1. Beginning at a young age, I have been taught to hold myself to the highest standard of excellence in every aspect of life. As a christian woman deeply rooted in the love of Christ, I have embraced the attributes of honesty and integrity, and will continue to display these characteristics throughout my journey into the medical field. Born with the heart of a servant, it is my deepest nature to respect others in every way and avoid any actions that might result in harm. My pursuit to honor God in all that I do drives my every action. I have been blessed with success thus far, and I continue to trust the Lord to guide me throughout my medical education. 2. Excellence is about developing a passion for a goal, and putting forth every effort to achieve that goal. As Colossians 3:23-24 states, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (ESV) Throughout the course of my life, I have continually pushed to the highest level of excellence in everything from academics to personal character. However, it is not for man's approval that I strive for excellence. I am fortunate to be able to utilize the gifts and knowledge given to me by the Lord to pursue excellence for His glory. As I enter into my career as a medical student, I am dedicated to honoring God in my education by working heartily towards my goal, serving others, and continuing to point all honor and praise to the one who deserves it all. 3. When I achieve my dream, the first man I will thank is Jesus Christ. Without his gift, all of my accomplishments are for nothing. For everything that I have been blessed with, including my talents, knowledge, and skills, come from above. Without his blessings and guidance, I would be lost. Throughout my continued thankfulness to the Lord, I will also thank my mother who has never failed to believe in me. After the unexpected loss of my father in February 2021, the thought of entering the grueling process of applying to medical school seemed impossible. However, with her encouragement and continued support, I was able to navigate through my own grief, take the Medical College Admissions Test, and interview for medical schools across my home state of Texas. Without her and her unwavering faith, I would not be a valued applicant with multiple offers of acceptances to MD programs. I am forever grateful for my mother for pushing me to strive for excellence, supporting me in every aspect, and showing me her love for Jesus in all things.

I felt a soft touch and looked down to see a small South African child with his arms wrapped around my leg. He looked at me with the brightest smile I have ever seen, seemingly unaware of his life in extreme poverty. All around me, I heard the cheers of little voices excited that someone cared enough to come into their destitute school and play with them, if only for a minute or two. For hours, we played tag, took countless pictures, and laughed beneath the beaming African sun. It was a personal defining moment. I realized that life is often unfair, but happiness is a decision that every individual must make, including the youngest of children. Standing outside of the Wasani Preschool and Orphanage for children with HIV, I understood why I was born with a tender heart that is easily moved by the heartbreaks of this world. During this medical mission trip, I realized my purpose in life was to help those in need no matter the cost. My heart skipped a beat and sparked a period of personal growth that led me to the decision of pursuing a career in medicine. After observing true joy in the midst of poverty, sickness, and brokenness, I developed an intense passion and commitment to the advancing medical sciences in order to reach my goal to help children in need around the globe. Ingrained in my mind forever are the emotions, faces and needs of these precious children. Visiting South Africa was a unique opportunity that I could not continue in my everyday life, however it prompted me to dedicate myself to serving the underserved areas of both my home community and college town. I devoted my time to various organizations from fighting local hunger at the Kaufman Christian Help Center to actively fundraising for the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas and participating in the Special Olympics program. I threw myself into any opportunity to respond to the call of those in need. Additionally, I worked tirelessly in genetics research where I furthered the foundations of genome sequencing and the importance of genetics in the future of medicine. I quickly realized that there is a place to serve no matter your location, profession, or socioeconomic status. Throughout each of these opportunities, I learned from and listened to individuals spanning all walks of life. I not only developed a passion for service, but a heart for people. By harnessing my ever growing passion for medicine, STEAM, service, and people fostered by service-learning experiences, I successfully graduated from the University of Alabama after only two years and one semester. Many say that my young age and short time at the university have not prepared me for the path of becoming a physician and excelling in research. However, I entirely disagree. Nothing has prepared me more for a career in medicine than extreme dedication to my studies, tender heart for those in need, and an immersive approach to serving my community. Visiting the Wasani Orphanage changed me at my core, and I will not lose my passion until I can help people just like those sweet children. I am overly excited to pursue a career in medicine and utilize my own life experiences to advocate for less fortunate communities and dedicate my life to medical service. I long for the day when I will be able to actively provide aid for those in need locally and across the globe.