My mother believes that I was born to be a doctor. From when I was a child I always knew I was going to help people. There was a point in time when I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I more or less had the same idea. I differed and am still unsure what kind of doctor I want to be, but I don't have to decide just yet. I remember I wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon, and I thought my mom was trying to talk me out of it and I was furious. I just have always been drawn to the medical field for some reason. This had turned into something even greater in the past couple of years, it turned to passion. I never knew how much I could want something until my senior year. I decided to sign up for an EMT class at my local community college. I thought that it'd stand out in my college essay. In the beginning, it was reading out of a textbook, lessons, and quizzes, but that ended about a couple of months in. We started to practice scenarios and "setting the scene" in our little classroom. I started to engage and make sure I knew the steps by muscle memory. We also had to put in 24 hours of clinical work and this is where it clicked for me. I never knew how excited I could get to volunteer overnight at a hospital or put in a 12-hour shift at a fire station. I couldn't wait to get a new patient or go on a call, even if I has to write a page report after. I felt this magnetic pull to being in these atmospheres. I am now a freshman at Augsburg University pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. I plan on attending medical school following my graduation. I continue to feel so attracted to this life of helping others. I don't know in what way it will be, and I know it is a long and bumpy road ahead. I know that I will be happy in the future, and that is enough for me to keep going now and be okay with the many years I have before I settle into that life. I belive that I have the drive and perseverance that will help me achieve my goals in life. I have imagined being other things but a doctor, it doesn't give me that same energy and excitement that being a doctor does. This is why I choose the pre-med track and will have medicine become my career.

My mother believes that I was born to be a doctor. From when I was a child I always knew I was going to help people. There was a point in time when I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I more or less had the same idea. I differed and am still unsure what kind of doctor I want to be, but I don't have to decide just yet. I remember I wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon, and I thought my mom was trying to talk me out of it and I was furious. I just have always been drawn to the medical field for some reason. This had turned into something even greater in the past couple of years, it turned to passion. I never knew how much I could want something until my senior year. I decided to sign up for an EMT class at my local community college. I thought that it'd stand out in my college essay. In the beginning, it was reading out of a textbook, lessons, and quizzes, but that ended about a couple of months in. We started to practice scenarios and "setting the scene" in our little classroom. I started to engage and make sure I knew the steps by muscle memory. We also had to put in 24 hours of clinical work and this is where it clicked for me. I never knew how excited I could get to volunteer overnight at a hospital or put in a 12-hour shift at a fire station. I couldn't wait to get a new patient or go on a call, even if I has to write a page report after. I felt this magnetic pull to being in these atmospheres. I passed my practical exams with ease but had other setbacks. The second part of getting my EMT certification was to pass an online exam. I waited a month or so after my class ended and took the exam, I felt so ready to get into the field. I did not pass and wasn't exactly close to passing either. I didn't put in the work and just expected to float along. This saddened me but I scheduled an exam for after my lacrosse season so I would have time to prepare. In the next few months, my mom bought me books and flashcards with practice tests to set me up for passing. I wait till one month before to start reading the book and taking those practice exams. I was ready for this exam. I get my results back and I did better than my first, but still did not pass. At this point I was just ready to admit defeat and that this wasn't the path for me. My mother wasn't ready to give up on me, she suggested a tutor. I have never needed a tutor and this seemed humiliating to me. The biggest step I had to make was admitting that I needed help. Sure enough with some guided study sessions and slowing down my thinking to become more comprehensive, I passed. You will struggle and feel like quitting, but it is a part of the process. You have to work hard to get to where you want in life even when it feels impossible. Passion is what will make you grow and become amazing in the career you decide on. I still am having some struggles, but now I know to step back and understand that I will get there one day.

My mother believes that I was born to be a doctor. From when I was a child I always knew I was going to help people. There was a point in time when I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I more or less had the same idea. I differed and am still unsure what kind of doctor I want to be, but I don't have to decide just yet. I remember I wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon, and I thought my mom was trying to talk me out of it and I was furious. I just have always been drawn to the medical field for some reason. This had turned into something even greater in the past couple of years, it turned to passion. I never knew how much I could want something until my senior year. I decided to sign up for an EMT class at my local community college. I thought that it'd stand out in my college essay. In the beginning, it was reading out of a textbook, lessons, and quizzes, but that ended about a couple of months in. We started to practice scenarios and "setting the scene" in our little classroom. I started to engage and make sure I knew the steps by muscle memory. We also had to put in 24 hours of clinical work and this is where it clicked for me. I never knew how excited I could get to volunteer overnight at a hospital or put in a 12-hour shift at a fire station. I couldn't wait to get a new patient or go on a call, even if I has to write a page report after. I felt this magnetic pull to being in these atmospheres. I passed my practical exams with ease but had other setbacks. The second part of getting my EMT certification was to pass an online exam. I waited a month or so after my class ended and took the exam, I felt so ready to get into the field. I did not pass and wasn't exactly close to passing either. I didn't put in the work and just expected to float along. This saddened me but I scheduled an exam for after my lacrosse season so I would have time to prepare. In the next few months, my mom bought me books and flashcards with practice tests to set me up for passing. I wait till one month before to start reading the book and taking those practice exams. I was ready for this exam. I get my results back and I did better than my first, but still did not pass. At this point I was just ready to admit defeat and that this wasn't the path for me. My mother wasn't ready to give up on me, she suggested a tutor. I have never needed a tutor and this seemed humiliating to me. The biggest step I had to make was admitting that I needed help. Sure enough with some guided study sessions and slowing down my thinking to become more comprehensive, I passed. This is perseverance. I had to choose to ask for help and choose to keep fighting for my passion. I had been opened to how my happiness, and helping people can bring me. I knew that I would need to keep taking these punches to achieve my goals. I still understand this concept and use it daily as I am earning my bachelor's degree. Perseverance is what will get my degree, into med school, and my career.

My mother believes that I was born to be a doctor. From when I was a child I always knew I was going to help people. There was a point in time when I wanted to be a veterinarian, but I more or less had the same idea. I differed and am still unsure what kind of doctor I want to be, but I don't have to decide just yet. I remember I wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon, and I thought my mom was trying to talk me out of it and I was furious. I just have always been drawn to the medical field for some reason. This had turned into something even greater in the past couple of years, it turned to passion. I never knew how much I could want something until my senior year. I decided to sign up for an EMT class at my local community college. I thought that it'd stand out in my college essay. In the beginning, it was reading out of a textbook, lessons, and quizzes, but that ended about a couple of months in. We started to practice scenarios and "setting the scene" in our little classroom. I started to engage and make sure I knew the steps by muscle memory. We also had to put in 24 hours of clinical work and this is where it clicked for me. I never knew how excited I could get to volunteer overnight at a hospital or put in a 12-hour shift at a fire station. I couldn't wait to get a new patient or go on a call, even if I has to write a page report after. I felt this magnetic pull to being in these atmospheres. I passed my practical exams with ease but had other setbacks. The second part of getting my EMT certification was to pass an online exam. I waited a month or so after my class ended and took the exam, I felt so ready to get into the field. I did not pass and wasn't exactly close to passing either. I didn't put in the work and just expected to float along. This saddened me but I scheduled an exam for after my lacrosse season so I would have time to prepare. In the next few months, my mom bought me books and flashcards with practice tests to set me up for passing. I wait till one month before to start reading the book and taking those practice exams. I was ready for this exam. I get my results back and I did better than my first, but still did not pass. At this point I was just ready to admit defeat and that this wasn't the path for me. My mother wasn't ready to give up on me, she suggested a tutor. I have never needed a tutor and this seemed humiliating to me. The biggest step I had to make was admitting that I needed help. Sure enough with some guided study sessions and slowing down my thinking to become more comprehensive, I passed. This story was to show that the medical track is not easy. You will struggle and feel like quitting, but it is a part of the process. You have to work hard to get to where you want in life even when it feels impossible. Passion is what will make you grow and become amazing in the career you decide on. I still am having some struggles, but now I know to step back and understand that I will get there one day.

I never knew how much I would rely on sports throughout my life. When I was younger it was dance, and gymnastics, as I grew it became soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. I took up some running in middle school with track and cross country, along with everything else. It wasn't till I moved across the country that I came to truly appreciate sports as a whole. I moved from Connecticut to Iowa after my freshman year. I had to restart with a new high school and a new team, with no friends. I joined the summer team for lacrosse and immediately felt welcome. I knew what I was doing on the field and bonded greatly over the summer with my new team. From this, I found some great friends that still are in the present day. This sport brought me joy and relief. I happened to join the school track and field team to keep in shape. I didn't realize how much of a fire this would kindle for me. I have always played team sports so this is a bit of a change. I would run relays, yes, but it was more about individual power. I started on the JV team, and it was almost humbling for me because I had been used to being on top. This pushed me to start working hard and focusing on myself. I have been able to understand the mentality needed to challenge yourself. As I started to gain strength mentally and physically I would be put in varsity races every so often. I was able to be rewarded for the time put in. Being at the start line, ready for the gun to shoot. I never knew what it was truly like to be so anxious until then. I would get dizzy, and feel like passing out, but then I would hear a loud crack split through the air. My thoughts were turned off, adrenaline kicked in, and I was just running. I didn't realize how much I had changed till I was back on that lacrosse field and felt a passion that I hadn't previously. Sports can change your attitude without realizing it. suddenly I felt a drive and willingness to learn and improve my game. You might be wondering how this had such a positive impact on me. It had never crossed my mind to further my sports career, I was set on ending it after school. I was able to feel the power when I was on the field after my experiences and just knew that I couldn't cut it short. I am now a college freshman playing for the lacrosse team and I am so happy about it because it brings me a sense of comfort and an escape from school for a short while.