upperclassmen known as Viking Guides lead them through Welcome Week activities and events, answer questions, show them the lay of the land at the university, and ease the transition to life as a college student. Amid my personal struggles with anxiety and depression, I’ve been lucky enough to find purpose in my life by serving as a Viking Guide for the last three years. During my first year as a Viking Guide, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Despite the pain that I was experiencing, I was able to hold it together during Welcome Week and give the students in my group the best orientation experience possible. Following the start of classes, I tried to continue hiding the emotional and mental turmoil I was experiencing, but my friends could tell something wasn’t quite right. With their help and encouragement, I mustered up the courage to get help, and I am currently following the treatment plan established by my therapist and psychiatric nurse practitioner. While therapy and medication have been helpful for me, continuing to serve my campus community in a leadership position has been one of the most helpful things during my mental health journey. Being able to continue in my role as a Viking Guide has made me feel valued. It reminds me that I am more than my diagnoses and that I can still be successful and be a part of something bigger than myself despite my inner struggles. As a Viking Guide, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of establishing trusting relationships with the new students in my group. I have the opportunity to share my college experience with them and give them advice and answer questions they have. Being the one that the students can turn to when they’re unsure about something is one of the most satisfying aspects of being a Viking Guide because they trust that I will be able to help them. I enjoy mentoring them as they enter college and watch them grow and find their place in the campus community. Most of all, being a Viking Guide is rewarding to me because by the end of Welcome Week, a group of people who were strangers just days before begin to form life-long friendships with each other, and knowing that I’ve gotten to be a part of that brings me great joy. On the hardest of days, it is my leadership experience as a Viking Guide that gives me hope and keeps me going because I know that I have made a difference in the lives of other people.

College is full of new experiences: living away from home for the first time, being introduced to new concepts in the classroom and beyond, meeting new people, and more. It can be overwhelming, anxiety-inducing, and downright scary, which is why it is important to take care of one’s mind, body, and soul. But all of the new things that college brings are also super exciting! There are sporting events to attend, clubs to join, and school traditions to celebrate. For me, the thing that excites me the most about college is the opportunity to conduct research. As an undergraduate student, I’ve had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana University. In the Larson Lab, I’m studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans. With every blood draw, whole blood flow cytometry assay, and DNA extraction, I’ve realized that I’m living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. As fun as college is, it can also be quite challenging and stressful at times, so I’ve had to learn how to take care of my mind, body, and soul. Nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I tried to hide the emotional and mental turmoil I was experiencing until one day when one of my friends asked what was going on. I’d been blaming myself for having depression and anxiety, but my friend helped me reach out for help. I’ve started going to therapy and taking medications, as well as practicing self care in order to take care of my mind. To take care of my body, I’ve become more conscious about my exercise and eating habits. A few years ago, my dad had a heart attack. He required a double-bypass and stent placement following his heart attack. Watching my father go through surgery, recovery, and treatment for his heart problems made me more aware of my own exercise and eating habits. Since students at my university have easy access to the campus rec center, including the gym, weight room, and pool, I’ve become passionate about taking action to decrease my changes of experiencing my own heart issues. Caring for my soul has always been important to me and my family throughout my life. For me, that meant being raised in the Lutheran church. So, before I made the move to college, my mother was adamant about finding a church for me to attend that was near my school. Having a church community has helped me a lot through the challenges of college. I’ve grown spiritually and have learned to lean into my faith when obstacles come my way. Prayer, worship music, and Bible verses have become my lifeline. Through the ups and downs of college, I’ve come to know how to better care for my body, mind, and soul. I’ve found excitement in my coursework and research, alongside the fun that comes with college sporting events, clubs, and other activities. I’ve found ways to cope with the stress of being in college so that I can enjoy my time learning and growing alongside my friends and classmates. Prioritizing self care, exercise, healthy eating habits, and going to church allow me to care for myself so I can function well and be an actively engaged student, a better friend, and a responsible member of my campus community.

Living a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle is essential to living a happy and productive life. Without good health, achieving any once hoped for dreams becomes next to impossible. I’ve seen what unhealthy habits have done to the lives of various family members who were already at a higher risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, blood clotting, and heart attacks. I’ve also personally experienced what can happen when mental health is not prioritized. It is because of the experiences of my family members and my own mental health journey that I am dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can continue pursuing my dream of earning a PhD in biomedical sciences and becoming a research scientist. My paternal grandfather was prone to heart attacks and blood clots. His lack of physical activity and poor eating habits likely exacerbated his cardiac issues. Unfortunately, he passed away from a brain aneurysm when I was in high school. Four years later, his youngest son, my father, had his first heart attack. Of course, my father knew about his father’s history of cardiovascular problems. He also knew that exercise and healthy eating could help with cardiac health. However, like his father before him, my father did not regularly engage in physical activity, nor did he make the best choices when it came to food. In fact, a day or so before his heart attack, he had eaten the fat my mother had trimmed off of the steaks we were to eat for supper that night. My father required a double-bypass and stent placement procedure following his heart attack. Watching my father go through surgery, recovery, and treatment for his heart problems made me more aware of my own exercise and eating habits. I have become passionate about taking action to prevent myself from experiencing my own heart issues. In addition to maintaining my physical health, I’ve also learned to prioritize my mental health. Nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Following my diagnoses, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. But learning about successful people who have learned to manage their mental illnesses has inspired me to keep pushing forward. I’ve learned new coping strategies and started prioritizing self care. I’ve become more conscious about my exercise and eating habits and have become dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that poor health does not interfere with my education and pursuit of a career in science. Healthy living is important to me because it has allowed me to realize that I am not defined by my family history of heart problems; I can take action to decrease my chances of having a heart attack. I can see myself beyond my diagnoses of anxiety and depression; engaging in healthy coping strategies means that I am not defined or limited by mental illness. Prioritizing my health has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone instead of solely focusing on survival. I’ve been able to accept a position as an undergraduate researcher, and experiencing success and joy in my role as a student researcher has reminded me why I need to remain dedicated to maintaining my health so that I can be able to function well in order to experience that success and joy.

Living a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle is essential to living a happy and productive life. Without good health, achieving any once hoped for dreams becomes next to impossible. I’ve seen what unhealthy habits have done to the lives of various family members who were already at a higher risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, blood clotting, and heart attacks. I’ve also personally experienced what can happen when mental health is not prioritized. It is because of the experiences of my family members and my own mental health journey that I am dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can continue pursuing my dream of earning a PhD in biomedical sciences and becoming a research scientist. My paternal grandfather was prone to heart attacks and blood clots. His lack of physical activity and poor eating habits likely exacerbated his cardiac issues. Unfortunately, he passed away from a brain aneurysm when I was in high school. Four years later, his youngest son, my father, had his first heart attack. Of course, my father knew about his father’s history of cardiovascular problems. He also knew that exercise and healthy eating could help with cardiac health. However, like his father before him, my father did not regularly engage in physical activity, nor did he make the best choices when it came to food. In fact, a day or so before his heart attack, he had eaten the fat my mother had trimmed off of the steaks we were to eat for supper that night. My father required a double-bypass and stent placement procedure following his heart attack. Watching my father go through surgery, recovery, and treatment for his heart problems made me more aware of my own exercise and eating habits. I have become passionate about taking action to prevent myself from experiencing my own heart issues. In addition to maintaining my physical health, I’ve also learned to prioritize my mental health. Nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Following my diagnoses, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. But learning about successful people who have learned to manage their mental illnesses has inspired me to keep pushing forward. I’ve learned new coping strategies and started prioritizing self care. I’ve become more conscious about my exercise and eating habits and have become dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that poor health does not interfere with my education and pursuit of a career in science. Healthy living is important to me because it has allowed me to realize that I am not defined by my family history of heart problems; I can take action to decrease my chances of having a heart attack. I can see myself beyond my diagnoses of anxiety and depression; engaging in healthy coping strategies means that I am not defined or limited by mental illness. Prioritizing my health has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone instead of solely focusing on survival. I’ve been able to accept a position as an undergraduate researcher, and experiencing success and joy in my role as a student researcher has reminded me why I need to remain dedicated to maintaining my health so that I can be able to function well in order to experience that success and joy.

Living a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle is essential to living a happy and productive life. Without good health, achieving any once hoped for dreams becomes next to impossible. I’ve seen what unhealthy habits have done to the lives of various family members who were already at a higher risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, blood clotting, and heart attacks. I’ve also personally experienced what can happen when mental health is not prioritized. It is because of the experiences of my family members and my own mental health journey that I am dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can continue pursuing my dream of earning a PhD in biomedical sciences and becoming a research scientist. My paternal grandfather was prone to heart attacks and blood clots. His lack of physical activity and poor eating habits likely exacerbated his cardiac issues. Unfortunately, he passed away from a brain aneurysm when I was in high school. Four years later, his youngest son, my father, had his first heart attack. Of course, my father knew about his father’s history of cardiovascular problems. He also knew that exercise and healthy eating could help with cardiac health. However, like his father before him, my father did not regularly engage in physical activity, nor did he make the best choices when it came to food. In fact, a day or so before his heart attack, he had eaten the fat my mother had trimmed off of the steaks we were to eat for supper that night. My father required a double-bypass and stent placement procedure following his heart attack. Watching my father go through surgery, recovery, and treatment for his heart problems made me more aware of my own exercise and eating habits. I have become passionate about taking action to prevent myself from experiencing my own heart issues. In addition to maintaining my physical health, I’ve also learned to prioritize my mental health. Nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Following my diagnoses, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. But learning about successful people who have learned to manage their mental illnesses has inspired me to keep pushing forward. I’ve learned new coping strategies and started prioritizing self care. I’ve become more conscious about my exercise and eating habits and have become dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that poor health does not interfere with my education and pursuit of a career in science. Healthy living is important to me because it has allowed me to realize that I am not defined by my family history of heart problems; I can take action to decrease my chances of having a heart attack. I can see myself beyond my diagnoses of anxiety and depression; engaging in healthy coping strategies means that I am not defined or limited by mental illness. Prioritizing my health has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone instead of solely focusing on survival. I’ve been able to accept a position as an undergraduate researcher, and experiencing success and joy in my role as a student researcher has reminded me why I need to remain dedicated to maintaining my health so that I can be able to function well in order to experience that success and joy.

Living a physically and mentally healthy lifestyle is essential to living a happy and productive life. Without good health, achieving any once hoped for dreams becomes next to impossible. I’ve seen what unhealthy habits have done to the lives of various family members who were already at a higher risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, blood clotting, and heart attacks. I’ve also personally experienced what can happen when mental health is not prioritized. It is because of the experiences of my family members and my own mental health journey that I am dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can continue pursuing my dream of earning a PhD in biomedical sciences and becoming a research scientist. My paternal grandfather was prone to heart attacks and blood clots. His lack of physical activity and poor eating habits likely exacerbated his cardiac issues. Unfortunately, he passed away from a brain aneurysm when I was in high school. Four years later, his youngest son, my father, had his first heart attack. Of course, my father knew about his father’s history of cardiovascular problems. He also knew that exercise and healthy eating could help with cardiac health. However, like his father before him, my father did not regularly engage in physical activity, nor did he make the best choices when it came to food. In fact, a day or so before his heart attack, he had eaten the fat my mother had trimmed off of the steaks we were to eat for supper that night. My father required a double-bypass and stent placement procedure following his heart attack. Watching my father go through surgery, recovery, and treatment for his heart problems made me more aware of my own exercise and eating habits. I have become passionate about taking action to prevent myself from experiencing my own heart issues. In addition to maintaining my physical health, I’ve also learned to prioritize my mental health. Nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. I had tried to hide the emotional and mental turmoil I was experiencing until one day when one of my closest friends asked what was going on. I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw what I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. However, not all of my friends were supportive. Following my diagnoses, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. But learning about successful people who have learned to manage their mental illnesses has inspired me to keep pushing forward. I’ve learned new coping strategies and started prioritizing self care. I’ve become more conscious about my exercise and eating habits and have become dedicated to maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that poor health does not interfere with my education and pursuit of a career in science. Healthy living is important to me because it has allowed me to realize that I am not defined by my family history of heart problems; I can take action to decrease my chances of having a heart attack. I can see myself beyond my diagnoses of anxiety and depression; engaging in healthy coping strategies means that I am not defined or limited by mental illness. Prioritizing my health has allowed me to step out of my comfort zone instead of solely focusing on survival. I’ve been able to accept a position as an undergraduate researcher, and experiencing success and joy in my role as a student researcher has reminded me why I need to remain dedicated to maintaining my health so that I can be able to function well in order to experience that success and joy.

When I stepped foot in my first biology lab course at Augustana three years ago, I instantly felt at home. I knew I had made the right decision to major in biology. But my love science had surfaced long before I started college or held a pipette in my hand for the first time; it started before I could tie my own shoes. It started with a photograph. This photo wasn’t of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this picture was of a baby in a hospital bed with an intravenous line and various monitors attached to her body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to undergo emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. From then on, before I even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. As a woman in STEM, the thing that has kept me motivated to continue my academic and professional journey is meeting other women in STEM. As someone who identifies as neurodivergent, it has been reassuring to meet other people who also identify as neurodivergent and are succeeding in science. I’ve found that people with mental illnesses and or identify as neurodivergent, especially women, are often underrepresented or misrepresented, and that underrepresentation or misrepresentation creates even more challenges. Following my diagnosis with anxiety and depression, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. However, diversity in the workplace inspired me to keep going. Diversity in the workplace is important to me because encouraging collaboration among people with varying backgrounds can inspire innovation. It allows the future generations to see themselves represented in the fields of work that they aspire to enter and shows them that no matter who they are, where they’re from, or what intersecting identities they identify with, anything is possible if they work hard and remain determined to achieve their goals. Seeing diversity in science allowed me to see myself in science. Now, I find myself continuing to ask questions as an undergraduate researcher. In Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana, I study differential platelet responses in Native Americans. Our goal is to correlate platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. I truly believe in the power of research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My goal is to earn a PhD in biomedical science and pursue a career in research. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. With the right skill set, burning passion, and a bit of determination, I’m certain that I’ll successfully achieve my goal of contributing to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

As Marie Osmond once said, "Being of service to others is what brings true happiness." Because of my passion and interest for helping other people, I believe this statement is very true. By serving as a small group leader during First Year Student Orientation at my university and being president of my university’s Women in STEM club, Medical Humanities club, and biological honor society, I have been able to pursue this interest. Furthermore, I have had the honor of serving and giving back to my hometown through my Girl Scout Gold Award (the highest honor in Girl Scouting), which I received in 2019. For my project, I led the building of a serenity garden in a local park. Helping others makes me feel like I have made a difference in the world. In addition, my passion for serving others has blended with my interest in science to shape my career goal. It is true that photographs are used to look back at the past; but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was not of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and various medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to undergo emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Now, I find myself continuing to ask questions and deepening my love for science as an undergraduate researcher. In Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana University, I study differential platelet responses in Native Americans. Our goal is to platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With every blood draw, flow cytometry assay, and DNA extraction, I've realized that I'm living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. However, I'm not only pursuing science in my research. I am also pursuing my passion for serving those around me. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to help others and make a difference in this world.

After years of suppressing stress and emotions, my internal storage shelves were filled with overflowing bottles of secrets I tried to hide. As excruciating as it was, my painful struggle with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive order has given rise to my optimism and taught me the tremendous importance of love, kindness, family, and friendship. During my high school years, my family had faced a lot of financial uncertainty. Years later when I found myself in my first year of college, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a result, my dad’s hours at work got cut, and my mom was laid off at her job. Then my dad had a heart attack, and bills piled up even more. When in-person classes finally resumed in August 2020, I wasn’t the same person, anymore. Although I was nearly always surrounded by friends and classmates, I had never felt more alone. Soon, my friends began to realize that I was crumbling beneath the weight of something horrendous. One day, my friend, Grady, gently coaxed the truth out of me. Slowly, I opened up about feeling worthless, being completely exhausted from overwhelming anxiety, and the desire to end my life. He put his arm around me and hugged me. With his help and encouragement, I started seeing a therapist, and soon after received my diagnoses and my first antidepressant prescription. My eyes were opened to optimism because of Grady's loving friendship. Despite the lies my mental illness told me, my friends and family loved me. Now, I'm healing. I still have hard days, but I remain optimistic because of the people in my life, especially my friend Grady. It's on the darkest days that I have the most hope because I know that I know I'm loved, no matter the circumstances. I have succeeded academically, achieving a grade point average of 3.98. In addition, I've also excelled in extracurricular activities and set aside time to volunteer. By serving as a small group leader during First Year Student Orientation at my university and being president of my university’s Women in STEM club, Medical Humanities club, and biological honor society, I have been able to be involved in my university community. Furthermore, I have had the honor of serving and giving back to my hometown through my Girl Scout Gold Award (the highest honor in Girl Scouting), which I received in 2019. For my project, I led the building of a serenity garden in a local park. In my free time, I volunteer for a nonprofit called The Letter Project, an organization dedicated to sending letters and cards of love, encouragement, and support to women and girls across the world. On top of academics, extracurriculars, and volunteering, I have three part-time jobs, each of which require leadership and organizational skills such as time management, dedication, and communication. Each Saturday, I work for Augustana Learn to Swim where I have experience working as a lifeguard, water assistant, and swim instructor. In these positions, I scan the water during swim lessons and either assist or lead a small group of young children in activities that introduce them to the basics of swimming and water safety. I also attend monthly in-service meetings to stay up-to-date with training. I enjoy working at the pool and interacting with the young swimmers because ensuring swimmers’ safety is another way I help people. In addition to working at the pool, I also work for the university admission office by interacting with high school students interested in Augustana. In my position as a communication assistant, I call, Zoom, and email with students, encouraging them to apply for scholarships, visit campus, or apply for admission to the university. I also get to share my Augustana story and answer questions, which is probably my favorite part of the job. Third, I work in the biology department as a teaching assistant, assisting the professor in setting up the lab activities, walking students through the experiments, answering questions, tutoring, and grading assignments. My field of study spans biology, psychology, medical humanities, and sociology, and I have been luck enough to be able to conduct research that incorporates a little bit of each of these fields. In Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana University, I study differential platelet responses in Native Americans. Our goal is to platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. In addition to the biological research, the Larson lab also gathers demographic information from volunteers who participate in our study. This has allowed me to explore the social science and ethics of research and has inspired me to do independent research in medical sociology on the topic of health disparities in cardiovascular health. Upon graduation, I hope to enroll in a biomedical or biopsychology graduate program and pursue a career in research. I hope to integrate all of my fields of study into my future research. My goal is to improve awareness and understanding of health disparities and the interplay between the social determinants of health and biology. I want the work I do to better my field, the world, and myself as an individual. In order to achieve these goals, I'm ready and willing to make sacrifices in order to put in the required time, energy, and effort. I am ready to grow professionally and personally and have my beliefs and ideas challenged by new ways of thinking.

After years of suppressing stress and emotions, my internal storage shelves were filled with overflowing bottles of secrets I tried to hide. As excruciating as it was, my painful struggle with generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive order has given rise to my optimism and taught me the tremendous importance of love, kindness, family, and friendship. During my high school years, my family had faced a lot of financial uncertainty. Years later when I found myself in my first year of college, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a result, my dad’s hours at work got cut, and my mom was laid off at her job. Then my dad had a heart attack, and bills piled up even more. When in-person classes finally resumed in August 2020, I wasn’t the same person, anymore. Although I was nearly always surrounded by friends and classmates, I had never felt more alone. Soon, my friends began to realize that I was crumbling beneath the weight of something horrendous. One day, my friend, Grady, gently coaxed the truth out of me. Slowly, I opened up about feeling worthless, being completely exhausted from overwhelming anxiety, and the desire to end my life. He put his arm around me and hugged me. With his help and encouragement, I started seeing a therapist, and soon after received my diagnoses and my first antidepressant prescription. My eyes were opened to optimism because of Grady's loving friendship. Despite the lies my mental illness told me, my friends and family loved me. Now, I'm healing. I still have hard days, but I remain optimistic because of the people in my life, especially my friend Grady. It's on the darkest days that I have the most hope because I know that I know I'm loved, no matter the circumstances.

My greatest mentors, heroes, and loved ones have shaped me into the person I am today. The impacts they made in my life have very little to do with their personal or professional successes; rather, the legacies of mentorship they have left behind reflect how they treated and helped others, as well as how they expressed kindness, authenticity, courage, and determination. When I think about the impact I hope to have through my mentorship of others, a vivid image of my elementary school P.E. teacher and high school volleyball coach, Mrs. G, comes to mind. Mrs. G started her career as a volleyball coach at my school in 1979, and the rest is history, literally. During her 41 years as head coach, Mrs. G led the volleyball team to 19 regular season conference championships, 13 conference tournament championships, 14 state tournament appearances, 4 state runner-up finishes, and a state championship. Her leadership developed an elite program, which she continued to develop over decades. Sadly, Mrs. G passed away unexpectedly in March 2020. It's not just the results of Mrs. G’s coaching and leadership that define her legacy of mentorship. Mrs. G was one of a kind, full of ambition and authenticity. She showed great compassion with intense empathy and honesty. She led by example and excelled without arrogance. Mrs. G flawlessly embodied the values of excellence, community, education, faith and tradition. She was extraordinarily loyal, and she made it her mission to always make every individual feel welcome, important, and loved. Her mentorship left a handprint on my heart and stamped her smile into my memories, and I hope to do the same for others through my mentorship. I hope that I can leave a positive impact through my mentorship of others by emulating Mrs. G’s tenacity, graciousness, and resilience.

The rolling hills and vast plains of the cornfield-surrounded town have been my stomping grounds for as long as I can remember. There are no majestic purple mountains, and the green waves of soybeans during early summer are the only waves I've ever seen. The only beaches I've been to have been on the shores of mucky lakes and rivers. If I had $1000 right now, I would put the money toward the study away trip I am enrolled in for January Interim: Germs Gone Wild in Hawaii. The Midwest is nice, but, as Disney's Princess Belle sings, "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell!" I want to travel the world and see new places, learn new things and meet new people. I believe traveling is a fantastic way to experience and appreciate other cultures and ways of living. I want to be able to better relate to people who are different from me, a skill which will prove useful as I finish college and pursue a career in scientific research. Receiving $1000 would make it that much easier for me to pay for my study away class to Hawaii. I'm excited for the new learning experience and can't wait to share what I learn with others. I'm ready for my adventure of a lifetime!

After years of suppressing stress and emotions, I had reached my limit. My internal storage shelves were filled with overflowing bottles of secrets I tried to hide. Fortunately, I had tremendous support from my family and friends, and I’ve slowly been able to process the events that led to my diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as start climbing the mountain toward healing. During my high school years, my family had faced a lot of financial uncertainty. When my grandfather died unexpectedly during my sophomore year, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her teaching job because the school was closing due to low student enrollment. My mom’s job loss not only meant a loss of income, but also meant a loss of health insurance for our family. Soon after, my dad was injured and required surgery and physical therapy. The injury kept him from earning a paycheck for three months. Money worries overwhelmed me at the time and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. The stress seemingly resolved when my dad returned to work and my mom got a new job. However, a few short years later when I found myself in my first year of college, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a result, my dad’s hours at work got cut, and my mom was laid off at her job. That summer, my dad had a heart attack, and again, bills piled up. My family had no income. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. When in-person classes finally resumed in August 2020, I wasn’t the same person, anymore. All I could see were gray skies. My sad eyes were permanently glazed over in a blank stare. Inside my head it was too quiet but yet way too loud. Even though I was nearly always surrounded by friends and classmates, I had never felt more alone. I tried scented oils, meditation, and yoga, but nothing seemed to work. I no longer enjoyed activities that I had previously loved. Of course, I thought I had become an expert at hiding the chaos in my mind; I was sorely mistaken. Over the course of the school year, my friends began to realize that the smile the saw on my face was painted on and that I was crumbling beneath the weight of something horrendous. I tried my best to convince them and myself that everything was fine. But one day, my friend, Grady, gently coaxed the truth out of me. Slowly I began opening up to him about feeling worthless, being completely exhausted from overwhelming anxiety but not being able to sleep at night because of my racing thoughts, and the desire to end my life. He put his arm around me and hugged me. With his help and encouragement, I started seeing a therapist, and soon after received my diagnoses and my first antidepressant prescription. It would take a long period of trial and error before finding the right combination of medication to help relieve my symptoms. Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnoses, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me. With the help and support of friends, family, therapists, doctors, and behavioral health specialists, I am on my way toward healing; I’ve found the strength to overcome my mental health challenges. As a result, my faith in God and relationships with friends, classmates, teachers, and coworkers have been greatly strengthened. I feel like I can be myself and don’t have to hide any part of who I am anymore. I’m able to be a better friend, colleague, family member, and student. Furthermore, I’m now able to continue pursuing my dream of becoming a research scientist. I’ve found the confidence to seek opportunities to conduct research at my university and a local research institution. With every experiment, I’ve realized that I’m living my dream of using my passion for science to better the world around me. Even when experiments have gone awry, I haven’t become discouraged. My resiliency and determination have allowed me to overcome the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the results of a particular assay were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful experiment after spending weeks refining the protocol. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. Having overcome my personal challenges has inspired me to want to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

As Marie Osmond once said, "Being of service to others is what brings true happiness." Because of my passion and interest for helping other people, I believe this statement is very true. By serving as a small group leader during First Year Student Orientation at my university and being president of my university’s Women in STEM club, Medical Humanities club, and biological honor society, I have been able to pursue this interest. Furthermore, I have had the honor of serving and giving back to my hometown through my Girl Scout Gold Award (the highest honor in Girl Scouting), which I received in 2019. For my project, I led the building of a serenity garden in a local park. Helping others makes me feel like I have made a difference in the world. Along with extracurricular activities, I have four part-time jobs, each of which require leadership and organizational skills such as time management, dedication, and communication. Each Saturday, I work for Augustana Learn to Swim where I have experience working as a lifeguard, water assistant, and swim instructor. In these positions, I scan the water during swim lessons and either assist or lead a small group of young children in activities that introduce them to the basics of swimming and water safety. I also attend monthly in-service meetings to stay up-to-date with training. I enjoy working at the pool and interacting with the young swimmers because ensuring swimmers’ safety is another way I help people. In addition to working at the pool, I also work for the university admission office by interacting with high school students interested in Augustana. In my position as a communication assistant, I call, Zoom, and email with students, encouraging them to apply for scholarships, visit campus, or apply for admission to the university. I also get to share my Augustana story and answer questions, which is probably my favorite part of the job. Third, I work in the biology department as a teaching assistant, assisting the professor in setting up the lab activities, walking students through the experiments, answering questions, tutoring, and grading assignments. Lastly, I work as a undergraduate researcher in the biology lab, studying differential platelet reactivity and genetic variation. In order to balance my extracurricular activities, work, and school while maintaining my 3.98 GPA, I rely on my strong work ethic and passion for excellence. In the classroom, I model discipline and academic inquiry. I love to learn, and I see the importance of using my education to make an impact on the world. Asking thought provoking questions and using strong problem solving skills are two of my strengths. I also lean into my leadership skills by showing my ability to work efficiently and effectively with others. I lead by doing, and this is demonstrated by working hard everyday. In these ways, I manage to budget my time -an attribute that has proven useful at college and wil no doubt be beneficial in the work world. Above all, I set a course of action and work diligently until the work is complete. My tenacious spirit empowers me to create worthy projects. I live by a strong sense of values that are grounded in treating others with respect, in paying it forward, and in compassion.

Whether it is for fame, fortune, or achievements, everyone wants to be remembered. When the inevitable end of life arrives, no one wants to be forgotten. It is a very human experience to want to receive credit for the things we have accomplished in this life. However, none of the awards I have received or the accolades I have collected will do me or anyone else much good when I am gone. All of my greatest mentors, heroes, and loved ones who have passed away have shaped me into the person I am today. The impacts they made in my life have very little to do with their personal or professional successes; rather, the legacies they have left behind reflect how they treated and helped others, as well as how they expressed kindness, authenticity, courage, and determination. When I think about the word “legacy,” a vivid image of my elementary school P.E. teacher and high school volleyball coach, Mrs. G, comes to mind. Mrs. G started her career as a volleyball coach at my school in 1979, and the rest is history, literally. During her 41 years as head coach, Mrs. G led the volleyball team to 19 regular season conference championships, 13 conference tournament championships, 14 state tournament appearances, 4 state runner-up finishes, and a state championship. Her leadership developed an elite program, which she continued to develop over decades. Sadly, Mrs. G passed away unexpectedly in March 2020. It is not just the results of Mrs. G’s coaching and leadership that define her legacy. Mrs. G was one of a kind, full of ambition and authenticity. She never sugar-coated anything, but she showed great compassion with intense empathy and honesty. She excelled without arrogance and always deflected praise by redistributing the shine of spotlight on those around her. Mrs. G flawlessly embodied the values of excellence, community, education, faith and tradition. She was extraordinarily loyal, and she made it her mission to always make every individual feel welcome, important, and loved. Mrs. G is the epitome of Vitor Belfort’s definition of legacy: “Legacy is not what I did for myself. It’s what I’m doing for the next generation.” She left a handprint on my heart and stamped her smile into my memories. I am so grateful, proud, and honored to have known her. She supported me beyond volleyball - academics, music, speech, and everything else under the sun. She taught me to love being a part of something bigger than myself and to keep reaching for the stars. She reminded everyone around her to always treat each other with respect and kindness. With Mrs. G as my role model has led me to want to use my passion to help others. Just as she loved volleyball and used the sport to teach young women in my community some of life's most important lessons, I want to use my enthusiasm for science and research to help further our ability to treat illness and disease. I want to continue the cycle by emulating Mrs. G’s tenacity, graciousness, and resilience.

As a biology major, I plan to make a positive impact on the world through leadership in science. I truly believe in the power of research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My goal is to enroll in a Ph.D. program and pursue a career in research upon graduating from Augustana. One day, I hope to lead my own lab in contributing to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. My interwoven passion for science and leadership was born out of an experience of looking at a certain photograph as a young child. Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For example, Migrant Mother demonstrates the plight of farm workers during the Great Depression. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was not of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and various medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to undergo emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. I even began to picture myself as a scientist, leading a group of people around the lab, test tubes and microscopes in hand. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. It is my goal to help others as a leader in science because as Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “A leader is a dealer in hope.”

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For example, Migrant Mother demonstrates the plight of farm workers during the Great Depression. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was not of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and various medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to undergo emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. However, growing up in a cornfield-surrounded town that had a larger cattle population than human population meant that I had few opportunities to explore science beyond classroom PowerPoints and baking soda volcanoes. But, that didn’t stop me from chasing my dreams; my goal is to enroll in a Ph.D. program and pursue a career in research upon graduating from Augustana. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. In preparation for a career in the lab, I have sought out undergraduate research opportunities. In Dr. Mark Larson's lab at Augustana University, I study differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. Since one of the obstacles I may encounter on my journey to becoming a scientist is burn out, prioritizing self-care is crucial. I may also face discouragement from others, including male colleagues. Building confidence and resiliency will help me combat that discouragement and my own self-doubt. As a woman in STEM, balancing all aspects of my life may be challenging, so time management will be key so that the pursuit of science does not take a toll on my relationships with friends and family. I truly believe in the power of research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. With the right skill set and a bit of determination, I am certain that I will succeed successfully achieve my goal of contributing to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For example, Migrant Mother demonstrates the plight of farm workers during the Great Depression. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was not of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and various medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to undergo emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. However, growing up in a cornfield-surrounded town that had a larger cattle population than human population meant that I had few opportunities to explore science beyond classroom PowerPoints and baking soda volcanoes. But, that didn’t stop me from chasing my dreams. With the memory of looking at the photo of myself as a baby in need of surgery emblazoned in my mind, I became determined to become a scientist. The minute I stepped foot in my first biology lab course at Augustana University three years ago, I instantly felt at home among the tissue culture hoods, microscopes, and reagent bottles. Now, I find myself continuing to ask questions and deepening my love for science as an undergraduate researcher. In Dr. Mark Larson’s lab at Augustana University, I study differential platelet responses in Native Americans. Our goal is to platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. I am also a member of Dr. Indra Chandrasekar’s lab at Sanford Research Center where I study protein transport within the cell as it relates to kidney disease. With every blood draw, flow cytometry assay, DNA extraction, and coimmunoprecipitation, I have begun to realize that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Graduating with my B.A. in biology is important to me because as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Love, laughs, and snuggles. These three things can be hard to come by for anyone, but having a mental illness can make it even more difficult. Fortunately, dogs can provide all three, which is why I love dogs so much. Growing up, my family had a small Shi Tzu named Suzie. She was well behaved and such a sweet heart. But, just like people, dogs grow old. When I was 15, Suzie crossed the rainbow bridge. A few years after Suzie passed away, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Even though I began taking medication and going to weekly therapy sessions, my mental health was at an all-time low. A year and a half after I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety, my parents thought it was time to get me an emotional support animal, so I immediately suggested getting a dog. They agreed, and we made a trip to the humane society. I fell in love with the first furry friend we saw. She seemed shy at first, but soon she came and sat right next to me. I stroked her black, wiry fur, and she snuggled closer to me. When the humane society worker informed me that this sweet girl's name was Zucchini and that she had only been in their care for 10 days, I started brainstorming new names because the name Zucchini just wouldn't do. After taking "Zucchini" for a walk around the building, I told my parents that this dog was the one. So, we filled out the necessary paperwork, and took our new dog home. After thinking about names for an hour, I chose to change "Zucchini's" name to Joy because I knew that she would bring me joy and remind me to find happiness in the little things in life. Seven months later, Joy is certainly living up to her name. She is an absolute snuggle bug with a big personality. Although she is a bit mischievous, Joy has greatly impacted my quality of life. She motivates me when daily tasks seem impossible since she relies on me to care for her. She can tell when I am stressed, anxious, or going through a depressive episode, and she sits right next to me and lays her head in my lap to comfort me. With her sassy attitude and love of attention, Joy makes me laugh, even on the most difficult days. My energetic canine buddy is my best friend, and I don't know how I would do life without her.

Love, laughs, and snuggles. These three things can be hard to come by for anyone, but having a mental illness can make it even more difficult. Fortunately, dogs can provide all three, which is why I love dogs so much. Growing up, my family had a small Shi Tzu named Suzie. She was well behaved and such a sweet heart. But, just like people, dogs grow old. When I was 15, Suzie crossed the rainbow bridge. A few years after Suzie passed away, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Even though I began taking medication and going to weekly therapy sessions, my mental health was at an all-time low. A year and a half after I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety, my parents thought it was time to get me an emotional support animal, so I immediately suggested getting a dog. They agreed, and we made a trip to the humane society. I fell in love with the first furry friend we saw. She seemed shy at first, but soon she came and sat right next to me. I stroked her black, wiry fur, and she snuggled closer to me. When the humane society worker informed me that this sweet girl's name was Zucchini and that she had only been in their care for 10 days, I started brainstorming new names because the name Zucchini just wouldn't do. After taking "Zucchini" for a walk around the building, I told my parents that this dog was the one. So, we filled out the necessary paperwork, and took our new dog home. After thinking about names for an hour, I chose to change "Zucchini's" name to Joy because I knew that she would bring me joy and remind me to find happiness in the little things in life. Seven months later, Joy is certainly living up to her name. She is an absolute snuggle bug with a big personality. Although she is a bit mischievous, Joy has greatly impacted my quality of life. She motivates me when daily tasks seem impossible since she relies on me to care for her. She can tell when I am stressed, anxious, or going through a depressive episode, and she sits right next to me and lays her head in my lap to comfort me. With her sassy attitude and love of attention, Joy makes me laugh, even on the most difficult days. My energetic canine buddy is my best friend, and I don't know how I would do life without her.

Love, laughs, and snuggles. These three things can be hard to come by for anyone, but having a mental illness can make it even more difficult. Fortunately, dogs can provide all three, which is why I love dogs so much. Growing up, my family had a small Shi Tzu named Suzie. She was well behaved and such a sweet heart. But, just like people, dogs grow old. When I was 15, Suzie crossed the rainbow bridge. A few years after Suzie passed away, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Even though I began taking medication and going to weekly therapy sessions, my mental health was at an all-time low. A year and a half after I was diagnosed with depression and generalized anxiety, my parents thought it was time to get me an emotional support animal, so I immediately suggested getting a dog. They agreed, and we made a trip to the humane society. I fell in love with the first furry friend we saw. She seemed shy at first, but soon she came and sat right next to me. I stroked her black, wiry fur, and she snuggled closer to me. When the humane society worker informed me that this sweet girl's name was Zucchini and that she had only been in their care for 10 days, I started brainstorming new names because the name Zucchini just wouldn't do. After taking "Zucchini" for a walk around the building, I told my parents that this dog was the one. So, we filled out the necessary paperwork, and took our new dog home. After thinking about names for an hour, I chose to change "Zucchini's" name to Joy because I knew that she would bring me joy and remind me to find happiness in the little things in life. Seven months later, Joy is certainly living up to her name. She is an absolute snuggle bug with a big personality. Although she is a bit mischievous, Joy has greatly impacted my quality of life. She motivates me when daily tasks seem impossible since she relies on me to care for her. She can tell when I am stressed, anxious, or going through a depressive episode, and she sits right next to me and lays her head in my lap to comfort me. With her sassy attitude and love of attention, Joy makes me laugh, even on the most difficult days. My energetic canine buddy is my best friend, and I don't know how I would do life without her.

My favorite scientific discovery is the elucidation of the structure of DNA. Anyone who has taken a science class likely knows of Watson and Crick, the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. However, the reason the discovery of the structure of DNA is my favorite scientific discovery has little to do with Watson or Crick. Sitting in my first college biology class, I learned that Watson and Crick’s double helix DNA model was only possible because of the work of a clever, strong-willed researcher named Rosalind Franklin. That’s when the double helix became my favorite scientific discovery because I had finally found a woman in STEM that I could look up to as I made my own journey as a woman in STEM. Rosalind Franklin was the scientist who developed what is now known as “Photograph 51” - the image of DNA that provided clues about the molecule’s structure. One of Franklin’s colleagues showed Franklin’s image to Watson and Crick who were also studying DNA’s structure. Watson and Crick then used Franklin’s data to elucidate DNA’s structure. The two published their findings and were awarded the Nobel Prize. However, Franklin was not acknowledged as a contributor to the discovery. I admire Rosalind Franklin because she was blossoming into a talented scientist during a time when female scientists were being scrutinized and discriminated against. Franklin wasn’t afraid to prove her intelligence or that she could work independently on experiments, and she remained determined to contribute to science. I admire Rosalind Franklin for her brilliance, grit, and perseverance. I hope that one day, I’m just as determined and have just a fraction of her skill and knowledge in the laboratory.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and as an aspiring biomedical researcher, I hope to help others and make a difference in the world through my future discoveries. As the saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and that is something I take to heart. In order to reach my end goal, I must work hard and get my education to become the best I can be in my field so that I can help others and change the world. However, in our culture, education is all too often taken for granted. We complain about doing our homework, reading our book assignments, and studying for tests. We groan when the teacher announces a pop quiz, and we moan at every essay assigned. But in other countries, kids, especially girls, aren’t allowed to go to school. The story of Malala Yousafzai is one that inspires me to work hard in class and study late into the night so that I can ace the next exam. She wanted to go to school so badly that she risked her life, and she was shot in the head for wanting her education. Having survived her gunshot wound, Malala continues to inspire learners around the world with her education campaigns. Education is a gift we should treasure, not loathe. Education is the stepping stone to succeeding and achieving our goals and the tool we use to change the world around us. On a very personal level, the ultimate reason that I want to get a college education is to make my family proud. It has been two years since my paternal grandfather passed away. It isn’t until now that he is gone that I truly appreciate who he was. When I was growing up, he was always interested in what I was learning in school. I recently learned that he didn’t go to high school, let alone college. He stayed behind to take care of his family’s farm. I want to go to college and do something he wasn’t able to do. I want to make him proud. On the other side of my family, education is a strong tradition. I am going to be a fourth-generation college student on my mom’s side of the family. My great-great aunts went to teaching college. My maternal grandfather went to the University of Nebraska, and my mom went to a state college. Now it’s my turn. I want to carry on the family legacy of a college education and make my family members proud.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and as an aspiring biomedical researcher, I hope to help others and make a difference in the world through my future discoveries. As the saying goes, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” and that is something I take to heart. In order to reach my end goal, I must work hard and get my education to become the best I can be in my field so that I can help others and change the world. However, in our culture, education is all too often taken for granted. We complain about doing our homework, reading our book assignments, and studying for tests. We groan when the teacher announces a pop quiz, and we moan at every essay assigned. But in other countries, kids, especially girls, aren’t allowed to go to school. The story of Malala Yousafzai is one that inspires me to work hard in class and study late into the night so that I can ace the next exam. She wanted to go to school so badly that she risked her life, and she was shot in the head for wanting her education. Having survived her gunshot wound, Malala continues to inspire learners around the world with her education campaigns. Education is a gift we should treasure, not loathe. Education is the stepping stone to succeeding and achieving our goals and the tool we use to change the world around us. On a very personal level, the ultimate reason that I want to get a college education is to make my family proud. It has been two years since my paternal grandfather passed away. It isn’t until now that he is gone that I truly appreciate who he was. When I was growing up, he was always interested in what I was learning in school. I recently learned that he didn’t go to high school, let alone college. He stayed behind to take care of his family’s farm. I want to go to college and do something he wasn’t able to do. I want to make him proud. On the other side of my family, education is a strong tradition. I am going to be a fourth-generation college student on my mom’s side of the family. My great-great aunts went to teaching college. My maternal grandfather went to the University of Nebraska, and my mom went to a state college. Now it’s my turn. I want to carry on the family legacy of a college education and make my family members proud.

Anyone who has taken a science class likely knows of Watson and Crick, the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. I was surprised, shocked, and then annoyed and appalled when I learned more details about their finding. Sitting in my first college biology class, I learned that Watson and Crick’s double helix DNA model was only possible because of the work of a clever, strong-willed researcher named Rosalind Franklin. In that moment, I found someone from history to admire and a woman in STEM that I could look up to as I made my journey through the science world as a woman: Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind Franklin was a scientist who developed what is now known as “Photograph 51” - the image of DNA that provided clues about the molecule’s structure. One of Franklin’s colleagues innocently showed Franklin’s image to Watson and Crick who were also studying the structure of DNA, and Watson and Crick then used Franklin’s data to elucidate DNA’s structure. The two published their findings and were awarded the Nobel Prize years later. However, Franklin was not acknowledged as a contributor to the discovery, and because she died before Watson and Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize, she was not a recipient of the award. I admire Rosalind Franklin because she was blossoming into a talented scientist during a time when female scientists were being scrutinized and discriminated against. Franklin was not afraid to show her colleagues that she was an intelligent researcher who could work independently on experiments, and she remained determined to contribute to the field of science. I admire Rosalind Franklin for her brilliance, grit, and perseverance, and I hope that one day, I am just as determined and have just a fraction of her skill and knowledge in the laboratory.

When my grandfather died unexpectedly, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job, so we lost our health insurance. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job, but when I went to college and COVID hit, my dad’s work hours got cut, and my mom was let go from her job. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, could tell something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Fortunately, my friends were super supportive. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnoses, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I continue asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate, I've had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the lab of Dr. Mark Larson at Augustana University. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It's my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will someday contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I continue asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate, I've had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the lab of Dr. Mark Larson at Augustana University. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It's my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will someday contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to be a researcher in the biology lab at Augustana University. I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. My path to becoming an undergraduate researcher has been anything but easy. In the months before I was offered my position in the lab, my friend, Grady, could tell something was wrong. When he asked me what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. Soon after, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. As I’ve come to know, having depression and anxiety makes simple, everyday tasks difficult and sometimes nearly impossible. I’ve also found that people with mental illnesses, especially women, are often underrepresented or misrepresented and that underrepresentation or misrepresentation creates even more challenges. One of the obstacles I was faced with following my diagnosis of anxiety and depression was the loss of a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. Additionally, I was surprised to discover that both depression and anxiety are considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and I struggled with this new concept of having a disability. Mental illness is such a physical experience, yet it is invisible from the outside, so I felt that it was inappropriate for me to claim the identity of “disabled.” I didn’t think that I was “sick enough” to ask my doctor about medication or request academic accommodations from my university; after all, I’ve always been a straight “A” student (and still am). Feeling alone and unheard was hard. Asking for help was hard. Losing friends because of my anxiety and depression was hard. However, my diagnosis has taught me lessons about perseverance and has instilled in me the desire to help other people. I learned what true friendship looks like because I was able to forge deeper friendships with my friends who told me they loved me unconditionally, mental illness and all. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. My diagnosis taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. I learned what it looks like to truly care for others, and because I have been shown that kind of care and have been given so much help, I want to use my education and career to help others. My future plans include enrolling in a biomedical Ph.D. program upon graduation in order to pursue a career in research. Specifically, I want to study rare diseases. In order to make a difference in the world, it’s my goal to use my education to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have and to help patients with diseases that are often under-researched simply because the number of people who are affected is small. I know what it is like to feel alone, excluded, underrepresented, misrepresented, and uncared about because of my experience with mental illness, and I want to use my interest in science to pursue a career that will allow me to serve others who are feeling unheard.

In our interconnected and diverse world, the significance of listening is worth considering. Listening is a valuable skill that allows us to learn more about each other and the world around us, thus eliminating fear and creating responsibility on the part of the listener. By listening to and respecting other people’s viewpoints, we may come to a better understanding of each other. When we have difficult conversations, we should expect to feel discomfort as we listen and learn. Analyzing the importance of listening through an ethical lens leads us to realize just how much we can learn from and about others by simply listening. Not only should we be listening to other people, but we should also be listening to nature and the world around us. We should take the time to slow down and listen to God’s creation, for everything was made to honor God. God gave the earth to humans as a gift. If we ignore the beauty of the world around us, we ignore the creativity of God, and we fail to acknowledge God’s gift. Listening leads to understanding, eliminates fear, and creates responsibility. Since listening leads to understanding, losing that understanding can lead to fear. Thus, if we listen, we are much less likely to be fearful. Listening leads to knowing which leads to responsibility because once one knows something, it is impossible to unknow it. One must now decide what to do with such information. I practice active listening by setting aside distractions and avoiding multitasking in order to truly focus on who or what I need to be listening to. I make eye contact with the speaker, and nod my head to show I am paying attention and understanding what they are saying. Through these actions, I can improve my active listening skills.

Last year, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Receiving these diagnoses and learning that many of my "flaws" are not flaws at all has been extremely valuable because I no longer blame myself for the symptoms of my mental illness. Before I was diagnosed, I was super hard on myself. Sometimes I still am, but realizing that depression and anxiety are illnesses and not character flaws or weaknesses has helped me love myself a bit more. I know that when I start to feel anxious, it's not because I'm weak. When I notice my symptoms are affecting me, I know how to care for myself. I've learned not to be ashamed of myself. I've learned that my friends and family love me, mental illness and all and that they truly want to support and help me. I've learned what taking a break and resting looks like for me and what coping strategies work for me. Having a better understanding of myself and my mental illnesses has helped me academically, socially, and professionally. Even though depression and anxiety still make life difficult, I've found that learning what depression and anxiety are and what my symptoms has really helped me grow as a person.

What does giving a hug, going to a baseball tournament, and cleaning the house all have in common? What about making a FaceTime call, going to a band concert, and praying together? These simple acts are all ways I show my love for the people in my life. My friends and I have a strong bond. I like to show support for my friend who is in band by going to her concerts, and I like to go to football games to watch my dancer friend perform at half-time. Several of my friends appreciate a good hug after a rough day, so if someone seems down, I am sure to ask them if they would like a hug, and I might FaceTime them later in the evening to check in with them. The single most important way that I show my friends that I love them is by praying with and for them. It is very special to be able to pray with and for friends during stressful times. I show love for my family through hugs and prayer, too. To show love to my mom specifically, I help out around the house when I'm home from college, whether it's vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, washing dishes, or doing the laundry. As for making my brother feel loved, I love surprising him. For example, last summer I was staying in the dorms at my university because I was doing research on campus. My university is two hours away from my family, but when I found out that my brother's baseball team qualified for the state baseball tournament, I made arrangements to surprise him at the tournament. He was shocked but excited to see me when I showed up at the field for the first round of the tournament!

To me, joy means gladness not based on circumstance. Joy means so much to me that I even named my dog Joy as a reminder to myself to look for joy daily. The day I adopted Joy happened to be the day before the first day of Advent. Advent is my absolute favorite time in the church year, and I absolutely love the Third Sunday of Advent because that Sunday is Joy Sunday, and the pink candle in the Advent wreath gets lit. Obviously, Joy Sunday is to reflect on the joy of Christmas and God taking on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, but on the surface, I’ve always loved Joy Sunday because it’s “pink candle Sunday,” and when you’re four years old and your favorite color is pink, “pink candle Sunday” is the best day of the year. A couple of months after I got Joy, I realized I named her Joy not just because of a pink candle. Her name reminds me of the joy I have in Jesus Christ. And some days, I really do need a reminder to marvel at the joy Christ brings in His birth, death, and resurrection. As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I believe it’s important to find joy in small things. For example, I find joy in cuddling with my dog, seeing bright orange leaves in the fall, waking up to a blanket of undisturbed snow in the winter, marveling at the pink and orange sunsets, and enjoying a caramel macchiato and chocolate-covered strawberries. Above all, I seek joy in remembering God’s promises to me, because while things like caramel macchiatos and chocolate-covered strawberries are temporary (after all, they go away once you’ve consumed them), God is eternal, and Him, my joy is also eternal.

If I could share one sentence with the world, it would be, “Being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons that the success of reaching the mountaintop never will.” This sentence encapsulates the most important lesson I’ve learned during my twenty years of life. Sharing this with others is important to me because when you feel like life couldn’t possibly get any worse, it’s hard to see through the darkness and pain. But, once you’ve made it through the rough spot, you might realize that you learned lessons about perseverance or determination that you wouldn’t have otherwise. I learned that being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons that the success of reaching the mountaintop never will from my experience with mental illness. One day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. I had hit rock bottom. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. During that time, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Through my struggle, I learned that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. I’ve learned to persevere, even in the hardest of circumstances. And even though rock bottom is a deep, dark place, coming out stronger on the other side is possible.

As the famed Hogwarts professor, Albus Dumbledore states in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” In the darkness of anxiety and depression, I’ve had to fight my own mind to find the light switch to turn on the light that helps me find happiness. Nevertheless, I’ve found happiness in the light my friends shine in my life. Eating “family dinner” with them in the university cafeteria is one thing that makes me happy. Furthermore, my faith in Jesus makes me happy. In the agony of physical, mental, or emotional suffering, I know I can turn to Jesus. While He may not remove the suffering from my life, I can still be confident that He hears my cries and that He suffers alongside me. Even though I may still experience physical or mental illness, I may find happiness in praying to God and feel strengthened in my relationship with Him as a result. I find happiness in God’s promises that He will always love me, that He will never leave me, and that I will inherit eternal life with Him. Dumbledore never said how to turn on the light in order to find happiness in the midst of darkness; he simply said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” When life is dark, I let my relationships be the light. When I find myself joining Samuel Beckett in saying, “I can’t go on,” I find happiness in my relationships with God and friends so I also join him in saying, “I’ll go on.”

On a daily basis, I am motivated by my faith in God. One day last year, my best friend noticed something wasn’t quite right. He asked me what was going on. I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my phone to my friend. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, and Bible verses have become my lifeline. My faith in God not only motivates me daily, but it has also planted in me the desire to show grace, humility, and kindness in all that I say and do. I aspire to live my life for Christ and to serve God and my neighbors through my future vocation.

Grace and humility. These two words summarize what I want my legacy to be. The reason why I want to be remembered for these characteristics stems from my experience with mental illness. As I’ve come to know, people with mental illnesses, especially women, are often underrepresented or misrepresented, creating even more challenges. I’ve also experienced the loss of friends because of my mental illness, and this made me feel like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. Amidst the struggle, I found hope in prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and spending time with my friends. I learned that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Because I have been shown so much care and have been given so much help, I want my career and legacy to reflect the grace and humility others have demonstrated to me. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program in order to pursue a career in research. Specifically, I want to study rare diseases. In order to make a difference in the world, it’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have and to help patients with diseases that are often under-researched simply because the number of people who are affected is small. I know what it is like to feel alone, excluded, underrepresented, misrepresented, and uncared about because of my experience with mental illness, and I want to pursue a career that will allow me to serve others who are feeling unheard.

When my grandfather died unexpectedly, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job, so we lost our health insurance. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job, but when I went to college and COVID hit, my dad’s work hours got cut, and my mom was let go from her job. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, could tell something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Fortunately, my friends were super supportive. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me.

Being involved in one’s community is extremely important for a variety of reasons. First, engaging in community helps us develop a deeper and richer perspective of the world. In turn, we may further evolve and mature in our beliefs and values. We may even gain new values by being active members of our communities! Additionally, participating in community service may help one find new interests and even build a social network. But above all, engaging in one’s community betters the community. Taking the time to improve one’s community allows one to have a lasting impact with just a small investment of time, and in the long run, our work in our communities now will benefit the future generations of people who live in them. I have personally experienced the benefits of being active in my community. For example, at nursing homes and in church services, I share my musical talents. I love seeing other people smile while they listen to me play the violin or trumpet. In college, I’ve been giving back to the community by volunteering as a letter writer for various non-profit organizations, and I help lead first-year students through orientation activities during Welcome Week. While all of these instances have allowed me to give back to those around me, my experience of engaging in my community as a Girl Scout sticks out the most in my head. I was a member of my local Girl Scout troop for thirteen years, selling cookies, earning badges, and obtaining many experiences I would not have had otherwise, such as riding in my first airplane, extracting the DNA out of a banana, or breaking out of my shell at camp. Most importantly, though, I have had the honor of giving back to my community. Throughout my involvement in the organization, my troop donated cookies to U.S. military troops, our local senior center and nursing home, and the American Red Cross. I participated in numerous Girl Scout service projects like collecting pajamas and Christmas gifts for charities such as Haven House. I also helped plant trees in our city parks and was a part of running a food drive for our foodbank through the Scouting for Food program. After helping with so many service projects, I decided it was time for me to plan and lead my own service project. So, I decided to pursue the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive. My Gold Award journey began with tragedy. On the afternoon of June 16, 2014, while my family and I took shelter in our basement, Mother Nature was showing her mighty strength just a few miles away as twin tornadoes unleashed their fury in Pilger, Nebraska. More than seventy percent of the town was destroyed. Many of my friends and relatives lost everything. The community, however, lost more than just homes, businesses, and a middle school. It lost its peace and unity. In the wake of all the heartbreak, I started thinking about my Gold Award project and decided to use it as a platform to give back to my community that had lost so much. So, for my Gold Award project, I decided to build a garden for the village park, and called my project the Pilger Serenity Garden, since serenity refers to a feeling of calm and peace, which was something Pilger had lost in the tornadoes. In 2017, I started fundraising for the project. A year later, I was at the helm of transforming a vacant plot of land in the Pilger Park into what is now the Pilger Serenity Garden, and on June 3, 2019, I received my Girl Scout Gold Award. Community service is important to me because it makes me feel like I am making a difference in the world. After I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2021, my best friend helped me learn some important things. He taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We are meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing, and this is why community service and volunteering are so important. I also learned what it looks like to truly care for others, and because I have been shown that kind of care and have been given so much help, I want to use my education and career to help others. My future plans include enrolling in a biomedical Ph.D. program upon graduation in order to pursue a career in research. Specifically, I want to study rare diseases. In order to make a difference in the world, it’s my goal to use my education to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have and to help patients with diseases that are often under-researched simply because the number of people who are affected is small. I hope that my future research will someday contribute to finding treatments for rare diseases and inspires other girls to enter STEM fields. Moreover, I know what it is like to feel alone, excluded, underrepresented, misrepresented, and uncared for because of my experience with mental illness, and I want to use my interest in science to pursue a career that will allow me to serve others who are feeling unheard in my community.

Anyone who has taken a science class likely knows of Watson and Crick, the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. I was surprised, shocked, and then annoyed and appalled when I learned more details about their finding. Sitting in my first college biology class, I learned that Watson and Crick’s double helix DNA model was only possible because of the work of a clever, strong-willed researcher named Rosalind Franklin. In that moment, I found an inspirational female leader in STEM that I could look up to as I made my journey through the science world as a woman: Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind Franklin was a scientist who developed what is now known as “Photograph 51” - the image of DNA that provided clues about the molecule’s structure. One of Franklin’s colleagues showed Franklin’s image to Watson and Crick who were also studying the structure of DNA, and Watson and Crick then used Franklin’s data to elucidate DNA’s structure. The two published their findings and were awarded the Nobel Prize years later. However, Franklin wasn’t acknowledged as a contributor to the discovery. I admire Rosalind Franklin because she was blossoming into a talented scientist during a time when female scientists were being scrutinized and discriminated against. Franklin wasn’t afraid to show her colleagues that she was an intelligent researcher who could work independently on experiments, and she remained determined to contribute to the field of science. I admire Rosalind Franklin for her brilliance, grit, and perseverance, and I hope that one day, I’m just as determined and have just a fraction of her skill and knowledge in the laboratory. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program to pursue a career in research. I want to be a leader in scientific research like Rosalind Franklin by emulating her brilliance, grit, and perseverance. I want to eventually serve as a mentor for others who are entering the field of science, whether they are just starting their undergraduate education or if they are a graduate student. As an undergraduate, I already have been able to experience a taste of what research is like, as I’m working in the biology labs at Augustana University. I’m studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With every experiment, I’ve realized that I’m living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I wasn’t discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. As a future leader in research, I want to share my passion for science and be able to help other students have great research experiences like I have had. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in the world.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. Since then, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I have been in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I am still asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will someday contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions and can’t help but smile. I want to make three-year-old me proud and show other young girls that science is not just for boys. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

1. I deserve this scholarship because I'm me. I like interesting things such as studying blood platelets, learning about birds, and reading about American philosophy. I have work experience, too. I teach swimming lessons at my university’s pool. I’m also a researcher and teaching assistant in the biology department. Additionally, I am exceptionally talented. I play violin and trumpet, and I’m gifted at tripping over my own feet. 2. My goal is to eventually get my Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, but if that doesn’t work out, I plan on joining the circus. Not as a clown or trapeze artist or anything like that. I’d like to be the ringmaster’s secretary. I’m pretty good at staying organized and stuff like that, and circuses are pretty fun, so I think that becoming a ringmaster’s secretary would be an excellent career. 3. One of the most common obstacles I regularly face is the decision about what to eat in my university’s cafeteria. They offer soup, sandwiches, a salad bar, burgers, pizza, and two different hot dish meals that change daily. With so many choices and an indecisive personality, mealtime is always a struggle. But, whenever I face this challenge, I overcome it by playing “eeny meeny miney moe.” It works every time!

One day, my friend, Grady, could tell something was wrong. When he asked me what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. As I’ve come to know, having depression and anxiety makes simple, everyday tasks difficult and sometimes nearly impossible. I’ve also found that people with mental illnesses, especially women, are often underrepresented or misrepresented and that underrepresentation or misrepresentation creates even more challenges. One of the obstacles I was faced with following my diagnosis of anxiety and depression was the loss of a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. It seemed as if they blamed me for having depression and anxiety. It felt like no one understood me, so I felt incredibly alone and unheard. Additionally, I was surprised to discover that both depression and anxiety are considered disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and I struggled with this new concept of having a disability. Mental illness is such a physical experience, yet it is invisible from the outside, so I felt that it was inappropriate for me to claim the identity of “disabled.” I didn’t think that I was “sick enough” to ask my doctor about medication or request academic accommodations from my university; after all, I’ve always been a straight “A” student (and still am). Feeling alone and unheard was hard. Asking for help was hard. Losing friends because of my anxiety and depression was hard. However, my diagnosis has taught me lessons about perseverance and has instilled in me the desire to help other people. I learned what true friendship looks like because I was able to forge deeper friendships with my friends who told me they loved me unconditionally, mental illness and all. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. My diagnosis taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. I learned what it looks like to truly care for others, and because I have been shown that kind of care and have been given so much help, I want to use my education and career to help others. My future plans include enrolling in a biomedical Ph.D. program upon graduation in order to pursue a career in research. Specifically, I want to study rare diseases. In order to make a difference in the world, it’s my goal to use my education to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have and to help patients with diseases that are often under-researched simply because the number of people who are affected is small. I know what it is like to feel alone, excluded, underrepresented, misrepresented, and uncared about because of my experience with mental illness, and I want to use my interest in science to pursue a career that will allow me to serve others who are feeling unheard.

Rock bottom. It is a deep, dark place. It’s lonely down there. There’s no hope, no love, no peace. But, as bad as it is, I’ve learned that being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons that the success of reaching the mountaintop never will. During my sophomore year of high school, my grandfather died unexpectedly, so my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job, so we lost our health insurance. Soon after, my dad was injured. He couldn’t earn a paycheck for three months. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job. A year or so later, I went to college. But when COVID hit during the spring of my freshman year at Augustana University, my dad’s work hours got cut, and my mom was let go from her job. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. My family had no income. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. I had hit rock bottom. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. After I was diagnosed, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. Losing friends because of my anxiety and depression was hard, but my diagnosis also helped me forge deeper friendships with my friends who told me they loved me unconditionally, mental illness and all. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me. Now, when I’m overcome with stress, I turn to God to find peace in His love, as Grady so often reminds me to do. When everything seems impossible, I persist. Furthermore, my experiences with mental health struggles have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. Having found hope in my faith, I aspire to live my life for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a biomedical Ph.D. program upon graduation. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. The lessons I’ve learned through my struggles with mental health will continue to help me throughout the rest of my education and in my future career as I persevere and chase my dreams.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions, and my career goal has always been focused on helping others. Little did I know that along my way to discovering my passion for biomedical research, I would encounter struggles with mental illness. During my high school years, my family faced a lot of financial uncertainty. When my grandfather died unexpectedly, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job. My mom’s job loss not only meant a loss of income but also meant a loss of health insurance for our family. Soon after, my dad was injured. He couldn’t earn a paycheck for three months. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. To keep from drowning in stress, I relied on my hobby of being a musician, and I found a lifeline in my band director, Mr. Dennis. Mr. Dennis taught me to never give up and that “can’t” is unacceptable. During my senior year, I wanted to audition for a national honor band. I practiced every day, but when it came time to record my song, I played terribly. I wanted to give up, but Mr. Dennis wouldn’t let me. He believed in me even when I had no confidence in myself. I submitted my audition, and I was selected for the honor band. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job. But when I went to college and COVID hit, my dad’s hours got cut, and my mom was let go. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. My family had no income. I didn’t have Mr. Dennis as my lifeline. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. After I was diagnosed, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. Losing friends because of my anxiety and depression was hard, but my diagnosis also helped me forge deeper friendships with my friends who told me they loved me unconditionally, mental illness and all. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me. With encouragement from my friends and professors, I found the confidence to apply to my university’s summer research program so that I could put my love for science and asking questions to use in the lab. With every experiment, I realized that I was living my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. My experiences with mental health struggles have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I can’t help but think of other sick children. I hope that my future research will someday contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I’m also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself, and I want to make her proud. I want to show other young girls that science is not just for boys. Having found hope in my faith, I aspire to live my life for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. Now, on the days when I’m overcome with stress, I first turn to God, and then I try to remember what I’ve learned from Mr. Dennis and Grady. When doing homework or going to class seems impossible, I persist. The lessons I learned through my struggles with mental health will continue to help me throughout the rest of my education and in my future career as I persevere and chase my dreams.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions, and my career goal has always been focused on helping others. Little did I know that along my way to discovering my passion for biomedical research, I would encounter struggles with mental illness. During my high school years, my family faced a lot of financial uncertainty. When my grandfather died unexpectedly, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job. My mom’s job loss not only meant a loss of income but also meant a loss of health insurance for our family. Soon after, my dad was injured. He couldn’t earn a paycheck for three months. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. To keep from drowning in stress, I relied on my hobby of being a musician, and I found a lifeline in my band director, Mr. Dennis. Mr. Dennis taught me to never give up and that “can’t” is unacceptable. During my senior year, I wanted to audition for a national honor band. I practiced every day, but when it came time to record my song, I played terribly. I wanted to give up, but Mr. Dennis wouldn’t let me. He believed in me even when I had no confidence in myself. I submitted my audition, and I was selected for the honor band. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job. But when I went to college and COVID hit, my dad’s hours got cut, and my mom was let go. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. My family had no income. I didn’t have Mr. Dennis as my lifeline. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. After I was diagnosed, I lost a few friends who couldn’t or didn’t want to be friends with someone with a mental illness, someone like me. Losing friends because of my anxiety and depression was hard, but my diagnosis also helped me forge deeper friendships with my friends who told me they loved me unconditionally, mental illness and all. For example, Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnoses, I thought I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me. With encouragement from my friends and professors, I found the confidence to apply to my university’s summer research program so that I could put my love for science and asking questions to use in the lab. With every experiment, I realized that I was living my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. My experiences with mental health struggles have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I can’t help but think of other sick children. I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I’m also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself, and I want to make her proud. I want to show other young girls that science is not just for boys. Having found hope in my faith, I aspire to live my life for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. Now, on the days when I’m overcome with stress, I first turn to God, and then I try to remember what I’ve learned from Mr. Dennis and Grady. When doing homework or going to class seems impossible, I persist. The lessons I learned through my struggles with mental health will continue to help me throughout the rest of my education and in my future career as I persevere and chase my dreams.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions. Because I am so passionate about science, I ordered a book by Walter Isaacson not too long ago titled The Code Breaker. It is about Jennifer Doudna and the discovery of how CRISPR can be used for gene editing. In reading that book, I learned not just about the experiments behind the science, but I also learned that even famous scientists struggle with mental health. I was inspired to keep pursuing my passion for science when I read about Doudna's realization that girls can do science, too. Every time the author described one of Doudna's "aha" moments, it was like a light bulb turning on for me, too. So many of the experiences described in the book were so relatable, and reading this book has made me even more excited about science. As an undergraduate student, I've taken my excitement about science to the biology labs as a researcher at Augustana University. I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. But one day last year, my friend knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline, and starting medication and therapy has helped me begin my healing journey. These experiences have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I hope that my future research some day contributes to finding treatments for childhood diseases. Just like Jennifer Doudna from the book The Code Breaker, I want to show young girls that science isn’t just for boys. I want to live for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. Upon graduating, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program. I truly believe in the power of research to address today’s most pressing issues by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

My friend could tell something was wrong. He asked me what was going on. After a few minutes, I opened the notes app on my phone and it to him. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. As I started taking medication and going to therapy, I found happiness in the simple pleasures of life once again. One of my favorite things to do is have "family dinner" with my friends in the university cafeteria. We talk about our day, make jokes and laugh, make plans for the weekend, and talk about things that are important to us like our common Christian beliefs. Being with my friends makes me happy because we make each other laugh after long days of class, and they truly feel like my family. I've also found happiness in nature. In October when the leaves were starting to change color, I was amazed at all the beautiful shades of orange and yellow as I walked to class. When the first snow fell, I marveled at just how peaceful the undisturbed blanket of snow looked. Looking up at the night sky, I am in awe of the infinite number of stars, and as hard as I try, I can't wrap my mind around how many stars there are. Nature brings me happiness because it reminds me of the creativity of God. I know that if God can make beautiful sunrises and cause the snow to fall, He surely created me to be his beautiful child, and He has amazing plans for my life.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then I've been passionate about science and asking questions. As an undergraduate, I've had the opportunity to be a researcher in the biology lab at Augustana University. With every experiment, I've realized I'm living my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I wasn't discouraged. My determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. Now, as I run my fingers over the photograph that ignited my burning passion for science, I can’t help but think of other sick children. I'm also reminded of the three-year-old version of myself, and I want to make her proud. I want to show other young girls that science is not just for boys. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. I hope my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I believe in the power of scientific research to address society's issues by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It's my goal to contribute to the scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions. Now, I’m asking questions as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. But one day last year, my friend knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. These experiences have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I hope that my future research someday contributes to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I want to show young girls that science isn’t just for boys. I want to live for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. Upon graduating, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program. I truly believe in the power of research to address today’s most pressing issues by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions. Now, I’m asking questions as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. But one day last year, my friend knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. These experiences have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I hope that my future research someday contributes to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I want to show young girls that science isn’t just for boys. I want to live for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. Upon graduating, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program. I truly believe in the power of research to address today’s most pressing issues by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Lifelines. Wouldn’t it be nice to have “phone a friend” or “ask the audience” when facing life’s challenges? Fortunately, the support I’ve found in my friends and faith life has helped me overcome adversity in my life. When COVID hit, my dad’s hours got cut, and my mom was let go. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. My family had no income. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw what I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Grady helped me lean into my faith and often invited me to go to church with him. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnoses, I tried to be independent in many aspects of life. I never shared how I was feeling. I thought I had to figure out everything on my own. Now I know emotions are part of being human and that I don’t have to go through life alone because God is with me, and He has given me incredible friends to walk alongside me.

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Unfortunately, I’ve noticed that in our culture, education is all too often taken for granted. We complain about doing our homework, reading our book assignments, and studying for tests. We groan when the teacher announces a pop quiz, and we moan at every essay assigned. My education has shaped my worldview in the sense that I am intentional about trying to not take education for granted. I was especially inspired to appreciate my ability to get an education after learning about Malala Yousafzi in middle school. She wanted to go to school so badly that she risked her life, and she was shot in the head for wanting her education. Having survived her gunshot wound, Malala continues to inspire learners around the world with her education campaigns. Education is a gift we should treasure, not loathe. In learning about Malala, I am inspired to work hard in class and study late into the night so that I can ace the next exam. In this way, education has shaped my worldview by teaching me that getting an education is the stepping stone to succeeding and achieving our goals and the tool we use to change the world around us.

Lifelines. Wouldn’t it be nice to have “phone a friend” or “ask the audience” when facing life’s questions? During high school, I had my very own lifeline, my band director, Mr. Dennis. The lessons about determination that Mr. Dennis taught me helped me confront the adversities in my life during high school, but when I went to college, I had to find a new lifeline. Fortunately, I found support in my friends and faith life. Throughout my high school years, my family faced financial uncertainty. When my grandfather died unexpectedly, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her job, so my family lost our health insurance. Soon after, my dad was injured. He couldn’t earn a paycheck for three months. Money worries overwhelmed me and impaired my ability to learn and participate in extracurricular activities. To keep from drowning in stress, I relied on my hobby of being a musician. That’s where Mr. Dennis comes in. Mr. Dennis taught me to never give up and that “can’t” is unacceptable. During my senior year, I wanted to audition for a national honor band. I practiced every day, but when it came time to record my song, I played terribly. I wanted to give up, but Mr. Dennis wouldn’t let me. He believed in me even when I had no confidence in myself. I submitted my audition, and I was selected for the honor band. Eventually, my dad returned to work, and my mom got a new job. But when I went to college and COVID hit, my dad’s hours got cut, and my mom was let go. Then, my dad had a heart attack. Bills piled up. My family had no income. I didn’t have Mr. Dennis as my lifeline. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then one day, my friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Grady helped me lean into my faith and often invited me to go to church with him. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my new lifeline. Grady taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We’re meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnoses, I tried to be independent in many aspects of life. I never shared how I was feeling. I thought that I had to figure out everything on my own. Now I know that emotions are part of being human and that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me. Now, on the days when I’m overcome with stress, I first turn to God, and then I try to remember Mr. Dennis’s lessons about perseverance. When everything seems impossible, I persist. The lessons I learned from Mr. Dennis and Grady will continue to help me throughout the rest of my education and in my future career as I persevere and chase my dreams.

My friends are trustworthy, supportive, honest, kind, caring, patient, and loyal. They are genuinely sincere and gladly offer help and advice. I love my friends, and I don’t know what I would do without them. My friendship with them means everything to me, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that my friends have saved my life multiple times. One particular memory comes to mind when I think about just how much friendship means to me. It was October 2020. My friend, Grady, knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed my phone to him. After he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. Grady hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Grady helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. He taught me that humans aren’t meant to take on life on their own. We are meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I tried to be independent in many aspects of life. I never shared how I was feeling, and I thought that I had to figure out everything on my own. Now I know that emotions are part of being human and that I don’t have to go through life alone because I have incredible friends to walk alongside me.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I am still asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. But one day last year, my friend could tell something was wrong. He asked me what was going on. I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my phone to my friend. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs have become my lifeline. The combination of these experiences has influenced the way in which I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions and can’t help but smile. I want to make three-year-old me proud and show other young girls that science is not just for boys. Struggling with mental illness and finding hope in my faith has planted in me the desire to show grace, humility, and kindness in all that I say and do. I aspire to live my life for Christ and to serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This powerful picture was of one-month-old me, waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I find myself continuing to ask questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the lab of Dr. Mark Larson at Augustana University. In the Larson Lab, I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With each experiment, I’m living my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

My friend could tell something was wrong. I sat on my bed, staring at the wall. My friend sat on a chair opposite me and asked, “What’s going on?” I shrugged. After a few minutes, I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my friend my phone. When he finished reading, he joined me on the bed, put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. To keep from drowning in my thoughts, I learned to rely on my hobby of being a musician. I also learned that humans are not meant to take on life on their own. We are meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I tried to be independent in many aspects of life. I never shared how I was feeling, and I thought that I had to figure out everything on my own. Now I know that emotions and feelings are part of being human and that I don’t have to go through life alone. Through my struggles with anxiety and depression, I’ve grown and learned that being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons about confidence and perseverance that the success of reaching the mountain top never will.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of one-month-old me, waiting for emergency surgery. As any three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked a dozen questions. Since then, I’ve been in love with science and asking questions. Now, I’m asking questions as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. But one day last year, my friend knew something was wrong. When he asked what was going on, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed it to him. After he finished reading, he said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. These experiences have influenced how I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. I hope that my future research some day contributes to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I want to show young girls that science isn’t just for boys. I want to live for Christ and serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. Upon graduating, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program. I truly believe in the power of research to address today’s most pressing issues by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It’s my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

My favorite scientific discovery is the elucidation of the structure of DNA. Anyone who has taken a science class likely knows of Watson and Crick, the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. However, the reason the discovery of the structure of DNA is my favorite scientific discovery has little to do with Watson or Crick. In fact, I was surprised, shocked, and then annoyed, and appalled when I learned more details about their finding. Sitting in my first college biology class, I learned that Watson and Crick’s double helix DNA model was only possible because of the work of a clever, strong-willed researcher named Rosalind Franklin. That’s when the double helix became my favorite scientific discovery because I had finally found a woman in STEM that I could look up to as I made my journey as a woman in STEM. Rosalind Franklin was the scientist who developed what is now known as “Photograph 51” - the image of DNA that provided clues about the molecule’s structure. One of Franklin’s colleagues showed Franklin’s image to Watson and Crick who were also studying DNA’s structure. Watson and Crick then used Franklin’s data to elucidate DNA’s structure. The two published their findings and were awarded the Nobel Prize. However, Franklin was not acknowledged as a contributor to the discovery. I admire Rosalind Franklin because she was blossoming into a talented scientist during a time when female scientists were being scrutinized and discriminated against. Franklin wasn’t afraid to prove her intelligence or that she could work independently on experiments, and she remained determined to contribute to science. I admire Rosalind Franklin for her brilliance, grit, and perseverance. I hope that one day, I’m just as determined and have just a fraction of her skill and knowledge in the laboratory.

We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Growing up relatively close to Omaha, Nebraska, I was able to go to the NCAA Men’s College World Series almost every summer. In 2010, I fell in love with one particular team that qualified for the tournament - the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University (TCU). In becoming an avid fan of TCU baseball, I quickly learned the story of Micah Ahern. Micah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma - a form of pediatric cancer - when he was fifteen months old. At age four, Micah joined the TCU baseball team with the help of Team IMPACT, an organization that matches terminally ill kids with collegiate sports teams. I followed Micah’s cancer journey for several years, so when he passed away at the age of seven, I was devastated, and I decided that I wanted to study biology and one day become a biomedical researcher. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to be a researcher in the biology lab at Augustana University. I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I can’t help but think of other sick children, including. I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases like neuroblastoma. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions, and I want to make three-year-old me proud.I want to show other young girls that science is not just for boys. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Intelligent? Check! Goofy? Check! Passionate? Check! Mad Scientist? Almost! I’m a junior biology major with minors in psychology and medical humanities at Augustana University. At Augustana, I participate in the Civitas Honors Program, Biology Club, Medical Humanities Club, Women in STEM Club, and Tri-Beta Biology National Honor Society. I work as a communication assistant in the admission office and as a teaching assistant and research fellow in the biology labs. I also teach swim lessons at the university rec center. After graduation, I plan to enroll in a Ph.D. program to pursue a career in biomedical research.

Playlist Name: Teardrops on My Textbook Name of the Artist/Band/Musical Group: Young, Dumb, and Broken Hearted 1. Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N' Roses 2. Note to Self by Ben Rector 3. Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen 4. The Anonymous Ones from Dear Evan Hansen 5. Gets Better by Catie Turner 6. You Will be Found from Dear Evan Hansen 7 What Comes Next from Hamilton

1. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Now, as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I can’t help but think of other sick children. If I could do anything with my life, I imagine that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions, and I want to make three-year-old me proud. Furthermore, my struggles with mental illness and finding hope in my faith have planted in me the desire to show grace, humility, and kindness in all that I say and do. I aspire to live my life for Christ and to serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. 2. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to be a researcher in the biology lab at Augustana University. I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out my dream of asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Even when the SDS-PAGE gels melted during the Western Blot protocol and the frozen lysates our lab had shipped to our colleagues had thawed upon arriving in Oregon, I was not discouraged. My resiliency and determination overcame the disappointment of having to redo a few experiments, and when the qPCR results were unclear, nothing compared to the excitement of a successful qPCR assay after spending weeks refining the protocol. I want to show other young girls that science is not just for boys. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation. I hope that by using information technology and bioinformatics, my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I truly believe in the power of scientific research and information technology to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world. 3. My family has been facing financial uncertainty and health issues. When my grandfather died, my dad suddenly became in charge of the family farm. Six months later, my mom was let go from her teaching job because the school closed due to low student enrollment, so my family lost our health insurance. Soon after, my dad was injured. He couldn’t earn a paycheck for three months. My dad returned to work, and my mom started teaching at a different school, but when COVID hit, my dad’s hours got cut, and my mom was let go. Then, my father had a heart attack. Bills were piling up, and my family had no income. Worries about how we were going to make it overwhelmed me, but I kept my thoughts and emotions bottled up inside. Then in October 2020, my friend could tell something was wrong. He asked me what was going on. After a few minutes, I opened the notes app on my phone and handed my phone to my friend. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. Through my struggles, I’ve grown and learned that being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons about confidence and perseverance that the success of reaching the mountain top never will.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I am still asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. But one day last year, my friend could tell something was wrong. He asked me what was going on. I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my phone to my friend. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs have become my lifeline. The combination of these experiences has influenced the way in which I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions and can’t help but smile. I want to make three-year-old me proud and show other young girls that science is not just for boys. Struggling with mental illness and finding hope in my faith has planted in me the desire to show grace, humility, and kindness in all that I say and do. I aspire to live my life for Christ and to serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was of me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for emergency surgery. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology was, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I am still asking questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the Augustana University biology labs. With every experiment, I have realized that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. But one day last year, my friend could tell something was wrong. He asked me what was going on. I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my phone to my friend. When he finished reading, he put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs have become my lifeline. The combination of these experiences has influenced the way in which I aspire to make a positive impact in the world. As I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions and can’t help but smile. I want to make three-year-old me proud and show other young girls that science is not just for boys. Struggling with mental illness and finding hope in my faith has planted in me the desire to show grace, humility, and kindness in all that I say and do. I aspire to live my life for Christ and to serve God and my neighbors through my vocation. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

Photographs have long been used to record important events or to remember special occasions, and it is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. For example, Migrant Mother demonstrates the plight of farm workers during the Great Depression, and The Situation Room depicts members of the Obama Administration packed into a conference room while receiving live updates from the military operation that ended in the killing of Osama bin Laden. We take photos to look back at the past, but as my chubby toddler hands clutched a family photo album years ago, one particular picture began to inspire my future. This picture was not of an aged relative who accomplished some great feat, nor was it of a cute family pet. No, this powerful picture was of a baby in an infant hospital bed with an intravenous line and various medical monitors attached to her small body. That baby was me, only one month old and waiting to be taken to the operating room for a pylorotomy to correct pyloric stenosis – a condition that results in the narrowing of the pyloric muscle that connects the stomach to the intestines. As any curious three-year-old does, I pointed to the photo and asked my mother a dozen questions. She answered each inquiry with patience. From then on, before I could tie my own shoes or even knew what biology or chemistry were, I had fallen in love with science and asking questions. Years later, I find myself continuing to ask questions and deepening my love for science. As an undergraduate student, I have had the opportunity to put my scientific curiosity to use as a researcher in the lab of Dr. Mark Larson at Augustana University. In the Larson Lab, I am studying differential platelet responses in Native Americans with the goal of correlating platelet response to genetic variation, as previous research suggests that other ethnic groups with high rates of cardiovascular disease are enriched in genetic alleles that correspond to high platelet reactivity. With every blood draw, whole blood flow cytometry assay, and DNA extraction, I have realized that I am living out the dream that the picture of baby me inspired in the mind of toddler me – asking questions and using my passion for science to answer those questions. Graduating with my B.A. in biology is important to me because as I run my fingers over the glossy photograph that sparked my innate curiosity and ignited a burning sense of determination and passion for science, I think of other sick children, and I hope that my future research will some day contribute to finding treatments for childhood diseases. I am also reminded of the curious three-year-old version of myself who bombarded my mom with questions and can’t help but smile. I want to make three-year-old me proud and show other young girls that science is not just for boys. I truly believe in the power of scientific research to address the most pressing issues in today’s society by revealing the basis of a problem or question and creating innovative, effective solutions through strategic and methodical approaches. My future plans include enrolling in a Ph.D. program upon graduation from Augustana. It is my goal to contribute to the vast scientific knowledge we already have in order to make a difference in this world.

My friend could tell something was wrong. I sat on my bed, staring at the wall. My friend sat on a chair opposite me and asked, “What’s going on?” I shrugged. After a few minutes, I pulled up the notes app on my phone, opened one of the notes, and handed my friend my phone. When he finished reading, he joined me on the bed, put his arm around me, and said, “I’ve been there. I was diagnosed with depression last year.” He gave my phone back to me, the notes app still open. When I saw the words I had written, “worthless,” “burden,” “die,” I cried. My friend hugged me and whispered, “God loves you so much,” and then we prayed. In the following months, I was officially diagnosed with depression and anxiety. My friend helped me lean into my faith in order to cope. Prayer, worship music, Bible verses, and hugs became my lifeline. To keep from drowning in my thoughts, I learned to rely on my hobby of being a musician. I also learned that humans are not meant to take on life on their own. We are meant to be in community with each other, to help bear each other’s burdens, and to join in each other’s rejoicing. Before my diagnosis, I tried to be independent in many aspects of life. I never shared how I was feeling, and I thought that I had to figure out everything on my own. Now I know that emotions and feelings are part of being human and that I don’t have to go through life alone. Through my struggles with anxiety and depression, I’ve grown and learned that being at rock bottom teaches powerful lessons about confidence and perseverance that the success of reaching the mountain top never will.

Anyone who has taken a science class likely knows of Watson and Crick, the scientists credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA. I was surprised, shocked, and then annoyed and appalled when I learned more details about their finding. Sitting in my first college biology class, I learned that Watson and Crick’s double helix DNA model was only possible because of the work of a clever, strong-willed researcher named Rosalind Franklin. In that moment, I found someone from history to admire and a woman in STEM that I could look up to as I made my journey through the science world as a woman: Rosalind Franklin. Rosalind Franklin was a scientist who developed what is now known as “Photograph 51” - the image of DNA that provided clues about the molecule’s structure. One of Franklin’s colleagues innocently showed Franklin’s image to Watson and Crick who were also studying the structure of DNA, and Watson and Crick then used Franklin’s data to elucidate DNA’s structure. The two published their findings and were awarded the Nobel Prize years later. However, Franklin was not acknowledged as a contributor to the discovery, and because she died before Watson and Crick were awarded the Nobel Prize, she was not a recipient of the award. I admire Rosalind Franklin because she was blossoming into a talented scientist during a time when female scientists were being scrutinized and discriminated against. Franklin was not afraid to show her colleagues that she was an intelligent researcher who could work independently on experiments, and she remained determined to contribute to the field of science. I admire Rosalind Franklin for her brilliance, grit, and perseverance, and I hope that one day, I am just as determined and have just a fraction of her skill and knowledge in the laboratory.

March 7, 2020 - my last day on campus during my freshman year of college. I thought I was leaving for spring break and would be returning to my tiny dorm room and cafeteria food in a week. As it turned out, I would spend the rest of the semester distance-learning via Zoom from my parents’ dining room table, all thanks to COVID-19. The pandemic has turned our lives upside down, leading to job losses, event cancellations, and loss of life. Therefore, COVID appears to be the biggest problem in the world right now. But there is something lurking behind the scenes, a problem that has existed for quite some time and has been more exposed by COVID-19: health inequalities. In the U.S., COVID hospitalization rates have been the highest among non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and non-Hispanic Black persons. And in Europe, “the lowest income quintiles are among the most disadvantaged groups in terms of effective access to health care.” The health inequity that exists and that has been highlighted by the pandemic cannot be blamed solely on biological components. Factors like education, employment, income, gender, and ethnicity all play a role in one’s health, and we must recognize these social determinants as influential in health outcomes. To address health inequalities, we must recognize healthcare as a right because it is known that poor health can prevent people from functioning well at work or school, fulfilling family roles or other social obligations, and fully participating in life. In recognizing healthcare as a right, countries around the world would be obligated to “fulfill the right to health through access to healthcare and hospitals, safe drinking water and sanitation, and food and housing, disease prevention and treatment.” In doing so, we can hope to level the playing field of healthcare.