We can not always control the unknown of the future and we are not always able to tell what is going on in other peoples lives. Two factors that make patience so important in our lives. All it takes in one chaotic and random moment to change our daily lives immensely. All it takes is one misunderstanding of a human being and relationships or interactions can be thrown by the way side. How we react to situations and others around us determines our future interactions and how we look at life around us. Back in 2019, I tore my ACL midway through my college freshman track season. For me sports and being physically active has always been a huge part of who I am. To have that taken away by a freak accident, even though only temporary, was the hardest thing to happen to me in that moment. I knew recovery wasn't going to be easy, and certain sports and events that I did before would no longer be an easy road. I struggled a lot initially when it came to my recovery. I wanted to be better right away so I could get back to what I love. Patience was something I thought I had down, but in this instance I did not. It was through this moment I learned the true importance of patience. Once I did, recovery went smoother and better. I learned that trying to speed things up only made it worse. I came to find peace in patience. A peace that has helped me since, as I have continued to struggle with injuries. But with patience, my experiences through these injuries makes me stronger and stronger. I have become more grateful for every opportunity given to me, big or small. Patience is freedom from fear.

In a world that seems to be plagued with bad news and never ending worry, it can be easy to let your emotions be worn down. Having the ability to stay optimistic despite everything that is going on, and have a good attitude towards the future is vital. This is a quality that I have come to value most in my life and has helped me get past many obstacles. When I was younger I was always called the smiley kid and known among my class mates as someone who is always happy and positive. I have been questioned many times why or how I could be happy all the time. When I was younger my answer was always simply "I don't know I guess being angry or sad doesn't seem as fun". Such a silly and simple answer but in all honesty, rings true today. There is nothing fun about being sad or angry at life or situations. If I am bluntly honest, it does nothing to help the problem either, just makes it worse. So the question I now ask myself is why not be happy? Even with all the obstacles we face and problems in the world there is at least one thing to be thankful for and one thing to look forward too. It may take some hard thinking and time to figure out what it is, but once you do, you realize there is always something to live for. I have had my fair share of bad things between family members having medical emergencies and myself having major knee surgery, getting rejected or waitlisted by all my grad schools initially, relationship/friendship problems, and the list could go on. However, each became a learning experience and I worked to find the good in each. At the end of the day most of these problems became resolved or and had good endings. My family members recovered, I got accepted into my dream grad program, and my friendships issues were resolved. The process of getting to these points were hard but having that positive attitude and trying to find the good in each helped in ways I never could have expected. Being optimistic is hard, there is no doubt about it, and as we get older I have learned it gets harder and harder to be that smiley, go lucky girl. But if me being happy and optimistic can help others to be as well, it is worth it that much more. We have all heard that a smile can change a persons day completely. A simple action that holds so much positive power, and something we need more and more of these days. So, a quality that I hope to continue to possess throughout life is my optimistic and positive attitude. Not only because it will help me in life but also because it can help others as well, which to me is the most important thing.

In the ever growing melting pot in which we live in, so much of what makes up other cultures are being lost. Traditions, languages, art, stories, etc that are unique to different cultures are slowly fading. A lot of it has to do with a misunderstanding or disrespect towards others and their beliefs and backgrounds. I want to bring back to life the beauty, history, and traditions of those who are being forgotten. Especially in a world where we expect others too assimilate to our ways and forget who they are. If I were an influential figure I would bring light to this. I would help to fund programs and encourage schools to implement more cultural learning curriculum. There is so much that can come from learning another language or understanding the practices and traditions of cultures different than our own. This also helps get rid of misunderstandings or false fears that have been place in children and adults alike. Additionally when we all work to understand and keep traditions alive there is a much greater respect among communities and people. We live in a world divided, a division that appears to get bigger and bigger. If by this one thing we can some how bring people just a little bit closer than maybe we will start to see a mend.

From a little girl stitching and bandaging up her teddy bear and helping her dad assist in cow birth to a girl now so close to her dream career. Coming from a small town I had a strong community of support and had the ability to involve myself in various activities and engage in community volunteer opportunities. Now knowing this knowledge one may have expected me to want to become a veterinarian in a small town. However, my experiences actually pushed me towards the human medical field and my desire to become a physician assistant (PA). The human body and what affects it has always been extremely intriguing to me. From my various experiences through volunteering and missions I gained a passion for wanting to bring access to quality healthcare to those underserved. What people do not realize is that there are a lot more underserved areas than one may realize. This does not always mean low income, poverty areas, but areas in general that do not have enough medical access (primary, mental, or dental) that is needed in a community. This leads to a lot of care being transferred to other areas making medical bills more costly for individuals. Additionally this can lead to higher death rates within these communities. This is especially seen in rural areas. As a PA I want to be able to help bridge this gap. Though I am one person I can still give back and hopefully provide education to the public. A problem can not be solved if the issue isn't brought to the attention of those who can make a difference. Meaning future medical providers and finding ways to help incoming primary care providers see the importance of bringing quality care to these communities. What we give back is so important, because we as a society can not continue to grow if we don't ensure that everyone is able to grow with us. Reading as also helped me shape the goals in which I have to make an impact within my field of interest as well. My guilty pleasure of reading has always been Readers Digest. Now initially this was because of the those fun little comics and joke pages. As I grew older and began actually reading all the other articles in there, my reason for reading them changed. I loved reading about the stories of people making change or helping those in need. There are also always little medical field updates that give you a look into what is happening in the medical world today. What new research and understandings are unfolding. It is exciting and eye opening at the same time. It helped push me towards my love of medicine and the desire to learn and give back. Now of course, readers digest isn't the only thing I love to read. I read almost every genre and each genre has its own special uniqueness to it. Which I have learned also translates to people as seen through writing and stories but also in life in general. Every person has their own unique them, their own background, their own likes and dislikes, etc. This is important for me as a healthcare provider as you can't treat everyone the same and if you don't allow yourself to get to know patients, you struggle to make a connection with them. I could go on and on about the impacts my environment and even books have had one me and my desire to make an impact. However, the most important take away is realizing that there is always a need to give back.

Ask any young adult one thing they hate most about being older, one of the top things they will say is calling to have to make appointments. Now this action doesn't automatically make a person independent but it does help show that growing sense of responsibility. To be independent it means you are no longer relying on someone else (parents particularly) to provide for you. It is a stage where you are required to care for yourself, and as we call it, be a big kid. This means taking on responsibilities such as paying bills, cooking and cleaning for yourself, working to financially support yourself, and yes make your own doctor appointments. For some being independent comes really easy, I am one of those people. However, for some it can be scary, and even for those who it comes easy for are also scared and worried at times. There is a huge learning curve that comes with independence, but it is a good and necessary learning curve. It allows you to stand on your own as there may be cases where there isn't always gonna be someone else you can fall back on. For me, I love the sense of being independent because you no longer are relying on someone else to make decisions for you. It does force you to grow up, but it also offers a whole new world of opportunities. I love my independence, and I am thankful it is something my parents tried to instill in me at a young age to prepare me for my future.

Freshman year of college I tore my ACL at practice, and I was devastated, but also in denial. It took me two months to go to the doctor to have them tell me it was torn and needed surgery. I didn't want my track career to be affected or my summer plans. However, I was forced to roll with the punches because I needed surgery and there was no way around it. In general, most people would describe me as very optimistic person. This event had a huge effect on me and it was really hard initially to see the good in it. Thankfully not all bad things last forever and I really learned to see the good that came from the situation. I learned to appreciate friends and family more and was able to be more involved in the community. My brother helped me appreciate the outdoors more as we went fishing almost everyday as that only required me to sit in a boat. There was a lot of realizing that there is so much still that I can do, despite my initial feeling of defeat and loss. This new change in thought helped with recovery too, as I stopped letting little set backs take me down. When you stay optimistic through hard times, life doesn't seem so bad anymore. You are able to see life from a new perspective and experience or learn new things you wouldn't have otherwise. A lesson I hope everyone can take with them.

Fitting in can be a scary thing for everyone. It has been my goal ever since I can remember to help people feel more comfortable no matter where they are. I understand the fear, everyone does at some point. We are judged by every little thing we do and say. Therefore I help those by simply being that bright, bubbly, and sometimes weird girl that helps break the ice. Sometimes all we need is someone to break the tension and make it feel okay to be your self. It is an ability of mine that I do love about myself. Even though the whole idea of talking about what you love about yourself is an uncomfortable topic on its own. Finding first something that you do love about your self, and then not trying to sound narcissistic in the process. Which is another aspect that makes fitting in hard for everyone, including myself. Portraying yourself in a light to help your own confidence but seeming overly confident that again people dislike you. That is once again where I come in to try and smooth the process. Whether it be a smile, a joke, helping hand, whatever it is based on the situation. I will always want people to feel comfortable and accepted. An aspect I really to love about my self, even if it is weird to say.

In an ever growing population of diverse backgrounds, so does our healthcare setting need to continue to grow and adapt. For me, I want to be apart of this growing change and allow for medicine to reach the underserved. There is a whole group of people that are still not being reached due to access, finances, and even fear of going to a medical provider. I want to help bridge this gap, and becoming a Physician Assistant will allow me to do that. However it is more than just being a medical provider, but creating those connections with patients. Being their advocates when it feels as if nobody else will be. The healthcare system as a whole is improving, yet there is still a large gap in the care of minorities and smaller/poorer communities. If there is anyway that I can change that and help to provide access to quality care, I want to. We are not here on this earth to only look out for ourselves, but to be there for others. To form those bounds and grow as a community and society together.

What would you give, to see a world that offers equal care, of the highest quality to everyone? For me that is my dream within the healthcare setting. I strive to be a Physician Assistant who helps bring care to those who currently don't have the access to the care they deserve. No body should feel as if they are forgotten or not cared for. I believe everyone should have the ability to live their happiest and healthiest lives. Additionally I believe those who are struggling with mental illness and addictions need more care than the world is offering them. Everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves to be cared for and taken seriously. What are we as a society if we pick and chose who deserves to have quality care and who doesn't. I want to advocate for the underserved and bring about change within the healthcare system as a whole. Even though it may seem like there have been many good changes over time, there is still a long way to go. I want to be a part of that change and help our world be a better and healthier place for everyone.

To have career where I can both form a personal relationship and provide others with quality care is my dream. Through the work of a Physician Assistant (PA), I believe I can satisfy this dream. As a PA, I am able to work in any region and any specialty, but my focus is on family medicine. I hope to serve the underserved, to provide them with the access to quality care that they deserve. To do that I want to be able to have the best education possible and I believe that the Northwestern College program I am enrolled in will allow this. The focus is of course on medicine, but more importantly ensuring that patients know that those who care for them truly care. Additionally through family medicine I am able to interact with a wide range of patients and form those bonds with them. For there to be good care, patients need to trust and feel comfortable around those whom are there to assist. All I want is what is the best for everyone and through healthcare I hope to be one more drop in the ocean that can help make this happen.

Success is great until one spontaneous even takes it away. For me this was my success in collegiate sports and a major injury. I tore my ACL when I was on a roller coaster high of emotions from competing at my best. Only to plummet to the bottom having not only my athletics affected but my summer internship opportunities taken away as well. The road to recovery was the hardest thing I had ever gone through, but I learned so much more about life in the process. It is no surprise that in hard times it is easy to focus on the bad. Finding the good in the bad however is a life changer. One gains a whole new perspective and it leads to a much happier experience. When my recovery had first started, I was not mentally in a good place. I was losing out on so many opportunities and I was in more pain than I could have imagined. Thankfully I had an amazing community of family and friends who helped me find the good within the bad. Through this time I was able to be more involved in the community through my grandma. She would pick me up and bring me to therapy and after therapy would bring me to nursing homes to meet with those who live there. Additionally she got me more involved in church events that just required me to talk to people since I couldn't move around easily. I also gained a greater appreciation for the great outdoors and quality time with family. My brother, who has gone through four knee surgeries and understood what I was going through, took me out on the boat to fish almost everyday. Friends came to visit, and as I was regaining mobility thought of different ways to have fun and pass the time. This extra downtime also allowed me to look further into future career plans and opportunities to help strengthen my grad school resume. I could go on and on about all the good that came from one bad event. I truly learned what it meant to find the good within the bad and it changed my attitude completely. A lesson I have learned apply to my life since then, which has helped me lived a more fulfilling and happy life. There are always going to be ups and downs in our lives and what happens is not always in our control. No matter how much we plan out our future, bad things sometimes just happen. However, how we respond to bad things can change our entire outlook on life and help us progress in ways we didn't think possible.