On my 18th birthday, I celebrated my newfound freedom by signing my own waiver to go on a hot air balloon. These are some of my favorite pictures from the morning. Please enjoy the fuzzy Christmas sloth blanket gifted to me by my best friend. I brought a part of her up with me since she is deathly afraid of heights. I, on the other hand, am in love with heights and felt at peace as I floated through the air.

The smallest actions can have dramatic consequences, and I want to understand why. Biochemistry allows me to do this by analyzing all the chemical processes within an organism at a molecular level. I want to understand the different outcomes from flaws within the system and see the effects ripple out throughout the organism from a tiny variation. Biochemistry makes this possible while also combining the two things that I love: biology and chemistry. In college, I plan to pair my biochemistry major with a premedicine program. Understanding how the human body works in sync, or not in sync, in my case, is such a beautiful concept. I have had three surgeries within the last two years, and I am thankful to all my surgeons who took the time to feed my curiosity. My orthopedic surgeon and his PA explained in depth the underlying causes of my need for a full labrum reconstruction. They took pictures of my hip joint during surgery to show me at my next appointment, so I could fully grasp my treatment plan. My general surgeon made me a hand-drawn digestive system on my exam table paper to demonstrate the intricacies of the issue and the effects that my ineffective gallbladder was causing. Doctors like these made me fall in love with medicine after witnessing firsthand the impact that it can have.

My best friend saved my life. Kaylee Kates brings joy to those around her and exudes positivity, and I am very blessed to have her as my best friend. I have only known for for four years, but I cannot remember a time where she was not in my life. Our friendship started on the softball field and has only grown. Over the years, she has become my parents second daughter and my favorite sister (she may or may not be the only one). She is a regular at the Rea household often studying at the kitchen counter with me and never misses Bachelorette night. Kaylee has had my back through everything and has been my rock. I have had three surgeries in the last two years, and she has been my nurse for all of them. After my gallbladder was removed, she spent days with me helping with simple things like getting me up and grabbing my medications on time. After my two hip surgeries, she would give my parents a break and do my hip circumduction exercises. Please trust me when I tell you that this exercise is 10 minutes of pain for the non-crippled person, and this was no easy task. But most importantly, she was there, and the importance of that cannot be understated. Before I could manage my anxiety, she was there and did her best. When I seriously considered ending my life because my pain was almost too much to tolerate, she was there with open arms. I am thankful for all the times she held me while I cried because she is not the biggest fan of physical touch but never fails to give me what I need. I genuinely do not think that I would be alive if I did not have my best friend. I am absolutely amazed at her compassionate heart and the extent that she devotes herself to others. She finds happiness in the smallest things, and her beautiful soul never fails to light up a room. Kaylee Kates is the best person I know, and I am thankful that she chose me as her best friend.