On the first day of third grade I found out that I have a rare disease, when I broke my femur playing kickball. After an ER trip and a six-hour surgery, I was diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia, which affects 1 in 10,000 and causes bone tumors. This disease makes my femur weak and prone to fracture. What followed was multiple additional surgeries, lengthy hospital visits and wheelchairs over the next 10 years. In elementary school, I was known as the ¨Wheelchair kid¨. Some kids made fun of me, most simply gave me the occasional pitiful look, and felt bad that an energetic kid had to be constrained to that chair. My legs haven’t always been able to support me. The challenges I've faced have given me the confidence to know that no matter what I am presented with, I can not only overcome it, but dominate it. My obstacles have taught me to never take anything for granted, to push myself to achieve extraordinary goals, and to use my strength to lift up others around me. I've been incredibly lucky to recover and be able to manage my disease. As a result, I feel so grateful and determined to make the most of life's opportunities. That determination has translated to do the very best I can in my studies. I've worked incredibly hard to earn my GPA. I also feel passionate about giving back, and participating in all that life has to offer, like serving on the Executive Committee of my school's agriculture magnet program, and volunteering with our local youth lacrosse organization. My surgeons have used advanced tools and technology to build a supportive steel spike, specifically for my physiology. With fibrous dysplasia being a very rare condition, specialized surgical tools are needed to repair its effects. Somewhere, years ago, an engineer committed themselves to making the world a better place, and constructed these tools so that I could walk and run again. My personal goal is to earn a degree in bioengineering and produce new technologies that provide second chances to people who can benefit from technology the most. My personal experiences have created a passion in me to use technology and biotech for disease prevention and treatment. I'm thrilled by the prospect of earning this degree, and gaining insight into how technology is used for the benefit of humanity in the real world, and help me in my personal goals to help people through biotechnology. I look forward to continuing to work hard in my studies and contributing to the college community. I'm so excited to see how I can succeed and help continue the exemplary legacy in college.