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!