When people hear “West Virginia,” they often think of beautiful mountains, coal mining, or pepperoni rolls. These things are real, but have almost become the mascots of this state. To me, West Virginia is less about the landscape and more about the mindset that becomes instilled into the people. In a small town, you grow up knowing your neighbors, teachers, and even the lady at the gas station. With this, you also grow up understanding nothing is handed to you. Opportunities are not always available, and if you want something you have to work for it. That lesson has shaped the way I view our world. I learned my strongest characteristics on the hills of West Virginia. As a cross-country runner since sixth grade, I have trained on trails and backroads that are anything but flat. Miles are not as easy here. Each run demands endurance. Every hill forces you to decide whether to quit or push through. But after the years I have realized that running in West Virginia mirrors growing up here; you develop strength because you have to. You learn that pain is only temporary, but quitting lasts forever. I think that West Virginia is often underestimated, or even looked down upon. Statistics or stereotypes do not always show the true beauty. But growing up here has taught me to not be pushed back by these assumptions. I know how to work hard while staying humble. I have learned that character is built when no one is watching. Beyond resilience, West Virginia has shaped my perspective. In a rural state, access to resources, such as quality healthcare, is not always guaranteed. Seeing this has influenced my goal of pursuing a career in the medical field. I hope to work in a hospital where I can help families that I grew up around and support the same community that supported me. Our area benefits with having healthcare workers who are familiar with the people they are serving. Additionally, being a West Virginian means being part of a strong community that supports each other. When someone succeeds, the whole town celebrates. When someone struggles, support is given without being asked. In today’s world, I think it is crucial for our state to continue to stand together and uplift each other. This sense of pride has influenced how I define success. Growing up here in a small community has shown me that success feels better when it is celebrated with the people who helped you get there. A memory that I will cherish forever is the celebration of winning the state title in track last season. The local fire and police departments met us at the county line and escorted us through the town, as everyone in the community lined the streets cheering to welcome us home. Overall, West Virginia has formed the person that I am. In a world that moves fast and seems so unsatisfied, I have prioritized enjoying the moment and being grateful. I value hard work over shortcuts or taking the easy route. I have learned that success is not always about the victory, but how I use my efforts to give back to the community. West Virginia has made me resilient, compassionate, and driven, and I plan to carry these qualities into my future. No matter where I go or what I do, the values I have gained here will always be a part of who I am.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…” This prayer was repeated before every race by my cross country and track teams. No matter the conditions, time, or stress we always stand together and pray prior to the shot of the race starting. During this moment, my teammates and I are not competing against each other, but as a team bonded by our faith. Time seems to stand still, the nerves disappear, and I become ready to race. This tradition has influenced my knowledge of what the true meaning of being a good teammate is. A good teammate is always there, no matter the circumstance. Good or bad, they know how to support their team and stay reliable. They put their team before themselves and know how to uplift each member. A good teammate is equally excited for another teammate’s success, as their own. They give respect to their coach and become a leader to the team. Throughout my experiences, I have had countless teammates who met all of these standards and shaped the teammate that I am today. My cross-country team is my second family and I truly am not sure what I would do without them. After I transferred my sophomore year, I was utterly nervous to join a new team with people I had never met. To my surprise, they welcomed me the first day with open arms and treated me as if I had run with them since middle school. I have made my best friends through sports and will forever be grateful for my girls. Although most of them have graduated, they still make an effort to reach out and check up on me. They were the leaders, who I looked up to above all, but now with this being my senior season I am proud to say that I have filled in their shoes and become a leader to the new underclassmen. There have been many challenging moments I have experienced in my life, on or off the track, but my faith has always been there for me and provided guidance. This past cross-country season was my last high school season, which to me meant it had to be the best. When the first meet of the season came, I was underwhelmed with my results, as I had not improved from my previous year. Through my frustration and doubt, I remembered that God has a plan for me, so I continued my hard work. Once the state meet rolled around, I said my prayer with my teammates and left everything out on the course. My hard work and prayer paid off, and in disbelief I ran my fastest state meet time ever. Not only has my faith lead me through running, but it has guided every decision or obstacle throughout my personal life. There have been many challenging and stressful days in school, but my trust in God provided myself with reassurance that everything happens for a reason. One thing I found that helps with my holy connection is having an independent bible study session before I go to sleep. Instead of scrolling my phone, reading the bible and taking notes has provided me with a sense of grace I had never had before. I think this action has shaped myself all around, effecting my actions and thought process for the better. Whether it is a friendship, teammate, or my personal life, my faith is always there to guide me in the right direction. I plan on continuing to improve my Godly relationship, day by day, and applying it into my life and future.

Throughout my childhood, I always had an interest in working in the medical field someday, although I never knew exactly what job that would be. In my life, I have had an overwhelming influence of medical careers, with my mom as a physical therapist, my grandmother a nurse, and many other family members in the healthcare profession. Ultimately, nursing caught my attention above all and I decided this would be the pathway I want to pursue. My grandmother shaped my decision immensely by filling my youth with plenty of her nursing stories. She would tell me how much of an impact she made on patients’ lives and cared for them, while also sharing the dedication it took. This hard work and compassion led me to decide this is what I want to do; make a difference in peoples lives. From there, I explored how I could go beyond nursing and what new goals I could set for myself. After some research, I became interested in becoming a nurse anesthetist and made this my end goal. Becoming a nurse anesthetist is something I am passionate about because of their leadership role, use of critical thinking, and their significant responsibility in patient care. Starting my path in nursing would provide me with the fundamental characteristics and skills that are essential in the medical field, which then would help me succeed with my ambitions. I am excited to enter a field that challenges me, allows me to grow, and provides a chance to make a meaningful impact on others’ lives. In addition, I plan to improve the lives of my patients with high quality care, along with compassion as a nurse anesthetist. I will give particular care for patients who have lung disease or rare medical conditions. Patients who face these challenges often experience anxiety or fear about their health. One of my goals is to be able to provide critical medical care, while also making sure my patient has the support they need. By combining skills I gain from nursing with empathy, I will ensure that patients who have complex, or uncommon medical needs always feel safe and cared for. I hope to make the best impact possible on their lives, not only for their medical needs, but with their personal half as well. Also, I want to educate my patients and their families about their current state and treatment options to help them feel more confident. I plan on saying up to date on lung disease and its latest treatment advancements in order to provide the best care. Through my commitment to continuously learn, I can give care to the best of my abilities that is both effective and compassionate.