There are two significant experiences that have shaped who I am today. While being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes was certainly the biggest challenge, the greatest opportunity has been participating in the Houston Zoo Crew program. The combination of these experiences has had a profound impact on my life and future goals, helping me grow in ways I never imagined. On December 22, 2017, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a moment that completely turned my world upside down. The first few days were overwhelming, and I often wondered if I would ever feel normal again. It took some time, but I have learned how to manage this uninvited aspect of my life. Believe it or not, living with diabetes has a silver lining. It has taught me a lot about being different which has made me more compassionate and less judgmental towards others. I had to grow up a lot faster and take responsibility for myself because my life literally depends on it. I have learned how to face challenges head-on, stay focused, and keep pushing forward. These lessons have been further reinforced by my time in the Zoo Crew program. Balancing my health while committing to the demands of volunteering and traveling internationally requires time management, organization, and resilience, all of which are crucial life skills. A bit of backstory: my passion for animals started early, but living in the heart of New York City meant opportunities to see them were limited. My mother would take me to the Bronx Zoo twice a month, and I was hooked. This passion grew into something much larger the summer before my freshman year of high school. My final assignment in middle school was to choose a global service project and write a thesis on it. Choosing Wildlife Conservation was an obvious choice for me. In addition to making simple, yet impactful efforts at home and in my community, one requirement was to speak with local professionals who supported my cause. One of the five people I interviewed just so happened to be the coordinator for the teen educational program at the Houston Zoo, which led me to discover the Zoo Crew program. I applied, interviewed, and waited patiently until I got the amazing news I was accepted. Now entering my fifth year in the Zoo Crew program, I’ve accumulated over 1,000 volunteer hours at the zoo. I’ve been fortunate enough to apply for and be granted two junior zookeeper positions; one in the children’s zoo and another in the carnivore department. I have spent time in the zoo’s Veterinary Hospital shadowing the vets, and had the incredible opportunity to travel internationally to both the Galápagos Islands and Rwanda to work with conservation partners of the zoo and animals in the wild. The support of my parents and their reminder to “not to let diabetes stop me from pursuing my dreams” has stuck with me. I’ve learned that I am capable of managing both the challenges of a chronic condition and the opportunities that come from following my passions. My time at the zoo has inspired my aspiration to become a veterinarian and deepened my commitment to wildlife conservation both locally and globally. Together, these experiences have given me the confidence and preparation I need to succeed in college and beyond.