Nobody wanted to see the pictures of tumors I brought to eighth-grade science class. It was June 2021. Still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, my classmates were deeply uninterested in seeing how stem cells form teratomas, but those tumors had captured my imagination. Four years later, I’m still fascinated by the complexity of cells, but my interest has expanded beyond biology to include the experiences of patients and their caregivers. Shortly after that classroom research project, I read a fiction book featuring a pediatric neuro-oncology practice, a specialty unknown to me at that time. I felt a deep connection to the depiction of a medical team caring for young patients facing such serious disease. Just as fascinating as the behavior of cancer cells, I was equally drawn in by the depth of the relationship between medical staff and their young patients. Envisioning myself in the medical field has not always been easy, however. No matter how much I prove myself in school, it can be hard to find peer support as a female working toward a career in STEM, a very male dominated field. My father has repeated one phrase to my sister and I for as long as I can remember: “You are worthy, you are ready”. Still, it has taken a while to register the real meaning of those inspiring words. Despite my father’s encouragement, I have been talked over and questioned for choosing STEM. Receiving such unsolicited feedback on my interests helped me to see seemingly harmless remarks for what they really were. These experiences of misogyny pushed me to advocate for a community that supports and validates learners like me. Creating the Girls in STEM club in my high school was my way of advocating for students to follow their interests without the drumbeat of unwelcome opinions from other competitive high achievers. Knowing that many girls have similar passions, I have used this circle as a source of strength and acknowledgement, encouraging peers and protecting our ability to explore STEM without others taking over. In this community, instead of listening or observing based on what others might like, we choose our own next steps, knowing that we are worthy of taking on leading roles in pursuit of our goals. Aside from the impact the club has had on other students, it’s also taught me that there is a place in the healthcare field for me. Through teaching and encouraging underclassmen to pursue their own interests, I’ve grown in my own passion and drive to work in medicine. This goal was solidified for me this past summer after volunteering in a large regional medical center, where my most significant contribution was connecting with patients. On a rotation in radiology, I helped run an MRI on a lady who’d been living with a brain tumor since childhood. She recounted her experiences finding hope as a “cancer kid,” later bringing her own children to meet her former oncology nurses. I came to understand how profound the nurse/patient relationship was for that woman, and the experience of being visited by former patients was confirmed by my neighbor, a retired nurse in the very same field. Learning about the significant impact that pediatric nurses have on people’s entire lives has sparked an immense interest in this specialty for me. Although I have not yet decided which university I will attend next year, I know that I will be pursuing my bachelor’s degree of science in nursing, learning to build ongoing relationships and personal connections in support of patients and their families. After graduation I hope to work as a travel nurse as I begin my career, eventually returning to school to earn my nurse practitioner license, enabling me to have a direct impact on many people’s lives. As a nurse practitioner, I hope to specialize in pediatric oncology. I will never forget the childhood cancer survivor I met in radiology, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact on the health outcomes for many more patients. Since I first discovered the medical field in middle school, I've been excited to start my career in oncology. Now that I have seen first-hand what an amazing influence nurses can have, I am even more excited, and honored, to start my career as one of the providers I used to read about and admire.

Nearly 60 years ago, my grandmother became a registered nurse, moving across the country to serve at March Air Force Base in Riverside, CA. As I watch the news coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires, I am reflecting on the many roles that nurses like my grandmother play: caregiver, confidant, problem solver, and even crisis manager. Closer to home, I live just a 45-minute drive from Annapolis, MD, home of the US Naval Academy. I am fortunate to be actively discussing my future as a nurse with a close friend’s mother who serves as a Chief Nursing Officer with the United States Navy. Sitting at her kitchen table, I’ve learned how she has served in the military and pursued a career in nursing. It’s exciting to see that there are so many ways to become a nurse in the armed forces, whether that path may start in my undergraduate studies or become a journey I take after getting my degree. Talking to this incredible woman, and reflecting on my grandmother’s experience, I understand that there are many opportunities to serve my country and community in a field I am passionate about. My personal interest in nursing began with a biology project at the end of eighth grade. We were all still living through the ongoing impact and uncertainties of Covid, so my classmates were deeply uninterested in the pictures of tumors I presented in science class. Four years later, I’m still fascinated by the complexity of cells, but my interest has evolved from understanding human biology to learning about the way biology affects individuals. Now, my focus is impacting the care of patients and their families. My initial impressions about nursing were solidified first-hand this past summer. Volunteering in a large regional medical center, my most significant contribution was simply connecting with patients. On a rotation in Radiology, I helped run an MRI on a lady who’d been living with a brain tumor since childhood. She recounted her experiences finding hope as a “cancer kid,” later bringing her own children to meet her former oncology nurses. I came to understand how profound the nurse/patient relationship can be, and the experience of being visited by former patients was confirmed by my neighbor, a retired nurse in the very same field. Learning about the impact that nurses have on people’s entire lives has sparked an immense interest in this field for me. The deeply personal connection between nurses and patients is something I look forward to developing, and I can also see how valuable those skills can be when a community is faced with an unexpected emergency. Although I have not yet decided which university I will attend next year, I will pursue my bachelor’s degree of science in nursing as a first step. Eventually I plan to return to school to earn my nurse practitioner license. Seeing the incredible impact nurses can have on many people’s lives, I’m excited to uncover more possibilities that come with a career in nursing. With a better understanding of the many roles that nurses can play, I am even more honored to follow in my grandmother’s footsteps, serving as a source of strength and support for patients and their families.

It was the very end of the eighth grade school year, and many students were mentally checked-out. Nobody really wanted to see the pictures of tumors I brought to science class. It was June 2021. Still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, my classmates were deeply uninterested in seeing how stem cells form teratomas, but those tumors had captured my imagination. Four years later, I’m still fascinated by the complexity of cells, but my interest has moved beyond biology to focus on the experiences of patients and their caregivers. Shortly after that classroom research project, I read a fiction book featuring a pediatric neuro-oncology practice, a specialty unknown to me at that time. I felt a deep connection to the depiction of a medical team caring for young patients facing such serious disease. Just as fascinating as the behavior of cancer cells, I was equally drawn in by the depth of the relationship between medical staff and their young patients. This impression was solidified for me this past summer after volunteering in a large regional medical center, where my most significant contribution was connecting with patients. On a rotation in Radiology, I helped run an MRI on a lady who’d been living with a brain tumor since childhood. She recounted her experiences finding hope as a “cancer kid,” later bringing her own children to meet her former oncology nurses. I came to understand how profound the nurse/patient relationship was for that woman, and the experience of being visited by former patients was confirmed by my neighbor, a retired nurse in the very same field. Learning about the significant impact that pediatric nurses have on people’s entire lives has sparked an immense interest in this field for me The deeply personal connection built between nurses and patients is something I look forward to developing. Although I have not yet decided which university I will attend next year, I know that I will be pursuing my bachelor’s degree of science in nursing, learning to build ongoing relationships and personal connections in support of patients and their families. After graduation I hope to work as a travel nurse as I begin my career, eventually returning to school to earn my nurse practitioner license, where I will be in a position to have an incredible impact on many people’s lives. Since I first discovered the medical field in middle school, I've been excited to start my career in nursing. Now that I have seen first-hand what an amazing influence nurses can have, I am even more excited, and honored, to start my career as one of the providers I used to read about.

Dance has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I never questioned whether I was going to keep dancing, it was the one part of me that was never in doubt. Now as I prepare to head off to college, I know that my dance journey is going to change. I may be uncertain of how and where I will dance over the next four years, but I know that what I’ve learned after 14 years of dance will be with me wherever I go. My coaches have been incredible mentors and influences in my life. I will never forget the impact that my high school dance team coach has had on my personal development and my perspective on being part of a team. She taught me to value the people around me, to work hard for others instead of just myself. I learned to push myself even when no one was watching because I knew that the pathway to success came from constant dedication and drive. My coach demonstrated a level of determination I’d never seen before, she never gave up on us and taught me to do the same. She stopped coaching after my junior year, but the lessons she taught me have never gone away. If anything, her absence has shown me that everything she taught is now ingrained in me, and I do my best to pass that on to my teammates as a senior dancer. In addition to that special coach, my teammates have influenced my dance journey over the past four years. Coming into the all-star dance world after years of ballroom dancing was quite a switch. In the ballroom style, I trained one-on-one with a coach a couple of times per week. When I would compete, it was simply me on the floor, every dancer for themselves. Worst of all, I didn’t have any peers. By contrast, I remember how it felt to start classes at my current studio. The room was filled with dancers my age, constantly cheering each other on and calling out encouragement as we danced. The family-like atmosphere drew me in. I eventually joined many competition teams, training with the same dancers every day of the week. The intensity and expectations put on us were like nothing I’d experienced before, but so were the sense of community and unwavering support of my new teammates. Dancing with these girls taught me that no practice was too long, no competition too difficult, and no goal out of reach, as long as we tackled it together. Through dance I learned that success comes when you work every day towards your goals, maintaining discipline even when you lack motivation. After years of ballroom dancing alone, I have found a place where my passion for dance is matched and where I am genuinely supported by incredible teams. We cheer out every big practice and begin every competition saying “One team, one family”, a motto that means the world to me. My dance experience has influenced my entire high school journey. My work ethic and dedication to every aspect of my life has been drastically improved because of dance. I know that my time on these teams is quickly coming to an end, but I am also confident that the people I’ve grown to love and the lessons I’ve learned have become permanent parts of me. No matter where I go next, I find comfort in knowing that these parts of my journey will stick with me forever.