My mother always told me that I needed to have a good heart. Having been raised in a life of hardship herself, she always reminded me to spread kindness to others, to show others the kindness and care life rarely dealt her in her days. No matter how old I got, or how much I grew, my mother always reminded me to never forget those in need. Her words were a big part of why I chose to pursue a career in medicine. While she wanted me to chase success and a fulfilling life, she never wanted me to lose the empathy and generosity she so carefully instilled in me. As I got older, I understood that nothing was more fulfilling in my life than helping others and making a difference. The words she sowed into me when I was younger took root and sprouted into a life of selflessness and clarity. With this carefully instilled perspective on life and the education I aim to pursue in college, I want to use my education to change the state of my city's medical district for the better. Although it is renowned for its entertainment and luxurious nightlife, my hometown of Las Vegas has the highest percentage of low-ranking hospitals in the United States. With the career path I aim to take, I want to use my career in the medical field to rebuild the healthcare and medical system from the ground up. Currently, Nevada's healthcare system is ranked the fifth worst in the U.S., largely due to the mistreatment of staff and patients, and low government spending. As a medical doctor, I want to influence government officials to increase spending on healthcare. This will allow hospitals to purchase better equipment for patient treatment, and better the working conditions of nurses and staff. I also aim to petition and fight for better pay for overworked nurses because a contributing factor to the depletion of hospital service is the mistreatment and underpay of nurses in the workplace. To the eyes of many, this plan seems ambitious, but to me, I believe it is a strife worth facing. It is disappointing to face the truth about the current healthcare system, but it is a truth that must be faced. I thank my mother countlessly for the encouragement and inspiration needed to pursue my goals in the medical field, and I know the difference I plan to make in my community will be worth it all.

While Taylor Swift's '1989' album houses many of today's pop culture anthems like 'Bad Blood,' 'Blank Space,' and 'Shake It Off," my favorite song comes from the album's deluxe version. 'New Romantics' is a song that has ensnared my heart with its lively and energetic sound, however, this is my favorite song off of the album because its complexity and thought-provoking lyrics open a floodgate of new ideas and interpretations that both resonate with and inspire me. Beyond the surface-level synth-pop sound and upbeat energy that first drew me in, I love 'New Romantics' because I am enamored by the meaning and truths behind her lyrics. To me, 'New Romantics' speaks about the freedom and excitement that comes with beginning a new relationship and falling in love. It gives the listener a cursory glance at what it feels like to explore life and enjoy the moments that come. However, despite its optimistic undertones, the song also seems to capture the inevitable anxiety and fear that comes along with trusting someone with your heart. It is a song that speaks to both the joys and difficulties of falling in love and serves as a reminder to enjoy the journey, regardless of the outcome. As she reflects on her past romantic experiences, this song allows fans and listeners to also reflect on their experiences and explore the emotions that come with living and falling in love. As captivated as I am by her carefree ideas about love and life, I was equally as charmed by the growth I saw in her perspective on it. With this song, I see an evolution of romance and a new mindset she takes along with it. Many songs from her previous albums, like 'Love Story,' and 'Long Live,' center themselves around fairytale romances that create a whimsical and enchanting narrative. With '1989' and songs like 'New Romantics,' I find that she is introducing a new take on romance to her fans. Rather than chasing an unrealistic idea of love, she shows us that it is better to live life freely and not take the idea of love and relationships too seriously. While it is always good to fantasize, she reminds us that it is still important to remain grounded in reality as well. Another reason I love 'New Romantics' is because, while the song is about a fresh perspective on romance, I believe it also provides a sense of empowerment underneath. In the chorus, Taylor sings the lines: "Cause baby, I could build a castle Out of all the bricks they threw at me And every day is like a battle But every night with us is like a dream.” While this might mean something different to others, the chorus stands out to me because it symbolizes female empowerment in a heavily male-dominated society. In response to critics repeatedly bruising Taylor and her reputation, she chooses to take those bricks and build something new out of them. In other words, she is taking something harmful and turning it into something empowering to fuel her success as a woman in the music industry. Such persistence and resilience in the song are why I believe I can achieve my own goals in life, despite what others might try to say. 'New Romantics' is a song that perfectly encapsulates today's idea of modern romanticism. With its elaborate complexity and meaningful interpretations, it is a song that symbolizes a sense of freedom, growth, and empowerment for young fans like me. With such a strong and intricate meaning, this is why 'New Romantics' will always be my favorite song from '1989.'

When I was around ten, my mother pushed me to enter STEM programs at school. She would say STEM was a "gateway to gold," and a promise of a brighter future. I never understood what she meant until I was faced with the internal teenage desire for a job. The idea of becoming financially independent was tantalizing. The urge to prove that I could support myself financially as I emerged into adulthood was utterly irresistible. The way I saw it, there was a sort of pride and freedom that came from having the ability to support yourself financially. As an adult, I believe financial independence allows you to make your own decisions and live the life you want. Having the ability to financially support yourself allows you to attain personal growth and success in life. As you manage your own finances, you learn about the value of money and budgeting. You also learn to plan for the future and reach your financial goals, which helps you build your self-esteem and confidence. Having the ability to support yourself financially as an adult can be both freeing and empowering. Not only are you not reliant on others for your basic needs, but you also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can handle unexpected expenses and emergencies. As I've come to learn in my 18 years of living, being financially independent can help you make more informed decisions about your life and future, giving you the confidence to take on new experiences and challenges. Overall, I believe a major benefit to financial independence is feeling more in control of your life and your decisions in a very chaotic and out-of-control world, giving you the freedom to accomplish anything you set your mind to in life. Like my mother said when I was ten, a future in STEM is like a gateway to gold. Having a career in STEM can provide you with the financial security and stability you need to live an independent life and achieve your goals. It can also give you the skills and knowledge to be capable of providing a significant contribution to society, making you feel fulfilled in life and as an adult. A career in STEM can also offer you the ability to make a difference and create something greater than yourself. Although financial stability is rewarding, making a difference to those around you is far more gratifying. You can use your knowledge to work on research or development that can lead to new innovations and solutions to society’s problems. You can use your skills to help others and make a positive impact on people’s lives. While the financial rewards of a career in STEM are certainly attractive and can support financial independence, the ability to make a difference in the world is perhaps the most compelling reason to pursue such a career. Once I get to my own "gateway to gold," I hope one day I can create my own scholarship fund to help African American women like me pursue their dreams in STEM because nothing is more powerful than an intelligent and independent woman.

In 2023 alone, about 9,870 people died from gun-related violence. We are four months into 2023 and there have been at least 146 mass shootings in the United States. It's April 2023 and the United States still has a gun violence issue. In the past month, a football player and fellow classmate of mine passed away after being gunned down at a birthday party. Before his death, I thought I was desensitized to the violence and bloodshed this country still faces. I see it so often on the news that I stopped being surprised after a while. The Monday following his death, I ate breakfast to the sound of a news anchor reporting a shooting in the downtown area. They never released the name of the person who was killed until I started hearing whispers around the school: "He was so young," they'd said. "And it happened right before prom too." "There's a crisis team on campus if anyone needs to step out of class for a moment." I didn't start putting the pieces together until I saw the memorial posts online. Then the news released his name. Looking back, you never really think twice about the violence you see on the news until it happens so close to you. It wasn't long until the fear and depression set in because there's nothing scarier than being a teenager in America. There was a sense of emptiness in the halls for a while. The tension was palpable, and for a while, I questioned if living in such a vicious society was worth the struggle. I always thought "What if it's my face on the news next? I'll be just another American statistic." A couple of days after his passing, my school organized a balloon release and candlelight vigil on the football field to honor him. I decided to go to pay my respects, and when I arrived, it was the first time, in a very long time, that I'd seen a community come together. I've viewed society as survival of the fittest, and it's brutal out there. But it's devastating times like these that make me remember just how resilient we are to such brutalities. That night was the first time in a while that I'd seen different groups of people at my school willingly come together and give an outpour of love and support. Hundreds of students showed up for his balloon release and vigil, and it made me rather hopeful to see people seek comfort in one another. It reminds me that no matter how different we are, we're all still human. In a world full of ugliness and bloodshed, I think it's important that young generations are taught strength and kindness as they grow. We are impressionable when we are young. When we are nurtured in hostile and unforgiving environments, we learn to be hostile and unforgiving in turn. By teaching kids kindness and strength, we teach them to find the strength and courage it takes to impact one's life, for the right reasons. It takes one person to make a difference in this world, and I hope that as the years pass on, we can learn to show a little more compassion to one another. In the end, kindness and strength seem to be some of the only things that can quell the beast we call hatred and adversity.

During my sophomore year of high school, I wanted to die. A bit morbid, isn't it? Don't get me wrong, the desolation, and dreariness of a COVID-19 pandemic could do that to anyone, but I wanted to die because I felt trapped, empty, and left to disintegrate; leaving only my memory and forgotten dreams in my place. Out of my rampant thoughts and half-empty stares, I manipulated myself into believing that I wasn’t enough to make myself into the person I wanted to be. If you were caged away in your room for a near year and a half, the same would probably befall you too. As a child, I had promised my mother that I would do great things one day. She was proud of my ambition to work in such a field of expertise, and it made my heart happy to hear her brag about her only baby, her pride and joy, wanting to save the world, one patient at a time. I remember sitting in her lap, spinning tales of myself using my earnings to provide for her family in the Philippines. I promised I'd take care of her siblings after she was gone, that I would live the life she stitched and sewed for me, a prophesied future tailored to my soul. When the pandemic came, I drowned in darkness. I hate to think a part of me did die during my time in the shadows, but for a time, that's what it felt like. I spent nights alone, crying at the thought of failure, the empty feeling in my chest. Everything came all at once, and I grew lethargic. My future was on my doorstep and I was afraid. I had dreams, and I was afraid because I wasn't sure if I was ready to face them yet. I was afraid that by the end of it, I wouldn't be enough to amount to the things I said I'd become. That I could never make the impact I wanted to leave. At the time, nothing seemed to quell my anguish except for the promise of death. That's when my soul-searching era began. I will admit, it took a very long time for me to come back to myself again. My entire junior year was a period of soul-searching and rediscovery, and even now, I feel that I'm not quite finished yet. During my search, I came across a very troubling dilemma. If I believed myself to be nothing, how was I expected to make the impact I promised? So I started with this: The feeling of nothingness is an isolating feeling. It's the type of isolation that bullies you into darkness, and I foolishly fell for it. I've come to realize that illness, physical and mental, is not so dissimilar. It casts a sickly feeling of despondency and fear. It claws away at you from the inside out until you feel that you are nothing, empty-eyed and hollow-boned. Nothingness and illnesses are greedy like that. So, I made a new promise to myself. No matter how bad, desolate, or empty a patient might feel, I want to be the one to remind them that their fight is not a lonely one. I want to remind the world that there will always be someone in their corner fighting alongside them. For any patient my fate may pull me towards, I want to be a beacon of light that they find comfort in when the days start to fade into nothing. Emptiness and hopelessness are as deadly as disease, and nobody deserves that.