My name is Lucile Ellis, I am currently finishing my first year of undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill. I have loved everything about medicine since I can remember, from the mystery of what is wrong, to the doctor being and architect of the treatment, to the outcome of the patient. I love doing anything active, whether that be a sport or just exploring my surroundings. I rarely enjoy sitting still. I think that this need to be active has inspired my joy for Physical therapy, to help others regain and retain the freedom of motion that I enjoy. My biggest inspiration for healthcare is my father because he sells medical supplies and I have grown up around the medical system going to work with him into a variety of offices. On our drives between stops he will tell me about the equipment he is selling by explaining what it does and why it is necessary. I also have helped him "set up" offices which means assembling larger pieces of equipment from tables to rolling carts and wall boards. I recently helped him in setting up a Physical Therapy office and being fascinated with how versatile the space was. It could adapt to any level of physical ability, and it was a place for people to come and feel better, both emotionally and physically. I am interested in pursuing Physical Therapy after graduating from UNC in 2029. I took a class this past fall semester called Introduction to Health Professions and initially I brushed off physical therapy because I was focused on medical school and what specialty I wanted, but after setting up the physical therapy office I have come back around to my notes and fallen in love with the profession. I believe that I would enjoy the opportunity to take someone's physical pain away while also strengthening them mentally. I have seen with my grandparents the amazing outcomes of physical therapy after joint replacement or other medical interventions or injuries. I have asked them if they believe physical therapy genuinely helps them and every one of them said yes without a doubt. I want to have this impact on other people, to keep them mobile for as long as possible because it is by far the best way to stay healthy. I am also interested in going into the military and have plans to apply to the joint Army Baylor PT programme. I plan on completing the three year programme and being a DPT in the army. I have a strong sense of pride for the United States and what it can be, that it is a nation of immigrants, where its strength comes from its diversity of culture, and I want to be a part of something that protects that. I think that providing care to these soldiers who keep this dream alive is something meaningful well beyond me and will be a career and legacy I am proud of and passionate about.

Recently I became a Women's basketball manager for my university, UNC, and it has shaped me to be a well rounded person. I have learned that things are not just given, and being a freshman in such a high-stakes environment forced me to adapt with speed and precision. It has also taught me that relationships are built on trust and reliability. I have seen the way that the older managers interact with the staff and I see how their consistency builds a relationship where they would do almost anything to help each other. They have become like family and have adopted me into this setting where I feel very blessed. I was given a lot of responsibility joining this programme as a freshman and I was expected to catch onto things quickly to make the team run smoothly. I have learned to anticipate needs and ALWAYS be early. I have learned that relationships are invaluable, the basketball staff at UNC have incredible connections that are going to help me when I start applying for graduate schools. I plan to make a positive impact on the world through volunteer work because I believe it is the most authentic version of myself. I think that when I am not worried about how many hours I have left, or the monetary value of my actions I am more free. It becomes just about the people I am helping. I have experience collecting and sorting donations for Donate Sport, a local non-profit started by a family friend who has been able to ship thousands of supplies to rural African villages. I also plan on volunteering at the VA because I want to join the Army for Physical Therapy school at Baylor. This would give me great experience while also helping tend to the needs of the veterans who have kept the US safe. My passions outside of school are anything active, including running, intramural sports, hiking, or just going on walks. I love to be up and moving and exploring the world around me. In the future I would love to travel rural parts of the world to get to know the people and their cultures that are different from mine. Specifically, I would like to visit rural China or Russia because there are hundreds of smaller cultures and communities that are mostly unseen by the modern media and I would love to have the opportunity to talk to them and learn. The person who is my biggest motivator in life is my Dad. He is the hardest worker I know and he has taught me the value of relationships. I often go around with him over the summer to help him as he sells medical supplies. I get to see the faces of the receptionist and doctors when they see him walk in the door. His ability to create and maintain positive relationships is what I believe makes him a great salesmen and overall person. If I were to ask someone to describe my legacy I would want it to be a mirror of my Father's. One of compassion and drive, someone who is not willing to give up in the face of adversity, when he was stuck in a toxic work environment but didn't get passed the final round of interviews for a different job. When he told me, he simply smiled and continued to get better every day. As my father ensures doctors have the supplies they need to save lives, I want my legacy to be providing the physical care and empathy that helps patients reclaim their own lives.