I was three years old when I had to go to the hospital due to an accident in my family’s backyard. One moment I was playing catch with my sister, and the next a pillar was covering me with only my feet sticking out. The first doctor we visited told us, “Don’t worry, he will be fine. He’s got a minor concussion and you have nothing to worry about”. The second doctor said “Your son’s intestines have bursted. We need to go into surgery immediately”. It’s a crazy thought to think about what might’ve happened if we listened to the first doctor. Maybe it wasn’t his expertise. Maybe he was struggling that day and just wanted to go home. These excuses can be made, but the reality is it could have costed a life. Every day I live my life pushing through to the end as if it’s still the beginning, giving my 100% attention to whatever it is that I am working on. From then on, I’ve always had a passion to help others. Whether it’s helping them study, or paying for a meal when they’re in need, I know where my passion lays. But I’ve always known that my passion is bigger than that. I’ve known that I want to change people’s lives for the better. Perform a life changing surgery so they’re no longer in pain, perform a surgery that will reinstate their love of life so they don’t go through their days wondering when the pain will go away. I want to get into medical school so I can pursue my true passion of changing the lives of others. I’m currently forced to work full time in hopes to pay for my education. At the same time, I’m going to school full time doing my best to maintain my 4.0 GPA, and it’s definitely a struggle- But a struggle that will be infinitely worth every second. I’m sure most people are going through financial hardships and can relate to the feeling of excitement that one thing has finally been paid off… But then another problem arises that requires money. Financial issues can of course be pushed through with time and dedication, but pushing past that mental barrier is the hardest part. It’s a barrier that keeps getting taller while we continue to slowly chip away at it. All in all, the experiences that I’ve listed above, as well as ones that I haven’t mentioned, have all contributed to something huge. They’ve all worked overtime to build my durability and add to my passion of becoming a doctor. I know that one day I will be a doctor. I will be able to pursue my dream of saving lives and helping people live their life to their fullest potential. Everyone deserves that chance, and I hope I can contribute by living out my passion and dreams.

My name is Griffin Womeldorff, and I am aspiring to become an orthopedic surgeon. Ever since I was in the 3rd grade, I've made this goal known to all of my close friends and family members as it is something I take a huge amount of pride in. After going through an accident when I was almost 3 years old, I experienced a doctor that was not 100% focused and if my family would have listened to his advice, I may not be here pursuing my dream today. This experience is what lead to my love of the medical field. The primary reason I keep my ambition high and never give up on my future. I currently work full time as a Logistics Coordinator for a company called Weatherford Wireline Products. While doing this, I have decided to return to college as a full-time student so I can transition into the field most of my interest is in and obtain a deeper understanding of science. When I finish my degree in community college, I plan to major in Biochemistry or Biomedical Science then on to medical school. I would love to find a research program in a related science to work alongside top scientists and doctors and fully take in their advice and knowledge in what they've worked their whole lives pursuing. Once I get through medical school and decide which residency program I want to pursue, I'm excited to weigh my options and see if I've changed my mind and found a field maybe even enjoy more than orthopedics. Whether it still be in surgery, oncology or even family medicine. All I know as of this moment is that I want to help people and help them live a happier and easier life going forward. I want to be able to make a difference in their life as so many people are currently in pain. According to the CDC, Data from the National Health Interview Survey shows that in 2023, 24.3% of adults had chronic pain, and 8.5% of adults had chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities. My aspiration is that I can help make a difference to impact this percentage, figuring out new ways to help people through their pain with different treatment options. In addition to hopefully impact the general population, giving back to the community is a must. I am huge into fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and related fundraising opportunities. Helping shape future generations is something that anybody can contribute to and make an impact on. Research is how we can impact the world past our lifetimes. It is how we can help to ensure future generations can live the happy life we're lucky to be living right now.

My name is Griffin Womeldorff, and I am aspiring to become an orthopedic surgeon. Ever since I was in the 3rd grade, I've made this goal known to all of my close friends and family members as it is something I take a huge amount of pride in. After going through an accident when I was almost 3 years old, I experienced a doctor that was not 100% focused and if my family would have listened to his advice, I may not be here pursuing my dream today. This experience is what lead to my love of the medical field. The primary reason I keep my ambition high and never give up on my future. I currently work full time as a Logistics Coordinator for a company called Weatherford Wireline Products. While doing this, I have decided to return to college as a full-time student so I can transition into the field most of my interest is in and obtain a deeper understanding of science. When I finish my degree in community college, I plan to major in Biochemistry or Biomedical Science then on to medical school. I would love to find a research program in a related science to work alongside top scientists and doctors and fully take in their advice and knowledge in what they've worked their whole lives pursuing. Once I get through medical school and decide which residency program I want to pursue, I'm excited to weigh my options and see if I've changed my mind and found a field maybe even enjoy more than orthopedics. Whether it still be in surgery, oncology or even family medicine. All I know as of this moment is that I want to help people and help them live a happier and easier life going forward. I want to be able to make a difference in their life as so many people are currently in pain. According to the CDC, Data from the National Health Interview Survey shows that in 2023, 24.3% of adults had chronic pain, and 8.5% of adults had chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities. My aspiration is that I can help make a difference to impact this percentage, figuring out new ways to help people through their pain with different treatment options. In addition to hopefully impact the general population, giving back to the community is a must. I am huge into fundraising for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and related fundraising opportunities. Helping shape future generations is something that anybody can contribute to and make an impact on. Research is how we can impact the world past our lifetimes. It is how we can help to ensure future generations can live the happy life we're lucky to be living right now.