In reading and learning more about Dr. Jack Terry’s story, I am inspired by him. Dr. Terry is the representation of a strong individual who made an impact in his life and the people around him even though he suffered throughout his life with a constant battle of obstacles. His perseverance and resilience proved that although he lost everything at a young age and faced incredible challenges, he still built a life centered on helping others. His testimony gives hope to me and thousands of other individuals who are struggling with obstacles like him. Dr. Terry proves that where you start off in life doesn’t define where you can go. My own journey has been shaped by hardship, responsibility, and the drive to create a better future. My mom has battled both breast cancer and thyroid disease. There were moments when she was too weak to move, and yet she tried to stay strong for us. We come from a poor economic background, and the cost of her treatments pushed us to the edge. As a single-income family, we’ve had to choose between paying for medical care or covering basic expenses.  Growing up, I’ve taken on a lot of responsibility—caring for my mother when she is sick, making sure things run smoothly at home, and supporting my family however I can. I began working part-time at H-E-B as a cashier during school so I could help my family out in any way I could. I did not want my family to worry about paying for my college on top of my family's health. I used this job to put money towards my education and to help my family with their financial burden. As a first-generation student as well, navigating the college process without anyone in my family to guide me has been difficult. There have been moments where it all felt overwhelming. But I’ve kept going—because I want to be able to give my parents a better life where they no longer have to worry about bills and money. In witnessing my mother's illnesses, I learned that I grew fond of medicine. This fall, I will be majoring in biology at the University of Texas at Austin to go into physician assistant (PA) school for my master's. I plan to be a PA, focusing on oncology, so I can help families who are struggling in battling cancer and give them their best fighting opportunity. I am determined to give my patients a brighter future and ease their worries. I understand what it’s like to feel powerless when someone you love has a disease like cancer. I want to be a PA that provides care, comfort, and clarity to both my patients and families going through their hardest days. Through my experiences, I’ve learned how to stay strong under pressure. I’ve learned how to lead when no one else can. I’ve learned that pain can become purpose, and hardship can fuel ambition. Like Dr. Terry, I don’t want to let the past define me—I want to use it to build something better. He survived unimaginable loss and still found a way to serve others. That’s what I hope to do with my life too. This scholarship would help relieve the financial burden my family carries and allow me to focus more on my education. It would be an investment in my dream: to become a physician assistant who doesn’t just treat patients but truly understands them and their family. I want to give others the same hope that has carried me through—and continue Dr. Terry’s legacy of resilience, compassion, and service.