Since I was born, there hasn't been a day where I was not surrounded by animals. I am compelled to help animals and teach others about proper husbandry. My experiences with a large variety of animals growing up has drawn me into the veterinary field for my career choice after high school. Throughout my childhood, I've had horses, dogs, cats, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians. Being around animals on a daily basis creates a strong and empathetic bond. Animals are authentic, emotional, and genuine. My grandparents had a large horse farm, which my immediate family inherited when they had passed away, causing me to learn the importance of patience around these large animals. Since the passing of these two family members, horses have become my favorite animals. Their patience and calm nature reminds me of my grandma and papas presence. With an abundance of pets, you learn proper care, resourcefulness, and intelligence in medical emergencies. I found a unique balance between chores and hobbies. What began as a chore, taking care of my pets every day, developed into a hobby; the hours I spent working with animals were the best hours of my days. This has taught me resourcefulness, responsibility, and to understand different types of animals on a deeper level. During dual enrollment my senior year of high school, I attended an “Introduction to Biology” course at the University of Michigan, Flint. This course inspired me to continue my education in biology and other sciences which are needed for a veterinarian career. This class was intriguing and kept me interested on a daily basis. There are several qualities that can make a career worthwhile. For me, a career in veterinary offers variety, change, learning opportunities, and everyday challenges. Since this career is based around scientific research, which is improved each and everyday, there will be constant growth for me personally and professionally. Becoming a veterinarian will be an exciting pathway with many different opportunities for success along the way. After I complete high school, I will attend the University of Michigan-Flint’s bachelor of science in wildlife biology program. This program aligns with my interests, with courses including ecology, animal behavior, conservation biology, and many more. Growing up with pets, I've experienced my fair share of animal emergencies and instances where a veterinary clinic cannot care for our animals simply because they are "exotic" or "uncommon." For these reasons, I am aiming to specialize in all different groups of animals. I feel that I have a very solid foundation for my future to stand on, and one that will bring me happiness and success. I am inspired and intrigued by this practice. Aligning myself with a career that fits all of my interests and needs has been a lifelong journey and I am very grateful to have found a pathway that will lead me to success. I cannot wait to pursue this career and help animals each and every day.

As I enjoyed my beautiful summer morning of July 30th, 2013, little did I know that my life would be drastically changed forever. I have grown up with a wonderful and supportive family my entire life which is an amazing gift earned that I am truly grateful for. I say this gift was ‘earned’ rather than ‘given’ because the journey of finding peace does not come overnight. Through this essay, I would like to share my story of adapting to an abrupt change and using that experience to become a better person. That beautiful morning in July soon became the most devastating day of my life. My grandparents Sue and David Miller were killed in a house explosion, caused by a gas leak. This accident wrecked our home town of Clio and the realization that they were gone was heartbreaking. In the moment it had not sunk in that my two closest non-immediate family members would not be here to cherish life with me as I grow up. But now, 9 years later at 16 years old, I have found peace and understanding. My grandma and papa were not there for each and every holiday throughout my childhood. They will not be here for the day I graduate to see my success and go off to build my own life. As this is unfair, there is nothing I can do except accept the cruel truth and use it to grow. I tell myself these exact words, “What I went through was so terrible that I did not think I’d make it through, but here I am.” In the moment of tragedy it is as if the entire world stops spinning, but as humans it is our job to keep our “little world” spinning and continuing on for others around us. Throughout my journey of healing, my greatest takeaway is when stuck in a hardship of life, it is so very important to talk to someone. Talking about your feelings not only lifts the heavy weight from your shoulders, but also gives closure to those same feelings. Hearing those words spill from your soul will help you connect the dots as to why you feel that way, and what you can do to grow from it. My personal goal is to create a life for myself that returns me back to the feeling before that horrible day in July of 2013. Although things will never be the same as they were before, I can live on knowing that my grandparents would be so proud that my family and I found strength in the hardest of times.

- Take a break. At times, school can be very overwhelming...especially when dealing with mental health issues! Taking a break from my studying and remembering to take care of myself helps me collect myself and return back to my determined mindset. I may listen to music, hang out with my pets, or just take a nap. Whatever I need to re-energize my soul before continuing on with my day is truly the key to staying mentally healthy yet successful. - Manifestation. I believe in manifesting my successful life for the future. Whether it is daily affirmations, grounding activities, or praying, the positive mindset is key to my success. Whatever I believe, I will achieve. I have kept a self regimen and practiced it each and every day. This keeps me productive and healthy. - Self talk. Taking a moment to speak to my inner self helps me uncover what I truly want for myself and how it will benefit me in the future. I must insure myself what I want to achieve, and which steps I will take to get there! - Note taking. Whether it is planning out my day, or simply taking self care notes, I have found that documenting my goals helps me tremendously. Each morning I create a list of my goals for myself and check them off the list when they are completed. This keeps me on track and mentally organized. - Talk about it. If there is something bothering me, I have discovered that the only way to relieve that weight from my shoulders is to talk about it. I reach out to family, friends, my therapist, or anyone that would be willing to listen, and explain my struggles I deal with.