As a hard-working individual who thrives on puzzles and logic games, my passion for math and science has always outweighed other subjects. Growing up with my father, who's a chemistry teacher at my high school, he always pushed my sister and I to go above and beyond in STEM subjects: our summers before high school consisted of going to the local bookstore and purchasing a math/science workbook for our upcoming grade. This preparation has allowed me to take two AP mathematics courses (Calculus AB, and Calculus BC), and two AP sciences courses (Biology and Chemistry). In both Calculus AB and Chemistry, I earned 5s on their respective exams, and received A+s in the classes, and currently, I am enrolled in the other two mentioned. While I found and continue to find success in these STEM courses, it was not until recently that I was able to articulate what I wanted to pursue. But I found my passion when I was in late elementary school. This occurred when my grandfather was admitted to a nursing home for a late stage of Alzheimer's disease. This disease had erased all memories of my family, and our repeated visits turned into seeing a blank, unrecognizing face staring back at us. But, even years before, his condition put a lot of stress on my Grammy, as she would have to make sure he did not leave the house, or leave the stove or water on. This period of time took a toll on my entire family, and his death, while inevitable, was no less difficult. Thus began my passion for neuroscience, and although 6th grade me didn't know what that was yet, I knew I wanted to help not only families in my family's position, but patients like my Gramps. So, in roughly 9th grade, I began looking into what occupations could provide me with a career that allowed me to help everyone in these types of situations. I discovered that neuropsychology, a path achieved by dual majoring in neuroscience and psychology, was the perfect combination between in-person interaction and care, and research-based work. While my passion story revolves around my Gramps, I hope to be a Clinical Pediatric Neuropsychologist. With this title, I believe there are preventative measures to be discovered and enacted early in life for diseases that emerge later in life, and I want to aid in the research it takes to find them. Additionally, I am fascinated by the gut microbiome, and the research it is gaining in regards to its relation to the brain and overall health. Furthermore, there is the continuously growing idea that the body is an ecosystem where food is the fuel, driving power, and cure of the imbalances we face as individuals. This is a growing field, and neuropsychologists are needed to expand on it, and apply its findings to the greater good - my dream exactly. In summary, my journey to finding my dream career as a neuropsychologist has been facilitated by the opportunities STEM provides, my past experiences, and academic preparation in STEM. I have nothing but enthusiasm and passion to continue my path towards helping individuals and families like mine navigate the complexities of neurological conditions, and being a proud STEM student. Thank you for considering my application.

I have always believed that because our lives are fleeting and never guaranteed, we should maximize them however we see fit. Finally, however, I was able to properly articulate my argument after reading “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. The book revolves around Nora, the main character, who finds herself in a world between life and death after attempting suicide. She is given the opportunity to individually rewrite the mounds of regrets she has and experience what life would have been like had she acted differently in order to choose the life she wants. However, she finds that each alternate life has a displeasing aspect. This perpetual experience, instead of making her settle for choosing death as the only solution, motivates her to eventually return to her original life and find things to be happy about. Thus, my viewpoint on life changed to not necessarily maximizing life, but minimizing regrets. We are not given the opportunity to fix our regrets like Nora was, and the time spent dwelling on the alternate realities that could have resulted from past decisions is time wasted in the present. From this perspective change, I wanted to know how to fully indulge in the present and optimize the time I have left. This desire led me to discover that meditating is supposed to increase your presence in moments you may have otherwise overlooked. Thus, I delved into a journey of mindfulness through meditation and settled into a world free of obsessing over the past. It has successfully brought me peace with events, more control over my emotions, and an increased feeling of control over the outcomes of situations. So, if I could have everyone in the world read just one book, it would be this one. Our lives are fast-paced, sprinting through the present as though life is a race to death. But this book was a reminder to slow down and appreciate what is before me, to take the depleting clock of life into my own hands, and to ensure I am not left with things undone. Amidst the generation of the most stressed out, I have one message to share with the world: make time to stop and smell the roses, and there is no doubt that "The Midnight Library" is the perfect way to share it.