Having a dream is one of the simplest things that can happen in a person's life, whether it is a dream presented to someone in their sleep or an interaction that just "clicks" with an individual. To make one worth the dreams they aspire to achieve, they have to actively work at achieving their goals. For me, an interaction with my childhood hero kick-started my passions and my hard work has gotten me to where I am, wrapping up my final two years of undergraduate studies. Before I elaborate further, I would like to share a little more about myself. I am Hannah Rose, and I am a Junior at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. I graduated in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City. I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine so I can become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon so I can learn and work alongside my childhood hero. My professional interests include researching noninvasive treatment options, surgical techniques that reduce scarring and downtime while optimizing healing, and cures to diseases like the common cold and cancer. Outside of my academics, I enjoy spending my free time with loved ones and pets, reading, and pursuing special interests like music and intramural sports. As I mentioned previously, the work one puts in is what makes them worth the dreams they aspire to achieve. In my case, I committed my life to achieving my dreams the day I met Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. Obtaining over 240 shadowing hours, over 200 volunteer service hours during my time at OSU-OKC, participating in events related to my dream career and medical school, and so many more opportunities presented to me highlight my desire to make my dreams a reality. Now that I have completed the first leg of my adventure to becoming a doctor, I look forward to the opportunities that OU, the OU Honors College, and OU Health Sciences offer as I finish my undergraduate studies and work my way to completing the second leg of my adventure. Motivating factors such as these opportunities to gain a competitive edge over my peers and scholarships that help alleviate the financial burden of college so that I can focus on the studies, research, and experiences that will make me the best physician I can be have been a large source of fuel for me to have come this far. To conclude, the many shadowing and volunteer hours (and counting), engagement with my dreams, and hard work in my coursework demonstrate my worth of the dreams I aspire to achieve. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Being a Native American is more than receiving financial support for college from a tribe. Since I entered college, I have been able to immerse myself more deeply in my native heritage. As a proud Chickasaw woman, I am grateful to connect with my native identity and pursue higher education. From attending various workshops for a native program to participating in my first stomp dance at a Chickasaw internship this summer, my experiences highlight how I couldn't be more proud to be Chickasaw. Before I share more, I would like to introduce myself. I am Hannah, and I am a junior at the University of Oklahoma; I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. Starting with the fall 2024 semester, the Chickasaw Nation implemented its Recruitment and Retention (RR) program at OSU-OKC, and I met my RR coordinator, Connie, at the end of the Spring 2024 Semester. When courses resumed in the fall, I started attending workshops that earned points towards four areas of the program: academic, career, social, and cultural. Some of the cultural workshops I attended were mini replicas of stickball sticks and stickball balls, medicine bag making, basket weaving, and beading, all while meeting fellow Chickasaw students in the process. Connie also recommended some programs that were for Native Students, such as the Lowak Sho'li forum that interviewed First Americans in Medicine, the Native Explorers program, and programs put on by the Chickasaw Nation, such as the Internship program. Seeing fellow Native Americans in medicine empowers me to finish my undergraduate studies and be a proud native surgeon. In May, I also participated in the Native Explorers Program, where I established invaluable connections with fellow native students and leaders, embraced my native heritage, went camping for the first time, and earned course credit by learning more about gross anatomy, archaeology, and paleontology. From June to mid-July, I participated in the Chickasaw Nation Internship program, where I earned over 150 shadowing hours with a local physician in Ada while learning more about Chickasaw history and culture, such as when I joined the stomp dance at the Chickasaw Cultural Center. Additionally, I got to establish more invaluable connections with my supervisors and make a couple of friends. To conclude, I am so very grateful to have been able to connect with my Chickasaw roots and be able to grow both personally and professionally. I am thankful to have a friendship with Connie and appreciate how she has been transformative not just academically, but culturally. I look forward to taking these experiences and applying them to my last two years of undergraduate studies, medical studies, and professional practice. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application.  Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Being born with a mark on my face has been an interesting journey. I faced relentless bullying from my peers in preschool and pre-kindergarten, and at fourteen, I had to undergo a second surgery on the same spot. Being different has given me the chance to follow in the footsteps of my childhood hero. Before I share my story, I want to tell you a bit more about myself. I am Hannah, a junior at the University of Oklahoma, studying Biology with a minor in German, on a pre-medical path. I recently earned my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City. My ultimate goal is to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. At six years old, being diagnosed with a hairy nevus turned my life upside down. The other "normal" kids would poke at my face, point, and ask questions like "don't touch it, you may get it too!" or "is it cancer?" or "Will I get it too if I am near you?" I remember one kid drew a football-shaped mark on their face with a washable marker to get a laugh at my expense. As the spot continued to change, my mom finally found a specialist who said I needed surgery to remove it. That was the day I met my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. I thought, "Finally, this thing will be gone, I can be normal, and the teasing will stop." On the day of the surgery, I was very nervous, and Dr. El Amm noticed. He sat with me in the pre-op room, explained what he would do, and reassured me that everything would be fine. He also let me keep my anesthesia mask, sparking my interest in his profession. Since then, I knew I wanted to follow in Dr. El Amm's footsteps. When I had to have the spot removed again at age fourteen, I asked him more about his work and shadowing opportunities. In college, I shadowed him twice at OSU-OKC and engaged in activities that will help me in medical school, during residency, and as I establish my practice. I aspire to work at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians like him, helping pediatric and adult patients like me. Beyond helping people feel better, I have other professional goals. I want to find cures for diseases like the common cold and cancer. I also aim to research non-invasive treatments that reduce recovery time and scarring, maximizing healing. Lastly, I want to develop medicines that are better for the body. Inspired by Dr. El Amm, especially after learning about his development of AR-superimposing surgical loupes, my main drive has been to make a difference in improving the quality of life and healthcare worldwide. Knowing that my career and research interests will make a difference, I look forward to taking the next step and further distinguishing myself from my peers to make the world a better place. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

When I learned that I needed to take calculus as a part of my biology and pre-medical requirements, I started feeling a little nervous. Math was never a strong-suit of mine, but I am thankul that the skill finally "clicked" for me in middle school and to have gotten better since then. So far in my college career, I have been excited to take math courses. Before I go further, let me introduce myself. I am Hannah and I will be starting the Fall 2025 semester as a junior at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. I recently graduated from Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. Having chosen an educational journey in STEM, I had to accept that math would be a short, but essential and potentially challenging part of my undergraduate studies; math is found in courses like the different disciplines in Chemistry and biology. Therefore, when I took a math functions course for a general education requirement, personal finance course for personal interest, and Elementary Statistics course for a major transfer credit, I braced myself for a few different scenarios. Now that I am at OU, however, I learned that I will only need a calculus for life sciences course -not counting the chemistry, research, and biology courses relating to math that I will need to take- and I have mixed emotions about it; I am excited to take the course since I have been flourishing in math for the past five years, but I am also nervous from all of the horror stories I heard in high school about calculus. I am well aware that I have many sources of support, including my peers, my professor, and the many tutoring services that OU and the Chickasaw Nation offer for college students; this also is part of the reason why I am looking forward to taking calculus. As a pre-medical student, I learn many things beyond the classroom when I take STEM related courses, and calculus will be one of them. A few of the things I hope to get out of my calculus course is preperation for the MCAT, further developing my critical thinking skills, and providing some aid when I need to interperet complex medical data. Additionally, I look forward to what the foundation calculus provides will help me with when I take courses like physics. With these ideas in mind, I think calculus plays a vital role in the field of STEM, as the skills learned and developed from calculus can help students in their future careers like how I mentioned calculus would help me. I believe critical thinking and skills to interperet data are two universal opportunities that are essential across all STEM careers. To conclude, calculus can provide a strong skillset for students pursuing STEM-related degrees and careers. As a pre-medical student, I understand why calculus is important to the field of science and medicine, and this understanding from taking other math courses fuels my excitement to take calculus. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

If we travel back to 1816, French doctor Théophile Lannec discovered that a rolled piece of paper could let him hear the sounds of a cardiac patient's heart and lung noises better than placing his ear directly to her chest. Today, we know the stethoscope as a binaural piece of equipment used by doctors of many different specialties, from cardiology to primary care. Before I share how this technology inspires me to further innovate the medical field, I would like to share a little more about myself. I am Hannah Rose, and I will start the fall 2025 semester as a junior at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. In May, I graduated with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine so I can become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero. My professional interests include innovating the medical field and revolutionizing patient care by researching non-invasive treatment administration routes, developing techniques to minimize scarring and downtime, ultimately to maximize healing, and safer drugs to treat ailments before I find the cure to diseases like the common cold and even cancer. Seeing the need from personal experience and during my time as a shadow observer, I feel that, like the innovation of the stethoscope, I can be a pioneer and innovate the way we deliver treatments to patients, and therefore increase the quality of care for the world's people. Seeing the innovation of the stethoscope inspires me for a multitude of reasons. First, we can hear the sounds of human life better than ever, compelling medical professionals to hold their oath to be of service to the people to the highest standard. Second, one of the most common tools used by medical professionals has come this far, and there is always an opportunity awaiting for the right person to continue the innovation. As a female who is ambitious to be a pioneer, I look forward to being amongst the generation that makes the world a better place, one day at a time. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

When I see the first-generation college student looking back at me in the mirror, I see so many doors and opportunities presenting themselves to me. I imagine walking across that stage, earning my degree, and having an admittance letter to the medical school of my dreams, all sponsored by hard work, dedication, philanthopic efforts, and clinical hours. Before I elaborate, I would like to share a little more about myself. I am Hannah, and I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. I will be starting the fall 2025 semester as a Junior at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a Pre-medical track. I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. When I reflect on being the first in my family to earn a college degree, I feel honored to be considered a first-generation college student, because that means that I am a part of the generation that discovers the breakthroughs and revolutionizes the field that I dream of having a career in. With the first leg of my journey through and my associate's degree unlocking the next step, my degree in Biology will complete the first phase of my mission: medical school admittance. The next phase of my journey is going through the adventure of medical school. From didactic work to the rigor of clinical rotations and residency. In the long term, my dream is to study under and work alongside the doctor who not only took care of me as a child, but who also first sparked my interest in the field of pediatric and adult plastic surgery. Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians inspires me beyond an occupational dream. His innovation of a pair of loupes that superimpose augmented reality (AR) onto a patient in the operating room is one of a multitude of factors motivating me to research and innovate in the medical field, too. Some of my research interests include finding cures to diseases like cancer, the herpes virus family, and even the common cold. Revolutionizing patient care in this way, along with discovering a way to noninvasively treat diseases to optimize healing and minimize downtime and scarring, are two important initiatives I would like to bring to the table. Additionally, I want to research ways to be more sustainable in the medical field by using less plastic where applicable and making diagnostic procedures accessible to all ages of medical professionals. Lastly, when results of these topics are found, I want to make these findings accessible to all, improving the quality of life and care for the world's people. The first-generation college student staring back at me in the mirror calls me to be the best I can be, starting in my undergraduate studies. I look forward to making the world a better place and could not be more proud to be a first-generation college student. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

It is not every day that you meet your childhood hero as a pediatric patient. At six years of age, I met Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians when I needed to have a mark on my face removed. Beyond providing excellent care and reassuring me that everything was going to be okay, he nurtured my interest in medicine by telling me everything he was going to do and letting me keep my anesthesia mask. Dr. El Amm would go on to become my childhood hero and a large source of fuel for me to continue pursuing my higher education. Before I continue, I would like to share a little more about myself. I am Hannah, and I will be transferring to the University of Oklahoma to finish my undergraduate studies by pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by Dr. El Amm. Being a Native American woman in STEM presents me with a few more barriers than my peers, but my passions are much bigger than any obstacle I face. One of those obstacles is finding a way to alleviate the cost of higher education for me and my family. I am unable to work during the academic year, and my family's financial situation puts me in the "special circumstances" category with OU. The SigaLa Education Scholarship would help bridge this gap significantly. Beyond providing financial assistance, this scholarship would allow me to focus on my education and further motivate me to keep working towards my dreams. Speaking of my dreams, I have many goals and aspirations for my career. My passions for philanthropy, innovating the medical field by inventing devices and techniques to minimize invasiveness and downtime, and maximize healing to further revolutionize patient care, and finding cures to diseases motivate me to leave an inspiring legacy and make room for the next generation of native healthcare professionals to follow in my footsteps, as I am with Dr. El Amm. With those long-term goals in mind, I look forward to building up to them by completing short-term goals I have for my time at OU. I plan on using the resources that OU and the OU Honors College have for research, studying abroad, and taking courses that I feel would best prepare me for my time in medical school. I would also like to establish connections with like-minded peers and staff, get a high score on the MCAT, and get accepted to the OU College of Medicine. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

My name is Hannah, and I am transferring to the University of Oklahoma for the Fall 2025 Semester as a Junior. I recently graduated from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City with an associate’s degree in Enterprise Development. At OU, I will finish my undergraduate studies by pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm. Since meeting Dr. El Amm at six, I have shadowed him and other professionals to gain clinical experience. I actively engage with events at the OU College of Medicine to stay connected to my dream school. I plan to utilize the KC MedBridge Scholarship funds to help cover college costs, allowing me to concentrate on my studies and my goal of medical school. In middle and high school, I enjoyed volunteering and holding leadership roles like my position as First-Year Representative with Francis Tuttle's Biosciences and Medicine Academy's HOSA Chapter. My love for volunteering has flourished even more, with over 200 community service hours and receiving the SHINE award twice. I look forward to volunteering and starting research with OU and the OU Honors College. Professionally, I aspire to innovate the medical field with techniques and devices that minimize scarring and downtime while optimizing healing, further revolutionizing patient care. I also would like to find cures for diseases.

It is not every day that you meet your childhood hero as a pediatric patient. That and having family members who are sick was a point of discovery for a passion lying deep within me. With many role models to look up to, I knew from a young age that I wanted to work in healthcare to transform the medical field and the lives of others. Before I begin, I would like to introduce myself. I am Hannah, and I will be transferring to the University of Oklahoma this fall as a Junior. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC. At OU, I will be pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to study at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. My professional studies encompass philanthropy, innovation in the medical field, revolutionizing patient care, and researching cures for diseases. Outside of my academic profile, I can normally be found reading, spending time with loved ones, or pursuing my passions of music and intramural sports. Now that I have shared a little more about myself, I'd like to start where my passion for medicine began. I was six years old and had a mark on my face that needed to be removed. Fearing the surgery but thankful that the ruthless bullying was going to finally end, I met Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital. He reassured me that everything was going to be fine and explained everything he was going to do. His nurturing of my interest by letting me keep my anesthesia mask was the day I knew I wanted to follow in Dr. El Amm's footsteps. I have since been able to shadow him two times in the past two years, among other fascinating medical disciplines, to gain clinical hours. Between shadowing and helping some members of my family who are sick, I have a diverse vision of the medical field, and it is so fulfilling to my passion for helping others. Furthermore, with my aspirations to make a lasting impact on the medical field, being in research, I look forward to the opportunities that OU, the OU Honors College, and OU Medical School provide for students to be pioneers in their studies. I look up to fellow female scientists and doctors; I, too, would like to invent devices to help surgeons in the OR and find ways to noninvasively heal the body, minimizing downtime and scarring while optimizing healing. Being a woman in medicine is an extraordinary feat to accomplish. I want to pay it forward and inspire the next generation of women who have dreams as big as mine. Breaking down barriers has always been a goal of mine, and each degree I earn serves as a reminder that I am one step closer to achieving all that I set my mind to. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application.

My leadership journey began early in life, driven by a natural inclination that drew people to follow my example. Throughout high school and college, I worked to refine my leadership skills, gaining valuable experience and insight along the way. I’m Hannah, a rising junior at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track to finish my undergraduate studies. I recently graduated from OSU-OKC with an Associate’s Degree in Enterprise Development. My ultimate goal is to attend the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. In high school, leadership opportunities were limited, but I sought roles that held respect within my school community, such as participating in HOSA, the National Honor Society, and Student Council. Being inducted into NHS and serving as a first-year representative in HOSA were significant milestones. My election as First-Year Representative at the Francis Tuttle Biosciences and Medicine Academy (BSMA) HOSA Chapter was a proud moment. However, it came with challenges, including dealing with disrespectful behaviors from higher-ups within the chapter. I addressed these issues professionally, but eventually resigned due to unfair treatment by some teachers. College presented new leadership opportunities, especially when I was encouraged to run for the presidency of an on-campus organization. I was excited about the prospect of organizing fundraising events and leading the organization. However, after winning the election, I found myself taking on multiple roles—Vice President, Secretary, and even acting as an advisor—without formal training. The situation became difficult, with unsuccessful meetings and a lack of support from the advisor, leading me to resign. Despite these setbacks, I ensured that my contributions left a lasting impact; both the HOSA chapter and the organization struggled to fill the roles I had held because of the work I did. After leaving OSU-OKC, I attended a summer camp focused on leadership development. There, I learned about different leadership styles and how to build on my strengths. These lessons have shaped my vision for my future career as a surgeon. I aim to lead my team with fairness, embrace diverse perspectives, and foster open communication to prevent tension and resolve issues. My leadership experiences—though challenging—have been profoundly formative. They taught me resilience, professionalism, and the importance of creating inclusive environments. I am committed to applying these lessons in my medical career, aspiring to be not only a skilled surgeon but also a compassionate leader who values teamwork and communication. Thank you for considering my application and for taking the time to learn about my leadership journey. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

With anything, education can be a two-edged sword; it is all in what you make of it. For me, education has been a transformative tool as I work through my undergraduate studies. From this impactful tool, I hope to leave behind an inspiring legacy. Before I expand more on my story, I would like to introduce myself. I am Hannah, and I will start the Fall 2025 semester as a junior at the University of Oklahoma. I recently graduated from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development. Ultimately, I aspire to study at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult childhood surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. My professional interests include philanthropy, innovating the medical field, revolutionizing patient care, and finding cures for diseases through research to improve the quality of life for people around the world. Outside of my academic profile, I enjoy reading, volunteering, pursuing my passions related to music and intramural sports, and spending time with loved ones. As seen in my introduction, education has been, is, and will be a large part of my life. This fact excites me, as I enjoy learning new things and want to stay current with topics related to my personal and professional interests. Since I have been pursuing higher education, I feel that I have grown and flourished by accepting the challenge to keep my mind sharp. I have also established meaningful connections and sought out programs best suited to my field of study. One thing that comes to mind to describe the feeling of education being a two-edged sword is a situation I experienced this past spring, where I faced a beneficial realization. I was speaking with my Chickasaw Nation Recruitment and Retention coordinator, Connie, who mentioned in response to my statement about having to retake courses I already had prior knowledge of that there were CLEP exams I could have taken instead of pouring money into taking the same classes I had in high school. At the moment, I was quite upset and felt down on myself for a few days afterward; I felt like a fraud. Yet, after reflecting on the conversation, I realized that without Connie, I wouldn't have known about the opportunity. I immediately started exploring how I could take this new avenue to help save time, effort, and money at OU. In essence, education can leave one realizing many things. While it is okay to have mixed emotions about it, it is up to the individual how they want to see education. For me, I had my moment of unhappiness, but I used that situation as a learning experience, consulting many resources and gathering as much information as possible. I would describe this scenario as a puzzle; one never knows how each opportunity can fit into their journey. After I get settled in my career and start transforming patients' lives, I want to leave an inspiring legacy for others to look up to. Not for accolades or recognition alone, but because I want to inspire others just as I was inspired by my childhood hero. I want people to pursue their passions, and my legacy serves as a reminder that with hard work, dedication, and education, anything is possible. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Mental health has been a significant part of my undergraduate journey. From navigating the many twists and turns I have experienced thus far and dealing with difficult courses, to realizing how I could have saved time and money with CLEP exams, and learning invaluable life lessons from being in a leadership position with an on-campus organization with a challenging advisor. Before I start, I would like to share a little more about myself. I am Hannah, and I will begin the fall 2025 semester as an undergraduate junior. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City and will be transferring to the University of Oklahoma to finish my undergraduate journey while pursuing a Bachelor's in Biology and minoring in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. My professional interests include philanthropy, innovating the medical field, revolutionizing patient care, and finding cures for diseases through research. Outside of my academic profile, I consider myself a very well-rounded individual. I enjoy volunteering, staying active in on-campus organizations, pursuing my passions for music and intramural sports, reading, and spending time with loved ones. These activities help me stay grounded and keep my mental health in good condition. However, I understand that since my pathway toward my dream is not an easy one, there are circumstances where my anxiety tries to grip my confidence and prevent me from reaching my full potential. I would like to briefly describe some situations I have encountered and relate them to how my mental health journey has affected my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. First, I mentioned earlier that I have encountered many twists and turns related to higher education. Until my grandparents got sick right before I graduated high school, I had two four-year universities lined up for the following fall. My anxiety set in about that and the potential expenses of these institutions, so I canceled my applications, telling my parents I just wanted a job to be close and help out when I could. After conversing with my mom, she encouraged me that I was worth more than a job. I saw a sign that higher education was in my cards after I got waitlisted for Francis Tuttle's Culinary program, and another discussion with my mom motivated me to enroll at OSU-OKC. The change—and again, the potential expenses—made me very anxious, so I decided to pursue the radiologic technologist program at OSU-OKC. One day, however, as I was working on some anatomy homework, I reflected on why I couldn't continue working my way up to becoming a doctor. After making the appropriate changes, I worked my way through my courses until I came upon two opportunities during the Spring 2024 semester: a leadership role with an on-campus organization and a general chemistry course. Taking the general chemistry course to satisfy some of my pre-med requirements appealed to me, and after enrolling, I did end up learning quite a bit. Although I was learning some interesting things, the professor wouldn't make the exams or lectures fair, which triggered my anxiety to the point of almost avoiding homework, quizzes, and exams. The anxiety, coupled with living off coffee due to pulling consistent all-nighters, wasn't working well for me, so after discussing the matter with my academic advisor and family, I dropped the course. As for the campus club, I had been elected as club president, and the stress immediately started piling up. If I wasn't trying to think of ideas to plan, I was doing the jobs of the Vice President and Secretary. That stress, paired with the anxiety of things not being thoroughly planned and feeling like a one-woman island, led to several unsuccessful meetings with the advisor, ultimately causing me to resign and focus on my already-stressful coursework. Lastly, I believe that being elected president is a good segue into my final point about realizing how I could have saved time, effort, and money during my time at OSU-OKC, especially with plans to transfer to OU. Before I was elected president of the on-campus club, I was planning to fast-track my graduation, just as I did from high school. Being on pace initially made me anxious, especially since I might need to spend more time at OU, potentially affecting my medical school entrance. This past spring, while talking with my Chickasaw representative on campus, she mentioned—in response to my comment about feeling stressed about taking courses I already knew a lot about—that I could have taken CLEP exams for the courses I had prior knowledge of. I was anxious, angry, and down on myself for DAYS after learning this. With all these experiences, many aspects of my life have been impacted by my mental health. Regarding my beliefs, I now believe in reaching out to as many people as necessary to get help in difficult courses or challenging situations, whether through university tutors or my therapist. Additionally, I am grateful for relationships with people like my Chickasaw campus representatives, whose guidance helps me stay on the right track. Finally, while my career aspirations have never wavered, I continue to learn invaluable lessons that will further prepare me to be and distinguish me as a surgeon. In conclusion, my mental health journey has influenced many facets of my life. By maintaining a strong routine and engaging in activities that support my mental well-being, I believe I can better navigate life's challenges and look forward to what the future holds. Thank you very much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

So far during my undergraduate journey, I have been able to give back to my community through philanthropic initiatives. Additionally, I will be using my degree to continue paying it forward. After I get settled in my dream career, I plan on using my place in the medical field to help patients get to where they, too, can make a positive impact in the world. Hello! I am Hannah, and I am a college junior. I recently graduated with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC. I will be transferring to the University of Oklahoma to finish my undergraduate journey and earn a bachelor's in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. My professional interests include research, innovating the medical field, revolutionizing patient care, and finding cures to diseases. Outside of academics, I enjoy shadowing physicians, volunteering, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing my passions of music and intramural sports. Ever since I was a young child, it has been instilled in me to give. From helping my mom pick presents for the angel tree at Christmastime to helping others anytime they need, I have always loved giving. Additionally, having family members who were sick and experiences with my own health, I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. Therefore, I can resonate deeply with Destiny. An encounter with Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital for a mark on my face solidified what I wanted in a career. I started taking action by joining the National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society in Middle and High School, respectively. I made it a goal to exceed the number of required hours for each society and pursue volunteering opportunities on my own time. During my time at OSU-OKC, I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa chapter, and through my philanthropic efforts on and off campus, I received the SHINE Award both academic years for accumulating over 100 service hours. At OU, I aspire to continue being strong in philanthropy and acquire the skills needed to conduct research and begin honing in on my professional goals. Once I get to medical school, I plan on implementing and delving deeper into research findings and beginning my training to transform the lives of patients. Making the world a better place one day at a time as an undergraduate student is a lot of work, but I am committed to this achievement while keeping a high GPA, pursuing my passions, and engaging in self-care. To take the next step and continue my education is also a lot of work, and that is why I believe my story aligns closely with the mission and values of the Our Destiny Our Future Scholarship. This scholarship would not only help alleviate the cost of education for me and my family, this scholarship would also be an invaluable source of fuel to keep my focus on achieving these goals on track. To conclude, I look forward to honoring and upholding Destiny's legacy by positively impacting the world through continued philanthropy, education, and revolutionizing the medical field. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I will be a junior transfer student at the University of Oklahoma this fall. I am pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. I graduated this spring with my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. I aspire to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. Outside of academics, I look forward to participating in events hosted by OU Health Sciences, embracing my Native Heritage through programs with the Chickasaw Nation, learning more about leadership by holding leadership roles, and connecting with the student body by being a part of on-campus organizations. In my free time, I enjoy shadowing physicians, reading, engaging in philanthropic initiatives, spending time with my loved ones, and pursuing my passions for music and intramural sports. After earning my degree at OU, my dream is to attend the College of Medicine at OU to continue learning under Dr. El Amm. I am excited about many aspects of this next chapter of my life, including deepening my understanding of the fascinating functions of the body, continuing to pursue my interests in philanthropy and research, and establishing invaluable connections with my peers and professors. One of my professional interests is research, and I plan to utilize my degree from OU, along with my future MD degree, to innovate within the medical field, revolutionize patient care, and discover cures for diseases. I believe that by focusing on these interests during my final two years of undergraduate studies, I can contribute to improving the quality of life for people around the world. I am particularly eager to explore the opportunities offered at OU, both through the university and the honors college, and to see how I can contribute to advancements in the medical field. Specifically, I am interested in researching non-invasive treatment administration techniques that could reduce the need for needles, scarring, and downtime while optimizing sustainability and healing. Additionally, I want to explore holistic treatments and how physicians can adopt more of this approach, rather than relying heavily on synthetic drugs and invasive procedures. Moreover, I want to ensure that my findings are accessible to all, so that when individuals are in good health, they can find ways to make the world a better place through their chosen paths. Ultimately, giving back through innovative medical care resonates deeply with me as I continue to reach milestones on my journey to becoming a medical professional. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Having taken Social Problems during my time at OSU-OKC, it opened my eyes to some critical social issues. From the categories of government to family, I saw some social problems that have been close to my heart. While I am not pursuing a degree in sociology, nor will I be at the front lines in solving these issues, I feel that individuals walking a multitude of paths can make a change. After all, I have always known that change starts with self. To start, I would like to introduce myself a little more. I am Hannah, and I aspire to be a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. To pursue this dream, this fall I will transfer as a junior to the University of Oklahoma in Norman to earn a bachelor's in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. This spring, I graduated from OSU-OKC with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development. My interests include serving my community, researching innovative ways to better the medical field, and finding cures to diseases to enhance the quality of life of the world's people. During my undergraduate years, I aspire to start delving into these interests with the opportunities OU has to offer, allowing students to create and innovate. I also look forward to the research opportunities that the Honors College and the biology program at OU provide to start my efforts on curing diseases. These efforts will not stop as I work through medical school and get settled in my profession. Further, I desire to use my findings to better bridge the gap between underserved and indigenous communities and quality healthcare as a part of my interest in community service. My interest in community service far surpasses my acceptance to the National Junior Honor Society in middle school, National Honor Society in High school, and PTK at OSU-OKC to earn service hours. I enjoy participating in community service on my own time as well. Having taken the introductory Sociology and Social Problems courses, I learned the real impact that positive aspirations and initiatives can have on the world. I also feel that one of my callings with a career in medicine is to make the world a better place, one patient at a time. I look forward to continuing my higher education and clinical hours with these goals in mind. I feel that if we started by taking care of individuals' health, we could further inspire the advancement of solving other critical social problems. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

My mental health journey since high school and college has been filled with many twists and turns. I have experienced burnout in high school, which almost led me to quit and pursue a GED. I have struggled with anxiety and faced difficulties throughout college. Despite these challenges, I feel that my journey has brought me a long way. For the most part, I enjoyed my high school experience. I thrived in higher science courses, was able to work at my own pace, and gained early experience that would benefit my future in the medical field. However, after finishing my freshman year of high school, I learned that I needed to take a summer geometry course as a prerequisite for admission to the Biosciences and Medicine Academy program at Francis Tuttle. This news triggered the repercussions of not taking breaks the previous year. I completed the geometry course with a C, a result of my burnout, but the adversity did not stop there. I had teachers at the academy who did not have my best interests at heart, and an Epic Charter teacher who ceased communication, which caused struggles within my family. As a result, I began to shut down, and the idea of quitting high school and obtaining a GED became appealing. Thankfully, before making an impulsive decision, I spoke with some specialists at Epic who were eager to help me. After some trial and error, I found an Epic teacher who guided me toward graduating a year early, and I eventually achieved that goal. After graduating from high school, my grandparents fell ill. In response, I canceled my applications to UCO and OU to take a job that would allow me to be close to my family and help them when needed. After discussing my situation with my mom, I decided to continue my education and was waitlisted for Francis Tuttle's culinary program. Eventually, my mom encouraged me to pursue more than just a certificate, so I enrolled in OSU-OKC's radiologic technologist program due to its proximity and my specific financial situation. While completing some anatomy homework one day, I found myself reflecting on why I couldn’t keep pursuing my dream of becoming a surgeon. College has also been an interesting journey. Despite all the twists and turns I have faced, my desire to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon has never wavered. I am fully committed to putting in the effort necessary to distinguish myself from my peers, recognizing that this experience wouldn’t be complete without some challenges. Overall, college has been an amazing experience. I have forged countless connections and continued to flourish. However, I faced tough times, such as being correctly diagnosed with Autism and formally diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I experienced unfair treatment while serving in a leadership position for a campus organization and dealt with stress from a professor who did not ensure a fair general chemistry course. Ultimately, dropping the chemistry course and resigning from that leadership role resulted in significant improvements to my mental and physical health, as I knew it wouldn’t jeopardize my coursework or GPA. Currently, I will be transferring this fall to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track with a dream to attend OU's College of Medicine. My experiences with mental health have influenced many aspects of my life. I have learned that nothing, including goals, is set in stone. Regarding relationships, I cherish the connections I have made, am grateful to those who reached out to help me when I struggled, and have developed the invaluable skill of networking. I have come to understand that in the world, our experiences can either hinder us or provide growth opportunities—it's up to us to embrace the unknown and learn from it. In conclusion, I have made significant progress on my journey with anxiety, Autism, and mental health during college. I believe these experiences will set me apart from my peers, especially since a career in medicine requires a positive state of mental health. Engaging in activities I enjoy and applying the lessons I have learned make each day worthwhile. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! I am Hannah Rose, and I will be a junior at the University of Oklahoma this upcoming fall semester. In May, I graduated from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City with an Associate of Science degree in Enterprise Development. At OU, I will pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, my dream is to attend OU's College of Medicine to become both a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, just like my childhood hero. Having Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians as one of my many motivating factors pushing me to complete my degree is incredibly rewarding. I have been able to shadow Dr. El Amm and many other essential medical professionals, not only to gain a competitive edge and distinguish myself from my peers but also to expand my knowledge as a pre-medical student. I have never wavered in my dream of becoming a surgeon, even among all the other fascinating interests I've had as a child. Apart from having Dr. El Amm as a role model, my aspiration to become a medical professional would fulfill my desire to help others, innovate in the medical field, revolutionize patient care, and find cures for diseases through research. As I mentioned above, I have stood surefooted my whole life in my dream of becoming a surgeon. From excelling in science-based courses to having a lifelong special interest in medicine, my calling to be in a STEM-centric career excites me! The thought of cracking the code to cancer and helping patients daily with a similar story to mine motivates me daily to do well in my college courses, take the next step by participating in pre-medical events and shadow physicians, and start looking into potential research projects. Finding ways to innovate the medical field, revolutionize patient care, and researching the cures for diseases are the three ways I strive to make the world a better place, one patient at a time. I look forward to the programs that OU-Norman offers to start making that dream a reality during my undergraduate studies. I also feel that my dream school, of OU College of Medicine, offers a program that aligns with my aspirations; I feel that I could make valuable contributions to OU Health while I learn under and work alongside Dr. El Amm. Additionally, while information technology isn't the field I am going into, the medical field and information technology have several interconnections, and I look forward to fostering these interconnections once I am settled in my career. Speaking of my undergraduate studies, I have had a very unique experience thus far. From the twists and turns I experienced when I graduated high school, to dealing with difficult professors and club advisors, one challenge I feel has been the greatest would be learning about CLEP exams. While this may not seem like something that would be such a challenge, I would like to share a little more insight as to why my situation is different. Since college tuition is getting progressively more expensive, and taking into consideration that I am a native, first-generation, and special circumstances student, I don't receive many of the same opportunities as my peers. Therefore, part of the reason I enrolled at OSU-OKC was to try and cut down on time and expenses so that I can give myself the best shot possible for medical school, trying to stop student debt before it starts. However, my Chickasaw Nation Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Connie, told me a few weeks before graduation that I could take CLEP exams to achieve this goal. Not knowing about CLEP exams, I did some online research after my conversation with Connie and found that I had already taken the 16-week course version of a lot of the CLEP exams that OU offers at OSU-OKC. In my frustration, I took a step back and looked at the bigger picture; I would not have made many wonderful connections with faculty, staff, and students, nor would I have learned much more beyond the classroom portion of the courses I took. As it stands, I have my work cut out for me at OU, but thankfully, my experiences at OSU-OKC have taught me to go to every level of support when I am struggling, continue building essential connections, and absorb the things I learn to gain a much deeper knowledge than what is taught in a classroom. Now that I am past my challenge and earned my Associate's degree, I look forward to the experiences I encounter at OU and in medical school. That is where the Young Women in STEM Scholarship comes in. As I mentioned, having a lot of diversity on my side presents a special circumstance where I am heavily scholarship-dependent. Between my family having health issues, causing hefty medical bills, and since I am unable to work during the academic year, the Young Women in STEM Scholarship would help alleviate the financial burden of a four-year University on me and my family. I believe that my story aligns with the mission of this scholarship, and the help provided would not only assist me financially but also further motivate me to continue working to make my dream a reality. My commitment to my future is something that I believe will further distinguish me from my peers and will take me to greater heights as a woman in STEM. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

I am thrilled to apply for the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship, an opportunity that beautifully combines my passion for philanthropy, academics, and extracurricular activities. My name is Hannah, and I am a dedicated student who has just completed an associate’s degree in Enterprise Development at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. As I prepare to transfer to the University of Oklahoma this fall to pursue a Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in German on a pre-medical track, I wish to share my journey and aspirations with you. Throughout my college experience, I have discovered that engaging in extracurricular activities not only enriches my interests but also cultivates valuable leadership and team-building skills. My involvement in community service, music, physician shadowing, and intramural sports—such as biking, golf, and basketball—has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. At Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, I actively participated in various on-campus organizations, including those centered around philanthropy, music, and STEM, furthering my passion for making a meaningful difference in my community. One of the most impactful experiences I had was volunteering at a local children’s hospital, where I was able to interact with young patients and their families. I witnessed firsthand the resilience of these children and the profound impact that compassionate care can have on their lives. This experience solidified my desire to enter the medical field, as I realized that I not only wanted to treat patients but also to advocate for them. My commitment to healthcare is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to quality medical care, and I aim to be part of the solution. Driven by a lifelong dream inspired by my childhood hero, I am determined to pursue an MD degree at the University of Oklahoma’s College of Medicine. My ultimate goal is to work alongside Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children’s Hospital/OU Physicians as a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon. This career path embodies my desire to help others, transform lives, and innovate the medical field through research. I firmly believe that the intersection of medicine and philanthropy can lead to groundbreaking advancements that improve patient outcomes and foster community health. As a first-generation, special circumstance student, the journey to transferring to a four-year college can be an intimidating endeavor. However, my unwavering commitment to my dreams, coupled with the invaluable support from mentors and scholarships such as the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship, reinforces my belief that any obstacle can be overcome. The financial support from this scholarship would significantly alleviate the burden on my family and me, allowing me to focus on my studies and fully engage in opportunities that will enrich my undergraduate experience. Furthermore, receiving the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship would serve as a motivational reminder to persevere in the face of challenges. It would empower me to continue pursuing my passions and striving for excellence in all my endeavors. I am deeply grateful for your consideration of my application, and I eagerly look forward to contributing my skills, experiences, and dedication to the University of Oklahoma community as I work towards achieving my aspirations. As I prepare to embark on this new chapter at the University of Oklahoma, I am excited about the opportunities that await me. The institution’s commitment to academic excellence and community engagement aligns perfectly with my values and aspirations. I look forward to immersing myself in research, collaborating with fellow students and faculty, and participating in outreach initiatives that serve the community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I plan to continue my involvement in extracurricular activities that foster personal growth and leadership. I believe that participating in organizations related to my field of study, such as pre-med clubs and volunteer groups, will not only enhance my knowledge but also allow me to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for making a difference. In conclusion, I am truly honored to apply for the Hulede Collegiate Golf Scholarship. This scholarship represents not only financial support but also recognition of my dedication to my academic and professional journey. I am committed to using my education to better the lives of others and contribute positively to society. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to have the opportunity to make a lasting impact at the University of Oklahoma and beyond. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

It is not every day that you meet your hero at six years of age. I met Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians when I found out that I needed to have surgery for a mark on my face. After being bullied mercilessly about it, I felt relieved after Dr. El Amm assured me that everything was going to be all right and fixed my condition. This reassurance, exceptional care, and nurturing of my initial interest in medicine left a lasting impression on me and inspired me to follow in Dr. El Amm's footsteps as a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon. As of today, I have finished the first part of my undergraduate journey and earned my associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City; I will use that degree to start the fall 2025 semester as a transfer junior at the University of Oklahoma. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track, is the route I need to take to prepare myself best for the rigor of medical school. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the University of Oklahoma's College of Medicine to continue learning from and working alongside Dr. El Amm. In addition to completing the coursework required to pursue an MD degree, I have learned that shadowing hours, extracurricular involvement, and volunteering experiences will further enrich my preparation for the experiences that medical school will require. I enjoy a good challenge and feel that the originality of plastic surgery is what I would excel at the most. Furthermore, once I get settled in my career, I would like to hone in on my other professional interests. These include innovating the medical field, revolutionizing patient care, and finding cures to diseases. Driven by my passion for helping others and inspired by Dr. El Amm's creation of a set of superimposing loupes, I feel that my background in STEM and introduction to research will help me achieve these goals. To conclude, there are many motivating factors pushing me to pursue the higher education needed to become a surgeon like Dr. El Amm. I feel that my background, experiences, commitment, and efforts will distinguish me from my peers and future colleagues as I strive to help others and make the world a better place, one patient at a time. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

You lie in bed at night after just finding out that you have been admitted to The University of Oklahoma in the year you are supposed to graduate from OSU-Oklahoma City. You reflect on the hard work you have put in and have already spent countless days worrying about the financial aspects of paying for OSU-OKC tuition. On top of still discovering new things about college as you approach graduation, you spend your days stewing and worrying while completing assignment after assignment. This scenario is one of many that I have faced as an FGLI student. While being an FGLI student limits access to the same opportunities as my peers, I believe my situation sets me apart from my peers as I navigate my undergraduate journey. Being an FGLI student is a significant aspect of my identity as a student. To provide some background, my lifelong dream has been to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. As you can imagine, the experiences and education required for a career in this field present a substantial financial obligation, especially as college prices continue to rise. However, my story wouldn't be interesting if it were this straightforward. Originally, I was supposed to attend the University of Central Oklahoma for a semester and then transfer to OU after graduating from high school. However, when my grandparents fell ill (pictured far left), my mom and stepdad (pictured center and center-right) took on the primary responsibilities of caring for them. Along with wanting to support my grandparents, the concern over my parents having to bear the financial burden of UCO and OU without any internal or external scholarships (regardless of how many applications I submitted) prompted me to cancel my applications and seek employment instead. My mom reassured me that I was worth more than just a job, so I applied to Francis Tuttle's Culinary program. I began to stress about this opportunity because I didn't know if the tribal scholarship I was eligible for would help cover any costs associated with the program. Thankfully, that summer I still had some time, and my mom encouraged me that I was worth more than just the certificate this program offered. Once I felt I had exhausted my options, I remembered how much I enjoyed taking concurrent courses at OSU-OKC and enrolled to work toward a Radiologic Technologist degree. One day, though, during my very first semester at OSU-OKC, I heard a voice while working on some anatomy homework, asking me why I couldn't pursue my original dream. From then on, after I switched my major, I flourished at OSU-OKC despite the adversity I faced. Now that I will be transferring to OU this fall, I can continue working towards my goals. My goals for my future as a surgeon are to innovate the medical field and revolutionize patient care through research. I also aspire to find a cure for diseases through research to improve the quality of life for people worldwide. For this reason, in addition to gaining valuable insights during my undergraduate journey, attending college is very important to me. All in all, the Dounya Irrgang Scholarship for College Reading Materials would not only alleviate the financial burden on me and my family, but it would also inspire me to work hard for my goals. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

As a pre-medical Biology transfer student, mental health has been a recurring theme throughout the end of my high school career and my undergraduate studies so far. My experiences have provided valuable lessons in self-discovery and personal growth. To explore how my mental health has shaped my journey, I’d like to share a bit more about myself. I graduated a year early from high school, which was quite taxing. Starting in my sophomore year, one of the advantages of being an accelerated student was the ability to finish my courses early without taking breaks. However, when it came time to take a summer course as part of my admission to the Biosciences and Medicine Academy at Francis Tuttle, I was feeling burnt out and did not perform to the best of my ability. This experience taught me the importance of taking time for myself and rejuvenating when the opportunity arises. That, on top of merging my senior year with my junior year, called for a well-deserved summer holiday when I graduated. I carried this lesson with me when I commenced my studies at OSU-Oklahoma City. I aimed to complete all my coursework during the week so that I could enjoy time with family, friends, pets, and engage in self-care activities related to my interests. However, my time at OSU-OKC also presented challenges. Last spring, I enrolled in a General Chemistry course and struggled under the instruction of the professor. The professor did not adequately familiarize students with the lecture material or ensure fairness in the exams, which triggered a tendency in me to shut down when I feel I am the only one making an effort. Along with the demands of staying up all night or getting very little sleep while managing this chemistry course and a rigorous statistics course, I ultimately decided to drop chemistry. Additionally, my role as president of an on-campus organization was another challenge. I often found myself doing everyone else's job, and the advisor did not recognize my contributions, which led me to resign. These experiences at OSU-OKC reinforced the critical importance of taking breaks and avoiding overcommitment. In hindsight, I learned that prioritizing my mental health will be essential as I transfer to the University of Oklahoma this fall. Anticipating increasingly difficult courses and a busier schedule, I plan to practice balancing my academic and personal lives. I also envision applying these techniques as a future medical student. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. The experiences I have faced—past, present, and future—will distinguish me from my peers and colleagues. My challenges are not greater than my passions; as my primary care physician advised, my dreams and goals are larger than any obstacles I may encounter. I draw motivation from this advice and my commitment to following in Dr. El Amm's footsteps as I work diligently toward my goals. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

The first step in turning a dream into reality is to define what that dream is. My lifelong dream is to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, innovate within the medical field, revolutionize patient care, and find cures for diseases. To achieve this motivating dream, I have many stages of my journey to complete. I recently finished the first stage of my adventure by graduating from OSU-Oklahoma City with an Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development. Although this wasn't in my original plan, I feel that without this experience—the adversity faced and the opportunities presented—I would not have the skills, relationships, or knowledge I possess today. For that, I am truly grateful. Through my involvement in philanthropic efforts, personal growth, leadership development, campus engagement, and the knowledge I acquired, I feel that my time at OSU-OKC has well-prepared me for the next step in my journey. The next leg of my journey is transferring this fall to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all while on a pre-medical track. Embracing my passion for making the world a better place, I look forward to the opportunities that await me during my undergraduate studies, similar to those I encountered at OSU-OKC and even more. I am also excited to challenge myself with the rigor offered by OU's Honors College and to continue my involvement as a proud member of PTK, a service-oriented honor society. While I value these enriching activities, I will prioritize my mental health, which sets me apart from my peers. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I can truly make my dream a reality. Since I was six years old, after meeting Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, I have been determined to do whatever it takes to achieve this dream. Dr. El Amm has played a crucial role in my dedication by allowing me to shadow him twice over the past two years, strengthening my interest in his profession. Along with the possibility of working with him as both a surgeon and innovating devices and methods to improve people's quality of life, I am committed to putting in the hours necessary to fulfill my passion. In conclusion, many factors motivate me to turn my dream into reality. With a clear definition of my aspirations, I believe that one of the primary forces driving me is my passion for enhancing the quality of life for people worldwide. My work ethic and ambitions align closely with the mission of the Scholar Budget Define Your Dream Scholarship. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

It is not every day that you meet your hero as a pediatric patient. At only six years of age, I met Dr. Christian El Amm. Dr. El Amm not only provided exceptional care for my condition, but he also sparked the interest that I have thought about daily since my encounter with him. For this reason, I would like to be a leader in the field of pediatric and adult plastic surgery. My preparation for this achievement started at age eighteen. During my time at OSU-Oklahoma City, I had the honor of shadowing Dr. El Amm and other essential disciplines to intensify my interest, gain valuable exposure, and acquire insight into the lives of the professionals I look up to. Additionally, spending time giving back to the community through individual and campus-led volunteer service helped me further develop and fine-tune my purpose for serving in such a giving-centric role. Academically, I have thrived in biological science courses and look forward to participating in research. Participating in science-related summer academic programs, shadowing, and internships has also helped me grow personally, professionally, and given me a grasp of what I will be doing when I become a physician. Travelling internationally for education and my German minor has given me additional experiences that will help me better relate to patients culturally, personally, and medically. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine, for which I have two goals I would like to accomplish. The first goal includes researching ways to innovate the medical field. For example, administering medicine in ways that work better with the body rather than invasively with needles further revolutionizes patient care. Another way I plan to pioneer and lead in my field is to develop, possibly working alongside Dr. El Amm, other devices and techniques to help us surgeons in the operating room to treat our patients and help them heal not only less invasively, but with less scarring and downtime. The other research goal I aspire to accomplish as a physician is contributing to finding the cure to diseases, both complex, like cancer and Alzheimer’s, and simple, such as the common cold. No ailment is too big or small; my passion for helping others far surpasses any difficulty I may face. This passion, I believe, would help me through the rigor of the curriculum prescribed by OU-Norman and Medical School. I believe that my shadowing and academic experience, personal qualities, and commitment to enhancing the quality of life of the world’s people distinguish me from my peers. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Mental health has played a significant role in my higher education journey. From experiencing burnout at the end of high school to being diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I have navigated challenging courses and difficult professors over the past year. These experiences have profoundly influenced my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. After a year of continuous coursework in high school, I found myself burnt out by the time I had to take a summer course as a part of my admission to the Biosciences and Medicine Academy at Francis Tuttle. Consequently, my performance suffered. However, this experience taught me the importance of changing my mindset. I realized that I needed to focus on producing quality work rather than just completing assignments, and I needed to take time to rejuvenate after the rigorous school year. With this understanding, I experienced greater success at OSU-OKC. I made it a priority to enjoy my breaks and complete my coursework throughout the week, which allowed me to relax and prepare for the upcoming week during the weekends. However, during my second year at OSU-OKC, one of my courses was particularly challenging. The professor did not effectively prepare us for exams or familiarize us with the lecture materials. Additionally, I faced difficulties with a club advisor during my time as president of that organization. These challenges ultimately led me to drop that course and resign from my leadership role. My experiences at OSU-OKC reinforced the importance of taking breaks and avoiding overcommitment. They also taught me valuable lessons about maintaining healthy relationships and recognizing those that do not support my growth, as they can hinder my progress toward becoming a medical professional. To elaborate on how my experiences shape my career aspirations, I want to provide some background. My ultimate goal is to attend OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. Additionally, I aim to innovate in the medical field, improve patient care, and contribute to finding cures for diseases. To achieve these goals, I believe it is crucial to engage in activities that promote a positive state of mind and maintain a balance between my work and personal life. This approach will help distinguish me from my peers and future colleagues. In conclusion, I have learned immensely from both positive and negative experiences throughout my undergraduate studies. I look forward to continuing my self-discovery and prioritizing my mental health, as it affects not only my beliefs and relationships but also my career aspirations. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

I love to make people laugh. I've always felt that making others smile and laugh is part of my life's calling. I used to (and still somewhat do) try hard to be funny; sometimes my efforts didn’t land as well as I hoped, while other times I made people laugh without even trying. For the sake of this story, I want to focus on a time when I was intentionally trying to be funny. This story takes me back to third grade. One day, I was feeling humorous and decided to play a joke on my teacher. To give you some context, I had visited my biological dad some weekend before this day, and he shared a joke with me: "Someone told me that you were talking like owls the other day." It caught me completely off guard, and I took a moment to process it. After a few confused responses like "What?" I finally said, "Who?" He replied nonchalantly, "I guess they were right." Now, let me paint the picture of my school environment. At that time, my school housed second through fifth grades in a portable building. The second and third grades shared the same classroom, but the class sizes were still small. When you walked into the portable building, there was a "library" area for reading. On that day in third grade, we had some free time in class. When my teacher, Ms. Emily, was free, I approached her and asked, "Ms. Emily, can I talk with you for a second?" She agreed, and we went to the library. I began, "Someone told me that you were talking like owls the other day," trying to keep the most serious expression I could muster. I had to repeat it about three more times, but she never responded with "who." In her confusion, she said, "I don't understand." Finally, I gave in and exclaimed, "You're supposed to say 'who'!" When she finally got the joke, she laughed so hard, and then we returned to the classroom. In hindsight, I could have set it up differently for a more successful outcome, but seeing Ms. Emily smile and laugh that day was worth it. I've since learned to let humor and wit flow naturally and to execute jokes better for a bigger laugh. Thank you for listening to my story; I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed telling it!

There are many issues that I see in this world, many of which either haven't found or are too complex to have solutions. While I don't keep track of a lot of these issues, I have noticed issues that have been around for a long time, and I would like to be a part of the generation that makes the world a better place, one day at a time. To give some background information, I am currently a sophomore in college. In May, I will graduate with my Associate's degree from OSU-Oklahoma City and transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine and become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero. One issue I am aware of is the need to innovate the medical field and patient care. My childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, pioneered a set of loupes that allowed surgeons to superimpose surgical techniques on the patient for optimal accuracy. Part of why I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine is so that I can learn from and work alongside Dr. El Amm and continue to be a trailblazer by inventing a way to administer treatments noninvasively to promote healing at its finest. Another issue I find myself becoming increasingly passionate about is curing diseases. Having family members who have and as someone who has conditions that are incurable, I have seen patients like me and look forward to researching holistic ways to treat diseases that ravage the human body. Some of the steps I am taking as an undergraduate student to achieve this goal are partaking in undergraduate research opportunities with the OU Honors College and continuing research efforts in medical school. Ultimately, these two issues that I care deeply about drive me to receive the higher education I need to start my journey of making a difference. I am thankful to be participating in self and campus-led community service, allowing me to start giving back before I get to where I can start my research at OU. I feel that my story and aspirations align closely with the mission of the Women in STEM and Community Service Scholarship. I hope you got to learn a little bit more about me, the issues I care about, and my approach to positively impacting these issues. I appreciate your time and consideration greatly. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! I am Hannah Rose, and I am currently a sophomore in college. I am proud to say that I will be graduating in May from OSU-Oklahoma City. After I walk the stage, the next step in my undergraduate journey is that I will be transferring this fall to The University of Oklahoma, so that I can earn a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero. I have big plans to make the world a better place through my career. Before I elaborate on that, I would like to take a moment to describe the positive impacts I have contributed to thus far in my undergraduate studies. I have been heavily involved on campus through philanthropic projects, both individually and campus-led. I have also been selected to represent my college at events like Higher Education Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. I aspire to continue making big impacts like these in my career, not only by transforming patients' lives, but also by innovating the medical field and patient care, as well as curing diseases through research. Even though I am not of Caribbean descent, I am a proud Native American student, and I have chosen to embrace my heritage by crafting cultural replicas, engaging with the academic and career readiness programs offered within The Chickasaw Nation's Recruitment and Retention program on campus. I look forward to being a pioneer in representing a role not only as a surgeon, but as a physician in an underrepresented community. I am thankful to receive support as an indigenous undergraduate student and look forward to giving back once I get settled in my career. What I have already mentioned throughout this essay is a lot of work, from being heavily dedicated to my academics and being involved with many different roles on campus, to making time to stay engaged with my heritage, requires a need to have strong mental health. My academics are not easy, but I do my best to participate in self-care activities. Even with experiencing burnout and dealing with the stress of my studies, I have not wavered from my dream. While I stand strong in a majority of my beliefs, my beliefs on workloads and balances have changed considerably. Ultimately, I believe that my dreams and aspirations are significantly larger than any and every obstacle I face. Additionally, my mental health journey has taught me more about being assertive and standing up for my beliefs within my relationships. I have been brought closer to like-minded people, and have unfortunately needed to "weed out" certain people who are not supportive of my aspirations or goals; I do not need any more stress than my academics and extracurricular activities already provide. I hope you have enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about me and my goals. I appreciate your time and consideration for the Barnaby-Murphy Scholarship greatly. Thank you. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

As a Native American student who is also first-generation and with special financial circumstances, opportunities can be a little different for me than it is for my peers. Especially since I will be a transfer student this fall, the gap and burden of financing my dreams can be stressful and daunting. Even being daunting, my dreams and aspirations are much bigger than any and every obstacle I face. My name is Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore at OSU-Oklahoma City. I will graduate in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. This fall, I will transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. I have been honored to shadow Dr. El Amm twice in the past two years. I have also been able to shadow many other amazing healthcare professionals thus far in my undergraduate studies and have learned some invaluable information. These experiences are essential in my pre-medical preparation. I am also eager to learn more this fall when I transfer to OU, from the courses I take and opportunities to study abroad, to continuing to be involved on campus and embracing my heritage as a Native American. While my dream has never wavered from becoming a doctor, those burdens of the length of my education and finances, especially, are what put me at OSU-OKC. I worked hard in high school, committed to my dream, but because of some family members falling ill, I knew the burdens of time and money would get bigger. Even though I originally enrolled at OSU-OKC for the radiologic technologist program, I heard a voice telling me that I need to continue working towards my dream and that opportunities will be revealed unto me. I am thankful for the opportunities that have been presented to me, from philanthropic projects and campus involvement in clubs and leadership roles, and an amazing start to my journey at OU. I am honored to be where I am right now. However, even with the opportunities for first-generation, special circumstances, and Native American students, there is still a large gap that I need to bridge to alleviate the burden on my family. On the bright side, though, scholarships like the NE1 NE-Dream scholarship would instrumentally contribute to alleviating the financial burden of a four-year University and provide me with the motivation I need to complete the second part of my journey in becoming a doctor. Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my story and for your consideration of my application for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

There was once an elementary school student who struggled significantly with math. She would try to ask her teachers to no avail and, at least once weekly, come home crying because she wondered why "she didn't get math like other kids." After class daily, if she didn't get help from her peers, she would also bring her math homework in hopes that her mom could help her. Her mom naturally didn't remember much from school; not even her grandad could help her. She thought she would never be able to get it and feared it would interfere with her big dream. Fast forward to middle school, and math finally clicked for the girl. She flourished during her middle and high school years. Finally, when she got to college, the tables had turned, and she was the one helping others with math. She felt relieved that she could continue working towards her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. That student was me. I struggled for so long with math until the tables turned for me. It has been so nice to help my peers, as we are all in this race together to graduate and make something of ourselves. Helping people has been something I have enjoyed doing since my early childhood, and my dream to continue helping people in the position of a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon is the entire reason I am on my undergraduate journey. Thus far, I will be graduating in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-Oklahoma City. This fall, I will be transferring to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. My ultimate goal is to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a doctor while learning from and working alongside my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. When I become a physician, I will proudly be representing my native heritage in the field of medicine. Along with this achievement, I look forward to innovating the medical field and patient care through research; finding cures for diseases is also on my radar to make the world a better place. Through philanthropy and campus involvement, hard work, and commitment to my goals, I know that I will make a difference not only as a physician in the future, but also today as a student. Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my story and for your consideration of my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Mental health has been a pivotal component of my undergraduate journey, influencing every facet of my life from my commitment to academics to my involvement in extracurricular activities. Whether I’m crafting intricate miniature replicas of Chickasaw artifacts or finding tranquility through meditation during long car rides, I recognize the profound effects these practices have on my overall well-being. As a student with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), I have come to prioritize mental health just as I do my coursework. The transition from high school to college highlighted the importance of healthy mental habits, both for personal growth and for standing out as a future medical professional. Clarity and resilience are qualities I aim to bring into my practice, knowing they are essential for sound decision-making and compassionate care. My advocacy journey began after experiencing burnout in high school. Despite the option to take breaks, I pushed myself to excel academically, ultimately sacrificing my well-being. This mindset backfired when I struggled in a summer course meant to prepare me for the Biosciences and Medicine Academy at Francis Tuttle Technology Center. After the class ended, I took time to rejuvenate, but I remained uncertain about how to prevent such an overwhelming state from happening again. Fast forward to last spring. I was enrolled in 18 credit hours while grappling with personal challenges. The pressure was relentless, and I often spent nights awake, fueled by caffeine and a desperate determination to meet the demands of General Chemistry and Elementary Statistics. This period became a crucial turning point for me—the frustration culminated when I realized that my efforts in Chemistry were being compromised by an unfair teaching environment, where I seemed to be the only one committed to succeeding. After difficult conversations with my mom and academic advisor, I ultimately decided to drop Chemistry, settling for a B in Statistics instead. Through these challenges, I have learned the importance of sharing my experiences with peers and friends, not just to advocate for mental wellness, but to actively engage in creating a supportive community. I believe in the power of vulnerability and connection; by being open about my struggles, I hope to foster an environment where others feel safe to express their challenges. It’s not just about sharing stories—it’s about building a network of support where we can learn from one another’s experiences and, ideally, avoid similar pitfalls. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and consider my application for The Learner Mental Health Empowerment for Health Students Scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore at Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. I am proud to announce that I will be graduating in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. My next steps on my journey to becoming a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon involve transferring to The University of Oklahoma this fall to earn a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German on a premedical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to learn under my childhood hero. I can relate to Kalia in many ways. I, too, have considered the ROTC pathway, and my peers can count on me for a good laugh or academic support. We are all in this journey together, striving to graduate and achieve our goals. Many have commended me for my kindness and work ethic; my passion for excellence strongly motivates me to obtain my degree. I have been, and strive to continue being, a straight-A student, and I am willing to put in the hours necessary to become the best surgeon I can be. During my undergraduate studies, I have had the honor of serving in various leadership roles within student organizations at OSU-OKC and representing my college at various events. Additionally, I make it a priority to give back to my community through individual and campus-led volunteer service. I believe that the invaluable lessons learned from these projects and philanthropic efforts have significantly contributed to my personal and professional growth over the past two years. I also plan to embrace my love of travel through potential opportunities to study abroad via my minor in German and the Honors at Oxford program at OU. I would like to elaborate on the goals and dreams I mentioned earlier. When I was six years old, I underwent surgery for a mark on my face. Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians provided exceptional clinical care and ignited my interest in following in his footsteps. Over the past two years at OSU-OKC, I have had the privilege of shadowing Dr. El Amm, gaining critical insight that has reaffirmed my career choice. My dream has not wavered since I was six; rather, I have gained a deeper understanding of my aspirations, inspired by Dr. El Amm and my desire to help others. In addition to my goal of becoming a surgeon, I aspire to innovate in the medical field, improve patient care, and contribute to finding cures for diseases through research. As I take the next steps in my pre-medical journey by transferring to OU, this scholarship would honor Kalia's legacy and provide the support and motivation I need to continue pursuing my ambitions. In conclusion, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to apply for the Kalia D. Davis Scholarship. I look forward to ensuring that my goals of ambition, excellence, and kindness remain at the forefront of my studies, career, and research. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Hello! I am Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore at OSU-Oklahoma City. I have a life-long dream of becoming a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon inspired by my childhood hero. I will be proudly graduating in May with my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development, and I will transfer to The University of Oklahoma this fall to major in Biology and minor in German on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine for my MD degree. At OSU-OKC, I balance my hard work in academics with being heavily active with campus involvement, including Music, Writing, and STEM clubs, which reflect my passions. I have also held leadership roles in a few other organizations that I am involved with. I'm also part of the Chickasaw Nation Recruitment and Retention Program, embracing my native heritage. Additionally, I take part in philanthropic efforts, both individually and through campus programs; through these activities, I have learned the importance of giving back to the community and making a difference, one project at a time. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and engaging in recreational sports like golf, biking, and basketball. I cherish making memories with family, friends, and pets, and I practice self-care to maintain balance amid the academic rigor, striving to set a positive example for my peers and future patients. My career choice in surgery was profoundly impacted at age six when I underwent surgery for a mark on my face and met Dr. Christian El Amm from OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. His exceptional care sparked my interest in his profession and the way he nurtured my interest compelled me to build a rapport with him. After another surgery at fourteen, I learned I could shadow him in college. I have been honored to have shadowed Dr. El Amm twice in the past two years, further affirming my career path. Through my future as a surgeon, I aim to make a significant positive impact. Alongside my philanthropic efforts, I plan to innovate the medical field by developing noninvasive treatment methods and conducting research to find cures for diseases. I recognize that achieving my goals will require perseverance, invaluable lessons, and building connections through academic success and organizational involvement. However, as a low-income student with special circumstances, financing my education while transferring to a four-year university poses a significant challenge. I believe The Robert F. Lawson Fund for Careers that Care aligns strongly with my goals of the significant positive impact I plan to make on the world, as well as helping others, and would considerably alleviate the financial burden for me and my family. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

As a future medical professional, I aim to embody key values throughout my undergraduate studies, including academic excellence, personal and spiritual growth, and a commitment to uplifting my community—principles that Chidubé exemplified. My name is Hannah Rose. I am a sophomore at OSU-Oklahoma City, graduating in May with an Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. Academic excellence is a priority for me. I graduated a year early from high school to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children’s Hospital/OU Physicians. He not only treated a mark on my face during my childhood but also supported my aspirations from the start. Dr. El Amm's kindness, shown by allowing me to keep some of the medical equipment from my surgery and letting me shadow him, has deepened my sense of peace regarding my future career. To follow in his footsteps, I will continue my undergraduate studies as I pursue a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German on a pre-medical track as a transfer student this fall at The University of Oklahoma. I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I hope to learn from Dr. El Amm and contribute to innovative research that can cure diseases and enhance patient care. While I aim to improve the world through research, I am also committed to ministering to my patients with my faith. Personally and spiritually, I have grown immensely in the past two years amid various challenges, such as navigating difficult decisions about higher education after high school and supporting my family during my grandparents' illness. I have also learned valuable lessons as president of an on-campus organization last fall and while addressing issues with a department at OU. These experiences have taught me the importance of allowing God to guide me on my journey. I have come to realize that my ultimate dream far surpasses any obstacles I will face. Beyond academics, I actively engage in various campus organizations and leadership roles, which help me learn about myself and my peers. I prioritize self-care through intramural sports like golf, biking, and basketball. My hobbies include journaling, reading, playing music on my drum set, pursuing research on my interests, and spending time with family, friends, and pets. A particularly meaningful activity for me is community service; my focus is on giving back rather than receiving accolades. I am proud to have received the SHINE award twice at OSU-OKC for completing over 100 volunteer hours each academic year through the university, my Phi Theta Kappa chapter at OSU-OKC, or individual efforts. Through my professional pursuits and philanthropic activities, I remain dedicated to uplifting my community. In conclusion, my story aligns closely with the mission of the Chidubè Bobby Lee Green, Jr. Nkiruka Memorial Scholarship. As a minority Native American student, this scholarship would significantly alleviate the financial burden of transferring to a four-year university for my family and me as I strive to make a positive impact in the world. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am currently a sophomore in college. I am proud to share that I will be graduating with my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC this May. Following that, I will be taking the next step in my educational journey by transferring to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a Minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. This decision is deeply rooted in my childhood dream. At the age of six and again at the age of fourteen, I needed surgery for a condition on my face, which led me to meet my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm. He is a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon affiliated with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. It was not only Dr. El Amm's skill and care as a clinician that inspired me, but also his nurturing support of my dream. He allowed me to keep some items used by the surgical team, such as my anesthesia mask, which further sparked my interest in medicine. Over the past two years, I have had the opportunity to shadow Dr. El Amm twice, and these experiences have only solidified my desire to follow in his footsteps. After completing my Bachelor's degree, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I hope to learn under Dr. El Amm and, eventually, work alongside him as a physician. My ambitions extend beyond just caring for children and adults; I also aim to innovate within the medical field, find cures for diseases, and revolutionize patient care through research. My commitment to pursuing Dr. El Amm's path has remained strong throughout my life. I have been fortunate to gain exposure to my dream medical school and have taken proactive steps during my undergraduate studies to stay on track with my goals. These steps include graduating high school a year early, maintaining a high GPA, challenging myself with honors programs, and getting involved on campus through various organizations, including the music club, STEM club, Chickasaw Nation Recruitment and Retention Program, and Writer's Club. I also engage in philanthropic efforts, either on my own or through OSU-OKC's PTK Chapter. However, my journey has not been without obstacles. As a first-generation college student, a student with special circumstances, and a Native American, I often face challenges in accessing the same opportunities as my peers. The Charles B. Brazelton scholarship would significantly alleviate the financial burden of college for me and my family, particularly as I transition to a four-year university. I believe my involvement on campus and in extracurricular activities aligns with the mission of this scholarship. Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Success can manifest in numerous ways, each uniquely shaped by personal aspirations and journeys. For many, it may be symbolized by milestones such as graduating from college or advancing in a chosen career. For me, the vision of success has burned brightly ever since childhood, fueled by a profound experience that set me on my path. At the tender age of six, I was introduced to my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, during a pivotal moment in my life—a surgery to address a significant concern on my face. Dr. El Amm, a dedicated pediatric and adult plastic surgeon at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, not only provided exceptional medical care but also went above and beyond to nurture my burgeoning interest in the medical field. His kindness and expertise left a lasting impression on me, and from that moment, I knew that I wanted to emulate his example and become a doctor. A memory from later that year further signifies my interest in being a medical professional. I was begging my family to buy me children’s medical encyclopedias. My mom got me one, and I read and understood every bit of it. I would always dress up as a doctor for every costume occasion, and I would enthusiastically tell anyone about what I wanted to be when I grew up when anyone would ask. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to shadow Dr. El Amm on two separate occasions. Those experiences were transformative, as I witnessed firsthand the dedication, precision, and compassion required in the medical profession. Each moment solidified my resolve to follow in his footsteps, reaffirming my desire to pursue a career in medicine. My educational journey has been filled with challenges and triumphs. I have embraced every twist and turn, grateful for the lessons they have imparted. As I approach graduation from OSU-OKC with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development this May, I reflect on the foundation I've built. This fall, I will take the next significant step in my journey by transferring to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a bachelor's degree in Biology, paired with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track. Acceptance into the honors college has opened doors for greater academic opportunities, exposure to potential connections at my dream medical school, and a chance to participate in philanthropic efforts that resonate with my values. Each of these experiences adds vibrant colors to the canvas of my vision for success. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I not only hope to work alongside Dr. El Amm but also aim to innovate within the medical field and improve patient care. I am driven by the desire to contribute to groundbreaking research that could lead to curing diseases and transforming lives through the narrative of my story. This opportunity would not only bring me closer to achieving my dream but also significantly alleviate the financial burden on both me and my family as I transition to a four-year university. This journey toward success is not just about personal achievement; it reflects my commitment to making a meaningful impact in the world of medicine. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

When I was young, I had a place on my face that my classmates would bully me about mercilessly. However, everything changed when I was six years old and met my childhood hero. I learned I needed surgery to remove the place, and Dr. Christian El Amm, a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, not only saved me from the bullying but also first inspired my interest in medicine. With his enthusiasm for my interest, he allowed me to keep some of the items used by the surgical team, including my anesthesia mask. Since that encounter, I have aspired to follow in his footsteps and become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, driven by a passion for helping children and fellow adults like me. My commitment to this career path has never wavered. When I was fourteen, I had to undergo another surgery as the mark had grown back. During that time, I asked Dr. El Amm if I could shadow him in the future. Although I had to be eighteen to do so, he was excited to hear more of my interest. When I turned eighteen, after completing my first semester of undergraduate work at OSU-OKC, I was able to shadow him and his nurse practitioner during my Christmas break. As an underrepresented Native American, I felt great excitement about representing a field that lacks diversity in the Native American medical community. That initial shadowing experience with Dr. El Amm, followed by another one a year later, further solidified my choice to pursue a career in medicine. Currently, I am a sophomore and will proudly graduate in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC. I will transfer to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all on a pre-medical track with honors. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine as the final step in my journey to follow in Dr. El Amm's footsteps. Additionally, I aim to innovate in the medical field and improve patient care while working to cure diseases through the narrative of my personal experiences and research. This journey comes with its challenges. As a BIPOC, First-Generation, and special circumstances student, I often find myself without the same opportunities as my peers. Furthermore, my family's health issues add to the financial challenges of pursuing a college education, which is particularly daunting as I prepare to transfer to a four-year university. The Lucent Scholarship would significantly ease the financial burden on my family and me as I strive to become a leader in my field. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

I have been blessed with experiences that have profoundly shaped my life and aspirations, particularly through my strong Christian faith, which I embraced at the tender age of five. This foundation has provided me with the resilience and guidance necessary to navigate life's challenges. One pivotal moment in my early years was my encounter with my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, when I was just six years old. As a patient in his care, I experienced firsthand the compassionate and transformative power of medicine. The relationship I developed with Dr. El Amm later blossomed during my pre-medical studies, where his mentorship and dedication to his craft ignited my passion for pursuing a career in medicine. Inspired by his example, I aim to specialize as a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, blending my love for healing with innovation. My name is Hannah Rose, and I am currently a sophomore at OSU-OKC, where I am on track to graduate in May with an Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. With my eyes set on transferring to The University of Oklahoma this fall, I plan to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in German, all within a pre-medical track. My ultimate aspiration is to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I hope to cultivate my skills as a surgeon dedicated to healing and innovating in ways that can transform lives. I firmly believe that without God's presence and guidance, I wouldn't be where I am today. My journey thus far has been one of continual transformation and growth, and I hope to use my personal story to inspire and benefit others as well. The Jim Maxwell Memorial Scholarship holds great significance for me, as its mission aligns perfectly with my desire to serve and empower youth, just as Dr. El Amm empowered me during my formative years. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate financial burdens, allowing me to concentrate fully on my studies and engage in meaningful community service. Faith has been my anchor throughout my undergraduate studies, particularly during times of adversity, such as the challenges I faced in General Chemistry and navigating the dynamics of leadership within group projects. Yet, amidst these struggles, I have also celebrated significant achievements, including my acceptance into highly competitive summer programs and OU's Honors College and TRIO program. These milestones serve as powerful motivators as I approach graduation, reminding me of the importance of perseverance and hard work. Inspired by my unwavering support system and fueled by the desire to follow God's plan for my life, I look forward to future challenges and opportunities. I am grateful for the chance to apply for the Jim Maxwell Memorial Scholarship, and I eagerly anticipate the contributions I can make to my community and the field of medicine, empowered by my faith and the support of those who believe in my dreams. Thank you for considering my application. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am currently a sophomore in college. I am proud to say that in May, I will graduate with my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC. This fall, I will be transferring to The University of Oklahoma, where I am eager to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all while following a pre-medical track. My ultimate goal is to attend OU's College of Medicine, where I hope to follow in my childhood hero's steps by becoming both a Pediatric and Adult Plastic Surgeon. I am passionate about innovating patient care and contributing to the medical field while also working towards curing diseases through efforts in ministry and research. Throughout my time at OSU-OKC, I have actively engaged in a variety of philanthropic initiatives through OSU-OKC and my PTK chapter, allowing me to give back to my community while fostering personal growth. My volunteer experiences have been extensive and rewarding, providing me with insights into the lives of others. I have also embraced extracurricular activities, including crafting items that celebrate my native heritage, which has been a fulfilling way to stay connected to my roots. Singing at karaoke events organized by the music club has also been a delightful outlet for creative expression. Alongside these activities, I have taken on leadership roles in both the writing club and travel club on campus, fostering collaboration and growth among my peers, all while maintaining a commendable 3.94 GPA. On a personal note, I find joy in recreational sports, reading, and spending quality time with my family pets. Engaging in self-care activities is crucial for my mental, physical, and emotional health. I strongly believe that self-care empowers me to put my best foot forward in my academics, philanthropic efforts, extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities. These experiences foster resilience and adaptability, which will be instrumental as I continue my academic journey through my last two years of undergraduate pre-medical studies, medical school, residency, and eventually my career as a physician. I want to demonstrate to my patients that if I prioritize my health, I will be better equipped to care for them with compassion and dedication. As a first-generation, low-income student navigating unique challenges, the journey toward my dream of becoming a surgeon has its hurdles. While transferring to a four-year university as a junior eases some of the financial burdens associated with obtaining a degree, the reality is that I still require additional support to alleviate the financial strain on myself and my family. The Kumar Family Scholarship would be an invaluable resource as I complete my undergraduate studies. I firmly believe that my campus involvement and my determination to bridge the financial gap of higher education for my family resonate closely with the mission of the Kumar Family Scholarship. Thank you for considering my application for this scholarship. Your support would make a significant difference in my educational journey and help me achieve my aspirations of making a meaningful impact in the medical field. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am currently navigating my journey as a college sophomore. I took a bold step and graduated from high school a year early, driven by my passion for learning and a desire to challenge myself. This May, I am excited to complete my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development at Oklahoma State University—Oklahoma City. Looking ahead, I will transfer to the University of Oklahoma for the Fall 2025 semester, where I will pursue a bachelor's degree in Biology with a minor in German, all while following a pre-medical track. My ultimate ambition is to attend OU College of Medicine, where I aspire to specialize in both pediatric and adult plastic surgery, a dream inspired by my childhood hero. I feel a deep connection with Ella because I have always embodied an "I'll do it myself" mentality when working toward my goals. This tenacity fuels my love for various activities, including intramural sports like golf and basketball. Additionally, I am a passionate drummer. I often lose myself in the rhythm of music, allowing it to be both an escape and a form of expression. Embracing this fighting spirit has been instrumental in overcoming challenges, particularly my experiences with anxiety. While I have not faced the trials of substance abuse, I have encountered substantial adversity, particularly with the impact of anxiety on my aspirations. Public speaking once felt daunting, and engaging in conversations—whether it was posing questions in class or asking for extra napkins at a restaurant—was a significant hurdle. However, with the right support, I have made immense progress; I can now confidently approach my public speaking course and participate actively in class discussions. Although I still grapple with anxiety, my resilience keeps me steadfast in pursuing my dreams. Part of my strategy for success includes a commitment to managing and improving my mental well-being. I aim to excel in my public speaking course, utilizing it as a platform to reshape my thought processes and tackle moments of overthinking or worry. Additionally, I actively seek guidance from my counselor when the weight of my concerns feels overwhelming—a practice that has proven vital in my journey. Through my experiences, I have come to recognize that one’s state of mind plays a pivotal role in overcoming challenges. I view my diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) not just as a hurdle, but as a source of motivation; it propels me toward my goal of becoming a medical professional, so I can help others who have faced similar battles. My passion for making a difference is reflected in my daily ambition to bring a smile to at least one person, whether they are a friend or a stranger. It's these small, meaningful interactions that can spark significant change in both individuals and communities. I believe my journey aligns beautifully with the mission of the Ella's Gift Scholarship. My connection to Ella’s spirit and her struggles speaks to a shared dedication to self-improvement and creating a positive impact. Thank you sincerely for considering my application for this scholarship. Your time and attention are greatly appreciated. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

From an early age, I knew I was different. Struggling in school, particularly with math and making friends, led to many days of coming home crying. I often saved my math homework for someone who could help me since I didn't have access to tutoring and felt anxious about asking my instructor for assistance. I was misdiagnosed with ADHD in elementary school, and between trying nearly every ADHD medication available and dealing with the emotional turmoil from my parents’ divorce when I was three-and-a-half years old, I became very discouraged about my social and academic life. The struggle with math continued until middle school when everything finally clicked for me. However, I continued to face bullying and had difficulty making friends until high school. It was during high school that I began to thrive and carve out my path toward higher education. Now, in college, I am flourishing even more. I have finally been correctly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) level 1, and I even assist others with their math homework. While I still encounter some challenges in forming friendships, I have not only found a sense of belonging at OSU-OKC but have also made significant progress in navigating social relationships. It continues to amaze me how far I’ve come, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help others. Helping and caring for others has been a lifelong passion. From consoling my mom during her episodes of debilitating headaches caused by brain trauma to recognizing the need for more professionals in the field I aspire to work in, I have always been driven to support others. A pivotal moment in my life occurred when I met my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, when I was six years old. Later, when I was fourteen, I had the chance to meet him again at the same hospital. It wasn’t just the exceptional clinical care he provided that fueled my interest in the medical field; it was also his encouragement of my early passion for medicine. So far, during my first two years of undergraduate studies, I have had the opportunity to shadow Dr. El Amm twice, which has solidified my decision to aim for a place at the OU College of Medicine and to eventually work alongside him. Another factor driving my desire to become a surgeon is my keen interest in innovation. This fall, as I transfer to OU to pursue a bachelor's degree in Pre-Medical biology with a minor in German, I look forward to engaging in philanthropic efforts and research initiatives. I am eager to contribute to advancements in the medical field, work on curing diseases, and improve patient care. I believe my story, despite the challenges posed by ASD, aligns with the mission of the Dylan's Journey Memorial Scholarship. I draw strength from my ASD diagnosis, as well as the unwavering support of Dr. El Amm and my mom, as I pursue my dream of becoming a surgeon. Additionally, I am grateful for the support I receive from my counselor and the TRIO programs and Accessibility office, which are instrumental in setting me up for success. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! I am Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore in college. I will graduate from OSU-OKC with an Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development. I will also transfer this fall to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology on a pre-medical track. I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero. Reading has been an instrumental hobby ever since a very young age, and it started when my mom would read five books a day while she was pregnant with me. I have always been at a higher reading level than my peers, and this crucial skill has helped me tremendously in college. From giving me a sense of creativity even with the rigorous academia that competes for my attention. In high school and college so far, I have participated in my local library's summer and winter reading programs, and I feel that by participating in these programs in addition to attending educational summer programs, I am that much more eager to learn each semester. One personal experience with reading that has heavily influenced my decision to pursue a profession in the medical field was when I begged my mom for a children's medical encyclopedia from Barnes and Noble when I was about five or six years old. She ended up caving in and bought it for me. That evening when we got home, I was already in my room reading that book and understanding every bit of it. This experience, paired with meeting my childhood hero not too long after getting that book and my mom's support for my dream, has given me such great motivation to become a medical professional. Thank you so much for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

As a child, I lived with my single mother for nine years until she and my stepdad married, entering us into a blended family, so I understand both sides of the situation. My parents divorced when I was three and a half. For a while, dealing with that situation and craving attention from my absent biological dad contributed to the struggles I faced in school, exacerbated by being bullied and undiagnosed Autism. Being in a blended family has its ups and downs, but even with the rough patches, I feel I learned valuable life lessons to apply in my own life, both personally and professionally. Currently, as a transitioning adult, I am seeking the help I need and enjoying college so far. Now, I would like to share more about my story, goals, and future. In elementary school, I met my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm with OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. I was a patient of his and between his way of nurturing my interest by explaining what he was doing and letting me keep some items from my surgery and my mom for being there and encouraging me through school, my dream of following in Dr. El Amm's footsteps hasn't changed much being in a single and blended family. I faced some struggles in high school, but when I started my high school studies, I started thriving. I have flourished even more here at OSU-OKC and will be graduating in May with my Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development. I will be transferring this fall to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology on a premedical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to follow in the footsteps of Dr. El Amm. In my career, I imagine a future where I not only treat pediatric and adult patients alike, but I minister to them with the lessons I have learned in my life, personally, academically, and professionally. I also imagine a future where I research to innovate the medical field, patient care, and cure diseases. I have been greatly inspired by people like Dr. El Amm and other medical professionals who use their talents for the greater good and help others. Because of my passion for helping others and making the world a better place, I believe that my service to the medical field will be an asset and I look forward to the lessons I learn then too. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship

Hi! I am Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore at OSU-OKC. I will graduate in May with my associate's degree in Enterprise Development and transfer to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's in Biology on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero. Adversity has been a recurring theme in my personal and academic life. For this essay, I would like to focus on a specific challenge I am currently facing: finding ways to finance my education at OU and medical school. Unfortunately, the FAFSA does not consider me for aid as a special circumstances student. I am actively applying for external scholarships, but the heavy academic load this semester, as I approach graduation, makes it difficult to keep up. I am also considering joining the military; however, the advice I’ve received suggests that it may be too late for me to join ROTC programs. People I speak with often refer me to someone else for guidance on different programs, which hasn't helped me share my complete story and what I am looking for. As a Native American, I have the opportunity to apply for various scholarships specifically for Native Americans, in addition to the small tribal scholarship I receive from the Chickasaw Nation. Unfortunately, I am uncertain about the application process and have been unable to connect with anyone who can assist me with the necessary steps. Figuring out how to finance college is a major stressor for me because, as a student with special circumstances, my family has money. However, even though we are tied up in different places, our health has not been in good shape, and we have to prepare for costly medical bills. My family has also done a lot for me, and I want to help alleviate that financial burden on my family and myself. I am overcoming this adversity emotionally by first reminding myself that scholarships will come in time and that my financial situation isn't something that I can directly control as I continue my pre-medical journey. Physically, I overcame this adversity by looking into my options, asking many questions, engaging in money-saving techniques in college, working with OU's financial services about looking into options as a special circumstances student, talking with and applying to scholarship programs at OU, and continuing to apply to external scholarships that will help cover the cost of college. Through this adversity, I have learned three major lessons and would give the advice I was given to anyone: look into all of your options, take the journey one day at a time, and know that your dreams and passions are bigger than any struggle you may face. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

My maternal grandfather, Jim Gilbertson, served in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1963. After his military career, he became a father to my mother and aunt, a grandfather to my older cousin, and now, a great-grandfather to my cousin's child. My grandfather has always been there for me, taught me some important life lessons, and made some very fond memories with me. For this essay, I would like to share two fond memories with my grandad, with one also containing a wonderful lesson he taught me. To start, I would first like to share a fond memory with Grandad. Almost five years ago, when I was learning to drive and gaining hours to earn my driver's license, Grandad and I were helping my mom with a vendor show. When it came time to pack up, however, there were lots of heavy tables and packages to carry, so Grandad was worn out by the time we were driving home. I remember we pulled into a Sonic parking lot, and he told me, "If you're hungry or thirsty, I will get you something, but are you trying to earn hours to go towards driving?" I naturally replied, "Yes," but let me first say that Grandad normally doesn't let anyone other than himself drive, especially in his car. He told me to switch seats with him, and not only did I drive the rest of the way home, he fell asleep for a while on the highway. Having that trust from Grandad boosted my confidence as I finished getting my hours toward my license, especially since Grandad is a little stubborn about being a passenger. I always smile when I think about it, and that memory particularly comes flooding back when I drive him anywhere. I also appreciate when Grandad teaches me valuable lessons and gives me the experience to learn. To finish, I would like to share the memory with the lesson. I was maybe five or six at the time, but I was learning how to ride a bicycle. Grandad taught me how to ride a bike, but when it came time to remove the training wheels, I was nervous that I would fall and was scared to get any scrapes. Grandad was guiding me my first time riding my bike without training wheels, and when I told him that I was nervous, he reassured me by saying, "There is a verse, 2 Timothy 1:7, that says "God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and of a sound mind." I reflected on this verse and rode my bike for the first time without training wheels without falling. This lesson has carried with me my entire life. As a college student, especially one who will be transferring as a junior to The University of Oklahoma to earn my Bachelor's degree. The transfer process is a large one, but I know I am excited, have peace about this University, and have many people who will support me on my academic journey. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. Hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Being a Chickasaw citizen is not just a part of my identity but a profound and cherished cornerstone of who I am. Celebrating my heritage fills me with pride and purpose, as my Native American background plays a pivotal role in shaping my educational journey and future aspirations. The support I've received through my heritage has significantly alleviated the financial burdens of college, opening doors to essential resources that have helped me thrive academically. More importantly, it has instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility—especially in a health profession where representation of Native Americans remains scarce. I don’t perceive my Chickasaw identity purely in terms of tangible benefits, yet I am truly grateful for the small tribal scholarship that has lightened the financial load shared between me and my family. Additionally, I have been fortunate to benefit from the recruitment and retention program tailored to support Chickasaw students, now thriving at OSU-OKC. This program has not only spurred my academic success but has also allowed me to forge a meaningful connection with my roots. Through my relationship with the program coordinator, Connie, I have stayed engaged and informed about vibrant cultural events that enhance my resume while enriching my life. Engaging in traditional activities—such as weaving intricate baskets, crafting mini replicas of moccasins and stickball sticks, and mastering the delicate art of beadwork—has provided me with a profound sense of identity and belonging. These hands-on experiences have also enabled me to earn valuable points toward items needed for my dorm and upcoming classes as I prepare for my transition to The University of Oklahoma, where I will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. As I navigate through this extraordinary chapter of my life, I have genuinely enjoyed getting to know Connie, as well as forming connections with fellow students in the Recruitment and Retention program. I will carry fond memories of these friendships and their support with me as graduation approaches. When the day arrives, my eagle feather adorning my cap and my beautifully crafted Chickasaw stole draped over my gown will serve as proud symbols of my heritage. They will help me stand out, allowing me to embrace and celebrate my identity as a graduating Chickasaw student. Looking toward the future, representation in my chosen career is a vital aspiration for me. I dream of attending OU's prestigious College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero. Realizing this ambition will not only fulfill a personal dream but will also place me among a small yet impactful group of Native professionals dedicated to serving their communities. I am eager to minister to my patients, conduct research, find cures for diseases, and innovate within the medical field. I take immense pride in being a Chickasaw citizen, and I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration for this scholarship opportunity. hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am a college sophomore. I will be graduating in May with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC and will transfer this fall to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, following in the footsteps of my childhood hero. Change has been a constant theme throughout my life, and while I have handled it better at times than others, I am now embracing recent changes as I work towards becoming a doctor. I believe in making positive changes in my life because you never know what blessings may result. For example, I transitioned from struggling in math and dealing with behavioral challenges in my childhood due to undiagnosed autism to assisting my peers in college with math and building essential connections for my undergraduate studies. Making the necessary changes to grow into a successful young adult has been transformative, and I am grateful for the second chance I received. My goal of becoming a doctor involves three major steps. The first step, earning my Associate's degree, will be completed this May. Next, I will earn my Bachelor’s degree, and finally, I will pursue my medical degree. While listing these steps seems straightforward, I approach my journey one day at a time. In addition to attending classes and maintaining a high GPA, I engage in cultural events celebrating my Native American heritage. This summer, I will participate in an internship to gain valuable insights into my future career. I also serve my community through volunteering, taking part in campus organizations, holding leadership roles, and shadowing physicians to explore different medical disciplines. The Second Chance Scholarship will significantly help alleviate my college expenses as a first-generation student facing special circumstances. Receiving a higher education and earning degrees represents a significant milestone stemming from the second chance I received as a child. I want to prove to my younger self that it is indeed possible to turn one’s life around and that things will get better with the right mindset. I look forward to paying it forward by helping others recognize their own second chances. Becoming a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon will allow me to contribute through ministry, patient care, research, curing diseases, and innovating in the medical field, providing opportunities for others to receive their second chance. Additionally, I will continue my philanthropic efforts. Thank you for your time and consideration for this scholarship. hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Imagine yourself in an elementary school classroom filled with students working on a math assignment. You look down at your desk, feeling your face warm and wet, and notice droplets starting to fade the ink and pencil marks, making the eraser crumbs swim around. You don’t understand the assignment at all, but you’re too scared to ask the teacher for help. Hiding under your sweatshirt to avoid drawing attention from your peers or the teacher, you try to keep your breathing steady. You whisper, "Jesus," hoping He will give you the strength to reach out for help. This vivid memory reflects the struggles I faced throughout my elementary school years. In addition to struggling with math, I longed for the attention I was missing from my absent biological dad, which led me to act out. Unfortunately, I was also bullied for various reasons: my appearance, my behavior, and my undiagnosed and misdiagnosed autism. Memories of this bullying often resurfaced during activities like lunch, recess, or class time. Whenever I came home crying to my mom, she would offer me this piece of advice: "When you feel the enemy trying to get the best of you, whisper 'Jesus,' and the enemy HAS to flee." I felt helpless, lacking access to tutoring because I didn’t know what resources were available or how much they might cost, and family members couldn’t offer much math support. Although I am Native American, my mom and I were unaware of any tribal resources that could have helped. However, taking my mom's advice ultimately changed my life for the better. The sixth grade marked the beginning of my transformative journey. I received a wake-up call to work on my behavior to the best of my ability until I could get the help I needed. While the bullying continued into high school, I found the strength to confront both my biological dad and my bullies. Math finally clicked for me, and I began to excel, shifting from needing assistance to being able to assist others. I am blessed to have graduated a year early in the top ten percent of my class from high school. My blessings have continued, and in May, I will proudly graduate with my Associate's degree from OSU-OKC. Following that, I will transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology on a Pre-Medical track. Ultimately, I aim to attend OU's College of Medicine to fulfill my calling of becoming a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, just like my childhood hero. I aspire to contribute to medical research, cure diseases, innovate the medical field, and treat patients facing challenges similar to mine. I am incredibly thankful for my mom's advice to rely on my faith to overcome these significant obstacles. I look forward to sharing my story through ministry, volunteering, and service on campus and within my community, as well as with my future patients. I am excited about where life will take me and the path that God has in store for me. Thank you for reading my story and for your consideration. hannah.r-1@ou.edu

Hello! My name is Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore in college. I will graduate from OSU-OKC with an Associate's Degree in Enterprise Development in May. I will transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a bachelor's degree in Biology on a pre-medical track. My dream is to attend OU's College of Medicine and become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians, following in the footsteps of my childhood hero. Becoming a surgeon has been a lifelong ambition of mine. Due to a medical condition, I met Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital when I was six years old. Since then, I have not only been his patient but also had the privilege of shadowing him twice during my first two years of undergraduate studies. Throughout this inspiring journey, I have faced one of life's greatest challenges: growing up as a child of divorced parents. As a child, the absence of my biological dad and the realization that he didn’t want a relationship with me was deeply painful. This impacted my behavior in school, leading to bullying compounded by my appearance, and I struggled academically. At home, I exhibited challenging behaviors that resulted in disciplinary issues. Additionally, my experience with undiagnosed and misdiagnosed Autism left me searching for answers. Gradually, I began to find my path. In sixth grade, I had a wake-up call that encouraged me to focus on my studies, advocate for myself, and seek the support I needed to improve my behavior. Although bullying continued into high school, I remained determined to rise above it and achieve my goals. In middle school, I learned to let go of the pain associated with my parents' divorce, and in high school, I confronted my biological dad. Receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) last year has provided clarity and support, helping to shape my identity further. This journey of choice and change has strengthened my character and demonstrated that I can overcome hardships. I have thrived in high school and continue to flourish in college. I am grateful for the connections I've made, the experiences I've gained, and the knowledge I've acquired. I look forward to learning even more as I progress along my academic journey. However, being a student with special circumstances comes with its challenges. I rely heavily on internal, tribal, and external scholarships to support my higher education. I want to alleviate the financial burden on my family, especially since their health requires frequent doctor visits that often lead to significant medical bills. The Special Delivery of Dreams Scholarship would alleviate the financial stress on my family while allowing me to give back to the community. I have been actively involved in community service projects since middle school, exceeding the required volunteer hours for organizations such as NJHS, NHS, and PTK. This scholarship would not only support the remainder of my undergraduate studies but also enable me to pursue my Medical Degree, allowing me to contribute to the medical field through research and patient care, just like my childhood hero. Since my diagnosis of ASD, one of the insights I gained was understanding my deep, special interests in various subjects. Some of my special interests include medical knowledge, how things work, and music. While philately isn’t one of my special interests, I believe studying stamps can impart valuable lessons. I encourage young people to pursue any hobby, including philately, as such activities can enhance conscientiousness. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and considering me for this scholarship. hannah.r-1@ou.edu

"Let's get together, yeah, yeah, yeah! Why don't you and I combi-ine?" is my favorite famous song line from the 1961 film "The Parent Trap," which stars Hayley Mills in a dual role. The movie is adapted from Erich Kästner's novel "Das doppelte Lottchen." Among the many book-to-film adaptations I’ve enjoyed, I wanted to focus on this one because I have fond memories associated with it. A few years after my mom introduced me to the film, I decided to read Kästner's novel out of an interest in German culture and a desire to see the differences between the book and the movie. After reading the book, I noticed that while there were some changes—such as a different title, Americanization, shifts in setting, and various plot modifications—both the book and the film are generally quite similar. I’d like to share some of the memories related to watching the film. When my mom first played it for me, she expressed how much she loved it at my age. This bonding experience brought us closer and sparked a tradition of enjoying movies together. I also remember when we went shopping for movie night and bought fig newtons to reference that memorable line, "Want a fig newton?" We ended up laughing together for a long time. Other memories include playing my drum set to "Let's Get Together," learning to also play it on guitar, and rewatching the movie many times —even today— since then with the same excitement and admiration as when I first saw it. As I mentioned earlier, I thoroughly enjoy listening to "Let's Get Together," not just in the movie but as a standalone song. One reason I like that song is that it feels like an anthem for siblings or friends with a strong bond who support each other, similar to the song "Thank You for Being a Friend" from the TV show "The Golden Girls." Additionally, I love the upbeat rhythm and the wonderful performance by Mills, as well as the song's symbolism as portrayed in the movie. On a more serious note, "The Parent Trap" resonates with me on a different level. My parents separated when I was three and a half years old. In my young mind, I imagined my parents doing something —not necessarily marriage— like the film’s plot so I could finally have my dad around. However, after my dad remarried and continued to distance himself from me, that subconscious hope eventually faded away. Overall, the combination of fond personal memories, appreciation for the iconic motion picture soundtrack, and a personal connection to the plot paints a clear picture of my adoration for "The Parent Trap" adaptation of Kästner's "Das Doppelte Lottchen." I hope you’ve learned a little more about me and my taste in media. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider my application. Hannah Rose hanrose@okstate.edu

When I was in elementary school, I struggled immensely with math. None of my peers offered to help me, and I felt too anxious to ask the teacher for assistance; math was never explained in a way that I could understand. Unfortunately, my difficulties at school led to frustrations at home, where my mom or grandpa couldn’t help me either, as it only confused them more. It wasn’t until middle and high school that math finally “clicked” for me. Surprisingly, it wasn’t until college that I started helping my peers with math. Despite still struggling in some subjects and occasionally needing the same help I did as a child, I can’t help but marvel at how the tables have turned, where others now come to me for assistance. When people do reach out for help, I gladly oblige, understanding how it feels to be scared to ask a teacher and to be met with indifference from peers. This, along with my volunteering experiences—both personally and through my high school and OSU-OKC—has equipped me with the skills to assist others. Each time a peer asks for my help or I engage in volunteering, it reinforces my passion and purpose to help others reach their potential. Another example of this is when my friends seek my advice. While I don’t consider myself an expert, I strive to be a comforting source, a listening ear, and a caring heart. It pains me to see people feeling sad or hurt, and I believe it has been one of my callings since childhood to help people throughout my career. One memory that stands out is when my mom would have such severe headaches that she had to lie on the couch. I would always tell her, “It’s okay, Momma; I will build you a house,” while gently rubbing her arm. This memory, along with my other experiences, gives me a purposeful motivation to continue my education and pursue a career as a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon. Because of my dedication, I flourished in high school and graduated a year early with honors. I am now on track to graduate in May with my associate degree from OSU-OKC, and I plan to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to earn a Bachelor's in Biology. To achieve my career goals, I ultimately want to attend the OU College of Medicine and follow in the footsteps of my childhood hero. These experiences have provided me with purpose on my educational journey, and I am excited for the experiences that lie ahead. I am thankful for the invaluable lessons I learn from every encounter and volunteering experience I engage in. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and for your consideration. Sincerely, Hannah Rose hanrose@okstate.edu

I have faced many experiences of adversity, from discouraging remarks from family, friends, and teachers to sacrificing my chance to graduate mid-term because of a club I joined on campus. Today, I am on track to graduate with my Associate's degree in May from OSU-OKC, transfer to the University of Oklahoma to earn my Bachelor's degree, and ultimately pursue my passion at the OU College of Medicine to become both a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, just like my childhood hero. From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be in the medical field, which is why I chose plastic surgery. My mom and Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians were pivotal in igniting my dream. Throughout my school years, I faced bullying due to a mark on my face. In middle school, a teacher made fun of my anxiety, and a family member mocked me for my hands shaking because of medication I was taking at the time. Despite encountering unfriendly peers and difficult teachers during middle and high school, I thrived when I was able to learn at my own pace, which allowed me to graduate a year early with honors. So far in college, I have flourished even more. I have grown significantly as a person, academically, and professionally, even after sacrificing my chance to graduate mid-term due to a negative experience as president of a club. That experience, challenging as it was, taught me invaluable lessons. My current goals, which include volunteering and gaining exposure at my dream medical school through shadowing experiences, are helping me achieve my professional aspirations. Volunteering, in particular, has shown me the impact I want to have on the world. I aspire not only to improve the lives of those around me but also to innovate within the medical field and patient care, while actively searching for cures for diseases. I believe my story aligns with the values expressed in the John Young "Pursue Your Passion" Scholarship. My ambitions reflect the future I envision as I care for patients who, like me, have faced challenges and are seeking the right opportunities to flourish, just as I have in high school and college. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story, and I appreciate your consideration. Hannah Rose hanrose@okstate.edu

My name is Hannah Rose, and I am a sophomore undergraduate student. I will graduate in May with an Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City. This fall, I will transfer to The University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, my goal is to attend the OU College of Medicine and become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, just like my childhood hero. Outside of my academic pursuits, I enjoy volunteering, participating in extracurricular activities, shadowing physicians, and spending time with family and friends. The Dream Valley Landscaping scholarship would greatly assist me in achieving my career goals by alleviating some financial burdens, especially given my family's special circumstances. I believe my strong work ethic and determination to maintain a 3.93 GPA reflect the values associated with the scholarship, as well as my commitment to my career goals and to giving back to my community. My lifelong aspiration to attend the OU College of Medicine and follow in the footsteps of my childhood hero requires extensive education and dedication. To stay ahead in this pursuit, I have had the opportunity to shadow five different health professionals, attend workshops, camps, and events hosted by OU Health Sciences, and participate in various volunteering opportunities, both independently and through OSU-OKC. I take great pleasure in giving back to my community, both on campus and in my personal time. Since middle and high school, I have engaged in numerous philanthropic endeavors. Thus far in my undergraduate career, I have volunteered at the Free to Live Animal Sanctuary, participated in campus clean-up events, and helped organize my Phi Theta Kappa chapter's Easter egg hunt. In addition to volunteering, I also strive to support my peers. During my school years, I often struggled to find help, so now that I am flourishing in college, I enjoy assisting my classmates with courses I have already taken. One experience that I consider a "failure" was my general chemistry course last spring. Throughout the semester, I faced challenges with some exam questions that were not fairly constructed. While I enjoyed the labs and learning about chemistry, I eventually lost the enthusiasm I typically have for science courses due partly to the professor's lack of support. Consequently, I had to withdraw from the course and plan to retake it at OU as part of my pre-medical prerequisites. I use the term "failure" because, despite the setback, I learned valuable lessons. I realized the importance of seeking extra help in difficult subjects, identifying a course format that facilitates learning and asking questions, and utilizing resources such as tutoring, professor office hours, and additional study materials. Lastly, I have noticed significant changes in my interpersonal and professional growth during my academic journey. Not only am I becoming an ambitious young adult, but I also possess strengths that I believe will distinguish me as a medical professional. I am empathetic, a leader, analytical, and innovative. I have always been able to understand the feelings of those I care about, I naturally take initiative and lead humbly, and I often catch what others miss while also missing what they catch. This paired with my ability to "think outside the box" will fuel my ambition to innovate in the medical field and improve patient care. Thank you for taking the time to consider my story and my application for this scholarship.

Adversity has presented itself many times throughout my higher education journey. From the tribulations surrounding graduating high school to navigating the various challenges I faced while working towards my associate's degree, I've had my fair share of struggles. Even in my weakest moments, I found the strength to persevere by reaching out to trusted individuals in my support system, allowing myself to process my emotions, and making a determined comeback. This resilience has brought me to the end of the first leg of my medical professional journey. To highlight my experiences since graduating high school, I want to share the physical and mental challenges I faced when I chose to forgo graduating mid-term this semester to lead a campus organization. The journey was not what I initially expected. After being elected president of a club at OSU-OKC, I found myself not only worrying about my schoolwork but also taking on more than my fair share of the leadership responsibilities. The advisor was unresponsive to my concerns, ultimately leading to a fallout. A fellow member even went behind my back, causing further distress. After exhausting my attempts to set things right, I sought guidance from my mom, my counselor, my Native American representative on campus, and a close friend. Talking to these individuals reminded me that I wasn’t alone in my situation. Before and during these conversations, I experienced a flood of emotions—crying and feeling intense anger. I felt anxious before club events and dreaded the activities, even those I had been excited to propose over the summer. Allowing myself to fully experience these emotions was crucial; it helped me organize my thoughts and develop a plan of action. Ultimately, while I was frustrated about missing the opportunity to graduate mid-term, releasing the anger and sadness surrounding my situation allowed me to create a new plan. I decided to resign from the club and focus on graduating in the spring. I completed my fall courses, volunteered, spent quality time with family and friends, and continued shadowing doctors. Today, I am on track to graduate from OSU-OKC in May with my associate's degree, after which I will transfer to OU to pursue a bachelor's degree in Biology to attend medical school to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, just like my childhood hero. Through this adversity, I have learned invaluable lessons: how to be a better leader, the importance of carefully considering leadership roles even when I have a prior rapport with an advisor, and that the steps I take to overcome adversity ultimately make me stronger when the storm passes.

My educational journey has been filled with challenges and changes. Starting in a different major, fast-tracking, difficult courses, and a leadership role that recheduled my time at OSU-OKC, I’ve overcome obstacles and am nearing my goal of becoming a medical professional. In my last year of high school, my dream of becoming a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon changed after my grandparents’ illness. I canceled two four-year university applications and wanted to work instead. With my mom’s support after that and being waitlisted for a culinary certification program at a career tech school, I enrolled in OSU-OKC’s radiologic technologist program. After my grandparents’ health improved, while working on anatomy homework about a month into my first semester, I heard a voice questioning my original path to becoming a doctor. After switching majors, getting admitted, and re-applying twice, I’ll attend OU for the fall 2025 semester. Last spring, a former professor offered me the presidency of a club she advised at OSU-OKC. Despite the challenge, I accepted, sacrificing my goal to fast-track my pre-medical journey. The stress of taking 18 hours of coursework, coupled with difficult tasks and poor attitudes from club members, officers, and the advisor, led me to reduce my course load and resign the following fall. Despite the adversity, I’ve learned valuable lessons. I’m grateful to have been admitted to OU again, graduating this semester with my associate’s degree, and staying ahead of my pre-med path. My passion for STEM, driven by the endless opportunities for innovation, has guided me. I aspire to innovate patient care and find cures for diseases, following in my childhood hero’s footsteps. However, pursuing a STEM degree presents challenges. Financial difficulties, exacerbated by my family’s health, make it difficult for me to work while studying. The Whiddon Memorial Scholarship would help alleviate this burden and inspire me to continue my passion for innovation, making the world a better place. Thank you for considering my application.

Hello! My name is Hannah, and I am a sophomore at OSU-OKC, where I am pursuing an Associate's degree in Enterprise Development. After completing my studies at OSU-OKC, I plan to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Biology on a pre-medical track. Ultimately, my goal is to study at OU's College of Medicine, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, who practices at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. Outside of academics, I enjoy participating in club activities both on and off campus. I have held various leadership roles and seized opportunities for volunteer service. I am grateful for these enriching experiences, as I have learned valuable lessons and look forward to what 2025 has in store for me, both academically and personally. In my personal life, I have many interests. In my free time, I love playing with my dog, reading and writing, listening to music, playing my drum set, and engaging in recreational sports. One significant aspect of my life is my experience with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which affects not only me but can also impact my relationships with others. Additionally, some members of my family have mental health conditions as well. I have experienced anxiety for as long as I can remember, but I was recently diagnosed with GAD and Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder. This diagnosis has provided me with clarity and the guidance I need to seek help in order to become the best version of myself. My therapist has helped me learn to categorize the reasons behind my anxiety. For example, I often feel anxious due to excitement, fear of the unknown, catastrophizing, and overthinking. Together with ASD, my anxiety has led to panic attacks, physical discomfort, and persistent negative thoughts that can be hard to shake. Physically, I tend to stim more; my hands may shake, my mind races, causing me to stutter, and I often feel jumpy. To others, this can sometimes come across as rude or standoffish, which is not my intention at all. Networking is an essential skill for my chosen career path. In the past, anxiety has also hindered me from asking questions out of fear of sounding "dumb," appearing "not attentive," or "questioning something I shouldn't." I started addressing my fear of rejection through a therapy technique based on a TED Talk from a gentleman who overcame similar challenges. This resonated with me when I was in seventh grade. I began by volunteering to ask the restaurant staff for simple items like napkins, and now I feel comfortable asking my professors anything without fear, as well as clarifying uncertainties with family members. While I cannot control the reactions of others, I can manage how I initially express my needs and how I respond to their reactions. I still need to practice to conquer my categories of anxiety, but I am grateful to know that I can overcome some of the challenges posed by GAD. Although GAD is a part of my daily life, I can take active steps to ensure I feel okay more often than anxious.

Hello, my name is Hannah, and I am a proud Native college student! I will be graduating this semester with my Associate's degree in Enterprise Development from OSU-OKC. After completing my Associate's degree, I will transfer to the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biology on a pre-medical track. My dream is to become a surgeon, inspired by my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children’s Hospital/OU Physicians. I aspire to attend OU's College of Medicine and specialize in pediatric and adult plastic surgery, with a particular interest in innovating patient care, advancing the medical field, and conducting research on conditions like recurring pilomatrixomas and potentially finding a cure for cancer. I maintain a 3.93 GPA and have received various awards for my club involvement and volunteer service. As a first-generation college student, I enjoy the college experience and actively participate in clubs, shadow physicians, and pursue my many special interests. One club that I am particularly engaged with is The Chickasaw Nation's Recruitment and Retention program, which helps me stay connected to my heritage as I navigate my academic journey. I appreciate the positive influence this involvement has had on my college experience and how it prepares me for my future career. While I am excited about my college journey, it hasn’t been without its challenges. I have faced many twists and turns in my education and career plans. Initially, I applied and was accepted to both UCO and OU before graduating high school. However, when my grandparents fell seriously ill, I had to make some difficult decisions. I am grateful to my mother for encouraging me to leave a job and a tech-school certification in culinary arts, as she knows I have wanted to become a doctor since childhood. To be closer to my family and take less time, I originally enrolled at OSU-OKC in the radiologic technologist program. One day, while working on anatomy homework, I felt a voice urging me to "get back on the path of becoming what you originally wanted to do." It was at that moment that I spoke with my family and academic advisor and realized, "This is it." Since then, I have actively pursued my dreams and goals. My journey to becoming a medical professional is also an expensive one. I have been fortunate to receive some Chickasaw scholarships and a few internal scholarships, but I rely on my family to help cover my college expenses. I am thankful that my courses at OSU-OKC have been more affordable, but coming from a family with special circumstances, I want to alleviate the financial burden for my parents and myself. The Anthony B. Davis Scholarship would greatly assist me in reducing the financial strain of my college education. I want my parents to continue supporting my grandparents and taking care of themselves, as both have serious health conditions. I feel a strong calling to provide exceptional care to my future patients, which I believe will positively impact society, especially for those who have faced challenges similar to mine. This scholarship would also serve as a significant motivating factor on my journey to becoming the doctor that six-year-old Hannah envisioned in Dr. El Amm. Thank you for your time and consideration regarding this scholarship.

Mental health is a priority for me, especially as a college student. It influences many aspects of my life, including my academics and overall well-being. Even during challenging times, I make it a point to engage in activities I love for self-care. In my academic life, I have noticed that my generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can affect my confidence in completing assignments or asking important questions needed to excel in my studies. I have learned the importance of prioritizing my mental health while attending college. From my experience, I understand how crucial it is to avoid burnout, particularly on my journey toward becoming a medical professional. When I start to feel overwhelmed by an increasing workload or struggle to decide which courses to focus on, I take a step back to assess my situation. I often find time to play with my dog, talk with friends, or spend time with my family at home to recharge. In my personal life, my anxiety can affect social situations and lead me to overthink various issues, impacting my well-being and possibly my relationships with others. Additionally, stress from academic responsibilities can sometimes carry over into my personal life. When I notice physical signs of stress, such as muscle tension or difficulty breathing, I take a moment to reflect on my achievements and appreciate how far I have come. I also set goals for my future. After this reflection, I either journal about my feelings or talk to someone I trust. Incorporating exercise into my routine is another way I boost my mood; whether it involves going to the campus gym, playing basketball, biking, golfing, or jogging, I find that it helps significantly. Sometimes, relief can come from simple pleasures, such as a smile or a warm cup of tea. I enjoy participating in language lessons, listening to calming sounds like crackling fire or ocean waves, reading books I’ve wanted to get to, or playing my drum set along with music. These activities help alleviate stress, allowing me to perform at my best. As easy as it should be, I can still get caught up in my personal life tasks and the rigor of my academic journey, forgetting to take a moment for myself. I have to remind myself that it's okay to take breaks and find the next best opportunity to rejuvenate from the many challenges life presents. I believe that a quote I recently came across is a good one to describe a person's relationship with mental health. The quote's origin is unknown, but it says, "If you don't schedule a break, your body will take one for you. And it probably won't be at a convenient time." Thank you for your time and consideration for the Mental Health Scholarship for Women.

From a young age, I knew I was meant to be in the medical field. When I was little, I had to have a growth removed from my face, and the doctor who cared for me has since become one of my biggest inspirations. I remember two significant moments from that time: before the surgery, while other kids made fun of me, my mom would always remind me, "Hannah, you are a star." Later, after my operation, people who saw my personality, smile, and academic talent would say, "Hannah has an illuminating smile and can light up a room with her presence. She is a very bright individual with a promising future ahead of her." My academic journey has already had many twists and turns. Before graduating high school, I was accepted into two excellent four-year programs but had to withdraw due to my grandparents' serious illness. After that, I focused on securing a good job post-graduation and was waitlisted for a culinary certification program at a career-tech school. Eventually, I switched my major from Radiologic Technology to pursuing an Associate's degree in Enterprise Development, which I am on track to complete this spring at OSU-OKC. After that, I plan to transfer to the University of Oklahoma to fast-track my Bachelor's degree in Biology. Ultimately, I aspire to attend the OU College of Medicine to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon, like my childhood hero, Dr. Christian El Amm, at OU Children's Hospital/OU Physicians. Two obstacles I faced in those many twists and turns were the time and financial aspects of attending even a two-year institution. I still wanted to be close to helping with my grandparents, but I thought that the radiologic technologist program would be better because it was still in the medical field, it took less time, and wasn't as costly. One day, though, as I was working on some homework my very first semester, I heard a voice say, "Why can't you continue your dream and let your full potential shine through." That is when I switched my degree pathway. Once I become a doctor, I aim to help people and innovate within the medical field. I see a need for research on various diseases and for more diverse, effective treatment options that genuinely benefit patients. Service and innovation are among my life’s callings. Overall, my dream of becoming a surgeon requires a significant educational journey, which can feel daunting, especially as a Native American and a first-generation college student. This is where the Bright Lights Scholarship comes in. This scholarship will help me reach my fullest potential as I progress through my undergraduate studies. With this support, I can strengthen my medical school application and strive to help children and adults who wish to shine in their ways. Together, we can illuminate paths for one another.

I have chosen to pursue a career in medicine, and in turn, medicine has chosen me. My decision to become a plastic surgeon specializing in pediatrics and adults was influenced by my childhood hero, Dr. El Amm, who helped me during a significant time in my life. My connection to medicine began with my experiences as a patient, particularly my first operation. Before that operation, Dr. El Amm sat beside me in the pre-operative room, calming my anxieties by explaining the procedure and answering all of my questions. He even allowed me to keep my anesthesia mask, which inspired me to play doctor and ignited my interest in medicine further. Because of this experience, my goal is not only to follow in Dr. El Amm's professional footsteps but also to emulate his exceptional bedside manner. I want my patients to feel trust and comfort, so they won't be afraid. By shadowing Dr. El Amm and learning from him, I aim to develop my patient-care ability throughout my undergraduate studies and medical school journey. This will not only shape my career but also amplify my passion for helping others. Additionally, I aspire to make a significant impact in the medical field and improve patient care by discovering cures for diseases and innovating procedures and diagnostics. I am motivated by Dr. El Amm's groundbreaking work and believe, as both a patient and a creative thinker, that advancements in patient care can greatly enhance the experience of invasive procedures and medication administration.

Free expression in the medical field is crucial, as the insights shared by doctors, nurses, and physician assistants can initiate research innovations and improve treatment options and patient care. Even simple knowledge and opinions can contribute significantly. Everyone in the medical community must have the freedom to express themselves. Professionals in the medical field can safeguard free expression by actively using it when communicating with patients, medical students, and colleagues. Creating an environment where individuals feel safe to express their thoughts without fear of reprisal is essential. To enhance the protection of free expression, educating both students and professionals on its importance and its potential to inspire medical innovations can encourage them to embrace and continue practicing free expression.

There is so much to the game of golf, from your choice of clubs to everything worth paying attention to in a golf swing. I have been interested in playing golf from a young age, and finally, having the opportunity to delve into practice and playing starting in middle school. I have learned so much and have overcome a significant challenge as a female golfer. Let me start by telling a story about how I began playing golf. From a young age, golf was something I was interested in. However, for the majority of my life, I lived with my single mother. One day, my stepdad came into the picture, and he was, in his words, "tickled pink" that I was interested in golf. I had a little kid's set that my paternal step-grandfather had given me, but I had quickly outgrown it. Dad, however, kickstarted my interest by taking me to our local golf shop, and we went clothes, clubs, and shoe shopping. We had a blast, and afterward, Dad got me started on some golf lessons after my 6th-grade year came to a close. This brought me to the challenge I faced. With a lot of the male teachers I had, I would end up feeling frustrated because I had raw talent but couldn't find a way to structure it. Feeling frustrated at my performance largely affected my game. I still hold the lessons I have learned from my previous instructors as the bits of advice like "ending on a good note" with a solid shot before I stop for the day is critical as feeling tired affects my shots. However, learning things differently (not just academically) applied to golf, and I felt like I was missing something and trying to learn something that just didn't feel natural to me and the way my body works. Fast forward to my junior year of high school before I graduated, taking a bit of a gap in the game as middle school and high school became increasingly busier, and we finally found a tutor who was also male, who helped me flourish. This gentleman, Jeff, had previously instructed me at a children's golf clinic at the golf club Dad belonged to in the spring of my 6th-grade year. Jeff gave me the tools I needed to be successful at the clinic and enabled me to demonstrate leadership in a sense, and because of that, my professionalism at the clinic awarded me the "Pink Golf Ball Award." Jeff wanted me to hone in on my natural talent. He strongly recommended a stance when I went to swing on the driving range, and when I applied his lesson, I hit the ball farther than I had ever done before. I also improved by leaps and bounds inputting. The different grip and the swing/stroke style made a world of difference, which ended up teaching me a valuable lesson that not only is it okay to learn differently -no "wrong" way- as long as my goals and desired consistency are reached, but it also matters how an instructor works with you. Developing a relationship is critical in many aspects of life. Even with this challenge of finding a tutor who would take my natural talent and alternative learning style, I am so appreciative of not only the lessons that Jeff has taught me but how he gave me that extra boost of help, confidence, and knowledge. I apply this life lesson in my academic career and look forward to applying it in my professional career as well.

Mental health is one aspect of my life that I choose to take very seriously. Throughout my life, I have had many ups and downs with my mental health, and now, as a college student, I have to especially prioritize my mental health as it affects my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. First, my experience with anxiety affects many of my beliefs. I am religious, so I pray and ask that God give me the strength and courage to face whatever situation I am in. That belief is unshaken. However, sometimes, my anxiety leads me to believe that someone I interact with thinks I am weird, look stupid, or something else negative. I tend to miss certain cues and gestures, adding fuel to the fire. I also get anxious when I have this thought process because I want to at least seem like I have it somewhat together for professors, peers, and others so that I don't appear awkward. This eventually affects my relationships. Speaking of relationships, I have been made fun of by peers and teachers because of my anxiety. When I am made fun of or left out because I am "different" or "weird," it hurts me, and I leave that person alone. It is easier to leave a peer alone than a teacher, but whether it is because of my stuttering when I am nervous or when I talk with my hands, being made fun of creates a vicious cycle of nervousness and negative anxious beliefs. If I am made fun of, the cycle repeats. Being made fun of and getting anxious ultimately make me hard on myself. Even at that, I like to network and build connections, which will be important to my future career. When it comes to my future career, I aspire to become a pediatric and adult plastic surgeon like my childhood hero, Dr. El Amm. When I shadowed him for the first time, not just the first time shadowing Dr. El Amm but my very first time shadowing, I was very anxious. I was amazed at how he was so confident and could not just talk to other people and give them eye contact but ask patients questions. Eventually, as the week went by, I gained more confidence, as a lot of my anxiety was the natural fear of the unknown. In a career as a medical professional, I have to be precise and do the right thing the first time. Working in a fast-paced environment and having to do a lot of thinking in multiple different areas makes me anxious as I feel more susceptible to messing something up somewhere along the way. I have to remember that I am not only learning, but I will have practice and guidance. I am not alone. I am bound and determined to become a medical professional, as it has been a lifelong dream and passion to help others. I am willing to do whatever it takes to learn the skills necessary to have effective communication and not have high-level anxiety days. I still have those days, and that is okay. My focus is on eventually being able to walk in a confident posture, diagnosing and treating patients so that they can have a better quality of life as they depend on me to help them get where they need to be. I am taking consistent steps to reach that goal, and I am proud that I am taking that initiative.

Sustainability is an important factor in keeping our water bodies and, most importantly, our earth as a whole. It is for this reason that I consider reducing my carbon footprint a critical factor. In my daily life, I try to implement as much sustainability as I can and look for opportunities to learn more about sustainability. Many large companies are actively working to reduce their carbon footprints. On a smaller scale, as an individual, one of the ways I reduce my carbon footprint is that I participate in Apple's device recycling program, not just to earn credit towards new devices but because I became aware of the coltan issue in middle school. I also encourage my friends and family to be mindful of their carbon footprints. I believe that I can make a difference by implementing practices that reduce my carbon footprint and by inspiring others to develop a similar sense of responsibility for our beautiful world. As for sustainability, there are many ways I practice sustainability, not just as an individual but as a college student. One thing I try to do is carry a reusable water bottle to help reduce plastic waste. However, if I do not have access to one and have to use a plastic bottle, I am conscious of how I dispose of bottles. Speaking of disposing of plastics, I do my best to throw applicable plastics, paper products, metal, and glass in the appropriate recycling receptacles. I believe recycling is a crucial part of fostering a circular economy, as I see many large companies, like I mentioned earlier, use some percentage of recycled material to make different products. If I cannot recycle a certain type of material, I take matters into my own hands and upcycle them. On the topic of upcycling, I believe upcycling is another way to implement a circular economy, as places I like to buy, donate, and sell from are second-hand stores like Goodwill and Plato's Closet. I also take the initiative to save unrecyclable goods and turn them into art, as artists who have done the same have inspired me to do the same. I also use paper as much as I can, making "homemade notepads" since high school with scrap paper that I can use as to-do lists or reusing notebooks from high school and college courses. If I can't use a notebook anymore, I take the blank pages out and use them as scratch paper. I would like to try to start making my own paper from old newspapers, paper egg cartons, and other paper products. Lastly, there are some more sustainability practices I would like to get around to as I go along my life journey. Water conservation, composting, and using alternate transportation methods such as biking are on my top-three list. I care deeply about preserving the wonders this world has to offer and will continue to do my part as an individual to practice these sustainability techniques and support others' development of these practices.

The Field of STEM is very important to me as a pre-medical undergraduate student. I have been interested in science my entire life, and having a hero in the medical field from my childhood kickstarted my career passion. Especially as a Native American and a woman, I look forward to encouraging future generations to be in my seat as a medical professional. When I was six years old, I had to have a place on my face removed. The doctor who performed my surgery wasn't a typical clinician, he sat down on my hospital bed and not only reassured me that everything was going to be alright to calm my fears, but he let me keep some of the equipment like my anesthesia mask to immerse me in the world of the medical field. Dr. El Amm became my childhood hero. From the time I had another operation in the same place at fourteen years old to the time I got to shadow him for the first time at eighteen, I solidified and confirmed that following in Dr. El Amm's footsteps for a career was my calling. I am thankful for this revelation as I rely heavily on my gut feelings. When I felt at peace about something like I did on my very first campus tour of OU, I knew I was supposed to go into the field of STEM and get my Bachelor's in Biology at OU. The same thing as taking a campus tour of the OU College of Medicine and the entire OU Health Science Center campus, I felt at home and felt strongly that I could further my STEM education and receive my Doctorate there. Lastly, the same peaceful feeling at OU Children's Hospital while I was shadowing Dr. El Amm is one of the major motivating factors to keep working toward my STEM career. One difference between Dr. El Amm and me, though, is that I am a woman. I am proud to be a woman and a Native American. As a Native woman, I look forward to breaking down barriers. While the medical field as a whole is not male-dominated, surgery still is, and one of my ambitions is to -while breaking down barriers- encourage the future generations of -not only just anyone- but females and natives especially to be what they want to be and feel led to be. I want future generations of medical professionals to feel empowered and have experiences like I did with Dr. El Amm as a child and a pre-medical student.

I enjoy being involved in my community thoroughly. It is a very rewarding experience, and I am thankful for the volunteering opportunities I have gotten to partake in. I also look forward to upcoming experiences because of the perspectives I gain, the collaboration factor and camaraderie, and the satisfaction of giving back to the community. The major factor contributing to my inspiration to get involved in my community is my lifelong passion for helping others and kindness. I enjoy every volunteering experience I have partaken in so far, but I truly feel like it is second nature when I am volunteering to help people. In high school, when I filled backpacks for underprivileged communities, helped clean a park with a group from my college, and went shopping with my college's PTK chapter to help stock the food pantry on campus, it was a feeling that I couldn't describe other than feeling complete. To ensure that I influence change in my community, I ensure that every day, I make at least one person smile, regardless of whether I know them or not. I also work to make sure that I either partake in or help facilitate volunteer opportunities around my college campus. I talk with some of the clubs that I am in and serve and try to help create a way for not just club members but the student body to be engaged and volunteer for clubs. I also try to help my peers be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities around campus. I feel that it is important for all individuals -not just students- to foster a sense of community and unity, as the word "unity" is found in the word "community." I also believe that it is important for students to give back, as a lot of students like me rely on scholarships to help pay for college. That way, students can feel a sense of giving back with the right heart. I grew up learning that when I receive, I need to give back. Therefore, when I receive things like scholarships from my college, I feel it is only right to partake in an activity that gives back to the college, whether it is the campus easter egg hunt, shopping for the food pantry, or campus clean up making my campus shine after picking up trash. Lastly, volunteering and getting involved in the community can help me network and meet key people like physicians I can shadow or resources around campus like knowledgeable peers who I can help, and they can help me with course questions or just a connection and friendly face. I also believe that volunteering can be a vital source of education, like being mindful of waste and the perspective that not everyone is very fortunate. I believe this is a critical mindset as I will be helping many communities in my future career as a surgeon.

For as long as I can remember, a career in STEAM, more specifically science, has been a dream of mine. My childhood hero and this dream have been one of many motivating factors to further my education so that I can become a surgeon and help children and adults with things like what my childhood hero helped me with as a young child. Dr. Christian El Amm at OU Children's Hospital helped me with a place on my face that needed to be removed when I was in the first grade. The comfort and compassion he gave me, in addition to him telling me what he was doing, didn't just calm my fears but sparked an interest that I am now furthering my education for. Many more doctors, like family physicians and other specialists, have fed my desire to learn and recently been able to shadow other physicians, but most importantly, Dr. El Amm has confirmed my career choice, and I am full-steam ahead on my education. As a child, after my first interaction with Dr. El Amm, I read medical encyclopedias and asked doctors many questions, not just about their "why" but questions about diagnoses, treatment, medicine, and how those things work have fueled my fire to not just becoming a physician but also finding a way to innovate the medical field and potentially cure diseases. Now that I am in college, I have had many more opportunities to network with and shadow physicians, take classes and attend workshops on the field of medicine, get face time with OU College of Medicine (my dream Medical school), and interact with students who attend. I am signing up for more summer camps and workshops outside of my volunteering efforts and academic career so that I can gain more exposure to Science and medical sciences. I also am consulting my tribe's internship program so that I may be able to intern for Dr. El Amm or another pediatric/adult general and plastic surgeon so that I can have those experiences and be ahead for when it comes time to apply to medical school. I am currently doing my undergraduate work and on track to graduate this spring with my associate transfer degree so that I can fast-track my time at OU to earn my bachelor's in Biology on a pre-medical track. I am choosing to fast track as I am trying to consider the time and financial aspects of completing my undergraduate work and attending medical school. Speaking of the financial aspect of undergraduate work and medical school, this scholarship will have a large impact on my goals noted earlier that I am working on achieving. This scholarship will be ultimately be a form of motivation to complete my degrees so that when I do achieve my goals, I can continue to give back. This scholarship will also help ease the burden of my family worrying about the financial aspect of my college years ahead. Every little bit adds up and helps so that I can be that much closer to achieving my goals. I am willing to do whatever it takes and actively working to make my dreams become a reality. I am thankful for those who help me along the way as we truly are all in this together. Thank you for your consideration and hearing my story.

Mental health and well-being are just as important as physical health and well-being; it doesn't discriminate, and it can affect different people in different ways. As a college student taking 15 hours of coursework -especially as I am getting ready to graduate this spring- I have to prioritize my mental health so it doesn't affect critical factors in my life as a student, like my GPA, networking and social abilities, and my ability to focus and work on my academics that demand much of my attention. I take my mental health very seriously, as I experienced burnout in high school, affecting my performance in a summer course that I needed to be accepted into a pre-medicine academy at a local technology center. Unfortunately, that burnout caused me to earn a C in that course, doing more than just tanking my GPA but discouraging me from preparing for the more advanced math courses at this academy. I overcame those hurdles and graduated in the top 6% of my class, and I finished with a high GPA from high school. Even being thankful for the ultimate positive turnout, I have since made mental health a high priority when I started college. Even in college, I stretched myself too thin this past spring semester, taking 18 hours, joining organizations, and entering leadership roles. The two courses that were more taxing led me to talk with my family and my academic advisor and eventually to drop the most taxing course of the two, not helping that the professor did not do his part in giving students a fair chance at exams and quizzes. Experiencing this left me experiencing physical symptoms of fatigue and even becoming physically ill, I was constantly tired and unenthusiastic about my other coursework that needed to be done, which led me to some late assignments in my other taxing course. I talked more with this other professor, and she was much more helpful. I did the assignments I could, even with penalties. I finished that course with a B and still am maintaining a high GPA even in college so far. Learning these lessons about not only finding but not going over my limits and not stretching myself too thin has been invaluable, and I have been doing my best to keep my mental health at the priority level I intend it to be. Not just because of the undesirable physical symptoms but because I strive to perform my best academically and within the student body as I am working to become a surgeon and these factors are crucial to being accepted into medical school and joining that field of work. This is why I believe that mental health is important, even outside of student life. The lessons I have learned and the habits like journalling, spending time with friends and family, taking well deseved breaks in between courses and not working over holidays and weekends are a few of the things I discipline myself into doing in order to maintain my mental health. Talking with those I trust, exercise like walking my dog, basketball, golf, and biking, playing my drum set and engaging in not just mental health-related campus activities but participating in fun campus activities are more ways I ensure a well-earned refresh and rejuvination both mentally and physically. I hope this helps someone else needing to find outlets for mental health wellness and better academic performance. Thank you for your consideration and taking the time to read this.

Selflessness is a major characteristic seen in a leader. In leadership, relationships are essential to the gift of networking, whether it be for volunteering, internships, or leadership roles in a club or organization. I have always enjoyed helping people. That is why I want to follow in the footsteps of the surgeon who helped me as a child. Dr. El Amm is my childhood hero, and being allowed to shadow him has further confirmed my career choice. I see both pediatric and adult patients who need Dr. El Amm's help for various reasons. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be in the medical field so that I could help people feel better and potentially cure diseases for the people and not the money. On my pathway to becoming a medical professional, I have developed skills and enjoy partaking in activities that encompass selflessness, such as being in NJHS and NHS in middle and high school, being in OSU-OKC's PTK chapter, and engaging in various volunteer service projects. I volunteered in high school to fill backpacks for different age groups in underprivileged communities. I volunteer at animal shelters over the summer, not just to gain hours for the papers but because animals and pets are one of my passions. I offer a listening ear and my skills to help my peers and others achieve their goals because I like to see the best in everyone. Even things as simple as offering forgiveness and practicing empathy are ways that I embody selflessness because we are all in this race together. From a young age, I knew I wanted to get involved with volunteer work, even before I knew about volunteer hours benefiting my resume and medical school application because helping and seeing the best in others holds a special place in my heart. I enjoy helping my neighbors when they need help raking leaves or shoveling snow. I even canceled my applications to two big universities when I graduated high school to be there for and help my parents take care of my grandparents when they had a recent health scare. I spend time helping a staff member at OSU-OKC, affiliated with a tribe I am enrolled in, with things she needs assistance with. I always find myself subconsciously offering volunteer assistance to my professors and looking for ways to get involved at my future workplace. All in all, I do these things to help others in need and embody selflessness in my daily life because even simple things like a smile can be a turning point in someone's life. That is why I make it a point to make at least one person smile a day, whether it be someone I know or a stranger. We need more of this today, and I choose to be a part of the crowd that makes a positive impact.

I am Hannah Rose, a Sophomore at Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City. I am a hardworking individual with ambitions to become a general/plastic surgeon for pediatrics and adults like my childhood hero. I see the need for innovation in the medical field and would like to develop new ways of delivering patient care and finding cures for diseases. In my free time, I enjoy being in the company of my friends and family, spending time with my dog and the family pets, reading, listening to music, playing my drum set, volunteering, and shadowing physicians. I enjoy learning and am willing to do whatever it takes to be the best person, student, and medical professional that I can be. I believe that life is a continual learning curve. Even through the rough patches, I have my moment and I eventually rise above and achieve anything I set my mind to. Because of this, I was able to graduate from high school a year early. I am grateful for this opportunity so that I can hone in on my goals on a fast track. I hold myself accountable in multiple ways. Whether it be owning up to my mistakes, taking the initiative to stay on top of my coursework, persevering through adversity in my leadership roles, or collecting information. This accountability teaches me valuable life lessons like staying strong through the storms, breaking barriers as a female working her way to a career in medicine, and standing up for what I believe in. I am thankful for both the achievements and rough patches, as I believe that everything happens for a reason. I enjoy paving pathways and breaking barriers as a female and I use mistakes and triumphs as building blocks to my success. It is not easy, but I feel that my dream career is one of my many callings in life. I also feel that I am to minister to those who have been in a similar situation as me. I believe the accountability I demonstrate and the life lessons I learn contribute to my success because I have gained leadership roles so far in college, I have been able to shadow physicians in my first two years of college, I have been able to establish connections to professors, doctors, and key people at my dream medical school who have helped me tremendously on my journey to becoming a doctor. I look forward to continuing my education and actively making my dreams come true.

With the level of education I will receive, I intend to take on numerous leadership roles during my college years. So far, I have taken on a few. Namely treasurer of OSU-OKC's Writer's Haven Club, Service Officer of OSU-OKC's PTK chapter, and OSU-OKC's International Ambassador's Club (IAC) President. For this essay, I will use my role as President as an example. So far as President, I have increased member recruitment and outreach opportunities and collaborated with other members of the executive team to plan various fundraising opportunities for the club. We have fundraisers scheduled for September, October, and November. This impact so far has been both for the club and campus communities as we will have more funds to assist with the international trips that members sign up for. Even with the things IAC has planned, I face certain setbacks in my role as president. A few of them are a heavier load of other roles' responsibilities being placed on me, activities that students under 21 cannot partake in, and difficulties communicating with an advisor. To resolve these issues, I have had to employ a few strategies to better advocate for myself. I have had to schedule meetings with this advisor and in doing so, have had to enlist advocacy, assertiveness, and communication skills. First, to address the responsibility issues, I self-advocated to this advisor that I am acting as both secretary and president and additionally working on 15 hours worth of courses this semester. She understood and started giving the secretary more of his duties after that meeting. Second, I advocated for the minority on campus who cannot attend activities that IAC partakes in that involve adult beverages. There was an event over the summer that I could not attend because of this and the advisor wanted to have champagne at the event we are hosting in November. I scheduled two meetings in total and assertively stood up for myself and other underage students both times -as an 18-year-old- that if adult beverages are involved, a lot of IAC members cannot attend these events and that we should be inclusive of all ages in the campus community. Lastly, even amongst the other two issues, sometimes communication can be hard with this advisor. I mention different ideas for our fundraisers and she has an attitude about them. Over the summer I caught the brunt of her displeasure of working over the summer at the first meeting held to discuss the adult beverage situation. I remain understanding and am respectful yet assertive. This impact has helped the advisor see the issues I face and thankfully she has rectified each. I still face some struggles with the advisor's behavior and attitude, but I am advocating for the better of the club and ultimately the campus community. In the end, I am thankful for these life lessons and will use them in my personal, academic, and professional lives. I plan on applying these skills in my future career by being assertive to coworkers and patients as needed. I believe in being gentle, respectful, and understanding, but I will not tolerate mistreatment in my medical profession. I believe this will make a positive difference by showing patients and coworkers that it is not okay to mistreat others and may stop the behavior towards other people besides me. I look forward to applying these life lessons in my life.

I have always been an avid and strong reader. It all started when my mom would read books to her belly when she was pregnant with me. I like to think that had something to do with me always being at a high school or adult reading level throughout my elementary and middle school years. I believe my love for science also has something to do with my dream of becoming a surgeon. I love reading all kinds of books. Science, nonfiction, realistic fiction, WWII, or mystery tend to be the genres I love reading most. With each book I read, I learn something new and different. I enjoy participating in my library's summer reading program so I can expand my book collection, enjoy the book genres I am familiar with or expand my horizons a bit, and get to know the library a little more. This past summer, I read different books about WWII and The Holocaust. I read a book about different groups affected by the atrocities. The autistic community, the LGBTQ+ community, and delving deeper into the lives of a few individuals in the Jewish community. I learned more about those groups and their stories. I ultimately learned how those groups -amongst many others- make up part of the entire population discriminated against during that time in history. For me, it raises awareness that everyone is an individual and has a story. Everyone can bring something to the table. I also read some personal development books to further develop my leadership skills so I can be the best leader in the roles I am in and will take on in the future. I learned what kind of leader I am and how I can employ my top five traits to be a good leader. I look forward to reading more personal development books as I believe that I can always better my best. Since I worked hard during the year last year and read a bunch of textbooks, I figured I would read some of my childhood favorites and some fiction books that I have been wanting to get around to reading. Books like "The Fault in Our Stars," and "Wonder" do have some medical themes in them and I have heard great things about them. I am thankful that I did have time to unwind with these books. Lastly, I am currently reading more of a scientific book called "The Poison Squad." It's about how a chemist created awareness about adulterated food and called for action not just by the people but the government as well. I find it interesting as I feel it's important to know what one puts in their body and how it is nourishing or hindering the body. All in all, I enjoyed reading and I feel that the summer reading program kickstarted my excitement for this academic year. With these different reads that I enjoyed this past summer, I learned four things that shape my professional goals respectively: Respecting that everyone has something to bring to the table, being the best leader that I can be in everything I do, finding time to relax and embrace my inner child, and awareness of myself along with continually feeding my love for science!

I am Hannah Rose and I am currently working towards an associate degree at OSU-OKC so I can transfer to OU for a bachelor's in Biology and, ultimately work my way to OU Medical School to become a general/plastic surgeon for pediatrics and adults like my childhood hero. Medicine has been and is one of my special interests along with anything science/biology, and how things work, just to name a few. I enjoy shadowing physicians, volunteering, playing my drum set, laughing or making others laugh, and listening to music. I like to play intramural golf, basketball, cycling, and spending time with my family and pets. Along with goals for volunteering, I have made it a goal to obtain some leadership roles in college. So far I have been able to be elected Service Officer of OSU-OKC's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) chapter where I oversee participation in community service opportunities that PTK hosts. I have been elected treasurer of OSU-OKC's Writer's Haven Club where I oversee the financial aspects of the club and monitor budget decisions. Lastly, I was elected president of OSU-OKC's International Ambassador's Club (IAC). As president, I oversee the other leadership positions and help make executive decisions alongside the club advisor. So far as president I have made successful efforts at recruitment this fall and helped develop this semester's fundraising events to help pay for trips IAC signs up for. I have learned so much in these leadership roles and am thankful to have been blessed with them. One of the biggest lessons I learned and see applications of is being team-oriented. Each role is interdependent of one another and takes on a unique duty to the club or organization. I look forward to the leadership roles I take on when I get to OU and even implementing the lessons I learn along the way in my professional career. My experience with ASD and GAD has also taught me invaluable lessons. The struggles I have faced have affected my beliefs, relationships, and career aspirations. With how much I have been bullied and the inaccessibility to accommodations in school, I felt that no one liked me and I felt alone. However, I kept my focus on my strengths like how I was a strong reader and excelled in science. I am blessed to have been on the winning side of things where I got into gifted and talented programs and was able to graduate high school a year early. I am also thankful that I have established so many connections, developed true friendships, and to have received accommodations in college. I also am thankful that people love me and accept me for who I am, just as I have always done to others. I have never strayed from my ambition of becoming a surgeon. My experience with ASD and GAD has only further inspired me to make my dreams come true.

I am Hannah Rose and I am a sophomore at OSU-OKC. I am working towards an associate degree to eventually pursue a bachelor's in Biology at OU to eventually OU Medical School. I am a hardworking and easy-going individual with many special interests and hobbies. Medicine, how things work, and anything science or biology are just a few of my special interests. My hobbies consist of playing drums, journaling, listening to music, and shadowing physicians. I enjoy volunteering and I am eager to do everything and more to make my dream of being a general/plastic surgeon for pediatrics and adults like my childhood hero. This scholarship will help me as my family cannot easily afford college. I have been blessed with -and I am ever so grateful for- tribal scholarships and a few internal scholarships at OSU-OKC. However, these internal scholarships are hard to come by even with my high GPA and extracurricular involvement. I work hard for scholarships because I don't want my family to have to worry about paying much for college as a lot is going on currently with my family's health. I was recently diagnosed with ASD and GAD, but I have struggled my entire life with these being undiagnosed. I was eager to learn and was accelerated in classes like reading and science but I found classes like math particularly hard until middle school. It didn't help when I had quite a few teachers who did not want to do their part. Because of this, I would shut down and that is when my grades would suffer. I was bullied a lot and I never received accommodations throughout school, which was detrimental to me with the troubles I faced in math. However, I rose out of those grips and found tools on my own, and with the help of my mom and a counselor where I was able to graduate a year early from high school. Even with the troubles I had in school, I overcame a lot and continue to overcome the difficulties I face with ASD and GAD. I embrace my differences and I believe that I have something unique to bring to the table with my dream career of being a surgeon and innovating the medical field. ASD and GAD are one part of the many that inspire me to continue on my path to becoming a surgeon and allow me to minister to those who also have ASD and GAD. Since my dream of becoming a surgeon came about in my childhood, I also have a way of ministering to my future patients that I was once in their shoes. Who knows, I may be someone's childhood hero too and inspire someone to make a difference in the world just like Dr. El Amm inspired me.

When I was a kid, I remember when Sabrina Carpenter was on Disney Channel and some of the songs she would sing for the shows. I also remember when friends in elementary school sang some of her earliest songs like "Thumbs" for the school talent shows. Now as an adult, I enjoy hearing her pop anthems like "Feather," "Espresso," and "Please Please Please" on Pandora, the radio, and Instagram. Growing up with Sabrina Carpenter has been such an amazing experience. Remembering her as a child Disney star in elementary school, lots of other kids enjoyed singing the songs she sang for shows like "Girl Meets World" or "Adventures in Babysitting". Some kids would even sing "Wildside," "Stand Out," or "Thumbs" at school talent shows. Now that everyone my age is grown up, we get to enjoy Sabrina's anthems that have been recently released even more. Seeing Sabrina evolve is the main reason I am a fan of hers. Seeing her evolve has also had a huge impact. Another reason why I am a fan of Sabrina is because she has such an amazing vocal range and brings something to the "pop music" table. In addition to her songs, I enjoyed her cover of "Good Luck, Babe" by Chappell Roan. Sabrina did not miss giving "Good Luck, Babe" her own flair with her creativity. I enjoy listening to her music. Like many artists like Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish, when Sabrina released her latest songs, she gave me music to add to my collection and impacted me further by giving me more memory devices. When I listen to music while I study, I take certain sounds or lyrics from music, and remembering those little pieces helps me on exams and quizzes. Sabrina Carpenter is an amazing artist and I cannot stress my joy enough on seeing how she and her music have changed over the years. I love Sabrina's music and look forward to more of her great songs!

For as long as I have been consciously watching The Olympics, I have such a deep sense of respect for every athlete, regardless of what team they're on, their abilities, and the time and work they put in to achieve high in their Olympic careers. For Team USA, I have the same awe and respect. I enjoy seeing all the athletes on Team USA put forth their best efforts to represent the USA whether they get medals or not. While I do enjoy watching all the athletes, I dig deeper and have even more of an awe for the female athletes. Women have come so far in being able to compete in sports and as a female, I feel it is inherent that I cheer on my fellow woman. For this reason, the athlete I enjoy cheering on for Team USA is Katie Ledecky. Out of the 14 medals she received, 9 of them being gold, I look to Ledecky amongst other role models for inspiration for not just swimming, but for putting forth an effort in my education. I admire that Ledecky is a team player since the skill of a team effort is so important in life. This inspires me to continue developing my team-building skills in the leadership roles I take on and in daily life. Humility is another trait that I feel Ledecky displays and I implement humility in my own life and college career. As I mentioned earlier, athletes like Ledecky put forth their best efforts when competing and show the crowds and judges how their hard work and training pay off. This determination is a trait that I would like to continue working on as even daily habits and tasks like completing coursework, going to the gym, and reading takes discipline and determination to keep in my schedule and not slack off. I want my GPA, degrees, and career to reflect the hard work I put into my dream career. Like Ledecky, these things take work and I am not afraid to put in the time and effort to reap the product of my endeavors. Ledecky is such an inspiration and I am thankful for the lessons I learn while watching her compete on Team USA. I look forward to implementing traits like hers in my own life and hope to be just as much of an inspiration to others as Ledecky is to me.

Recently I have been hearing songs like "Pink Pony Club," "Good Luck, Babe," and "H-O-T T-O G-O" by Chappell Roan on Pandora, Instagram, and the radio. Since I have been hearing these wonderful pop anthems, I have taken a liking to them and listened to them more on YouTube. Since Chappell Roan has become more popular and her songs surfaced within the media, she has impacted me along my college journey and I enjoy her music immensely! As a college student, I study a lot. When I am in a noisy coffee shop or need some noise in a silent study room on campus, I like to listen to and add music to my collection. Ranging from the 70's and 80's to the hits of today, music helps me study in more than one way. Other than making some soft noise through my headphones or AirPods to help me concentrate or get in a creative mood, I also use music as a memory device to prepare for exams. Recently as more and more music is being released, I hear a lot more of artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, and Chappell Roan. The first song I heard of Chappell's is "Good Luck, Babe" and I was instantly hooked. The 80's vibe and her vocal range amazed me. Then I began hearing more of her music like "H-O-T T-O G-O," "Pink Pony Club," "Femininomenon," "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl," "Red Wine Supernova," and "Naked in Manhattan". Chappell's music not only impacts me by having more music in my collection and memory devices for college, but her music has even helped me with some self-discovery. I like music that makes me think about myself and who I am. I enjoy dancing and singing with Chappell in her music and I enjoy seeing the interviews, performances, and fan interaction she has which is why I support her career. She is so very talented and brings something new to the table in the world of pop music. For that reason, "I'm gonna keep on dancing" to Chappell Roan's music!

I have always been a Nintendo fan, whether it was playing on a family member's Wii or one of my middle school friend's Switch games. I like how Nintendo wants its users to have fun and be creative and imaginative. However, one story comes to mind when it comes to co-op mode Nintendo fun. Back in middle school, my friend Noah and I celebrated my birthday one year and he wanted to teach me to play Super Smash Bros. I was instantly hooked! We played on the way to Incredible Pizza and even played a little at Incredible Pizza when we had time in between lunch and cake. When we got done at Incredible Pizza, we drove him back to his house and we continued playing while the adults sat around and talked. I enjoyed it not just because the gameplay was easy to understand for me or the fact that I whooped Noah at it even as a beginner, but just enjoying the game with a friend and that bonding time was what meant more to me than having a winning streak. Although that was cool too, Noah enjoyed it just as much as I did. That is why Super Smash Bros would be my favorite co-op game so far!

Experience, skills, and interests are crucial factors when having a career in mind. Planning on how those factors come into play in a future profession is essential in being the best you can be. I am thankful for the skills, experiences, and interests that I have that will benefit me on my journey to my career. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be like a childhood surgeon of mine. To achieve my goal of becoming a general and plastic surgeon for pediatrics and adults, I am shadowing physicians, gaining volunteer hours, taking on leadership roles, attending events and information sessions, and establishing connections with people who can help guide me on my journey to becoming a doctor. Some steps I need to take are obtaining my associate, bachelor, and doctorate degrees, taking the MCAT, getting accepted to medical school, and finishing my residency. With the work I am putting in already towards my associate degree, graduating this year will take me one step closer to the final stage. I am thankful for how far I have come and the lessons I have learned so far on this journey. Even through the rough patches, I do my best to keep my eyes on the prize. Earlier I mentioned that experiences, skills, and interests are crucial to a career and positive impact. Medicine has always been a special interest of mine and I have always felt led to help people. Whether it be a listening ear, advice, leadership, or volunteering. I believe these align with my career choice because doctors do need to be good listeners and have a good bedside manner. Doctors can be leaders in their field and are service-oriented. I believe I match those qualities and want to be the best physician that I can be. I imagine these qualities positively impacting my career not just through my own goals but my qualities can also help expand patient networking and relationships. Like Dr. El Amm, I have a rapport with him from a patient to a protege and he is also the only doctor in a range of states in his practice. Dr. El Amm also innovates the medical field. I too see the need for innovations therefore I too would like to cure diseases, do research, and produce devices to innovate the medical field. All in all, I aspire to be like Dr. El Amm and am doing everything I can to achieve my dreams. I cannot express my gratitude for the things I learn daily enough. I look forward to what comes about and am ready to seize my dreams!

In my high school and college career so far, I have been elected into some great leadership roles. In high school, I was elected First-Year Representative for my HOSA chapter at Francis Tuttle Biosciences and Medicine Academy and so far in college, I was elected treasurer of The Writer's Haven, Service Officer of OSU-OKC's Phi Theta Kappa chapter, and President of The International Ambassadors club. I have learned through experiences in these leadership roles that the role itself doesn't define me. Just because I have a leadership role, I remain the humble college student that I am, to begin with. Humility is a considerable portion of a leadership role. Treating everyone -leadership role or not- as an equal is very important to me. I have read various books on personal and leadership development, and while I always have traits I'd like to improve on -and knowing this is also important- I try to focus on the traits that I am automatically strong in. I am an achiever, restorative, Inputter, learner, and focused. Playing the part is another essential part of leadership. I take the initiative to care for myself and let my body language, attitude, and clothing choices speak for themselves in my leadership roles. Doing well in my courses, and networking with students, staff, and faculty are important connections to make as a leader. I enjoy seeing the friendly faces around campus and make it a point to welcome new students to campus. I also want to be there for others. I think of a leader as a mentor in a way, leading and mentoring mentees and members to be the best they can be, just like me as a leader. Leadership isn't just some easy job either. There are lots of responsibilities attached to being a leader; one must be ready and willing to take on these responsibilities. Having strength and endurance is crucial to being a good leader. Some of the responsibilities I take on as IAC president are thinking up ideas for club involvement, volunteer opportunities, taking the initiative to consult with college offices to make sure the events we want to have are feasible, and overseeing things that the VP, Secretary, and treasurer do. Even though being a leader is a big commitment, leadership is very rewarding. I get to see people collaborating and bringing something unique to the table. I get to network and make more college friends. I get to see the final product of the hard work that the entire team puts in behind the scenes, giving me an entirely new respect for not just our leadership roles as a club, but leadership roles anywhere. That's another thing; I get team experiences often. I can't take on the role alone. I have to have my team with me so we all do our share and can enjoy the final product together. I thoroughly enjoy being a leader and am not just thankful for the roles that I have been blessed with, but the lessons and experiences that I learn daily from these roles. I look forward to more leadership roles when I transfer and the roles that await when I get into my professional practice.

Hardships are tough times to go through, and while I am fortunate enough to not have experienced some hardships, I still have experienced others in my own way. One of those hardships was being underestimated academically. Throughout my school career up until I graduated high school -thankfully a year early- I struggled in my early school years behaviorally and throughout school socially. However, academically I have always been one of the "ahead" kids. A small handful of teachers would recognize that gift that I had and recommend me to the gifted and talented programs or advocate for me to be put in honors or pre-AP courses. Even with that, a majority of my teachers wouldn't do that and even worse, a few of them just wouldn't care to give me that boost I so desperately craved. I am the type of person who even though I do -sometimes more than- my part, if a teacher doesn't do their part, I shut down. Therefore my shut-down affects my grades, thus affecting my motivation and more importantly, my GPA. I had a lot of those teachers in high school and even one in college so far. However, I am also the type of person who rises above and achieves my goals. With the teachers who didn't do their part like I mentioned, after a moment of shutting down, I regained my drive to finish my high school career a year early and with my frustration as a burning fuel. Switching teachers and working through my coursework, I finally got my diploma and it meant more to me than the choice of staying in high school for another year. In college, though, I had a couple of professors recently who did the same thing. I enjoy chemistry but when my professor didn't care to make the exams fair and teach me how to work through formulas and subjects of the like, I shut down. The course and what the professor was doing affected my mental and physical health, so I had to drop the class. I overcame that hardship by the lesson of now knowing to get the tools and help needed when I get stuck, even if the professor isn't much help. I had another professor in an anatomy course who didn't want to have the communication I needed to complete quizzes and exams. I was advised by a family member to stand my ground about communication with this professor and I made it out of that course with an A. Even with these stories, I do not hold any grudges against these people. We are only human and I still respect these people as my former teachers and professors. They have taught me to see the uniqueness in people and how to be in my professional career. I minister this with agape love to people who struggle with similar and I volunteer with agape love to many causes. Whether it's helping a professor, volunteering with animals, filling backpacks for underprivileged societies, or even helping family members and friends, it gives me pure joy showing agape love to these individuals by giving my time to a need in some way, shape, or form.

Medicine has always been a special interest of mine and because of that special interest, my dream is to become a general and plastic surgeon and to work with pediatrics and adults. When I was a young child, I had a plastic surgeon help me with a place I had on my face. It wasn't just because he removed the place on my face that he became my childhood hero, but the way he reassured me when I was nervous and played into my special interest in medicine is the reason why I want to follow in his footsteps. I desire to create an impact following in Dr. El Amm's footsteps because I have been in a lot of the patient's footsteps that he sees. I want all of my patients to know that I have been there and I will do everything in my power to help them. I recently got to shadow Dr. El Amm and I felt a peace that this is my calling and I intend on tuning into that calling. I also want to innovate the medical field like Dr. El Amm because I see the need for innovation and finding cures. I have always enjoyed helping people and finding "outside-the-box" ways to solve problems. My reasons and goals mentioned above are my motivating power for not only continuing my education but shadowing physicians, having leadership roles, and going above and beyond immersing myself in my dream school and ways that I can be the best I can be. It is a day-to-day process but I appreciate the lessons I learn, no matter how large or small they may be.

I have been a fan of Billie Eilish since her song "Bad Guy" came out in 2019. From hearing Billie's songs from 2019 to her new pop sensations today, I enjoy Billie's content. I not only enjoy her music, but I also enjoy watching her videos as a kid and the interviews she partakes in. I appreciate what she has to bring to the table as a celebrity, and a few things she has talked about in her interviews I can agree with. There are a lot of Billie's songs that I love to listen to and it is hard to choose what songs for this essay. However, the first song that comes to mind is her song "Everything i wanted." The entire song resonates with me and I enjoy the music along with the lyrics, but more specifically the outro is what resonates most when she sings "If I knew it all then would I do it again? Would I do it again? If they knew what they said would go straight to my head, what would they say instead?" This is because this part makes me look at my childhood. I was rambunctious due to my family situation and undiagnosed ADHD. The hurtful things that were said to me affected me more than if my peers were to have gotten bullied. In retrospect, however, with how much I have overcome I always wonder "If I knew then what I know now, how different would things be?" and "If they only knew how much their hurtful words and actions affected me, would they do anything different?" The next song I choose would be "BLUE" from Billie's newest album "Hit Me Hard and Soft". I enjoy the music as it feels chill and sad, perfect for the song title. The lyric "I try to live in black and white but I'm so blue" means a couple of different things to me. If I am going through a rough patch, I may feel as if I have to act "black and white" even though I'm "blue." Alternatively, I don't fit into "black and white" because I'm "blue." I am okay with being "blue" in this context because I can only be me in this life. The last song I would choose would be "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," another song from "Hit Me Hard and Soft." Like all of Billie's other songs, I enjoy the music, particularly the drums in this song. Another thing I enjoy is Billie's voice range as she's harmonizing with the chorus. This makes me feel a sense of nostalgia that I can't quite put my finger on and it gives me chills. Some lyrics that stand out to me would be the chorus. To me, that means that "birds of a feather" should "stick together," whether it be friends or family. Anytime I hear any of Billie's songs come on the radio or Pandora, I enjoy singing along with her and just listening to her talent. I appreciate that she works with her brother on a lot of her songs too. I like to listen to Billie's songs while I study too!

I have been a fan of Charli XCX ever since a young age. There are songs of hers that make me feel a sense of nostalgia and there are some of her newer songs that I enjoy jamming to when I hear them. Now that she has released "brat," I have found more songs of hers that I have come to love. I am not one to choose favorites, but if I had to choose it would be a tie between "360" and "365". Furthermore, I listen to "360" more often so that song takes the cake. I initially discovered both on Instagram and -like I've done with many other songs I find on Instagram- went to YouTube to listen to them in their entirety to see how I like them. I enjoyed both but I found that I resonate more with "360". There aren't any specific lyrics that stand out to me about "360" as much as the music and Charli's vocals do. I always find myself harmonizing with her vocals or dancing to the unique beat. In a way, "360" reminds me of the song "Around the World" by A Touch of Class because they're both dancing songs in my opinion, especially since I feel like "365" is a "remix" of "360". Charli adds her unique personality to all of the songs she releases or is featured in, which is why I appreciate her music. Charli and her music -like "360"- inspired me to add my personal touch to the things I do whether it be essays I write for college, class discussions, or even when I want to get creative to relieve stress. Who knew that -even though I have listened to a lot of Charli's other songs- finding two songs on Instagram audio could lead to not just finding more songs that I like to listen to but seeing once again an inspiration that I can implement in my own life. It's amazing what the little things can amount to!

I have listened to Taylor Swift for as long as I can remember. I was such a huge fan that I wanted my toe-head blonde hair to be as long as hers when I was a young child. Nowadays I not only enjoy the nostalgia of listening to her songs in the country genre, but I also like to jam along to a lot of her new songs. She has a unique music style and I always find myself singing her songs when I hear them. Even though many of Taylor's songs would be on my playlist representing the year I have had so far, I know of a few from 1989 (Taylor's Version) that would do my year justice. I have had a whirlwind of a year so far. From my college journey so far to things that I have experienced personally, these are the songs from 1989 (Taylor's Version) that would be on my year-representing playlist: These songs aren't particularly in order but are more of a blend of themes and songs, but my first choice would be "Welcome to New York", particularly the lyric "It's been waiting for you" because of all the opportunities that I have come across and experienced in my college journey. I am so very thankful for them and appreciate where they are taking me on my career path. My next choice would be "Shake it Off", particularly the entire pre-chorus, chorus, and second verse. "But I keep cruisin', Can't stop, won't stop movin', it's like I got this music in my mind sayin' it's gonna be alright," "'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play, and the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off, I shake it off, heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break, and the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake, baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off, I shake it off," "I never miss a beat, I'm lightnin' on my feet, and that's what they don't see, that's what they don't see, I'm dancin' on my own, I make the moves up as I go, and that's what they don't know, that's what they don't know." This is because I face a lot of haters and I not only want them to see that I know my worth and take their negativity with a grain of salt. These next four songs tie in together with the last theme of my year-representing playlist are "Bad Blood," "Wildest Dreams," "Blank Space," and "Style". Respectively, the lyrics are: "It's so sad to think about the good times, You and I," "Someday when you leave me, I bet these memories follow you around," "You can tell me when it's over, if the high was worth the pain," and "...you've been out and about with some other girl..." "and when we go crashing down we come back every time." The reason for these lyrics is because of the beautiful but mostly negative experiences I have had with a couple of crushes I've had recently. These main themes I have shared are all important lessons to me. I take the positives and negatives as they come and go. I also try to apply these themes so that I can be the best I can be. I like to see a lesson or theme in every song whether they be the artist's intended theme or not. However, when it comes to 1989 (Taylor's Version), these are the themes that I take from each song.

Minecraft is a game that a lot of kids in my generation loved to play, myself being one of them. Even though I have grown up and have gotten increasingly busier, I still try to find time to check on my Minecraft creations now and again. Minecraft was a game that I enjoyed playing not just because of the fad rolling through kids in my generation, but because I have always loved creating and building; making -virtual- reality out of ideas I had about houses, animal pens, or even farming. While there are many things I enjoyed about Minecraft as a kid and teenager, prototyping my ideas into this virtual world was something I enjoyed doing more than just surviving the mob attacks and trying to mine for diamonds. I would always look at the buildings, villages, mines, nether structures, and the paths leading up to The End with awe. It inspired me to build my own buildings like a protected village from mobs, a three-story house with glass back patios, different models of animal pens, and plenty of underground bases. Even though I did end up feeling the satisfaction of finishing these projects after hours of concentration and phone charging, the final result of these projects varied from mobs being even worse in my protected village to having a good, successful farming or animal pen system in my world. Regardless of how my projects ended up, I learned a valuable lesson from my prototyping. I learned about the inventing process. I want to be a surgeon like my childhood hero and even he has invented a device to help innovate the medical field. I too would like to invent devices and possibly even medical treatments to help innovate the medical field even more. Some of my ideas are ways to give IVs and vaccinations without needles, more noninvasive surgery options, prostheses capable of being lighter than but as strong as bone, and cancer treatments that work with the body instead of against it. This inventing process even in Minecraft has given me the idea that when I do invent these innovations, I can make it that much better by fine-tuning and troubleshooting so patients can receive the best healthcare that I can give them as a caregiver.

I was recently diagnosed with GAD but I have had anxiety affect different areas of my life from a young age. Whether I am presenting something to the class, about to sing karaoke in front of my friends, or something even as "simple" as making a phone call or forming out a text. Even with anxiety, I try my hardest -even amongst people saying things like "There's nothing to be anxious about," or "Calm down"- to work through my anxiety. This effort sometimes works and I am just fine, sometimes my efforts work more than it doesn't, sometimes my efforts don't work more than they do, and sometimes my effort doesn't work. I have been prescribed medications but they don't always help. I have been on medications that have made my symptoms worse and medications that have helped for a while but like a majority of the other medications, my body gets used to them. I felt hopeless; I felt like I would never get to a place where I would either find a medication that would work or have some form of help to get off medications completely. Until the day came when I did find help from a counselor who believed in me and gave me the tools I so desperately needed to start combatting my anxiety without medication. The day came when I started letting go of some of the strongholds I held mentally and started finding myself; surrounding myself with people who would be uplifting to me and love me for who I am and ridding myself of those who did nothing but withdraw my joy and peace. The day came when I talked to my doctor who said it was okay to start taking the medication I had been on for a while on an "as needed" basis along with the medication I needed for sleep. The day came when I got more answers finding out about my autism and GAD. These days I mentioned have been monumental in not just my anxiety journey but my college journey as well. I have been able to shadow doctors and overcome the anxiety I had. I have been able to -for the most part- overcome my anxiety about presenting and I presented my research findings for my English Composition II course and received full marks on that assignment. These milestones help me in my journey to overcome my anxiety. As for my college journey, obtaining my degree is important to me for a multitude of reasons. The number one reason is because I want to follow in the footsteps of my childhood hero; the general surgeon who helped me as a young child for a place on my face that kids would bully me about. I am currently working towards my Associate's degree but I will be pursuing a Bachelor's in Biology and Doctorate so I can help others who may have anxiety about things similar to what I had as a child.

Hi there! I am Hannah Rose and I am here to tell you a bit about myself! I am a very intellectual and fun-loving person with a lot to offer. I am an overcomer, thriving from a divorce situation in my early childhood, and I use my story to minister to others. I like to make people smile and laugh, I have excelled in school, particularly in my high school career. I am graduating a year early and am involved in multiple clubs and organizations like the National Honor Society and Student Council. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering, working, and leading by example. On that note, I would like to share my plan about how I can make an impact on the world through leadership. As I said earlier, I want to lead by example. I help others by lifting them and extending my support. I actively try to better myself because I know that someone is always watching, even if I don't notice. These are a few of the many things I learned early on in life along with the small and enormous lessons. I use my story as fuel to achieve my goals and not just get them done but excel at those goals. With all this enthusiasm for leadership, I want to talk about my passion for leadership and being a positive influence. I believe that kindness is a universal language. I have a goal to make at least one person smile every single day. One smile can make a person's entire day. I made this goal because I was going through a tough time in life and when someone made me smile, I realized that I can do that too. Social issues seem to be especially prominent and recurring nowadays. While I have my own beliefs, I do think that people need to be more kind to others. Regardless of skin color, race, religion, orientation or identity, disability, and ethnicity. Everyone has something to offer, and if we let everyone express themselves, I think the world would be that much more diverse and better equipped. To conclude, with all I have to offer -looking even deeper at my kindness and example-based leadership- I think that those two simple ingredients can help make the world a better place. I like to bring out the good in everyone, and I think that good traits can be especially useful in this day and time.

Mental illness is a very diverse set of illnesses. It is also prevalent in today's times. Mental illness can affect more than just the individual with the illness. I will tell you how mental illness has affected me and my family. Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. I am a high school senior graduating a year early with honors. I am a kind and hard-working with a lot to offer. I am a divorce kid and have two types of mental illness - I have ADHD and Anxiety -. When I was younger, I would act out; my dad wasn't around and I didn't know I had ADHD. Anxiety came later in my childhood, but not knowing how to deal with the two made things worse, not only for me but my mom. However one day, in the sixth grade, I had a wake-up call and I knew that it was time to change. Since then, I have been actively working on ways to cope with each. I have outgrown a lot of my ADHD. I use my situation as a divorce kid to minister to others and as a sort of fuel to achieve my goals. My family and even some of my friends have mental illnesses. It affects us because sometimes communication is difficult, it can be hard to understand the context of what people say, and there can be some emotional inconsistencies. While this is just part of the mental illness, it can still be a struggle. I believe that there can be a lesson learned from mental illness. Like with my mental illnesses, I learned how to deal with those illnesses and actively work to reduce and eliminate them. I want to be the best person I can be. I also want my family and friends to be the best they can be too. I also like the idea of ministering to them and they can minister to others with the same illnesses. No one is alone when it comes to mental illness. It may seem like it, but having support is important to overcome illnesses. To conclude, my family, friends, and I all have some form of mental illness. I love them just the same and I want the best for them. Mental illness is serious and I think that there can be so much learned from different mental illnesses. Thank you for reading and I hope you learned something!

Hello! I am Hannah Rose and I am unique! I am a pioneer, a divorce kid, and I will tell you how I plan to use my uniqueness to give back to the community. Read on to hear my story! I want to start by sharing that I am a divorce kid. With my struggle, I choose to not let it be an obstacle in my life. I choose to turn it into a way of being unique and a way to minister to people who are also divorce kids and even those who aren't! I want everyone to know that they matter. No matter what story someone has, they are valid just the way they are. Next, I want to tell you about how I am a pioneer. In the seventh grade, I made the band but did not take any tryouts. After some disappointment and teacher meetings at the school, the directors reluctantly bent the rules and suggested that I take lessons. After many percussion lessons, I was ready to perform in front of the directors. After my performance, they not only let me back in, they told me that they wanted me in their band. That made me the first student in the history of the middle school I attended to play my way back into the band. I also want to say that I am graduating a year early from my high school with honors. While there are some cases of students graduating early, it is not as common as those who traditionally graduate. Those two stories are what I feel make me a pioneer. Now I want to discuss how I will take my uniqueness and use it to give back to my community. I have participated in many volunteer experiences and I believe I have made a difference. Kindness and genuine personalities I think are key to making that difference. However being as I described two ways that I am unique, I think that since I will continue to volunteer and once I get into my dream career, I will minister to those not only being a divorce kid, but inspire people to be a pioneer in their communities. To conclude, I think that uniqueness is a vital trait when it comes to service or work. With my pioneering, ministering, and volunteering I can continue to make a difference, kind of like how I strive to make at least one person smile every day. It is truly the small things that can make the biggest difference.

Hi there! I am Hannah Rose and I would like to tell you some things about me! I am a funny, kind-hearted individual with a lot to offer. I am hardworking with every task, I delight in time with my family and friends, and I enjoy helping others. I am a divorce kid which makes me an overcomer. I also have some academic achievements I'd like to share! Most importantly, I am graduating a year early with honors! I was the First-Year Representative for my HOSA chapter, and I participated in many volunteer experiences -and enjoyed them- in both the National Junior Honor Society in middle school and the National Honor Society in High school. I was also a member of the Native American Scholars Organization and the Student Council. Earlier in my introduction, I was talking about being a divorce kid. It isn't an easy situation sometimes, but there's something I like to minister to others. That something is that no matter what you've been through, you matter. Whether they are a fellow divorce kid or not, I like to take the time to relate to everyone I meet. Everyone matters! One more thing I would like to tell is that I make it a goal everyday to make at least one person smile. A smile can mean a world of difference. I think that is the simplest form of positive influence that is so easy yet largely impactful! Also in my introduction, I was saying that I liked to help others. The degree I am aiming for is a bachelor's in biology to prepare for medical school. I aspire to become a general surgeon. The reason why I chose to get a degree and to prepare for medical school is mainly because of my love for helping others, as well as how becoming a medical professional has been a lifelong dream. Ever since I had my very first surgery, my surgeon was my childhood hero and was a major inspiration for my dream. I am thankful for the opportunity to work toward my goals and the person that I am. My story is unique, and I think that by being on the pathway to becoming who I dream to be and continuing to be me, I can make a large difference in the world. Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me better and I hope some insight was gained from my essay!

Greetings and Salutations! I am Hannah Rose and I would like to tell you a bit about myself! Some personality traits of mine are that I am a kind, hardworking, and funny person. I am kind to everyone I meet, I work hard at everything I do, and I love to laugh and make people laugh. I like to learn and find ways to better my best. I am a divorce kid, which makes me an overcomer. My hobbies are drumming and golf. I like to get creative and find new ways of doing things. I enjoy volunteering and I like helping people. I delight in being with family and friends. I also aspire to become a general surgeon. When I was talking about being a divorce kid, I use my story to minister to others. There are plenty of divorce kids out there. I want each and every one of them to know that they are not alone. I also want them to know that no matter how tough it may seem, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that they are important. Even with people who are not divorce kids, I want everyone to know that they are important regardless. Some academic achievements of mine are that I am graduating high school a year early with honors. I have been in multiple organizations in school, such as the National Junior Honor Society, the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Native American Scholars Organization. I was also the First Year Representative for my HOSA chapter. I was talking earlier about my aspirations to become a general surgeon. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through my career by advocating for patients, finding new ways to innovate the medical field, and caring for patients like they are my family. Being in the medical field has not only been an interest of mine, but it has been a lifelong passion. From a very young age, I knew that I was supposed to take care of people. I would help take care of my family, friends, and neighbors. I want to not only get a traditional education in medicine, but I want to also become a doctor of osteopathic medicine to ensure I treat patients thoroughly, and to find new ways to treat those patients and not just prescribe them synthetic medicine. To conclude, there are many things that make up who I am and I appreciate the opportunity to get to share with you! I hope there was some insight gained in this essay. Thank you again!

Generational wealth is achieved by being financially smart. From a very young age, I learned to be smart with my money. In this essay I will be sharing my opinion on generational wealth and discussing my plan for achieving it. First, to me, generational wealth means that money is built by families and passed down to each generation. For example, my grandparents worked very hard when they were young and saved up so that the money they set aside for my mom and aunt would go to them, and the money set aside for me and my cousin could go to us. With that, my mom and my aunt have not only saved that money but have saved some of their money so my mom could set aside some for me and my aunt can set aside some for my cousin. Now that my cousin and I have jobs and are getting to where we will have a nice, prosperous career, we can save up the money from our grandparents and parents and if we decide to have kids, we can set some aside for them. I mentioned earlier how my cousin and I have jobs and are working towards lucrative careers so we can save our own money. I now want to talk about how I plan to achieve my part of generational wealth. I also mentioned that being financially smart is key to achieving generational wealth. I think that avoiding loans, using scholarships like this one, and getting the best deals for my money is how I could achieve generational wealth. I am working toward a career in the medical field - a general surgeon - not only because medicine and healthcare can be high-paying jobs, but because they are interests of mine. I also think that on top of scholarships, the Chickasaw Nation also has ways to help its people. There are many ways to achieve generational wealth. Scholarships, communities like the Chickasaw Nation, watching how you spend your money, avoiding loans, and getting a successful career. There may even be more ways that have yet to be discovered! I am fully interested in finding these ways and making it where I can add to my generational wealth. I am thankful for the money that my family and I have been blessed with. I hope my essay has brought some insight to you, thank you so much for reading!

Mental health is something I am very familiar with. From feeling tired, stressed, or overwhelmed and getting to where I felt at peace, joyful, and creative. I went from having off-the-charts ADHD, being bullied, and acting out to achieving much in school and graduating early. Even with the events of my life, I realize and appreciate the world of change that occurred. I will start with how my mental health has influenced my career aspirations. High school has been an interesting but rocky time. Different class loads, burnout, early accomplishment, and different experiences such as a career tech program, concurrent enrollment, state testing, and college planning have been stressors. There were days when I would complete my coursework and feel accomplished. Others were the exact opposite: I would have exams and felt like homework was piled ceiling-high. On those off days, I would question if I wanted to work after high school or continue my path to be a general surgeon. Powering through with family and God, I am finishing up my senior year of high school and got accepted to my dream college. I cannot express how rewarding it feels. As I mentioned family previously, I want to take a look at how mental health has affected my relationships. While I had a great childhood, no one deserves to be bullied or have an absent father. Being a divorce kid and being bullied a lot caused countless tears and doubts. After every moment of despair, though, I remember who I am and work even harder. The ability to discern from the "withdrawals" and "deposits" of people has helped me figure out who truly cares and rid myself of those who cause nothing but turmoil. As a result, I shine in my achievements of graduating early and being accepted to that dream college. I also mentioned that God was a help in my academic endeavors. Now I want to cover how mental health has influenced my beliefs. I am a Christian and learned that letting my worries and stresses go is essential. Each time I encounter a hurdle, I eventually get over it with help. The big hurdles get me down, stressed, and put a damper on the way I think. When I get to those points I question if God truly hears me. In the end, once things get worked out I remember that not only did it not work out in my time but God did hear me. To conclude, mental health has positively and negatively impacted my career aspirations, beliefs, and relationships. I am a person who celebrates the victories and bounces back eventually from the negative events. With that, stepping back and remembering who I am, who a "deposit" in my life is, and who I believe in, I have a peace that not only has gotten me through in the past, but is currently getting me through the last few weeks of my senior year, and will get me through the tough times in college.

Golf is a sport that I have always taken an interest in. Although I could not afford clubs or lessons for most of my childhood, it all changed when my stepdad came into the picture. I was able to not only get the tools needed to play the sport, but I learned some important life lessons. I think that one - of the many - lessons I have learned is that I need to be solid in aspects of life. I warm up and take a few three-quarter swings when I approach the driving range. When I focus on hitting the golf ball, I remember the different hand positions and letting my hips fire forward, but when I hear the crisp, clear "click" sound, I know I have hit the ball solidly. As a result of hitting the ball solidly, I can see the ball getting some loft and flying fast and far away. It is rewarding when I make solid contact with the golf ball. I tend to feel the same when I earn solid grades in school or have solid relationships with my family, friends, peers, and teachers. This feeling of contentment and accomplishment is something I strive to feel a lot in life. With my future career as a general surgeon in mind, I know that I will need to feel solid in diagnosing, prescribing, and procedures. No matter if the task is big or small when I solidly apply myself and get solid results, I appreciate not only what I have done more but I enjoy the rewards. I plan on using the lessons I have learned by continuing to do my best with my college, medical school, and surgeon careers and reaping the rewards of creating friendships, degrees, wonderful jobs, lucrative salaries, and last but not least helping people. I can also use the lessons I have learned and apply them to personal goals like relationships, family, and neighbors as well as maintaining friendships. To conclude, I am so very thankful for the opportunity to play the sport and learn not only the game but the concepts that can be used elsewhere in life. If I had the chance I would minister the things I have learned to others who want to know about the game of golf. Golf has given me an outlet for anxiety and stress, as well as to have fun with family and friends.

There are so many movies that come out each year. Some are funny, sad, based on true events, and scary. When I think of a movie that impacts my life, there are a few that come to mind. However, if I had to choose just one movie, I think it would be the 1961 "The Parent Trap" starring Hayley Mills. Let's look at why together! To summarize the movie, a girl goes to a summer camp and meets her long-lost sister. After they get to know each other, they finally learn that they are sisters and each child has not gotten to meet the other parent. One girl lives with her mother and the other lives with her father. The parents separated while the sisters were young. So, for the girls to meet each other's parents, they devise a plan to look alike and essentially swap places. In a way, they try to get their parents back together. Eventually - with a few setbacks- they do end up back together. Since we have some background information on the movie, I will elaborate on why this movie in particular has impacted my life. When I was three and a half years old, my parents divorced. My biological dad never made a true effort to see me and that along with his remarrying and having another child hurt my feelings. When I would watch "The Parent Trap", I would relate with the characters so much that I felt that I was in my own "Parent Trap". I would watch this with my mom and we would make fond memories like eating fig newtons and laughing at the things that were said. Some other things I would enjoy doing is singing along with the songs and acting some of the parts out. To conclude, even though I am almost 18 years old, I still hold this movie dear to my heart because I still can relate to the characters. Ironically, my stepsister is in a similar predicament to me when I was her age, so she too is going through her own "Parent Trap". Being a divorce kid hurts no matter what age it happens. But just like the sisters in the movie, I make the best of my situation. I hope that my stepsister learns to do the same, as life can be tough down the road. Thank you so much for reading this and I hope you got some insight as to why this movie is so important to me!

There are many things that members of a community can do to help it thrive. I am the type of person who thinks that positive change is refreshing for all community members. Let's look at some ways I am involved in my community and how I worked to influence change in it. First I want to talk about some of the major projects I have done to get involved with my community. I was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Student Council. With that, I was expected to accrue some volunteer hours. Some of the ways I got involved with my community were when I helped a principal at an elementary school prepare for a back-to-school night a couple of years ago. I felt a strong sense of accomplishment because I was once an elementary school student excited to go to back-to-school nights. I also filled bags for Epic Charter School's Backpack project. I felt like I was giving back to underprivileged families who couldn't afford necessities and books or toys for children. Even small projects like helping a neighbor with his dogs or helping a family friend with her booths at vendor shows go a long way. One thing I notice about each project I partake in, I learn something valuable. Next, I want to talk about how I have worked to influence change in my community. Being in the National Junior and National Honor Society as well as Student Council has held me to a higher standard in multiple life aspects. Not only how I present and care for myself, but how I influence others. With all the projects I have done in each society, I have learned to be genuine with people. There is a saying that a smile can change someone's day. I make it a goal to make at least one person who I encounter each day smile. That is one way change can happen in communities. Bringing every volunteer and community member together, creating a sense of "unity" as found in the word "community" is crucial also. It forms a web of connections and a sense of reliability and fellowship. To conclude, helping out in my community is something I enjoy thoroughly and an opportunity I always take when presented to me. Without the help all members of a community, there would not be valuable life lessons learned or the connections formed. I appreciate every project I have done in my high school career and I look forward to projects to come in college and life.

Finances are important everywhere in life. Particularly for college, I have learned that sorting out who and what will pay for college, finding the best deal to invest in, and making the experience worth the price are things I have taken into consideration when on the topic of finance management. With this, let's look closer at the three strategies I have mentioned. First, I had to figure out who and what will be contributing to paying for college. In my case, I have applied for many scholarships. Family is another source of help. Most importantly, however, getting involved in communities like the National Honor Society, the Chickasaw Nation, and getting my academic achievements to be well-known is a large role in funding. Not to mention the dividing of funds to cover all four years of undergraduate studies and medical school! Next, I had to look at what gave me the best deal. While Harvard and Oxford sounded nice in my many college brainstorming sessions, I also had to be reasonable; state schools are going to be less expensive for residents. So I narrowed my college to Oklahoma University. Not only has it been a dream for me to go there, but I also have read about the value of an OU degree, looked at meal plans and mapped out which would be best for me, and considered where on campus I should stay. I am planning on doing pre-medical studies, so even the major I have chosen will be something noted on how much things will cost. The school itself will be important in deal-determining. On the thought of mapping all of this down, I realized the importance of writing things down on paper. As I was writing, I was thinking of ways I could continue to accrue money throughout college. Having an on-campus job will not only cover some of the expenses of room and board but it will also give me a paycheck! I learned from a very early age to save money to have something to fall back on for emergencies or to get something. So with the requirement of living on campus for my freshman year, what better way to help some expenses than to work? It has the benefits of expense coverage and money earning as I mentioned earlier, but it is also a work-based learning experience. Lastly, making the experience worth the cost is crucial for the adventure of college. Joining clubs, getting good class grades, and most importantly getting everything I am entitled to are three sure-fire ways to get the college experience I am paying for. Not only is it a form of respect and gratitude to the people who pay for you, but it is essential for the college journey! It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so why not get everything you deserve? To conclude, mapping out how I will pay for college, the programs that will give me the best deal without breaking the bank, and how to make the experience worth the cost were three necessities in my college preparatory work and financial management. I hope the insight I had helps others who may not know much about this.

A time depicting my childhood humor would be when I pranked my mom with a fake spider. Before I begin, however, let me say that practical joking runs in my family. My mom and grandad have played some clever tricks on loved ones. That being said, I would like to start my story. When I was six years old, Chuck E. Cheese's was one of my favorite places to visit. With this memory in particular, Mom took me there, and I spent my tickets on different toys as well as a medium-sized wolf spider - The toy that would be used on what would be the best practical joke I played on my mom - On a Saturday afternoon after that visit, I was bored and Mom was in her bathroom showering. I had a thought to plant the spider I got under the couch and play a joke on her. So after checking that the living room was clear, I took my spider and placed it under the couch where just the legs and end of the abdomen can be seen. After waiting some time - unbeknownst to me that she got out of her shower - I called out seemingly worried "MOM! There's a spider under the couch!!" Yelling, she asked, "How big is it?" I answered, "medium-sized." There was momentary silence until she questioned "what color is it?" I called out "grey, brown, and black." Not three minutes after, she came into the living room with a towel on, wet-headed, and armed with a flip-flop. She asked me where the spider was. After pointing and her not seeing it, I start reaching for the spider, almost sending her into a heart attack. Mom shrieked, "Hannah!! Don't reach for it-" I had already pulled it out and the only word that came out of my mouth with a wry smile was "fake". Mom got mad and scolded me on how much my stunt scared her and that I shouldn't be reaching for spiders, also warning me not to do such a thing again. Even though I kept my promise and haven't played a joke like that since I still like to reminisce and give mom a hard time not only about the event but how I got the "practical joking trait" from her. To conclude, my wolf spider prank was epic for my six-year-old self. I got a good laugh out of pranking my mom while learning a small lesson about not scaring someone too much. Thank you for hearing my story, I hope you got a good laugh out of it!