Throughout high school and into college, I’ve worked hard to gain experiences and build professional skills. I currently work as a sales associate at Belk, Inc., where I’ve been employed since 2023. My responsibilities include handling ship-to-home orders, assisting customers, and helping keep the store running smoothly. In addition to that, I was selected for the Executive Leadership Program, a paid internship I completed In the Summer of 2024. I interned in the Global Online Department at Georgia Military College’s Milledgeville campus, where I collected and analyzed data, created presentations, and had the opportunity to present my findings directly to the president and vice president of the global online college. These experiences taught me the importance of strong communication, teamwork, and leadership skills that I now carry with me into my healthcare journey. My desire to pursue a career in healthcare comes from a deeply personal place. I’ve always been drawn to helping others, especially those battling cancer. Although I’ve never had the illness myself, I know what it’s like to watch a loved one fight that battle. When I was in eighth grade, my grandfather was diagnosed with both Prostate and Bone cancer in the later stages. Watching his decline and seeing him endure radiation therapy had a profound impact on me. Eventually, he chose to stop all treatment, and we had to say goodbye. That experience opened my eyes to the emotional and physical toll cancer takes on both patients and their families. Since then, I’ve felt called to support others facing similar struggles, and to be a steady, informed presence for those going through difficult diagnoses. At first, I was interested in becoming a sonographer. But as I explored different healthcare careers, I discovered nuclear medicine technology and immediately felt a connection. It offered everything I was looking for advanced imaging, a focus on anatomy, and the ability to detect disease at early stages, especially cancer. I knew right away that this was the path I was meant to follow. Nuclear medicine isn’t just about machines and procedures; it’s about providing clarity, comfort, and potentially life-saving information to patients and their families. As a future nuclear medicine technologist, I want to be a source of trust and compassion, especially for minority families and underrepresented communities. More than often, minority patients are left out of important conversations about treatment risks and options. Representation matters in healthcare, and I want to be the kind of provider who makes patients feel safe and informed. My goal is not only to help extend the lives of those battling disease but, to ensure that every patient, regardless of their background can receive the respect and quality care they deserve. Winning this scholarship would bring me one step closer to that dream, allowing me to continue my education and make a meaningful difference in the world through the power of nuclear medicine.