When I planted those basil plants in my first garden five years ago, I had no idea that this seemingly interesting but not earth-shattering hobby would have such a significant impact on my life. Growing up, watching my dad passionately embark on a career in medicine made knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up a no-brainer: The path I took, however, was always an enigma to me. Looking back now, gardening brought me to science, which brought me to chemistry. My gardening hobby started out small with a single garden. I purchased some seeds and some soil, and it all just grew from there. Throughout the season, I continuously gathered books and studied how to maintain my gardens, specifically for Minnesota’s climate. I researched optimal growing conditions, ideal harvesting times and methods, and non-traditional fruits and vegetables to attempt in this region. My crop yield ended up being more than I knew what to do with. I would bring over baskets of produce to the Good Samaritan Society Senior Living Center and my neighbors. It brought me so much joy being able to share my bounty with others. My operation kept getting larger. At the end of every season, discarding the plants always seemed wasteful. I became cognizant of the fact that I was just going to have to purchase new seeds and plants again in the spring. Instead, I began saving the seeds. I would cultivate and nurture them all winter, so they would be ready to plant in the spring. Gardening ultimately became a year-round passion. Little did I know, it would spark new ideas and opportunities for me. Besides cultivating the seeds, winters in Minnesota functioned as a type of off-season for my gardening hobby, or so I had thought. After a snowfall or ice storm, Minnesotans frequently place road salts on the roads to aid in transportation safety. What I noticed, however, is that these aforementioned road salts were actually killing the roadside vegetation. This realization inspired me to combine my love of gardening with environmental change. For the next three years, I used the scientific method to brainstorm, research, and experiment on potentially eco-friendly alternatives to standard road salts. Eventually, I found one. Throughout my science-fair journey, I realized that my research should not end at road salts. While taking AP Chemistry, I found myself swimming in ideas of how to make environmental changes, which I aspire to pursue as a chemistry major. I hope to become a doctor someday. As such, I believe chemistry is the perfect major for me. Not only does it help me prepare for medical school, but it is a subject I am very excited to continue studying. I am ecstatic about the prospect of continuing my environmental research. I have always known I want to be a doctor, but looking back, I never would have predicted gardening would have led me down the path to becoming one. Gardening showed me that there is more than one way of pursuing passions and helping people in this world. There will never be a shortage of ways to try and make the Earth a little greener.