Even in my earliest of memories, I have always dreamed of becoming a medical doctor. My first ever patient was Jesse, my favorite stuffed animal. She was always coming into my "office" with various symptoms, which I would treat to my fullest potential. I would make sure she always left feeling better and of course with a lollipop in hand. As I began to grow older, my passion for pursuing medicine continued to grow with me. My senior year of high school, I enrolled in the medical assistant certification class. I ended the year as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. The year was full of many growing opportunities and useful experience. I am currently enrolled at West Texas A&M University as a Health Science major, Psychology minor, with an emphasis on pre-medicine. As many know, college is extremely expensive, especially coming from a single income household. I have had to conquer financial obstacles in my ongoing education. My very first obstacle was the dual-credit courses I enrolled in during high school. While the courses were significantly less expensive compared to on-campus courses, the money began to accumulate quickly. I enrolled in fourteen classes at five-hundred dollars each, while in high school. I couldn't bring myself to ask my mom for the money I needed. She has always been such a hardworking woman and has given her all to bless me and my sister, in every aspect of our lives. So instead of asking my mom for the money, I decided to work two jobs in the summer of my junior and senior year. I would open at Sonic as a carhop at five-thirty a.m. through twelve p.m. and then I would head over to the pool for my lifeguarding job from twelve-thirty p.m. through either six or eight. During the summer I was also taking online college courses, to say the least I had a very busy schedule to abide by. All of the long hours and hard work was well worth it, I was able to make enough money to pay for the remainder of my college courses in high school. From this experience, I learned the importance of hard work. I discovered if there is something I want badly enough, I have to push myself beyond my limits. All the desires I have for myself, and my future will take years of hard work and dedication. Specifically, the path to becoming a medical doctor will require years of studying, grinding, financial hardships, and many low times. However, I am confident that I will be able to, not only persevere but thrive in this environment. My passion for this dream is far too great to allow any obstacle, no matter how big or small, to stand in my way. This passion for greatness will only grow with my practice, it will bleed into all aspects of my career and help make me a well-established physician.

I believe that everyone has a story. No matter who you are, no what situation you may be in. I know that I will never be able to understand what anyone else goes through or what they are feeling. So, I choose to live my life through kindness and understanding. I help others in anyway that I can. Whether it be someone outside my workplace asking for food or a friend who just needs to vent, I am there. I would want someone to take care of the people that matter to me, if they were in a situation where they were needing help. So, I will always be a lending hand for anyone that might need it. The world would be such a beautiful place if we all spread kindness through our words and actions, to everyone we interact with. A simple smile could change someone’s day, but selfless acts could change someone life.

As long as I can remember, I have always had a passion for helping people. In any way I could, I would try to lend a hand where I felt was needed. Whether it be a homeless, elderly woman with a sign saying, "Please, anything helps." or a stranger with a gloomy face. I was always wanting to reach out. I would beg my mom to stop and leave a few dollars or I would smile at someone who looks like they haven't had anyone smile at them in a long time. As I have grown and experienced more life, my passion has evolved. The once naive girl with a big heart has become a young woman with a desire to spread love and compassion. My dream is to become a doctor. I will be the first one on both sides of my family to earn such a high level in education. My first step was in high school. I enrolled in a class that would end in obtaining a certification as a CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant). I, also, maintained a very high GPA and class ranking. I graduated with a 4.23 and was ranked number three in my class. I have maintained this high achievement attitude throughout my first year of college, and plan on doing so throughout my career. I am currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Health Science at West Texas A&M. My anticipated graduation date is Fall of 2023, only two and a half years after my high school graduation. I will be able to obtain my bachelor's in such a short amount of time, due to my completion of nearly fifty hours of college credits while I was in high school. After I graduate with my Health Science degree, I plan to attend a PA (physician-assistant) program. When I complete my two-year program, I will then begin practicing with my newly earned master's degree. I am hoping to work as a PA in pediatric oncology. I know I could make a colossal impact on many ill children and their families. I will use my big heart and passion to attend to whatever they may need. I will treat every patient like a real person and will always do everything in my power to help them fight their cancer and come out a survivor. I hope to, one day, go to medical school and earn the full title, as a doctor. However, I will not rush my path. I am going to become a PA by the age of 23 and will earn my doctoral degree, when the time is right. As my degree level rises, I will work on allowing my passion to thrive to its fullest potential. My love for helping others will never fade and in time will grow, as I experience more life. I know I will change the world through one act of kindness at a time.

1. The opportunities that this grant would give me would be unreal. My career goal is to be a successful doctor or possibly a surgeon. Once I obtain this goal, I would be able to bring back all of my experiences and knowledge from my many years in medical school to my little hometown of Muleshoe. It would be such a blessing to do good by my community and to share all my successes and hard work with the support system that helped me reach what I have always wanted. Going to medical school has always been my dream. I believe the medical field needs more people with a big heart that would do anything for their patients, and I think I could be that person for our community. I hope to one day inspire the young people of Muleshoe to chase their dreams, just as I will and the way Ms. Allison had inspired my own mother to become a teacher. The way my mother loves teaching is the way I want to love practicing medicine. As most know, teachers are not the most financially blessed as far as careers go. This money would do wonders for my family and me. 2. My second chance is one that not many people have the opportunity of receiving. Moving from Lubbock to Muleshoe was my second chance. When I was going to school in Lubbock I felt nearly invisible. Frenship was such a large district, it was easy to feel like I did not matter. I felt like I was just this small person in a sea of thousands. I never felt like I was noticed. When my family and I decided to move to Muleshoe, I was absolutely petrified. The idea of starting over had never been appealing to me. However, moving to Muleshoe was easily one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. It was my chance to finally be seen for all that I am. After moving schools, I instantly felt at home. Muleshoe is where I belong, it is where I could finally shine and show everyone how great I can really be. Since being in Muleshoe I have acquired many accomplishments. I am a part of the National Honors Society, ranked third in my class, was voted "Rotary Sweetheart", named honorable mention in Varsity Basketball, scored the highest on the ACT and SAT in my grade, and I was voted cheer captain. The achievements I have reached here at Muleshoe are my proudest moments. If I were at Frenship, I would just be another face and would not matter to many people. However, Muleshoe has given me the opportunity to show the world all that I am capable of. If I had never moved who knows where I would be, in regards to success. The beautiful town of Muleshoe gave me my voice and let me be heard. The lesson I learned that I will always take with me is, never be afraid to start over. I have never been a fan of new beginnings, but this experience has shown me that I should not dread starting over. Instead, use it to my advantage and I will always end up persevering.