The medical field is a daunting area as it's stifled by decades of inaccessible healthcare, poor patient-doctor interactions, and a general distrust in the healthcare system. In order to make a difference, I've decided to become a doctor in order to increase diversity in the medical field, further encouraging others who are like me to follow my example as we try to reverse the effects of discrimination and racism within healthcare. However, while growing up in a PWI school district, I realized that while my previous environment had inspired my future goal, I wasn't in the right environment to achieve it. That's when I decided that in order to properly impact African American communities, I needed to be in a place where I can focus on my goals while surrounded by students who both look and think like me as we work towards the same dream. So far, my experience has been remarkable! I've become highly involved on campus between the Honors College, the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, and a few hobby-oriented organizations. Attending North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University has also placed me in an area where I'm able to balance my academics and impacting the community, all while making time to have fun. I'm excited to see how much further I'll grow alongside my peers and how my skills will come to benefit me and others in the future.

The act of contributing to the medical field always ends up benefiting the public, and it’s a key reason as to why medicine and community service go hand-in-hand. In high school, serving as my Honor Society’s Vice President, our Executive Board settled on one last large project to carry out for the year, focusing on the ALS Ride for Life Foundation. Breaking it up between multiple committees, we created a series of fundraisers. The first fundraiser was a youth movie night, the next being creating T-shirts for volunteers and supporters to wear during the walk-run portion of their tour, and the last being the actual walk-run where we were able to walk with current ALS patients and raise awareness. Ultimately, we raised $3,000 towards ALS research and services provided for patients and their families. Going into college, I’ve worked to start off my pre-medical journey on a strong foot and as a result, I’ve had the privilege to work as a Biology Department Ambassador, serving in events across campus such as our annual Youth White Coat Summit where we invited medical professionals from the Foundation for Development of Minority Physicians to expose middle school to college students to various medical careers. Additionally, we also assisted in running labs with doctors specialized in certain areas. Moreover, I’ve had the opportunity to not only work as the Community Service Intern this year but was elected as the new Community Service Co-Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students and am currently developing programs with my new Co-Chair. Lastly, last April I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Okeke and Dr. Ware from Duke University in their Evidence2Practice Workshop. During the 3-day experience, we focused on the severity of HIV and STIs, discussed why there’s a rise in STIs within underserved communities, and proposed potential strategies on how to decrease the number of cases both on our campus and the community. As a result, we’re gaining funding for these programs and scheduled a date to meet with Duke experts on how to maximize their efficiency. One’s education is nearly as important as how one applies said knowledge in their community. It’s a waste to spend time learning and pushing yourself past your physical and mental limitations if you don’t improve the lives of those around you. Carrying this mindset, I will work to make sure that as I matriculate through my undergraduate and graduate years, I will be improving my community simultaneously. Whenever I return home, I continue to remain heavily involved within my church often volunteering to set up events and food kitchens. However, one way I plan on doing using my knowledge is by applying to medical school to specialize in emergency medicine and working as a member of Black Men in White Coats to expose underserved communities to the medical field which will increase the diversity of the field, help reverse health disparities, and improve patient-doctor interactions.

It’s widely known that everyone should see their primary doctor at least once a year to see if there are any changes or updates in their health. Doing so brings about various benefits such as preventing yourself from contracting illnesses with vaccines and medications, saving yourself money by catching illnesses before they worsen in severity, and simply giving yourself peace of mind that everything’s alright. Despite the many benefits that an annual check-up provides, why is that communities, especially African Americans, are still reluctant to see their doctor? The main reason behind this distrust of our healthcare system stems off from hundreds of years of mistreatment of African Americans. A great example is the comparison of how they were treated in the Spanish Flu of 1918 to how they are treated now. During the Spanish Flu, African Americans were found to contract the disease much more than whites in that time. When figuring out why, instead of questioning the nation’s healthcare system, they simply concluded “It’s really just because their bodies are inferior to ours.” Not because blacks were denied treatment in white hospitals and had to rely on Freedmen hospitals, but because of the self-concocted notion that their bodies were simply not as strong as their white counterparts. Over a hundred years later, we can still see the effects of this mistreatment echo through African American counterparts. People argued during the COVID-19 pandemic that the reason why African Americans contracted COVID at a much higher percentage than other communities is because of their health conditions such as hypertension. But this raises the question, why is it that such conditions exist? How were these communities treated over the last few centuries that their health was impacted so severely? The common factor between both time periods is that no one is stopping to think about how our healthcare system has betrayed the African American people and as a result, their health as a whole has been impacted throughout several generations. It’s circumstances such as the examples I’ve listed above that fuel my desire to make an impact upon the medical field. My goal for the near and far-off future is to use my education and skills to help create a safe and secure environment where not only African Americans but patients of all nationalities and backgrounds can feel free to share how they are feeling. That way, we can begin to take larger steps towards reversing the enduring health disparities that are still affecting such communities. This goal is why I’ve decided to attend North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University as the Historically Black University is located in an area composed of mostly African Americans. That way, not only will I be able to develop as a scholar and individual along other like-minded students who look like me, I’ll be able to practice improving the health of the local community, giving me the practice for what my overarching mission will look like. In conclusion, my goal for the future is to impact the medical field by creating a safe and open space for patient-doctor interactions, increase the amount of diversity within the field, and serve as an example for aspiring black doctors who wonder how they can make a difference in their communities.

Most people require a certain passion and desire to go into medicine, it's not so simple just to say that "I want to help others" or "I like the idea of medicine." Unfortunately, these are two of my many reasons to go into medicine so until high school, I had no idea what my drive was. But after the last few years, I've come to realize that the very act of contributing to the medicine always ends up benefiting the public, and it’s a key reason as to why medicine and community service go hand-in-hand. In high school, serving as my Honor Society’s Vice President, our Executive Board settled on one last large project to carry out for the year, focusing on the ALS Ride for Life Foundation. Breaking it up between multiple committees, we created a series of fundraisers. The first fundraiser we created was a youth movie night, the next phase of the service project which was creating T-shirts for volunteers and supporters to wear during the walk-run, and the last phase was the actual walk-run where we were able to walk with current ALS patients and raise awareness. Ultimately, we raised $3,000 towards ALS research and services provided for patients and their families. Going into college, I’ve worked to start off my pre-medical journey on a strong foot and as a result, I’ve had the privilege to work as a Biology Department Ambassador, serving in events across campus such as our annual Youth White Coat Summit where we invited medical professionals from the Foundation for Development of Minority Physicians to expose middle school to college students to various medical careers. Additionally, we also assisted in running labs with doctors specialized in certain areas. Moreover, I’ve had the opportunity to not only work as the Community Service Intern for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students this year but was elected as the new Community Service Co-Chair and am currently developing programs with my new Co-Chair. Lastly, last April I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Okeke and Dr. Ware from Duke University in their Evidence2Practice Workshop. During the 3-day experience, we focused on the severity of HIV and STIs, discussed why there’s a rise in STIs within underserved communities, and proposed potential strategies on how to decrease the number of cases both on our campus and the community. As a result, we’re gaining funding for these programs and scheduled a date to meet with Duke experts on how to maximize their efficiency. One’s education is nearly as important as how one applies said knowledge in their community. It’s a waste to spend time learning and pushing yourself past your physical and mental limitations if you don’t improve the lives of those around you. Carrying this mindset, I will work to make sure that as I matriculate through my undergraduate and graduate years, I will be improving my community simultaneously. One way I plan on doing so is applying to medical school to specialize in emergency medicine and working as a member of Black Men in White Coats to expose underserved communities to the medical field, increasing the diversity of the field and improving patient-doctor interactions.

Throughout my life, I’ve come to realize that my dream of becoming a doctor isn’t just something to achieve, then decide to settle. To me, becoming a doctor would be an example to younger students, especially other African American males, that think to themselves, “Oh it’s not really something I’d able to do, I’m just not smart/good enough.” Along this path, I’ve realized one crucial lesson which is that the act of contributing to the medical field always ends up benefiting the public, and it’s a key reason as to why medicine and community service go hand-in-hand. Whether it's through volunteering as a translator for non-English speaking citizens at local mobile food kitchens or volunteering in Youth Health Summits working alongside medical professionals to expose students to various careers they can choose to pursue. This is due to the truth that the medical field needs more diversity over anything else. With more cultural representation in our hospitals and medical centers, we’d be able to cross language barriers and provide a more caring and open environment where patients aren’t uncomfortable discussing their issues in front of their trusted doctor. To me, being at North Carolina A&T has allowed to me to utilize my strengths and work alongside renowned individuals that are not only dedicated to excellence but look like me as well. Together, we serve as examples for future generations to come so that they can continue to impact their community in a larger way than we have

“Aggie Pride”: A term used by students and alumni of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Stands for Achieving Great Goals in Everything – Producing Renowned Individuals Dedicated to Excellence. “Aggie Pride? What’s that?” As an incoming freshman, I was nervous to attend North Carolina A&T for the next 4 years of my life. It was a new experience in a new environment in a new state, after all. During our New Student Orientation, our Aggie Success Leaders emphasized the words “Aggie Pride”. Naive, I had no clue how much weight and history these two words held. Ironically, I’d be staying in Blair Hall yet knew little about the actions of Ezell Blair Jr. and how his actions paved the way for countless African American students. Way before entering North Carolina A&T, I expressed my dream of becoming an emergency doctor at 11 years old, both ignorant of the work it required and how necessary it was for the field to become more diverse. After my first year here, I’ve achieved more in 1 academic year than I had during my time in high school. To begin, I’ve excelled in my academics, having been accepted to the university’s Honor College, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and the Pre-Medical track for Biology majors. Moreover, I’ve become highly involved as a Biology Student Ambassador as a freshman and assisting in various events held by the department. Additionally, I’ve worked as the Community Service Intern and Co-Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, working to create consistent, engaging service opportunities for our members and community. Lastly, I’m part of Duke University’s Evidence2Practice program where students work together to create effective strategies to decrease the number of HIV/STI cases on-campus and in the local community. Currently, I’m completing a summer research program at Duke University where I’m working on the in vivo validation of epigenomic therapies for Parkinson’s Disease. If you told me last August that I’d be gain so many new connections, experiences, and a new perspective of myself and why I’m on this path into medicine, I would think you’re crazy, then ask you “So what IS Aggie Pride?” The importance of one’s education is nearly as important as how one applies it in their community. It makes no sense to spend time learning and pushing yourself past your physical and mental limitations if you don’t end up improving the lives of others. Carrying this mindset, one way I plan on continuing this impact, post-graduation, is applying to medical school to specialize in emergency medicine and working as a member of Black Men in White Coats to expose underserved communities to the medical field, not only increasing the diversity of the field but improving the outcomes of patient-doctor experiences. So, to say that I’m proud to be an Aggie doesn’t give the statement judgement in terms of how much the school has given me physically and mentally. The best thing I’ve received from the school would have to be the definition of “Aggie Pride.” After a self-discovering first year at North Carolina A&T, I can confidently say that “Aggie Pride” is many things. It’s the motto of our illustrious university, it's a greeting between fellow Aggies, but most of all, it’s a mindset to possess. A mindset where despite whatever challenges you may be facing, you’re still a scholar destined to achieve great goals in everything you put your mind to as long as you remember you’re a renowned individual dedicated to excellence. Sometimes we may forget we are, but that’s exactly why we say it so much, Aggie Pride!

“Aggie Pride”: A term used by students and alumni of North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. Stands for Achieving Great Goals in Everything – Producing Renowned Individuals Dedicated to Excellence. “Aggie Pride? What’s that?” As an incoming freshman, I was nervous to attend North Carolina A&T for the next 4 years of my life. It was a new experience in a new environment in a new state, after all. During our New Student Orientation, our Aggie Success Leaders emphasized the words “Aggie Pride”. Naive, I had no clue how much weight and history these two words held. Ironically, I’d be staying in Blair Hall yet knew little about the actions of Ezell Blair Jr. and how his actions paved the way for countless African American students. Way before entering North Carolina A&T, I expressed my dream of becoming an emergency doctor at 11 years old, both ignorant of the work it required and how necessary it was for the field to become more diverse. After my first year here, I’ve achieved more in 1 academic year than I had during my time in high school. To begin, I’ve excelled in my academics, having been accepted to the university’s Honor College, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and the Pre-Medical track for Biology majors. Moreover, I’ve become highly involved as a Biology Student Ambassador as a freshman and assisting in various events held by the department. Additionally, I’ve worked as the Community Service Intern and Co-Chair for the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, working to create consistent, engaging service opportunities for our members and community. Lastly, I’m part of Duke University’s Evidence2Practice program where students work together to create effective strategies to decrease the number of HIV/STI cases on-campus and in the local community. Currently, I’m completing a summer research program at Duke University where I’m working on the in vivo validation of epigenomic therapies for Parkinson’s Disease. If you told me last August that I’d be gain so many new connections, experiences, and a new perspective of myself and why I’m on this path into medicine, I would think you’re crazy, then ask you “So what IS Aggie Pride?” The importance of one’s education is nearly as important as how one applies it in their community. It makes no sense to spend time learning and pushing yourself past your physical and mental limitations if you don’t end up improving the lives of others. Carrying this mindset, one way I plan on continuing this impact, post-graduation, is applying to medical school to specialize in emergency medicine and working as a member of Black Men in White Coats to expose underrepresented communities to the medical field, not only increasing the diversity of the field but improving the outcomes of patient-doctor experiences. So, to say that I’m proud to be an Aggie doesn’t give the statement judgement in terms of how much the school has given me physically and mentally. The best thing I’ve received from the school would have to be the definition of “Aggie Pride.” After a self-discovering first year at North Carolina A&T, I can confidently say that “Aggie Pride” is many things. It’s the motto of our illustrious university, it's a greeting between fellow Aggies, but most of all, it’s a mindset to possess. A mindset where despite whatever challenges you may be facing, you’re still a scholar destined to achieve great goals in everything you put your mind to as long as you remember you’re a renowned individual dedicated to excellence. Sometimes we may forget we are, but that’s exactly why we say it so much, Aggie Pride!

The idea of medicine has always been in my head ever since graduating elementary school and putting it as my future profession in our yearbook, even though my naïve 11-year-old self had no idea of what it would take. So, until now, I’ve focused on excelling in my academics and gaining as much exposure to the medical field as possible and I’m glad to say that I’m doing a great job. Along this path, I’ve realized one crucial lesson which is that the act of contributing to the medical field always ends up benefiting the public, and it’s a key reason as to why medicine and community service go hand-in-hand. In high school, I worked diligently alongside the Executive Board of our National Honor Society to volunteer within our community, including setting up an ALS Fundraiser which resulted in raising $3,000. Additionally, a value seen throughout our campus is the idea of service. I have done much as the Community Service Intern and plan to do so much more as the new Community Service Co-Chair such as establishing educational programs at local elementary schools, volunteering at the science center, and assisting with mobile soup kitchens. Furthermore, I’ve been an active youth volunteer at my church, setting up various community events, helping with the finances of youth-run events, and even playing music at a few events. If I am confident about one thing, even if I am not able to become a doctor and my love for the medical field fades, I will always be there to give back to my community and help those who truly need it. When I expressed my dream of becoming an emergency doctor at 11 years old, not only was I ignorant of the work it required, but how necessary it was for the field to become more diverse. When it comes to my goals, both education and career wise, it’s not just to become a doctor and leave it at that. It’s to use my medical expertise to make a difference in both the medical field and underserved communities. The importance of one’s education is nearly as important as how one applies said knowledge in their community. It makes no sense to spend time learning and pushing yourself past your physical and mental limitations if you don’t end up improving the lives of those around you. Carrying this mindset, I will work to make sure that as I matriculate through my undergraduate years, I will be improving my community simultaneously. One way I plan on continuing this social impact post-graduation, is applying to medical school, and working as a member of Black Men in White Coats to expose underserved communities to the medical field, not only increasing the diversity of the field but improving the outcomes of patient-doctor experiences.

Serving your community on the surface level may seem like just participating in community events such as soup kitchens, picking up trash at the local park, or completing tasks related to being a Boy Scout. These are key examples of volunteering in one’s community as the common factor between them is that you’re impacting your community in some shape or form. However, the idea of volunteering goes much deeper as it reveals one’s relationship with their community and how far one is willing to go in order to see it and the people around them grow stronger. Offering my services at places such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Luncheon event held by the Town of Brookhaven gave me an eye-opening perspective on the impact of serving one’s community. Our day consisted of providing musical entertainment for the event and then creating hundreds of care packages full of food and essentials for those in need. The most impactful part of the day was when select African-Americans from across the island were called up to quote the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and then interpret his words and how they apply to the current day. It fascinated me how people, both young and old, were able to show they can still be used to guide our world today and how MLK’s actions have echoed throughout time to present-day America. The importance of service can’t be emphasized anymore, but to me, it’s just as important for individuals to build themselves up alongside their communities. While serving my community, I made it my mission to uphold my academics, raising up to the top 5% in my class while engaging in extracurricular activities from various different areas of expertise. Some include but are not limited to, being the Vice-President of my school’s National Honor Society, being the President of the Science Olympiads, being the Varsity Boys Track Captain, and being my band’s Trumpet Section Leader for the past few years. Displaying and growing upon my skills in multiple areas has not only helped me grow as a person but helped me expose my skills to those around me, earning various awards such as the National African-American Recognition award, the New York State Assembly Citation of Service, the Town of Brookhaven African-American Scholar award, and many more. Going into college, I hope to take the knowledge I learn from my rigorous classes and incorporate them into a way where I can impact my community the same way MLK did but in my own way. Becoming a doctor in a work environment where it’s considered rare to see an African-American will not only accomplish one of my goals but become the start of a new path. A path where I will work alongside other African-American doctors under the Black Men in White Coats organization. Together, we will not only impact lives inside of the operating room but outside of it by bolstering the number of POCs in the medical field and investing in the next generation of medical professionals.

Volunteer Experience: - Youth Church Volunteer (7 Yrs) - National Honor Society Vice President (1 Yr) - Spanish Honor Society (2 Yrs) - Tri-M (1-2 Yrs) - Key Club / Kiwanis(3 Yrs) Hobbies: - Science Olympiad President - Math Team Treasurer - All-County Trumpet Player - Varsity Boys Track Captain - Playing Trumpet for community events such as Patchogue's Veterans Day - Virtual Medical Shadowing Program “Jewish-American Princess” - a stereotypical well-to-do or spoiled American Jewish girl. As a black woman in a predominately white medical field, it was apparent that my grandmother wasn’t welcome. In fact, in addition to being exposed to the stressful and fast-paced work environment of a hospital while providing for her family, she fell victim to constant discrimination from not only her co-workers but her patients as well. Hearing that she was called a “Jewish-American Princess” on a daily basis as a Christian Jamaican immigrant who had constantly toiled in order to create a better life for herself and her family felt nothing short of unjustified. Her solution to all of the social and mental obstacles in her path was to advocate for herself, ensuring that she would be seen and heard as well as remaining persistent despite those spited her. As a result, she was not only been promoted to the head of her department but gained the respect of those around her. This led to the further prosperity of the hospital in an area where citizens desperately needed it. The benefits of diversity lie within the creative ideas held by those from different backgrounds. One of its countless benefits lies in the seeds professionals leave behind for generations to come. Setting an example for aspiring youth in their desired line of work gives them a goal to work towards and eventually surpass all while promoting creativity and a larger perspective when developing innovations that break ground in the field. These seeds ultimately bear fruit, although we may not be there to see them flourish. We build upon each other, gaining inspiration from those who came before us unless the seeds of the next generation have no one to help them mature into what they can be. One imperative issue of this generation proves to be a lack of discipline. It’s human nature to dream of great achievements but the initial pitfalls and difficulties have discouraged potential doctors, astronauts, and presidents from varying cultures, from maturing into the leaders of tomorrow. Without anyone to guide them, limitless potential and skill hidden within our youth waste away over the years. Currently, within the medical field, African Americans make up a discouraging 6%. In the future, I’d like to serve as an example for aspiring students, ideally through creating or working with an organization oriented towards working with POC students who wish to enter the medical field. That way, I can contribute to ensuring that the talents and abilities of the future won’t go unwasted and instead be put to use to create a future where we won’t have to wait long to see the impact we have upon not just the world, but each other.

1. Anesthesiology has been my dream career for the past couple of years. When most people hear this, their initial reaction is "Wow, they make a lot of money! You're gonna be set for life!" or something of the like. While that's true, I've always been interested in Anesthesiology because of the flexibility of location as well as the experience of working in various medical fields such as Dental, Pediatric, and many more. 2. Diversity is a crucial factor in the medical field that needs to be improved as time goes on. Having diversity present in the workplace not only allows the patients to be treated more adequately due to the professional's cultural or religious background but also improves an M.D's competence to understand the various backgrounds of their patients. Despite how important it is to the field of work, the amount of POCs in the medical field is extremely low which is a definite problem. As I continue in my respective profession, I'll continue to dedicate a portion of my time to improving the community including setting up science programs for POCs, especially the youth. I'll go more into detail later in the application. 3. My financial standings, according to most programs and counselors I've heard from/seen, are great which I am very fortunate and grateful for. However, this also cuts me off from a lot of scholarships or college programs that would help to eliminate a considerable amount of student debt. The amount of debt I would accumulate not only from undergraduate studies but, hopefully, from medical school as well would pose an obstacle for my future. So this not only places a burden upon me but my parents and family as well which is the last thing I want for them after they've done and provided so much for me. 4. In the next 10 years, I hope to be almost or completely finished with Medical School and applying for residency. At the same time, I would have already had a job that provides a steady flow of income and allows me to positively impact my community in some shape or form. Previously, I've already shown an interest in another science program for black men called Black Men in White Coats USA. Where I live, there really aren't many science programs out there dedicated to sparking a passion for people of color so I wanted to make a change in my community by trying to start a summit here on Long Island. However, because of my age and current education, I'm not qualified to start it up so now I'm trying to find an alternative for now through our local library as well as certified officials until I become more educated. What I'm hoping for is to set up different programs based on age and interests. For Elementary Schoolers, it'd be based mainly around basic sciences. For example, the Water Cycle, basic chemical reactions like bottle rockets or slime, and plants/animals. As the age groups get older, the sciences would slowly become more and more advanced as well as diverse. Of course, this is a concept I've only begun to develop.

As we all know, the world is nowhere near perfect. We as a people have yet to set aside our differences in order to solve universal problems. Some say it's due to our nations' economies, others say that some actions may affect the environment, and some even argue that it's due to their strict beliefs. This lack of action has led to the unprecedented growth of global issues such as world hunger, climate change, racism, gun violence, etc. While they all are high-priority issues that should be solved ASAP, there are some issues that surpass those previously mentioned. I solely believe that the largest problem our world is facing right now is inaction fueled by comfortability, laziness, and ignorance as they all prolong action. As we continue to grow as a people, there have been apparent advancements in all of our technology, cultures, and industries. Most of these advancements have improved the world's lifestyle, but they've also created detrimental effects on the planet. While these problems continue to grow and become more severe, very few actually take action to solve them as the actions necessary to do so. Whether it's out of fear of changing their daily lives or simply because they are unaware of how serious the problems are, the inaction of the people only allows these problems to grow to a point where it's too late to solve them. The only viable solution to solving inaction is to directly show the ignorant the effects of their inaction upon their society, the world, and later on themselves. For example, the process of tearing down forests and how we not only waste resources but the habitats of various species. Hopefully, it will open up their eyes to how fast we have to act in order to protect our planet.

It was my freshman year during spring break as COVID began to settle in, my family went to visit my grandparents and drop off groceries/supplies. After making sure they had everything they needed, it was time to catch up. On that day talking to my grandmother, I was given some of the best advice I've ever heard. Sitting down with her, my grandmother became the first person I told about my dream career which to my surprise made her the best person to talk to about it. Immediately, she talked about her experience of working in America as a black nurse during a time when we as a people were still seen as less than compared to other races. I'll tell you as much as I can here. During her time as a nurse, she was subjected to extreme racism in the workforce. Whether it was from her superiors, her co-workers, or those who worked under her. Most black nurses in her hospital had actually quit due to the excessive verbal and emotional abuse and my grandma had been encouraged to do the same. Once she was eligible for a major promotion after a few years there, she was only met with disapproval from her direct superior. The constant belittlement and discouragement only fueled her as she worked tirelessly to earn that promotion and the title "JAP" from the same racist superior. I found it ironic as it stood for "Jewish-American Princess" but she's a Christian. That story only scratched the surface of what she had to endure back then but it gave me a lesson on how to push past your physical, mental, and emotional barriers in order to see your goals realized. I've applied to all my activities, schoolwork, and college-related work as I continue to push forward.

The point of living in a community is so that you're able to provide support and relief to other members and leave a positive impact on their lives. Over the past few years, as I've continued to meet and connect with people from various backgrounds through community/volunteer events, I've been able to understand them and what they go through on a daily basis. Engaging so consistently has allowed me to also understand how impactful these events are to them so I've made it my mission to make sure that no matter what I do locally, it'll help the people. One example of how I hope to bring positive change is definitely through Music. I'm involved in music both in and out of school by playing the Trumpet. In-School, I play in our school's Wind Ensemble as the Section Leader of the Trumpets, played in the Marching Band, played in our musical's pit before it was sadly canceled, and played in our Jazz Ensemble as well. This year, our Jazz Ensemble had the opportunity to play a few pieces for multiple schools in our school district. Playing for the younger kids was a really fun experience because not only did we put on a show for them after they've worked so hard during this school year, we ignited a passion for music in some kids who didn't really know what they were interested in. It's activities and interactions like these that I love because both parties leave feeling better than how they came, so I'm looking forward to many more in the future as I continue to grow as a person.