Save. Save. Save. When I was fourteen I got my first job as a bus boy and food runner for a local restaurant. I had to financially support myself, as I lived with my single mother and three younger siblings. I knew I wanted to go to college and drive a car, but unfortunately, both of those dreams are extremely expensive. My manager at my job mentored me about keeping myself financially stable. He paid his way through college and is living financially free. He doesn't make a lot of money he exclaimed, but he budgets properly, doesn't overspend, and saves most of the money he earns. He taught me a lot about finances, but ultimately saving your money as best as you can was the key for me. I saved up 90% of what I made for seven years. I was taught at my job how to negotiate with a car salesman and how to create a contract that will benefit me more than the dealership. Not only was I able to buy my first car, but I was able to afford it and not have to worry about missing any payments. Furthermore, I saved up enough of my money that I didn't have to stress about my financial status throughout college, and obtain additional student loans. Creating a budget, saving your money, and understanding the "wants vs needs" is a proper way of moving through your finances when you are young. Thankfully, I was taught this lesson at a young age, which has kept me from ever stressing about money.

"You’ll Never Know. If You’re Not The One Who’s Continuing To Take That Path... Unless You Keep Moving Forward." - Eren Yeager. This quote comes from a popular animated tv show, Attack on Titan. I have watched this show ever since its release, and for a tv show, it brings to life how people struggle on a daily basis. I have struggled my entire life, emotionally, physically, and mentally. I know of many others who continue to struggle just like me. Thankfully, I have discovered a passion that I want to turn into a career and help others find their passion. I have been enrolled in chiropractic school and will begin to help heal and educate my community on spinal health, exercise, and nutrition. Our bodies are filled with toxins and chemicals that disrupt our neurological capabilities. Ultimately, this wreaks havoc on our minds and spirit which contribute to our daily struggles. People underestimate the power of chiropractic, and for someone to become inspired by one I have seen the transformations many individuals have gone through. In conclusion, the quote by Eren Yeager always reminds me of as long as you are optimistic, the good times will always be there for you. You must always continue to go through tough times because this is what makes us human. Tough times never last, but strong people do. It is our job to inspire those around us and make people believe in themselves. That is why I stay optimistic because you never know who might need inspiration.

Experience is the key to a successful career in whatever you are passionate about. I have peers from growing up who were years ahead of me in knowledge and education. Their test scores were much higher than mine and were accepted into Ivy League schools that were out of reach for people like me. I never understood why they were unsuccessful in the real world, socializing with others, conducting business, or becoming personable with others. Eventually, midway through college, that answer struck me. You can read as many books and take as many classes as possible, but it will never gain you the experience needed to understand the people around you. I watched my peers struggle to work alongside others, especially those who were not as intellectual as them. I found it peculiar as they didn't even understand themselves, which is why I was lucky to work at a young age. Being able to work in the restaurant industry allowed me to meet and work with many types of different people. Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior, and no amount of classes will prepare you for the psyche of people who entire your restaurant, both patron and coworker. I was able to gain experience and wisdom from much older peers about life, and what it takes to become successful. I was also able to meet many interesting customers who taught me valuable lessons in less than an hour. Being able to work alongside individuals, maybe some older or younger will shape the way you view the world. I have been able to grasp and put myself into many other people's shoes. This significant experience working at this restaurant has allowed me to understand different people's perspectives, which is one of our greatest responsibilities as a person.

My hometown in Naples, Florida is ravaged by hurricanes annually. I live in an impoverished community and have seen the devastation these hurricanes leave behind. Naples is an expensive place to live and is a hub for immigrants from across the world. I always wanted to discover a way to help improve the lives in my community, as well as make Naples a more affordable place to live. I was doing research in high school about sustainable homes that can withstand environmental disasters. This is when I stumbled upon "shipping container homes". Entire houses are made out of shipping containers that companies are no longer using for transporting goods. Apparently, there is an abundance of these containers and companies are struggling to find ways to dispose of them. This struck me as a resolution for middle and lower-class families to live in these types of homes. It has been reported that these homes are able to withstand hurricanes, snowstorms, and earthquakes. I have seen my neighbors, and personally, my own home destroyed by these hurricanes. We always went to a shelter, but these new homes could be the answer to our problems. Furthermore, these homes are relatively cheap. You can buy a home for a family for less than $80,000. That is very affordable for middle and lower-class families. The housing market is beyond expensive and people are unable to purchase homes. I have been meeting with individuals from the Naples City Council, construction managers, and real estate agents on providing these types of homes. The councilmen are the ones who have stopped any license from succeeding because they believe these houses will "hurt neighboring houses' values". I believe this is a fraudulent case. I have been meeting with councilmen every spring before hurricane season to pass legislation.

During my undergraduate degree, I struggled in my freshman year. I was confused, lost, and upset with how my experience was going. My academics struggled during my first semester as I could never get into a rhythm. The college courses moved at such a fast pace that every time I felt that I was finally understanding the material it was already too late. I needed guidance from someone who was successful. Thankfully, my advisor began this program in that successful senior, juniors, and sophomores would be paired with two freshmen during their second semester to help educate and mentor them. My mentor was able to provide some inciteful tips for succeeding in college. Time management, helpful studying material, and overall being a supportive friend. He set the foundation for my collegiate success. I was able to turn my grades around and achieve many academic awards by the time I finished my bachelor's degree. My experience with my mentor inspired me to help other college students that were struggling. After my second semester during my freshman year, I applied to become a student-peer mentor. I was admitted and taught two freshmen every year for the past three years for what it takes to become successful. It was rewarding as I kept a close connection with my younger peers. I watched them mature and succeed in our exercise science program. After a first successful year mentoring two students, I challenged myself to help guide to more. Except, they were student-athletes. At Florida Southern College we emphasized academic success within our athletics. My success in academics allowed me to further instill my knowledge and experiences with younger student-athletes. After years of mentoring younger students, I hope I passed on the wisdom and experience that will take them to greater heights beyond college.

Since I was old enough to roam around with my friends I have always considered riding my bike or walking to my desired destination. My friends and I ever since middle school have walked around our neighborhood and city whenever we would hang out. Riding our bikes or simply walking would suffice for us and we wouldn't have to bother our parents or anyone else for a car ride. My past experiences of riding my bike or walking to wherever I needed to be translated into my adult years. Affording an electric car is nearly impossible unless you have a job that provides you with that type of wealth. Unforunteatly, I do not have one of those luxurious jobs. I would ride my bike to school, work, and my friend's houses throughout high school. Even in college, I would walk everywhere or ride my bike. Moving into a bigger city I was introduced to public transportation. This allowed me to get to the grocery store or any other required location. I have introduced my friends to how I move around with driving my car at a minimum. Even in today's society, I didn't expect gas prices to reach this magnitude, but it has now reinforced how important it is to find other means of transportation. Gas-powered vehicles leave a significant carbon footprint, and I wanted to do my part and help reduce this footprint. I have been advocating for years about improving public transportation, increasing the capacity for people riding their bikes to work, and finding other alternative means of transportation. People believe it takes drastic measures to make large changes. I tend to disagree because when we all commit small acts of positive change, this will lead to a great change that will benefit our earth.

I have been accepted into Life University's Doctorate of Chiropractic program. Becoming a chiropractor has been a dream of mine since I was ten years old. My life has changed dramatically from them and I want to help save lives and improve people's overall quality of life. The program is expensive as I will be receiving a doctorate degree. It costs as much as obtaining an MD degree from Harvard. $1,000 right now would help pay for my doctorate of chiropractic tuition. I have been saving for years and applying for numerous scholarships. My doctorate program will be mostly paid in loans, and from what my mentor has taught me about graduate-level loans is that the interest will accumulate rapidly. I would be using this $1,000 to help combat the interest growing in my student loans. I was taught that repaying little amounts of your student loans will help reduce the interest accumulating. I want to apply the $1,000 to help avoid extra thousands of dollars in my student loans. Having $1,000 will allow me to remain more focused in school and avoid the stress and anxiety from this financial burden. Anything worthwhile has come from hard work. I know this journey will be difficult but I will become the best chiropractor I can become from this education.

Whenever my mental health feels beaten up or exhausted I always turn on one of my favorite tv shows: Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan, or anything else that will help me escape the real world. I believe watching, reading, or listening to your favorite shows, movies, books, or podcasts allow you to roam in your own world. This helps me take my mind off of the mental obstacles that are blocking my mind. Having a feeling of self-relief allows your mental state to reboot and operate at full capacity. Enjoying what makes you happy does wonder for your mind, body, and soul. Another tip that helps me clear my mind is going for a run. Running is one of the most powerful tools a person can own. Running allows you to be free and feels that you have control over everything. Whenever I go for a run it doesn't matter how fast or far I go, as long as I enjoy myself at the moment. Playing my favorite songs or podcasts helps make the run easier, but it helps block out all the negativity that is going on in my head. Listening to music also distracts you from the physical aching that progresses as you run. This allows you to run faster or longer. It is a win-win for both your mental and physical health. One of the first and last activities I perform during my day is to pray. I enjoy praying when I wake up and ask for guidance, and peace, and to overall have a pleasant day. Somedays do not have to be productive, and that is okay. People may think that you must complete multiple tasks for you to have a successful day. Success looks different for everybody; it may be just relaxing in your bed and watching a movie. After my day is completed I will pray before I go to bed. This allows me to reflect on what occurred throughout my day. Whether it was good or bad I have the ability to properly adjust my mind and prepare for the next day. Praying is very powerful and can feel as if the weight is moving off your mind and body. I understand people do not pray, but I would recommend writing in a journal or diary. You will still be able to benefit and reflect on your current events, and prepare for the next day. These tips allow me to feel that I am radiating positivity and can be my most sincere self. When your mental health is blooming, it makes you feel on top of the world. As I complete these little reminders of what I enjoy, this allows me to fully encompass myself into who I am. I hope to emanate my attitude towards other people in hopes of inspiring those to help boost their mental health and enlighten the people around me.

It was the summer of 2013 when my life changed forever. I was thirteen years old enjoying the beginning of my summer break before high school. I was eating my breakfast while my three younger siblings were watching tv. My mom was out shopping gathering groceries for the week. When all of a sudden my little sister starts screaming. I rush over to the other side of the house to check out what is happening when I begin to see my brother drooling all over himself. I immediately noticed my brother was drooling, and seconds later his face begins to turn blue. He was choking on his breakfast. I couldn’t hear his breath and I immediately start panicking. As seconds went on he started getting darker, and his body started twitching. I grab ahold of my brother as his body starts to violently convulse. He began a Grand Mal seizure episode. My little brother grew up with epilepsy and suffered from absent seizures most of his childhood. He was ten years old when his first Grand Mal seizure episode occurred. I remember from a CPR class my mother took my siblings and I had a topic about seizures, choking, etc… I quickly performed the actions that the class instructor taught us. The moment his body started convulsing I placed him on his side, grabbed a pillow, and a few moments later my brother began to drool. He still wasn’t breathing, and as someone who has played sports his entire life, I quickly reacted by placing his hands over his head. This would open up his lungs and afterward I grabbed his face and tried to pry his mouth open. Carefully, I got him to open his mouth and he began to breathe rapidly. Once I got him airflow he started vomiting all over me. A couple of minutes seemed like a lifetime with all that pressure. I didn’t realize how fast your life can change. My two younger siblings were crying and screaming during all this and once I realized that my brother could die in my arms I sent my siblings outside. I could hear them shouting out “please don’t let my brother die”. I knew I couldn’t fail, and at thirteen years old the guilt would haunt me forever and I knew I would never forgive myself. Thankfully, my brother survived, but this was only the beginning of the next couple of years of dealing with these types of seizures. This horrific event has led me to my future career path. This experience showed me how fragile life really can be. At any moment you will have to battle adversity and learn to overcome these issues. My younger brother has too much to live for and I couldn't just let him suffer on his own. I had to find the courage to act quickly and precisely. The doctors told me that my efforts saved my brother's life and this makes this one of the proudest moments of my life. Knowing I kept my brother alive is worth more than all the fame and fortune one person could ever want. Ever since my brother's first episode, a passion for helping people and saving lives has been ignited within me. My family and I saw many types of doctors that attempted to treat my brother but none of them successfully changed anything. A friend of my mother's referred us to her chiropractor. He was over an hour away from us but she said it was worth it. Dr. Joel Bohemier examined my brother and performed tests that no other doctor has done before. He was able to understand my brother's neurological structure and adjust my brother's spine accordingly. The results were astonishing and dramatically changed my brother's life. He reduced the number of grand mal seizures he was suffering from and was able to give my brother more freedom. I couldn't believe my eyes he was able to do that with just his hands and knowledge. This inspired me to become a chiropractor. I have heard and witnessed miracles and I want to help others take back their lives. I have received my Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science and Masters of Business Administration which have prepared me for my next chapter. I have been accepted into Life University's Doctorate of Chiropractic program for the fall of 2022. Once I complete my doctorate I plan on opening up my own practice in my community in hopes of saving lives.

I live in an elderly-centric location in Naples, Florida. Once the pandemic started my mom was worried about all the seniors in our community. Florida is the retirement capital and has a heavy population of the elderly. I would say half of my neighbors were of younger families, such as mine, and the other half were of the elderly. It was a beautiful blend of ages and I was able to obtain the knowledge and wisdom from many spirited individuals. Once the pandemic began, I decided to "taxi" myself to supermarkets, pharmacies, and whatever else my community needed. Since Covid-19 was deadlier for the elderly, I would wear a mask and gloves when delivering supplies to those in need. Once I received their supplies I would drop their items off by their door and alert them through a text message that their goods have arrived. Thankfully, most stores are now using mobile apps to basically buy everything you need and have it ready by the entrance of the store. I would receive the list of supplies needed and would commute to the store. Many of the elderly tried to tip me for my services, but I couldn't take their money as this pandemic has altered everyone's life. I used my services until safer guidelines were instructed for how we would conduct ourselves in society. There were many crazed individuals and I wanted the elderly in my community to avoid them as much as possible. I spread this message to many of my friends who lived near the elderly, as we needed to come together during this pandemic. This experience allowed me to make more friends in my community and show our willingness to help each other during a troubling time.

When you look up Naples, Florida you will see multi-million dollar houses and properties. It will be hard to find where the low and middle working class are located. I lived in this community and have seen other families struggle just like mine. Growing up in Naples I have seen people living extravagant lives, living paycheck-to-paycheck, and unfortunately, seen much worse. I want to become a part of the solution to make Naples affordable, and accessible for everyone. I went to Lely High School, which was predominately minorities and families of low income. It was a public high school that I was zoned for and I loved every second of it. The hardest part of living in Southwest Florida was hurricane season. My family and I would have to head to a shelter if it was a category three or higher. Many people in our community would travel with us to head to one of these shelters. Thankfully, my high school was always a shelter. This made high school a home away from home. The damages from hurricanes are devastating. I have seen people lose everything from these hurricanes. I vividly remember a house down the street from mine after Hurricane Katrina was completely wiped out. Year after year, a hurricane ravages the Naples community. If you didn't have a luxurious home with a hurricane protection program you would have to head to a shelter. I wanted to change and make an impact on my community. I want to identify how we can support my community with these bombardments of hurricanes during the hurricane season. I have seen my hometown get demolished by hurricanes year after year. I always wondered what are some ways that these homes could avoid becoming destroyed. Well, I have researched there is a new infrastructure of homes becoming popular and I believe it can help the Naples community. There are homes being built out of shipping containers. There is an abundance of these heavy metal containers and people are wondering what can be done with them. Engineers have begun creating sustainable, eco-friendly homes that are cheap and affordable. Well, no one in Naples or the Southwest Florida community has tried designing shipping container homes. These houses have been reported to withstand hurricanes and tropical storms and provide a safe home for people who live in these conditions. I want to be able to bring these homes to Naples. I have been an advocate in my community reaching out to many city councilmen and infrastructure development partners to help spread the word about these types of houses. This has been the most difficult part is attempting to get a permit to build these types of homes. The feedback that I have received has been that these “shipment container” homes will drive the property value of the neighboring extravagant houses lower. Home designers would not be able to accommodate the potential of losing money on this type of investment. I have been emphasizing to my community how expensive it has become to build a house and let alone attempt to buy one. The average shipping container home for 4-to-6 family members can range from $85,000-$150,000. Even smaller houses can sell for much less. These types of houses will revolutionize how we can prepare for natural disasters. Environmentalists have been vociferously adamant about climate change and how we will adapt. I believe using the resources we already have in abundance will change my community. This opportunity can be practiced all over the country and I am going to continue to spread this message.

College education shouldn't be forced down upon future generations. This has established immense amounts of pressure on high schoolers to discover themselves. I remember when I was told by teachers that you need a college education in order to work a valuable job and earn a decent salary. That is not the case in 2022. Children should be taught about trade school, earning income through the internet, and learning entrepreneurial skills that don't require a college degree. There are millions of successful stories of people living the American Dream without a college degree. This should be the main focus of high school and middle school. This preying mentality on children has created an environment of pressure and restlessness in their future. Legislators and colleges have forced the Department of Education to allow colleges to become subsidized and increase their tuition however they feel like it. This generation of students complains about the cost of college being extremely high, and the older generations always explain college didn't cost an arm and a leg. Further indicating that reform needs to happen. I would create policies and help reverse colleges becoming subsidized and preying on student loans. College shouldn't be free, but it shouldn't cost a student six figures of debt. Colleges have shifted the focus on what we need them to become successful. Whereas it should that colleges need us in order to survive. I would fight to dismiss these predatory loans and make college cheaper and affordable. This will allow future students to decide whether college is necessary for their success and allow other opportunities to become alive. Giving the children a choice without a large sum of debt is crucial for education becoming better for future generations.

He is not a historical figure, but he is no longer with us on this earth. My high school cross-country/track & field coach was a father to me. He was a teacher and coach, but more importantly a friend. My coach was able to help me with a dark time in my life. I was at one of the lowest points in my life. Suffering from depression as my family and living situation was grim. I was working, academics were failing, and football wasn't providing an outlet for me. My coach changed my life. He showed me the beauty of running. The power of your body to run miles on miles. The freedom it gives you is a feeling that is unparalleled. The beauty of it was that it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are. Being able to go for a run gives you a sense of accomplishment. I hope I can continue to inspire kids such as myself that are struggling in life. The reason I chose my coach as someone from history is that he has been helping kids like me for years. At his retirement party, there were thousands of people attending. The stories I heard were so similar to mine. He never had children with his wife, but he considered every student and athlete one of his kids. He truly meant it and it felt like he was. It was a beautiful sight to witness and with the number of people that were there and stories were so powerful. He may not be known throughout the world, but the impact he has left on me, and many others, will change the world and continue his blessings.

Save. Save. Save. When I got my first job as a busser at a restaurant my father told me to save as much as I can. Working in the restaurant industry you survive off of tips. I would work 2-3 days a week when I was fourteen, and eventually, add more shifts whenever my school and sports schedule was lightened. Nonetheless, saving for my first car, phone bill, and essentials what was what I had in mind. My strategy was that I would save my tip money and only spend my paycheck. For the seven years I worked at this restaurant I saved nearly every tip I received. I was paid $6 per hour and worked between 10-20 hours per week. for the first couple of years. Once I turned 18 I began working between 30-40 hours per work. Using this strategy I learned quickly about buying what I needed versus buying what I wanted. Budgeting became a topic that I mastered and would plan out all my bills as I got older. This kept me alert and responsible about my spending. As I got older and moved into college I had enough money saved up to where I would never stress about money. My parents were unable to help me pay for college or financially support me, but I was able to reduce my financial stress by not worrying about money. I was able to buy all the food and textbooks I needed. Loans and scholarships got me through my undergraduate degree with very little stress. I would tell younger kids to save and understand it is okay to avoid buying fancy shoes and clothes. Saving your money will teach you how to value your current belongings. This was very powerful to me at a young age.

I believe corrupt politicians are the biggest threat to the world. We have seen countries from around the world struggling with basic human rights and obtaining the resources for people to survive. Northern African, Middle Eastern, and Latin countries are suffering from corrupt politicians. Even in the United States, we are suffering from lobbyists and organizations that are keeping us from succeeding as a society. There need to be new ways to help improve countries around the world and stabilize their governments. Most politicians start out their careers with good intentions and try to make a difference. That is what we have heard as kids growing up. When in reality most of these politicians are placed in strategic positions to help continue a reign or administration of its current ways. This allows many political figures, whether or not they are in power, to continue to control the government. Many countries in Africa suffer from this and we need to find ways to defeat these organizations. Term limits for every government position need to be put into place. This will prevent lifelong politicians to accumulate millions of dollars and alter the political system. Many politicians of these countries have been in power for many years, which has led to instability within these countries. Another way to combat these corrupt politicians is to close together international currency loopholes. These corrupt politicians are able to move money and assets effortlessly. This will stop offshore accounts from dealing with political figures. Money is the most powerful tool these politicians have and if we can limit these figures, this will allow us to combat corruption.

Growing up with anxiety and depression, I kept my emotions to myself. I grew up with a single mother who had two jobs in order to provide for us. She also homeschooled my three younger siblings and me. This affected my socializing development and helped me grow and gain the experiences needed to mature as a kid. I struggled tremendously to gain new friends and with my confidence never feeling high I was always confused and upset about myself. My mom knew I was struggling but we never had the finances and resources to really tackle my problems professionally. From teaching myself my own education and helping to raise my siblings I had no time for myself. Thankfully, I was introduced through a Youtube video on art therapy. The video explained that whenever I feel a wave of emotions that I am unable to express to write them down in some form of art. Whether that be through drawing, painting, music, or whatever form of art that you can truly express yourself. This helped me tremendously as I was moving into my high school years. I was never a good artist, but I really enjoyed playing the guitar. I would watch guitar instructor videos and learn how to play songs through the means of Youtube. I thought to myself I was pretty decent but my guitar gave me peace, and that was what is important. In conclusion, I believe that art therapy is the key method for individuals to tackle their mental health. Being able to express yourself is the key to improving your mental health. Keeping your emotions bottled up inside is what prolongs these issues. Nonetheless, licensed professionals can do a lot, but those who are not financially capable of doing so have to find other means.

I am a firm believer in everyone should have a chance at life. It boggles my mind that people think lives can be thrown away and disregarded because they are not "born" yet. I have heard the stories and horrors of women's experiences when considering an abortion. I know as a man it is something that I can never relate to, or even closely understand. Although, it takes a man and woman to create a baby and I believe that our society has strayed away from these ideals. Religious views aside, you should treat your body as a sacred temple. According to the CDC, over 3/4 of abortions are from unmarried women. I have grown up with classmates who have had teen and unwanted pregnancies. I have also known classmates who have had an abortion performed. Everyone has their own reasons and I believe our sex education in society has diminished exponentially. Actions have consequences, and in the 21st century, people have begun to realize that they think they are invincible. Society has grown into this pool of creating a mindset of victimization. People are able to find an excuse and point the blame toward someone else. From what I have seen over the years people are becoming far less educated and are just joining echo chambers on social media. Younger people listen to ideals over the internet from people they have never met. I have supported the pro-life movement with the March for Life rallies in my hometown. I actively listen to stories of individuals who attempted to be aborted but survived. I am always staying up to date and educating myself on this topic. I want to understand the possibilities of limiting abortion. I have seen the arguments that the pro-choice movement makes, but the statistics from the CDC it doesn't really correlate. There are multiple programs out there that help with caring for women who have received an unexpected baby. Nonetheless, it is our duty as a society to help all women who are going through pregnancy to support them. A popular quote is that "Kids are the Future". I have been advocating for improvement in sexual education for middle school and high school. I remember my friends learning about reproduction in elementary school. I always thought that might've been too early. Now, I believe we just need a bigger emphasis on education delivery into the teen years. Kids have become more sexually active over the years which has led to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases and infections. I believe that education will be the solution to a lot of these problems. I hate thinking that people are lazy and won't use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. Kids need to be educated on the risks of sexual activity. I remember growing up that I wasn't really taught much about sex and it was more so about how babies are made. Education is the key and I will always continue to support women going through these tough times.

Believing in yourself is the most powerful tool that one can use. I used to be self-conscious growing up as a homeschooled kid. There was a stigma that homeschooled kids were weird, unsociable, and unlikeable. Homeschooled kids were labeled as outsiders which made it difficult for them to associate with anybody. I experienced this type of bullying and hoped to change the way people viewed homeschoolers. I was enrolled in public school 8-weeks into the school year my freshman year of high school. My mom taught me and my three younger siblings. She was a single mom who worked two jobs to make ends meet. Once her job became more demanding she was forced to send us to public school. My family had to adapt quickly and become accustomed to public school life. I quickly learned that high school was not quite like how it was portrayed in the movies. Making new friends in the middle of the school year was not easy. I saw that everyone had their own "cliques", and were already set on the friends they had. I was socially awkward and it was difficult to start a conversation. I remember vividly in high school people used to make fun of what I wore around the school. My high school never enforced a dress code so we could wear whatever we felt was appropriate. I just never had that fashion sense and wore whatever I had in my closet. Besides what I wore, I sat alone for the first couple of weeks of school and did not walk around with confidence at all. No one ever thought of even coming up to me which only deepened my fear of what people think of homeschoolers. Thankfully, everything changed once one of my teachers told me about the track team. I went to the tryout and basically, everyone makes the team. Its commitment and determination to make it through the season are what is difficult. I began running with the team and participating in long-distance events such as the mile (1600m) and the 2-mile (3200m). I started running 2-5 miles a day, which brought me this wave of emotion after I completed my first week of training. I felt that I was on top of the world and no one could stop me. Shortly after, I began to make friends with my teammates and made closer friends with those who ran the same events I did. The end of my freshman year projected me into some of the best years of my life. My self-confidence grew exponentially and felt so much better about myself. It was all thanks to running. I didn't realize how much running affected my life till I graduated. It made me feel as if no one could bring me down. My mental and physical health skyrocketed and it quickly brought me to meet some of the greatest people in the world. Running taught me to believe in myself. It gave me the boost of confidence I needed. It didn't matter how fast you could or how long you could run. As long as you finish what you started with full effort is what really matters. This experience helped develop my growth mindset and let every experience turn into lessons. I am able to go out and perform whatever task I set my mind to, and it doesn't matter what people think of me. I have now excelled further in life than I thought I ever would. These lessons running has taught me are the ones I will be passing down to my kids one day.

"The preservation of health is easier than the cure of the disease" - Dr. B.J. Palmer. Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. I believe any doctor that helps their patients improve the overall quality of their health is an oncologist. Dr. B.J. Palmer is one of the founding fathers of chiropractic medicine. Chiropractic medicine goes beyond just cracking bones, which is what most people think of when they hear the word "chiropractor". This type of medicine allows your body to heal naturally and use its innate power. Allowing your nervous system to work properly is what keeps us alive. Imagine if you tied a rubber band around your finger and it slowly turned blue. You could still move and use your finger, but over time its overall function will decrease. Eventually, your finger would become deprived of oxygen and suffocate. Therefore, your finger will stop working properly, and could lose it. This is how chiropractic is explained to many patients. Your pinched nerves in your spine prevent your body to work at its full potential. There is too much interference going on in our bodies to truly allow them to work at their highest capabilities. I want to become a chiropractor because I want to help people become healthier and live their best life. A quote I recently heard from a podcast was that "Our lifespans are increasing, but our healthspan is decreasing". That resonated with me beyond belief. I have watched my close family members and friends pass away from chronic diseases as there was nothing doctors could do. As I have grown up I have started to realize how many toxins we pour into our bodies and not take the necessary steps to remove them. Poor diets, tobacco use, electronic cigarettes, alcohol, lack of exercise, and many other substances we consume that harm our bodies to the highest degree. Cancer prevalence has increased over the years, but mortality from cancer has decreased. The technology to combat cancer has improved tremendously over the years, but on average it costs $150,000 to treat cancer. I bet people can come up with more fabulous ways to use all that money than go through their rigorous cancer treatments. The population has gotten sicker over the last few years. Even though medicine has improved our lives tremendously. I believe that we as a society have gotten too comfortable with that being our backbone. Once these diseases creep in and they will sometimes grab ahold of your life with the strongest grip you can imagine. I want to help people prevent these diseases from controlling their life. Unfortunately, people are not educated enough on the proper foods, how much exercise they need, and what other deficiencies can cause chronic diseases to form. I plan on opening my own chiropractic and wellness practice so that I can improve the health of my community. People are confused and afraid. I want to teach my community to become the healthiest people they can be. Prevention of disease is the best cure out there.

A harsh environment, unsettling peers, and unlawful voices creeping inside your head can cause an ill amount of disturbances for anyone. For some, people are able to fight these inner conflicts without breaking a stride. For many others, it can cause the downfall of oneself. Mental health has become an increasingly popular topic as we realize more and more that young people are falling victim to suicide. It is a sad, unfortunate reality we live in. Especially with all the tools and outlets that we have disposed of at our fingertips. Nonetheless, suicide has increased over the years and especially since the COVID-19 Pandemic has stirred up fear in many individuals. As a student-athlete, sports gave me life. It has shared a purpose with me and has shaped me into the man I am today. I have realized being a student-athlete others look at you, and you must always be at your best when someone needs you. All eyes are on you at all times and I have tried to be the role model that I knew that I could be. In March of 2022 alone, five student-athletes committed suicide. Those five student-athletes were All-Americans, National Champions, and were the 0.1% of the elite college level. They showed no warning signs of depression or anxiety, or any other symptoms. Keeping a growth mindset is something I was taught early on in my life. My high school running coach told me that a "growth mindset" will push you further in life than anyone else. You become your biggest motivator and enemy. There will be days when you want to give up and there will be some days when you are on top of the world. How you respond is the main focus of a growth mindset. These lessons I have been taught throughout my life are something I try to teach to others. Mental health hasn't been discussed enough and people are afraid to talk about it. Well, I am not afraid to discuss how I am feeling and will do my best to have others talk to me about themselves. I will admit, that I cry when I am extremely happy or very sad. There is no shame in expressing your emotions and allowing people to understand how you are. People have stigmatized expressing your emotions shows weakness, but I think it's the exact opposite. To become vulnerable and open is the strongest thing a person can do. I understand that many people are afraid of what others will think of them, and judge them harshly. The problem is that so many individuals feel this way and become trapped in their own minds. I believe the first step in combatting mental illness is to accept that your feelings are no different than anybody else. Everyone has feelings and emotions. We should become more accepting, loving, and caring for one another. As I grow older and start my journey into the professional medical realm. I am always educating myself on ways to help people emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Compassion, empathy, and honesty are some of the traits I expel to others. Thankfully, these characteristics were developed through amazing coaches and teammates I have had throughout my life. They inspired me to become better than I was yesterday. There are not enough people out there who genuinely care for one another. That population is growing, and as an aspiring doctor, I hope I can make that difference.

A harsh environment, unsettling peers, and unlawful voices creeping inside your head can cause an ill amount of disturbances for anyone. For some, people are able to fight these inner conflicts without breaking a stride. For many others, it can cause the downfall of oneself. Mental health has become an increasingly popular topic as we realize more and more that young people are falling victim to suicide. It is a sad, unfortunate reality we live in. Especially with all the tools and outlets that we have disposed of at our fingertips. Nonetheless, suicide has increased over the years and especially since the COVID-19 Pandemic has stirred up fear in many individuals. As a student-athlete, sports gave me life. It has shared a purpose with me and has shaped me into the man I am today. I have realized being a student-athlete others look at you, and you must always be at your best when someone needs you. All eyes are on you at all times and I have tried to be the role model that I knew that I could be. In March of 2022 alone, five student-athletes committed suicide. Those five student-athletes were All-Americans, National Champions, and were the 0.1% of the elite college level. They showed no warning signs of depression or anxiety, or any other symptoms. Keeping a growth mindset is something I was taught early on in my life. My high school running coach told me that a "growth mindset" will push you further in life than anyone else. You become your biggest motivator and enemy. There will be days when you want to give up and there will be some days when you are on top of the world. How you respond is the main focus of a growth mindset. These lessons I have been taught throughout my life are something I try to teach to others. Mental health hasn't been discussed enough and people are afraid to talk about it. Well, I am not afraid to discuss how I am feeling and will do my best to have others talk to me about themselves. I will admit, that I cry when I am extremely happy or very sad. There is no shame in expressing your emotions and allowing people to understand how you are. People have stigmatized expressing your emotions shows weakness, but I think it's the exact opposite. To become vulnerable and open is the strongest thing a person can do. I understand that many people are afraid of what others will think of them, and judge them harshly. The problem is that so many individuals feel this way and become trapped in their own minds. I believe the first step in combatting mental illness is to accept that your feelings are no different than anybody else. Everyone has feelings and emotions. We should become more accepting, loving, and caring for one another. As I grow older and start my journey into the professional medical realm. I am always educating myself on ways to help people emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Compassion, empathy, and honesty are some of the traits I expel to others. Thankfully, these characteristics were developed through amazing coaches and teammates I have had throughout my life. They inspired me to become better than I was yesterday. There are not enough people out there who genuinely care for one another. That population is growing, and as an aspiring doctor, I hope I can make that difference.

I might not be of Haitian descent, but I have deep connections to the Haitian community. I grew up in Naples, Florida. Naples has become a Hubspot for Haitian immigrants settling down and beginning a better life for their families. I went to Lely High School, which was predominately dominated by Haitian culture. It was a public high school that I was zoned for and I loved every second of it. I would always volunteer for our school's food drive to help send supplies back to Haiti as they have been continuously recovering from earthquakes and other natural disasters. I also grew up playing sports throughout my childhood and made lifelong friends along the way. One of them, Elijah, is the smartest person I know. He took me to Haiti and showed me where he grew up (Le Ferriere) before he moved to Naples for middle school. He recently graduated from the Airforce Academy and is a part of the U.S. Military's first Space Force Annugararted class. Civil Engineers are the backbone of our country's stability. The creativity and passion that one needs to become a successful engineer are unfathomable. The country is rapidly changing, and as we have seen in recent years America is becoming more populated than ever. I want to create ideas that can help improve the quality of life for those around me. I have seen how tsunamis, earthquakes, and hurricanes can ravage communities. Living in South Florida has motivated me to help those in poor and impoverished communities. I want to identify how we can support my community with these bombardments of hurricanes during the hurricane season. I have seen my hometown get demolished by hurricanes year after year. I always wondered what are some ways that these homes could avoid becoming destroyed. Well, I have researched there is a new infrastructure of homes becoming popular and I believe it can help the Naples community. There are homes being built out of shipping containers. There is an abundance of these heavy metal containers and people are wondering what can be done with them. Engineers have begun creating sustainable, eco-friendly homes that are cheap and affordable. Naples is known for its elegant communities, beachfront homes, and everyone's favorite part of avoiding the snow all year. Well, no one in Naples or the Southwest Florida community has tried designing shipping container homes. These houses have been reported to withstand hurricanes and tropical storms and provide a safe home for people who live in these conditions. I want to be able to bring these homes to Naples. Growing up in Naples I have seen people living extravagant lives, and I have seen people living paycheck-to-paycheck, and unfortunately, I have seen much worse. I want to become a part of the solution to make Naples affordable, and accessible for everyone. Naples has been voted as one of the top happiest and healthiest cities in America according to the U.S. News & World Report. With this accolade, it is also known as one of the most expensive places to live in this country. I believe with my idea of shipping container houses I can make living in Naples affordable for everyone and enjoy the peace and prosperity Naples has to offer.

"When you step up to the starting line, you have already won." - Coach Mark McGarity My high school running coach means the world to me. In high school, I was a troubled kid who lived with my single mother and was the oldest of four children. My only escape from reality was sports, and that allowed me to meet others and make friends. Unfortunately, most of my friends had families who were financially stable and didn't have to get a part-time job like me. I worked, studied, and played sports for all four years of high school. My high school running coach saw how talented I was and knew he could help turn me into a better runner. Through years of hard work, he was able to transform me into one of the top high school runners in the state of Florida. I was able to attract decent schools for my athletic capabilities and was able to obtain a scholarship at my Alma matter, Florida Southern College. The beauty of running is that it is a sport that only requires a pair of running shoes, but it gives you so much back. The memories, experiences, and relationships I have made through running are so pure and I am beyond lucky to have gone through them, all thanks to my coach. Sadly, my coach was battling cancer during my entire collegiate career. My dream was for him to watch my last race and walk across the graduation stage and get my degree. He passed away right before my senior year started. He called me before every college race for three years and always ended with that quote. It meant the world to me and I hope I can pass his message along to everyone I surround myself with.

Growing up I always had a passion for helping people. I knew I wanted to be a doctor, but I wasn’t sure what kind of doctor. I enjoyed sports and participating in group projects at school. More importantly, I loved meeting new people. I knew I had the passion, empathy, confidence, and honesty that people want in their doctor. I believed in understanding that people want their doctor to be more than just their healthcare provider, they want to be their friend. My desired career goal was ignited by an experience I had with my chiropractor. My brother suffered from epilepsy at a young age, I witnessed him suffer from Grand Mal seizures almost daily for years. My parents called different types of doctors to examine him and attempt to find solutions to help with his seizures, but no one had answers, except for my chiropractor. Throughout my childhood, my chiropractor was always checking up on me and my family. He became a family friend and eventually my mentor. I recently graduated with my undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and got accepted into my dream medical school, which is exactly where my chiropractor went. He was probably more excited than me because he has helped me through all stages of life. With the Covid-19 pandemic roughly shutting down everything I was able to attend my current college for an additional year. This allowed me to obtain my Master's in Business Administration. An MBA degree provided me with the knowledge needed to help me run a business. My dream is to build my own practice, therefore I can create my own rules and run things my way. I know I will be able to deliver a healthcare service that other doctors will be unable to provide through my education and experiences.

When I look back at my high school career and think about how I prepared for exams, nothing comes to mind. I am not really much of a test taker, but when it comes to papers and projects that is where I tend to succeed. I am able to put my own "spin" on assignments other than tests. I had come up with an idea about how to study more efficiently, especially when you have a busy schedule like myself. I am a student-athlete at my current college. I found it easier to understand concepts when I apply them to my sport. I am a long-distance runner, and I compete in cross-country/track & field. I am an aspiring doctor, which comes with some difficult classes. Nonetheless, I had to find a way to integrate these concepts into my running lifestyle. I decided to study while I ran. I would use wireless headphones and listen to own my notes that I would record. When you are out on a run all you have are is your own thoughts. I would create nmuemonics and songs to help illustrate concepts while I ran. I treated exams like they were a race and would pace myself accordingly and copy my breathing techniques throughout the exam. If there was a concept I was struggling with I would look up crash-course videos or any other supplementary recording. I found this strategy surprisingly successful. Most people listen to music or audiobooks when they run. It helps to tune out the run and make it feel less "boring". I would run 7-10 miles a day, and sometimes twice a day. Whatever concepts I struggled with even after my run is what I would focus on during my own time. This helped me get through my prerequisite subjects successfully!

"We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts." – William Hazlitt It is hard sometimes to fully appreciate nature and its beauty. There are pesky bugs such as mosquitos, gnats, and other scary creatures that have us running away. Sometimes the sun is radiating heat that makes you feel as if your skin is melting, and wanting to drink your water every fifteen seconds. This tries to deter us from fully appreciating nature and would rather watch it from the comfort of our home on the discovery channel. The quote by William Hazlitt indicates to me that we must try and understand nature by its purpose. Nature brings life together and we must look past the aesthetic and visual appeals, but what is nature fully trying to do? I enjoy looking at the animals and insects that share the land they currently live on. I always wonder where they came from and what else have they seen. I am a long-distance runner. I run on average about 7-10 miles a day, with at least one run ranging between 13-17 miles. Living in central Florida gives me access to plenty of reservations, parks, and other areas for me to explore. I enjoy seeing how nature lives together, and when a stranger, like myself, appears out of nowhere how these creatures react. I do my best not to disturb the animals and insects when I run but sometimes they get startled and retreat. During my runs, I always wonder how all these creatures think and feel. There is so much for them to explore which brings up our own creative minds. Appreciating nature is to observe and allow these creatures to enjoy the world we all share. Always be mindful that we are not alone.

The beauty of generosity is that it is subjective. We can believe that someone was being generous to us just because they held the door open for us, or performed little acts of kindness. The person being generous probably does it so often that it never crosses their mind. People who notice this type of generosity want to mimic their behavior or never understood how someone could be so generous. Radiating this type of enjoyment is so pure for the world and is highly contagious. Some people make it look so effortlessly too. There are times when people have to sacrifice in order to help somebody else. Taking time out of your day to help a friend or a stranger goes a long way. Especially when the other person realizes when you could do something else or use your time more wisely. I remember growing up during a time when my brother was going through epilepsy and how scary it was to see. My family had to create a schedule of rotations in order so that my brother was never alone. When my brothers' seizures were at their worst, multiple times a day, my parents got divorced. The stress, anger, and anxiousness that come with suffering from divorced parents made my brothers' seizures extremely worse. I could never leave his side. Thankfully, I had friends and sometimes strangers check in on my siblings and myself. These small acts of kindness kept my siblings and me stronger together. There would always be a few of the same people always helping my family out and it was never forgotten. Generosity means to me how you can affect people through acts of kindness. No act is big or small, but what impact can you leave on somebody.

Math was always challenging for me, but I think that was my competitive nature. I enjoy testing myself and solving new problems, which is why math was one of my favorite classes growing up. I was homeschooled for most of my life, which has led to me reading and discovering on my own. I lived with my single mother and three younger siblings, who were all homeschooled with me as well. My mom taught us evenly as much as she could, but as we got older it became more difficult. My sister was dyslexic and my brother had a medical condition which gave my mom more attention to them than me and my youngest brother. My appreciation for math grew stronger each year because it was something I enjoyed and could learn on my own. I taught myself 6th through 8th grade and read a lot of textbooks. Other subjects bored me because it felt as if there wasn't enough to challenge me. Although, math had a new set of problems in each chapter, history, and science felt as if they were memorization games. I was able to grasp concepts in math and through trial and error, I made great progress and studied a lot when I was a kid. Even to this day, I continue to study and learn new concepts about math. It is funny because as you grow older the basis of math classes remains the same but the topics change. When I took math classes in college, my professors apply real-world scenarios in order for us to retain the information better. Economics, accounting, and computer science are all on the basis of math. Being able to apply math to the real world has further deepened my enjoyment of math. I believe this is why people struggle with math. They are unable to connect math to things they enjoy or have a passion for. It is easier to understand and grasp if you are able to physically or mentally capture the concept you are learning about. This is an important factor when you enter society. Finding moments to capture and relate to concepts you understand can be applied to anything else in your life. Math is a universal language that brings people together. I never got to experience a "math bowl" or a competition, but I imagine those are quite thrilling experiences. Even to this day, I love learning new concepts about math. As I got older I am now looking into the stock market which is a wild world of its own. The stock market is just another world of numbers that are ready to be studied. This is why many people who trade on the stock market use it as their full-time job. Either way, there are many ways to enjoy learning math, but you just have to find your reason and cruise with it.

When I was growing up I loved learning about math. I enjoyed counting and using different methodologies to solve the equation. Math was one of my favorite classes, as well as science and it was very interesting to me seeing how classes such as calculus and biochemistry are all connected. In science, you do not need to be a brilliant mathematician, but understanding math makes science a lot easier to grasp. People who tend to drift away from math, unfortunately, struggle and gave up on trying new ways to solve a problem. Whenever I would get a problem incorrect I tried my best to find the solution. I always enjoyed the challenge of calculus, and many other math classes I have taken in the past. The importance of calculus holds a factor that I believe many people ignore: the competitive aspect of calculus. Keeping a competitive, and strong attitude when dealing with calculus is key to becoming successful in this subject. The questions that can be asked are rigorous and hard to solve. When I was taking calculus I performed exemplary on the exams because I wanted the best score possible. I never wanted to lose to the problems and keeping a competitive mindset kept me on the edge in classes such as calculus. I believe that is one of the reasons why people tend to stray away from upper-level math courses. This factor emphasizes the importance of the STEM field, since this field is always growing it is important to stay competitive to further develop the field itself. Another factor I believe calculus is important in the STEM field is that calculus has roots in almost everything we study. Economics, biology, medicine, electronics, and the list goes on and on. It is hard to further develop your understanding of your career without attempting to apply calculus to real-world problems. Calculus is taught to explain to students how things change. Creating models and frameworks that help us understand the world around us. This can be applied to every other subject in the world. When people think of engineering they probably think of people designing buildings such as skyscrapers and houses. Architechs are derived from calculus, and without calculus, there wouldn't be many marvelous buildings located around the world. Nonetheless, the basics of calculus help with creating solutions in medicine, specifically when studying materials that can change in size, weight, temperature, etc. Creating formulas that help us understand the real world. This factor indicates to us that calculus is needed in almost everything we do in today's society. Math, and especially calculus were never my strong suit, but I always enjoyed learning in those classes. My problem was that whenever I tackled a problem my brain would rattle off as many formulas and equations as I think I can use to solve the specific problem. I thoroughly enjoyed the difficulty of calculus and higher-level courses, even though I was never as good as my peers. It never discoured me, but I think it shaped me into a better student. I want to be a functional medicine doctor, and when I am dealing with patients I guarantee you that I will be applying calculus when I am treating patients. This is why calculus is important in the STEM field and can be applied to almost anything in life.

As a current student-athlete, suicide has been a common trend this year, 2022. Five student-athletes have committed suicide in less than two months. We are currently on track for the highest rate of suicide by student-athletes that has ever been witnessed. This is a trend that must be addressed. The use of social media has corrupted the minds of individuals by making it easier for negative thoughts to creep in. There are plenty of examples of how powerful social media and technology can be, but it seems that there is more negativity than ever in society. Deterred self-confidence, self-harm, and suicide have increased tenfold since social media has been created. Even with all the technology available, there are very limited options to combat this deadly disease. When you compete at a high level it is normal to scope out your competition. Understand their weakness and strengths, which ultimately help you discover your own. This can lead athletes down a rabbit hole of dangerous thinking. I used to compete at the Division 2 level for cross-country/track & field and all I would do is compare my times to other athletes and belittle my own. Especially early in my career when I was becoming frustrated with how slow my progression has been. There was a point in time when I received a stress fracture in my foot, which means that there has been a crack in one of the bones. I was sidelined for the rest of my sophomore season. Watching my teammates and everyone else compete defeated me mentally. I struggled working out, eating, doing schoolwork, and everything else in between. All I thought to myself was "why me?". My experience through this stress fracture taught me a lot about myself, and how to overcome such adversity. The mental gymnastics of overcoming an injury or illness could be considered harder than the actual injury itself. I was fighting an uphill battle and never gave myself a chance to improve my environment. I had everything I need to succeed. Friends and teammates all supported me, but why couldn't I return back to my normal self? I began to read stories online of athletes who struggled with physical injuries, which developed into mental injuries. My coach brought this idea up to me because he suffered a season-ending injury when he was struck by a driver when he was out for a run in college. If he was able to come back and finish his senior year after a car accident, why should I let an injury like mine slow me down? I remember being in a dark place for a while and struggling to socialize with my peers, but after reading encouraging stories like my coach. I knew I had a chance to return back to the track. I wouldn't let ideas slip into my mind about not becoming the best version of myself possible. Struggling with mental health impairs you more than the physical injury itself. After returning back to my team and training again it changed my whole outlook on life. I know people suffer from horrendous diagnoses of depression and bipolar disorders that are hard to comprehend because everyone is different. Mental health alters how you treat others and your daily motivations. I always had a goal of becoming one of the fastest runners in school history. There were times when it looked grim, but I had a positive environment around me to keep me moving forward. I am now heading to medical school to become a doctor of chiropractic. Sometimes mental health comes from chemical imbalances in your brain. Chiropractic medicine can help combat these imbalances. I have read articles about how chiropractic treatment has eliminated people's migraines, improved their moods, and help improve their quality of life. With excitement in my heart, and a burning passion to help others I am eager to begin my doctoral studies. People who struggle with mental health believe they are alone. I want to be able to support these people, especially student-athletes that they are not. I survived a dark time in my collegiate career, and I know people have it worse than I did. I want to be the light in their darkest moment like my coach was for me.

I am one of the most competitive people I know. I grew up playing multiple team sports and trying to achieve a championship title. I used to grow up thinking I am invincible. Playing at the highest level of youth and high school sports, and ultimately leading up to receiving an athletic scholarship for cross-country/track & field. I am more than lucky to have received as much as I have through sports, but there is more to life than sports. Whenever I lined up for a big race or competition I always used to say, "The moment you are on the line you have already won". When I was younger, I use to complain whenever I performed poorly or had a bad practice, but this changed as I matured. It would always dawn on me how many people wish they could run as fast as me, or even be able to compete at a high level. It continues to go down deeper as I think there are people who are out there who are unable to run or even walk. Each time I think badly of myself I must be reminded that I am beyond blessed. Once I got to college I began to write down things I am grateful for. My mom told me that college is going to be difficult and I should read the scripture a little bit more. So, I started a routine of reading 15 pages of scripture at night and writing down 5 things I am grateful for. I still continue to write down in my journal to this day and will continue till I have kids and will be able to teach them and share my blessings with my family.

My dream was forged from a nightmare. My younger brother was eight years old at the time when he suffered his first epileptic seizure. He suffered from Grand Maw seizures for multiple years and it was hard to watch considering the fact I was only three years older than him. It made everyone in my family uneasy, and watching a loved one suffer from seizures like that is intense to witness. The first experience I had was when my parents recently divorced each other, and my three siblings were home alone. My brother had his first seizure and was seizing in my arms and I did my best to comfort him and avoid him from any further harm. Holding a loved one like that is indescribable and terrifying. Thankfully, we found a doctor who was willing to try everything to help ease and reduce the amount as well as the longevity of these seizures. Doctor Joel Bohemier is a chiropractor who started seeing my family multiple times a week to improve our health. He was very knowledgeable and smarter than any medical doctor I have ever met to this day. His passion and desire to help improve the quality of life of his patients were remarkable to witness. During my time as a patient, I was able to witness many "comeback stories" from his daily patients. My dream is to become a doctor of chiropractic and be able to heal and educate my community. The United States has an obesity rate of nearly 40%, and with that statistic comes many comorbidities that damage the population. I want to be able to adjust patients and educate them on nutrition and exercise to help make my community healthier and stronger.

I feel that I was extremely lucky to find my purpose when I was really young. It came with a price and an experience I will never forget. My younger brother suffered from epilepsy when he was very little and I had to watch him go through his seizures for many years and it was hard to watch. My family wanted to try alternative solutions rather than traditional doctors as many of them wouldn't offer any solution except that he has to live with them until he passes puberty. My parents reached out to a chiropractor and he offered adjustments, diets, and other methods that could help. I knew this was going to be my calling. I was able to learn so much from my doctor and witness my brother and my family's health change dramatically over a span of six months. I realized how happy we were and it motivated me to become a chiropractor as well. I want to help families and people in need who need their health reimagined. Throughout high school and college, I worked as a busser, food runner, and waiter so that I can save up money for medical school. I loved playing sports as a child and my coaches around me explained to me that I have a gift for running. So I ran throughout high school and was able to earn a college scholarship for cross-country/track & field. This was how I was going to pay for my undergraduate degree, and the unexpectant pandemic, it delayed my doctoral studies for a year. I prolonged my NCAA eligibility and was able to obtain a master's degree in business administration. With my MBA degree, I will now have the credentials to open up my own practice, which has been a dream for me.

Throughout my life, I have created goals to open up opportunities for my future children that I never had growing up. A popular quote that I have been hearing is "children are the future", and I want my kids to have experiences that I never got. I grew up in a single-parent household with three other siblings and my mom had to work two jobs. I worked all throughout high school and college and missed out on events that I had to watch my friends enjoy. Working at a young age taught me valuable lessons that I know my mom couldn't teach me, but I am glad I learned those lessons so I will be able to teach them to my kids. Thankfully, I played sports throughout my life which has given me so much. The people I have been able to meet through sports have been able to teach me and offer me advice that I wish I had when I was younger, especially in high school. My high school track and field coach brought me out to the first practice and immediately knew I was talented. He trained me for four years and was able to get me a college scholarship to run. My mom wouldn't be able to afford to help me get to college and take care of my three other siblings. My coach knew he could help me and with my money saved up from working all of the high school I would be able to continue to move to college. Unfortunately, my high school coach passed away last summer from pancreatic cancer and has been the sole father figure that I have had during my high school career. He has helped shaped me into the man I want to become.

Living in a single-parent household as the oldest of four siblings had its challenges. Becoming a role model for my siblings was one of the driving factors I have, which continues to help me become a better person. I had coaches and teachers that have influenced me tremendously by helping me make the right choices in life. Sometimes I wonder where I would be today if I had a father figure, or some figure to help guide me. Another force that wakes me up every morning is to become a doctor of chiropractic. I have had family members that have lost their lives to opioid addiction and health implications that their doctors didn't know how to treat. My family has not been delivered alternative choices to approach their health and lifestyle to avoid opioid addiction. I wish my family knew of a chiropractor or a different holistic doctor that could have offered them another solution to improve their current health status. I have seen the wonder that chiropractors have performed on people and completely turned their health around. Running has changed my life forever. I never thought of myself as someone who had a talent or a gift, but when it came to running track and field I felt that I was on top of the world. I came out to the track team as a freshman and immediately my coach knew I was special. We trained throughout high school and were able to help me get a college scholarship. Futhermore, he was a father figure for me and helped me make decisions that I couldn't make alone. He, unfortunately, passed away from pancreatic cancer last summer. I carry around a letter he gave me from my high school graduation as a reminder to be more like my coach.

Honesty is always the best policy in my opinion. Regardless of whether the truth hurts somebody, it is better to be said than rather be held in or lie to somebody else. Being honest with myself keeps me in line with my morals. This will allow me to understand those around me and what my beliefs are. I have seen people in society struggle to explain their stance on certain subjects based on the people they surround themselves with. They are willing to lie to themselves in order to achieve a certain goal. This is not how I function in society. Throughout the pandemic, you have seen people becoming labeled as spreading disinformation. The hatred and anger that has been fueled in the recent years of bigotry have finally reached a boiling point. The time is now for people to explain themselves and speak their minds. I have always been an advocate of free speech and allowing people to speak how they feel. Even when I was a waiter throughout high school and college I never lied to people to try and sell a product or service. Regardless if it hurts my financial or social status I will always speak my mind. When people try and discuss issues that I may not agree if I will hear them out and understand their viewpoint. I don't believe screaming and arguing will move us forward as a country. I enjoy it when people are able to speak their minds freely, even if it is outlandish. As long as no violence or hatred is being spread I will always advocate for people to speak freely, just as I do the same. Speaking my mind will allow people to understand without questioning my integrity and ethics.

Personally, I know what it is like to be mentally and physically defeated. Giving up sometimes feels that it is the best route to go whenever you are backed into a corner. Thankfully, I had a great role model in high school that showed me what it takes to bring out the best in yourself. My high school cross-country/track & field coach, who was also my biology teacher became the father figure I needed. Growing up in a single-parent household and being the oldest of four bears its toll on you. I tried to become the role model for my siblings that I never had but it was difficult growing up. My coach brought me out to the track and got me involved in cross country for my high school. How much my life has changed after that is unfathomable. Cross-country is a team sport but relies on the individuals to succeed. He saw my talent and pushed me to become a leader. Running was a difficult sport both mentally and physically. You needed a good leader/captain to help rally your teammates because without them giving their best you will lose the team race. The lessons running has taught me will influence the people around me forever. Bringing out the best in one another is much needed in today's society. The pandemic and the social justice movements around the country have emphasized we need more lessons about compassion and faith in our peers. Throughout my life, I always tried to be that person who improved someone's day, even if it was from a small compliment, a favor, or a smile. People go through rough times and I know what those days are like. Suicide rates are higher than ever and I know encouragement can help reduce that.

A popular quote that people from the military like to say is "Freedom isn't free". I have family members and close friends in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Their influence on me has helped shaped me into the person I am today. The sacrifices they make allow us to help propel the United States of America forward and become a better country than it was yesterday. It, unfortunately, comes with a price of pain and suffering from some of our service members. I was never the military type of person but I wanted to find a way to help. I have always wanted to become a doctor and one that can help people and have an immediate impact on their life. I visited a chiropractor when I was young and have inspired me to become a doctor of chiropractic. I have currently made it all the way to medical school and will begin my education this year for my doctorate. Growing up I have always volunteered or donated to the Wounded Warriors Project or any other memorial service for our military that I could go to locally. I have helped out with softball games for veterans and other services that are put on in my community. I am a "run junkie" who loves half-marathons, full marathons, 5K's, and everything in between. One of my bucket list objectives is to start my own charity 5K run/walk event for the Wounded Warriors Project. With the big turnout that I would be expecting, I would be able to use my chiropractic education and help rehabilitate more veterans who may not have thought of the chiropractic route. This way I can get help veterans in more ways than one and bring out my community for a fun and meaningful event.

When I was growing up I was homeschooled until 9th grade. My parents recently divorced, which made my mom have to enter back into the workforce. Homeschooling was a unique experience because once my three younger siblings were of school-age my mom basically had to teach them full time. My sister was diagnosed with dyslexia, which frustrated her with trying to read and write growing up. My younger brother suffered from epilepsy and was my parents' focus throughout our childhood so that he wouldn't get injured. Finally, my youngest brother struggled the most because he never felt as if he got enough attention. Nonetheless, homeschooling was an experience that I may or may not recommend. Once I entered public school I had to adjust quickly and prepare myself for the stereotypes and stigmas that homeschoolers suffer from public school kids. I was introduced to state testing, which I was never required to complete when homeschooled. Unfortunately, I failed my first one and was humiliated by my classmates. The SAT, ACT, and similar tests were not my strongest suit but I had my guidance counselor help me improve my test scores. I studied two hours a day after practice for whichever sport I was playing because my counselor said studying a little bit each day improves your scores tremendously. I studied vigorously and always attempted practice tests to prepare myself for the state exams. I didn't want to be a part of the laughing stock of failing these high school exams. I knew the mockery would inspire to perform better and help those who struggled just like me. This persistence is what helped me improve my test scores for the statewide exams, all the way to the ACT and SAT. No matter the hardship in the beginning you can always prevail.

One discovery I think is underappreciated is the science of chiropractic. With more evidence-based research on the benefits of chiropractic, it has now become more mainstream. Dr. BJ. Palmer who is known as the father of chiropractic created a theory that has become more evidently true. He called his theory "The Big Picture". With the advancement of technology, we are able to grasp a better understanding of how the human body interacts and functions within itself. "The Big Picture" was theorized as those small adjustments within the spine were made to help control many regulatory functions within different regions of the body. Furthermore, this will improve those bodily functions to work at a degree we have never seen before. The fascination of chiropractic science is something that more and more people are becoming interested in. Another reason this discovery is gaining much attraction is that less interference that is caused by improper care of the spine can help prevent disease, sickness, and even cancer. The innate power our bodies have are impeccable and the fact that they can do it on their own as long as we take care of our bodies is immeasurable. As I explain this to my peers I like to use this analogy: imagine a rubber band wrapped around your finger. It becomes red, blue, then purple. You can still use your finer and feel. Although, you know your finger will eventually undergo suffocation from the lack of blood and oxygen being received to your finger. This is exactly what happens to your spine, and this affects all bodily functions. Poor posture, lifestyle, and trauma can cause your spine to shift and put down tons of pressure on the nerves in your spinal cord. Ultimately, will feel like a rubber band tied around your finger.

One of my favorite books I have ever read is "Once a Runner", by John L. Parker Jr. It was given to me by my high school cross-country coach as a graduation gift before I left for college. He told me to read it once I finished collegiate running. The book was supposed to help emphasize the discipline, and strength it takes to become an elite runner. The soul-searching grit that it takes to run at the collegiate level is something that many people can not bear, but finding the fulfillment in each run is what separates the good runners from the great. As I finished my collegiate career a month ago I began to read the book. I had a week before my graduation ceremony, therefore I had a decent amount of time to pass by. I kept a promise to my coach that I would read it the moment I was finished because you appreciate running a whole lot more once you read this book. It truly did help me reflect on my career and how I want to continue moving forward in the running community. The protagonist of the true story, Quenton Cassidy, goes through heartbreaking decisions that a college athlete shouldn't have to go make. How determined are you to reach your goal is the theme of the book and is very inspiring. Another reason this is my favorite book is that in the summer of 2021 my high school cross-country passed away from pancreatic cancer. I would call him after every race I ran, regardless if it was good or bad. He always picked up the phone. During my final season that he was no longer alive, I carried that book with me to every meet, just to feel that he was with me.

Throughout my life, the thought of helping others has been the driving force in my life. I have always been involved in team sports and enjoyed the idea of being a part of something bigger. My parents raised me to treat others how I would want to be treated. Without a second thought, it is my first reaction to help someone in need. Nonetheless, I set out my goals in order to help someone, or at least brighten their day. Growing up my family always wanted to instill volunteer work in my life. Throughout my middle school and high school years, we tried to volunteer a couple of times a year through various programs. I remember doing food drives, car washes, raffles, and many other forms of volunteer work for various charity programs. I always enjoyed working with my family, which would help interest, my friends, to get out and volunteer. My parents liked when I brought my friends because we were able to make it fun and more enjoyable. For kids at a young age might make us not realize the impact that we have on people who we have no idea about. This image is why my parents raised me in this manner to help inspire those around me. Once I reached college I knew I had to continue sharing my vision with those around me. Some people view volunteering as a chore, or they will only participate if they get a reward. I showed my collegiate cross-country team that you can have fun volunteering and not get a reward because the reward is the other person's smile on their face. Selflessness is one of the most powerful characteristics that a person can exemplify. A story that is hard to bear as it is so fresh happened during my last collegiate cross-country season. One of the freshmen on the team, unfortunately, obtained COVID-19 and was removed from campus. He was sent home to his family to quarantine. After he recovered he was allowed back on campus and was able to participate in practice and competition again. My teammate received a call a couple of days later after he returned from campus that his dad was hospitalized from COVID-19. As the days went by we patiently waited for updates on his health, but as the days went on his health declined. Two days before one of the biggest races of the year his dad passed away. With this devastating news, my teammate had to return back home, but had no car on campus and lived over four hours away from home. He wanted to return as fast as possible, but our team was leaving the next day for the meet. I knew the right thing to do was drive him home, and miss one of the most important races of the year. In my heart, I knew it was the right decision and would mean a lot more to my teammate and his family than to me. A decision this big would make my parents proud and I am glad I made that choice.

One of my favorite hobbies is volunteering at my local church in a program called "Pedal Power". Pedal Power is a workshop for people to donate bikes and have others repair them and donate them to kids in need. Every Sunday after mass people, like myself, stay behind to help fix and prepare bikes for children who live in impoverished communities. Companies such as the Marriott and Walmart have donated used bikes for us to repair and hand out to the kids. My church is located in Lakeland, Florida, which is across the street from a 3-mile-long lake. The Lakeland community is very active with many parks surrounding a lot of the communities we donate bikes to. Kids use their bikes to ride around the parks, lakes, and to school. It is very heartwarming to see the bikes I have repaired being used by children when I drive around the community. Even though I only volunteer for this program once a week, it is one of my favorite hobbies. I have always been busy with work, school, and athletics. This allows me to take my mind off of all the stressors I have in my life and focus on others. Watching the children's faces light up once they receive their bike is one of the best feelings in the world, which is why this is one of my favorite hobbies.

Growing up, my parents always seemed very gloomy about the future. They were not really risk takers or liked being adventurous. They always seemed to be nervous about the horrors that are out in this world. They don't understand social media as the younger generations do. All they see are pain on suffering whenever they turn on the news or log on to social media platforms. I have tried to tell them that these platforms specifically drive those types of videos and articles for clicks. Recently, since the pandemic, we have seen protesting and many people becoming restless with social injustice and big corporations ignoring the costs of the middle class. With the help of technology, we have been able to keep these entities in check and deter them from cheating the system. People are getting smarter and becoming more open about how people feel about one another in society. We are slowly becoming to drain out the hate and disrespect that many people used to be able to get away with before technology. What gives me hope for the future is that these horrible things such as racism, bigotry, and how disrespectful people have become are getting the consequences they deserve. Almost everyone has a phone and whenever people begin to act out in public it is easily recorded. Accountability is the best remedy for helping society move forward. People are speaking out and becoming activists against all the hatred that is spewed out from horrible people. Love and acceptance have become the trend of the 21st century. I am seeing schools and businesses accept more people for who they believe they are. This is the type of movement that will promote a more promising future. One that my parents can be proud of. It is my goal to help drive out so much hate people have in their hearts and promote peace and love. It all starts locally in our community, and you see there are events becoming more and more popular throughout the United States. As this trend begins to grow I hope to inspire other communities across the world to divulge into peace and love.

As a collegiate athlete, it is our duty to inspire the youth. I am a 4-year captain of the Men's Cross-Country/Track & Field team at Florida Southern College. When I first arrived on campus one of the first things we did was to assign volunteer work for each member of the team. We were able to choose which type of volunteer work we wanted to do. There are events such as Pedal Power, which is repairing donated bikes to deliver to children in need. Running donations of food to the local homeless shelters, as well as volunteering in certain communities around the school to help increase the participation of exercise for young children. I chose to participate in volunteering around after-school programs to "exercise" with the kids for sixty minutes. It was our initiative just like the NFL's "Play 60". I attended schools and churches over my 4-year tenure at Florida Southern College. With my future in pediatric medicine and focusing on health and exercise I wanted to do my best and inspire kids to stay active and healthy. We talked about eating the correct foods and healthy habits to promote around the house. The teachers and instructors always joked around with us exclaiming that the kids listened to the college students better than them. I have had the pleasure of participating in fun activities with thousands of kids. One child, in particular, came up to me at one of my last volunteer sessions before I graduated this past spring. She told me that she was going to try out for her track and field middle school team. Most of the children we volunteer for are in the elementary school age since most of their parents are still working after the kids are released from school. I remember this little girl always jumping around in the sandbox and playing hop-scotch every time we showed up. The teachers tell the children that my team and I are "super fast", which makes all the kids immediately beg for us to race them. Once this little girl told me she wanted to try out for her middle school team I asked her what does she want to do. She told me that she wanted to run as fast as I could. Bringing a tear to my eye I knew she had a talent for becoming a pretty good jumper. As I laughed, I tried explaining to her that she could be an amazing jumper. In the final minutes I was there we watched collegiate long jumpers, triple jumpers, and high jumpers perform at the national championship. I told her that I believe in her and she could be the best ever. As we were walking away she asked me if I would ever come out and watch her jump I made a pinky promise to her that I would come to watch her. I intend to keep that promise.

After losing a couple of my close friends to suicide I realized that sometimes people may not feel like they were loved, or appreciated enough. I try to always leave an impact on someone's life whether it is big or small. One of the worse feelings in the world is not expressing how much you mean to someone. The feeling of regret will burn in their chest forever and that is something I refuse to allow to ever happen to me about anyone I care about. I remember growing up and saying the words "I love you" to one of your friends was deemed as weird, or creepy. As society has shifted it has been interesting to see more people open up about how they care about one another. I was always comfortable saying "I love you" to almost anyone I cared about because I truly meant it. Being able to show you are there for the people you surround yourself with is important for everyone. No one wants to feel alone, and the more people who know I care about them will be reciprocated me. No small gesture goes unnoticed which is why I am always honest, caring, and supportive of my friends and family. As cliche, as it sounds the word "Ohana" from Lilo & Stich, is an important reminder that no one gets left behind. I believe as a society we need to implement more of an "Ohana" lifestyle so that no one ever feels alone.

I got my dog daisy during the pandemic. I saw that one of my local pet shelters was getting closed down because of the pandemic and was unable to afford to keep the animals around. They posted an article online saying they are going to remove the adoption fee on all pets within the shelter. I immediately drove over to the shelter and wanted to find my forever dog. I found a very underfed, small pitbull that had the bluest eyes I have ever seen. They were so similar to my eyes I thought it was a sign. I knew I had to adopt her and give her the proper home. When the pandemic erupted I got sent home during my junior year of college. During the time I was applying for medical schools and stressing over the looming pandemic. With so many uncertainties I felt as if there was something missing from my life. I haven't had a pet since my parents got divorced and had to find my dog a new home. I have been living on my own throughout college and felt that I have been very responsible both academically and financially that I could adopt an animal. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made to adopt my sweet Daisy. Responsibility builds character and discipline, therefore I knew I must make my dog happy and continue to complete my daily activities. Nonetheless, I have done better than I ever have mentally with my dog by my side. The emotional support that my dog brings me is why I love pets. Seeing the joy that you bring them creates a feeling of warmth and comfort that is always with you. Whenever I am having a bad day my dog will always cheer me up and remind me that no road bump will defeat you of your purpose. Keeping your pet happy and healthy will remind you that there is more to life.

I got my dog daisy during the pandemic. I saw that one of my local pet shelters was getting closed down because of the pandemic and was unable to afford to keep the animals around. They posted an article online saying they are going to remove the adoption fee on all pets within the shelter. I immediately drove over to the shelter and wanted to find my forever dog. I found a very underfed, small pitbull that had the bluest eyes I have ever seen. They were so similar to my eyes I thought it was a sign. I knew I had to adopt her and give her the proper home. When the pandemic erupted I got sent home during my junior year of college. During the time I was applying for medical schools and stressing over the looming pandemic. With so many uncertainties I felt as if there was something missing from my life. I haven't had a pet since my parents got divorced and had to find my dog a new home. I have been living on my own throughout college and felt that I have been very responsible both academically and financially that I could adopt an animal. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made to adopt my sweet Daisy. Responsibility builds character and discipline, therefore I knew I must make my dog happy and continue to complete my daily activities. Nonetheless, I have done better than I ever have mentally with my dog by my side. The emotional support that pets bring you is why I love pets. Seeing the joy that you bring them creates a feeling of warmth and comfort that is always with you. Whenever I am having a bad day my dog will always cheer me up and remind me that no road bump will defeat you of your purpose. Keeping your pet happy and healthy will remind you that there is more to life.

A quote that I like to live by is "Health is Wealth". Money can only keep you breathing, but a healthy lifestyle will keep you alive. I have lost a lot of my family members due to diabetes, addiction to opioids, and alcohol. The commonality of these implications is that most of my family is obese. Not only do they eat unhealthily, but also avoid proper sleep, and take care of their physical and mental health. I try to lead by example and educate my family through my college education on proper health and wellness.

Growing up I loved participating in team sports. I played football throughout my entire life and all the way up to my senior year of high school. My dream of becoming a college football athlete took a turn during my junior year. I always ran track & field in the spring since I have read that many of the successful college and NFL players participated in high school track. It turns out I was a very fast half-miler. I have been able to run under 2-minutes for a half-mile and become one of the fastest runners in the state of Florida. I started to receive numerous offers from small colleges offering me a chance to be on their collegiate track & field team. It was a dream come true. Fast forward to the end of my senior year of college and it turns out after all these years of playing football that my true talent was long-distance running. I excelled almost immediately the moment I began distance training and became nationally ranked in Division II. Running changed my life in ways that I couldn't imagine. My coaches in college told me I have a true talent for running. Throughout my college years, I did everything I could to avoid injury and improve my performance. Dieting, proper sleep, and educating myself on how the body functions drastically improved my running capabilities. Now that I am currently enrolled in medical school I realized that my talent for running has shaped me into the doctor I am going to become. All the disciplined I needed to excel in my talent to the next level instilled the necessary skill set to become successful. Understanding this concept will allow anyone to elevate themselves to the next level, as I have through running.

Creativity allows us to express ourselves in a way that words are unable to do. Whether it would be through art, music, or dance we are able to create something so unique that sometimes we are the only ones who will understand. Creativity expands our minds and asks questions that we may not be able to ask ourselves. Anyone can be creative and there are no limits to creativity as well. "No human is limited", is a quote by Eliud Kipchoge. One of the fastest marathon runners in the world has one of my favorite quotes that I have ever heard. It signifies that anyone is capable of anything as long as you put your mind to it. It may sound cheesy, but it is very true and I live by those words every day. I am currently enrolled in medical school to become a chiropractor and couldn't be more excited. The passion I have for helping people is unfathomable. My favorite aspect of being a chiropractor is that you must treat each patient differently and there are no set guidelines on how to treat patients, unlike many other medical professions. I get to use my mind and create treatment plans that only I think will be necessary for each patient. I am a terrible artist and could not draw or paint to save my life, but I always thought I was creative. My creativity flows through my mind into mental images that become crystal clear for me. Writing my images down on canvas never succeeds but my artistic endeavors never fail me. This further demonstrates that anyone can create, even though they might not believe they are. It is all about how you apply your creative thoughts through your passions.

The meaning of life is something that helps you when you get out of bed every morning. It is a feeling of emotions that captivates us to pursue a goal(s) that is part of a bigger picture. Everyone experiences life differently and for some people to find their true purpose in life may take longer than the person next to you. True happiness and love come from many different outlets. People that struggle to find their true meaning in life are just waiting for the right moment to become fully immersed in their true meaning. I remember when I experienced my true meaning. When I was twelve years old I went to my first chiropractic appointment. My doctor explained how powerful our bodies truly were and educated me on how each adjustment improves our overall health. I entirely fell in love with the idea of chiropractic. The feeling my doctor said he gets after each patient is indescribable. I was able to hear the story of one of the patients at my chiropractor's office of his recovery. He was a local police officer who was in an accident during a high-speed pursuit on the highway. He got hit from the side and his patrol car was rolled into a ditch. He required a hip and knee replacement and back surgery. He said the worst part of this accident was that a year after the surgery and therapy he was unable to still pick up his kids. After seeing my doctor for a couple of months he was able to pick up his youngest daughter for the first time. My heart lit up and the passion to help people began. I found out what my true meaning in life is and I will continue to work as hard as I can.

I always loved being involved in team sports and group projects throughout my life. Whenever I got to work with new people they always taught me something about myself I never knew. It always brought me joy to help others and I never thought of it as helping others made me feel better about myself. Growing up with three younger siblings it felt as if it was my duty to be the role model they needed. I never had one growing up but team sports and the school provided me with examples of how to be selfless. Selfless is authentic, unrehearsed, and someone who expects nothing in return. These are acts that lighten up someone's day, and they can come from the smallest of acts, even just a smile. People have their own personal struggles, whether it be finances, relationships, or any turmoil that they may not share with us. I have had people who have genuinely helped me improve my life by just striking up a conversation with me. A figure in my life that shaped me into the man I am today was my high school track coach. He taught me about life through track & field and gave me opportunities in life that I would have never gotten to experience if it wasn't for him. His retirement party was a few years ago and was hosted by my high school. He and his wife never had kids, but they were both school teachers and thought of their students and athletes as their kids. There were hundreds of people that showed up and even more that couldn't. He gave so much to so many people, including myself. He never asked for anything in return except for us to be happy. I carry his lessons with me every day.

Growing up with friends who had complete families with both parents and were financially stable seemed like a perfect paradise to me. I had friends whose siblings had their own cell phones, car, or even room. Throughout my childhood, I shared a room with my two younger brothers and everything else in between. My mom worked two jobs while we were at school which led to me finding my love for sports. Playing sports was an outlet for me to escape the real world, especially the track. I loved to run because when everybody stepped on the line to race it didn't matter what their background was. You were either fast or slow. It made me feel like a normal kid growing up being able to compete in track and field. All you had to do was run as fast as you can for as long as you can. As I developed my love for track & field it evolved me into learning how much of the outside world is really just another big track. It was you against the clock and how much can you accomplish before it expires. My mom taught me hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. Those words were written up on the wall next to my bed in my college dorm. It helped pushed me to excel in the classroom, the track, and especially as a person. Throughout my life, I had gone through numerous challenges, both mental and physical. Thankfully, I surrounded myself with successful people and learned the skills that they developed to get themselves and their families to where they are today. The dream of giving my family what I never got is what wakes me up in the morning makes be the man I am today.

My best skill would be composure. When it comes to school, work, and your social life there can be a tremendous amount of pressure. Growing up in a single-parent household with three younger siblings brought monstrous amounts of pressure on me. One of the biggest lessons I have learned growing up from people who I worked with as a child was how can you handle pressure internally and externally. An example of internal pressure would be how hard I made myself study so that I can go to college debt-free. I knew my mom would not be able to help me afford college but I wanted to show my younger siblings it can be done. Test scores and good grades can easily slip away if you are not composed, especially if you do not have the necessary tools to become successful. Maintaining focus allowed me to succeed in high school which translated to my success in my undergraduate and graduate courses. I believe in myself enough that this will carry out in my doctoral studies. What I believe is one of the hardest conditions in life is avoiding peer pressure. Many people fall victim to peer pressure and growing up in a rough environment was an easy escape from reality. There are many instances in my childhood when I didn't realize how much composure I had. I have been offered drugs, alcohol, and other substances that came from people I thought were friends. Today, I firmly believe that my composure has helped me get to my dream of becoming a doctor. It is hard to improve composure as I believe it is something you must experience in real-time to strengthen. My goal would be to explain to others how vital it is to understand who you surround yourself with.

Confidence is fully believing in yourself, regardless of what others may think of you. Being confident is easier said than done, but those who understand this concept excel at their personal goals and dreams in life. I was raised to always believe in myself and whatever the outcome I choose in life just knowing that I am in full control will allow me to succeed for myself and those around me. In today's society, it is hard to ignore social media and the damage it does to everyone. Whenever you log into social media you will always see celebrities or other people following some trend, which could create this insecurity that people could build within themselves. I know when I used to be in high school when social media was starting to blossom I would always see people fitter and better looking than myself. As a young teen social media was extremely damaging to me and for someone who wanted to be a college athlete I was always engrained in watching the best of the best high schoolers in the nation. As I looked back at my collegiate career I remember telling myself "I wish I would've done this" or "completed this goal a different way", and never feeling accomplished. I think the biggest way for me to become more confident is by looking at the past with a smile on my face saying "I did it". Whatever road you choose for your life it is easy to get lost in the transition, but as you move forward you must think to yourself that I am my own person. This will create a growth mindset, which is someone who is not afraid to fail. As I begin studying to become a doctor I will never forget this lesson moving forward.

Growing up through sports most people associate the word joy with winning. Nothing feels better than winning, and most people would agree. As I got older I would start to disagree with how "joy" is appropriated. I believe joy is finding the "little things" in what you do with your team, whether you win or lose. When I look back at my collegiate career I hardly remember running fast, achieving accolades, or even winning. I always think of the car rides, mealtime, and all the other events in between. I believe this is what joy truly means and what is meant to be. This concept of joy can be applied to almost anything in life. From work to school, if you can find those fragments of happiness or satisfaction in your everyday life. This will make you appreciate the things you have and those around you. I seek joy in helping others. I have always loved being a part of a "bigger picture". My mindset pushes me to help better myself and give back to those around me. The process of struggling with what I might be going through, or many others can always be alleviated by the experience or wisdom of others. In a world that is ravaged by hatred and separation, I want to do my best and help put little pieces back together. As I begin my career as a Dr. of Chiropractic I want to be able to help and heal people in my community. Being that spark of light in someone's life that helps them get out of bed in the morning is the drive I have in my heart to become the best doctor I can be. Being able to help and change lives is what joy means to me.

I was a team captain for my collegiate cross-country team at Florida Southern College. Throughout my career, I was able to run with some of the United States' fastest athletes in the NCAA. What a privilege it is to be one of the fastest and most competitive people on the planet. A part of me always wondered how those who never get an opportunity to compete for feel. I recently graduated and finished competing for my team, and one of my teammates wrote me a thank you card. A couple of years ago this teammate wanted to walk on to the team, but my coach wanted to make our roster smaller and more competitive. He was given an opportunity to run and practice with us but it was obvious he was unable to keep up for most of the time and would end up last in our workouts, races, etc... My coach decided it would be best for him to be removed from the roster as he was a freshman and was an ROTC member for my college. Being teammates and his friend allowed me to get a glimpse of the passion and love he had for running and being on a team who have the same drive. Before my coach was going to have a discussion with him about removing him from the team I intervened. I brought my feeling about my teammate to my coach and tried to persuade him on keeping him on the team. I can imagine how devasted he would be if he was removed from our team and not able to live out his dream. Thankfully, my coach let him stay on the team. The past three years of him being my teammate were remarkable and seeing him develop made my heart blush.

Whenever I open my phone to any social media applications one of the first things I see is some headline highlighting another local or global issue. The stress of society and the environment I live in sometimes can feel overbearing to me. As I grew older it became easier for me to escape the harsh realities I live in. Reading became my best friend throughout my childhood. Once I learned how to read I began to read to my three younger siblings and to myself. I loved reading science-fiction and fantasy novels. Escaping to new worlds and universes made me ecstatic. My father introduced me to "Halo", which is now a pop-culture video game phenomenon, but before it used to be a book series that captivated an early crowd before the release of their video games. My parents challenged me at a young age to read difficult novels so that I can ask questions and developed my reading and comprehension skills early on. Once I reached middle school I was able to read stories such as Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and many others. Now that I have been in college for a while, my leisure time is split among many other daily activities that must be completed. I still find time to read books I see trending on social media and other media accounts I follow. When I prepare for exams or my athletic schedule becomes hectic I always give myself 45 minutes to read a few chapters out of whichever book I am currently reading. People associate reading for pleasure with textbooks and exam preparation, but I always enjoyed reading whenever I am able to.

When I was 12 years old I had to witness my younger brother suffer from epilepsy for the majority of his childhood. My family and I have seen many doctors that work in different avenues of pediatric medicine. A doctor by the name of Joel Bohemier was a chiropractor in my hometown of Naples, Florida. Dr. Joel introduced me to understanding the human body and the nervous system. He approached us with a vitalistic approach to helping children with chiropractic care. Most doctors just tackle specific regions and points within the body and begin to move from the smaller picture to the big picture. Dr. Joel went from the big picture and slowly moved down into the smaller picture. He wanted a full 360-degree view of the children's life and began to pinpoint some discrepancies that could cause bodily harm. With regards to my brother, he educated my family on how proper nutrition can affect inflammation and spark neurological interference that can cause seizures to occur in some individuals. I was shown x-rays of our spine and was able to visually see what Dr. Joel was pinpointing on what could be the root cause of my brother's seizures. We played sports throughout our life and had an active childhood. We played football mostly which could have caused my brother's seizures. Once I began to get adjusted it changed my life forever. I was able to perform athletically and academically better than before and surpassed many of my peers. A vivid memory of my middle school life was that many kids were fidgety and complained of headaches during class. It has dawned on me that I have never had a headache or a migraine throughout my childhood. It was hard for me to relate to my fellow teammates who have suffered from headaches from the contact sports we have played together. My body always felt recharged and rejuvenated by getting adjusted weekly and many of the stories I have seen and heard through my doctor have inspired me to become a chiropractor. Pediatric chiropractic care is so crucial for developing children. People don't fully understand how traumatic childbirth really is. As the doctor retrieves the baby from the mother r there are many stressors are put on the baby. Since the baby, unfortunately, gets picked up by its head as it comes out of the birth canal which could mess up some of the top vertebrae in the baby's neck. Throughout the baby's developmental years it could sustain some accidents and violently alter some of the bones in its body, and since the joints are very loose as a baby this could alter the way a baby crawls, walks, or runs in the future. The literature that supports pediatric chiropractic is so powerful and extremely beneficial for children. A healthy nervous system will help avoid many childhood barriers such as ear infections, digestion issues, and sleeping. Creating a healthy lifestyle for young kids will allow them to excel in their best interests and keep parents at ease. This is why I want to pursue this field and embark on my career in chiropractic care. The desperate need for doctors who understand the big picture and begin children on the correct path will help shift society into a healthier environment with bigger goals and ambitions.