One technology I’ve recently learned about is spinal implants. It is an amazingly miraculous device that reverses the effects of severe spinal cord damage. As I was researching and reading articles, I was amazed by the effectiveness and efficiency of the new device. Scientists have developed small battery packs connected to little electrode wires that are helping people with paralysis walk again. The battery pack is surgically placed under the abdomen, and the electrodes are implanted into the spinal cord. The battery pack sends electrical impulses through the wires, delivering shocks to the damaged spinal column. With a severe spinal cord injury, the communication pathways between the brain and the spinal cord become damaged. The electrodes help reconnect this pathway and induce movement. Scientists have even created a software control panel on tablets with Bluetooth connection to the battery pack. The scientists can press a control button, such as a left foot step button. This causes the patient’s left foot to move forward. This astounding device has helped people walk, cycle, and swim in just a few short months. Spinal implants are inspiring to me because of the hope they can instill. People who never thought it would be possible to walk, have been able to walk with just a cane for support. To me, it’s a true milestone in technology. Scientists hope this device will one day make its way to more and more people. Maybe someday they can help create a world where everyone can walk, run, dance, and truly live and enjoy life to the fullest. Technology like this inspires me because these advancements pave the way to make the world a better place. After I graduate college as a Biomedical Engineer, I will have the honor of joining this astonishing force of positive change for the world. The sky’s the limit with these advancements and new technological inventions.

Growing up, I have always been passionate about learning and my education. I loved learning new things and allowing my knowledge and curiosity of the world to grow. During middle school extracurriculars opened up to me and I got involved. Each organization worked closely with the community and worked to help others. I learned so much about the importance of community involvement and servitude. Most importantly, I learned a lot about myself. I developed leadership skills that will carry with me through each chapter of my life. Volunteering and community involvement have become core pillars of who I am. Once I reached high school, various class options and electives became available. I wanted to explore every possible career pathway and find out what I was truly passionate about. I quickly found a deep love for science, math, and technology. Luckily, I had an amazing biology teacher who made learning even more fun and exciting. He truly instilled a passion for science in me. He pushed me to take his more advanced science classes and dual credit courses within the medical field. I loved every second of them, and quickly realized the medical field was where I was meant to be, I just was not sure in what way. Taking these classes is where I learned about biomedical engineering. The more I learned about it, the more invested I became. It hit all of my interests and passions, including science, math, technology, and, above all, my artistic drive to create new things. Biomedical engineering is a career whose focus is designing and developing medical technology, devices, and instruments to help solve various medical problems. Being a biomedical engineer means getting to work with state-of-the-art technology on a daily basis. Scientists and engineers work diligently to come up with new medical designs, improve old ones, and make unique and specialized equipment for each individual patient. Working in this industry, I will get to create various technologies such as advanced prosthetics, MRI and PET scanners, and many other machines to help diagnose and treat medical problems. Biomedical engineering is truly an astounding field of work because of the lifesaving technology it helps to create. My plans are to major in biomedical engineering and minor in business. After college, I want to move back to my hometown. There, I will be able to apply the knowledge and skills I have gained to benefit my rural community. In a small town such as mine, there is not much access to specialized healthcare. More often than not, people have to drive hours or even states away to get necessary services, whether it’s getting scans, prosthetics, or something more. My career goal is to open my own facility and work in partnership with the local family clinics and area hospitals to help increase and expand the range and quality of the medical services offered. It is important to me to invest back into the community that has invested so much into me. Unfortunately, like many, financial struggles have not gone unknown to my family. However, I am not letting that stop me. I have always moved with intention, keeping my future success at the forefront of my mind. In my educational pursuit, I decided it was in my best interest to start at a two-year college before transferring to a four-year university. It is not the route I envisioned taking into my career but at the moment it makes the most sense. Receiving this scholarship would be an amazing investment that would help me reach my goals and perhaps shorten my path to get there.

When my older brother was in high school, he was highly involved in different extracurricular activities. I looked up to him, being behind the scenes, planning and running various projects, and selflessly helping others. His commitment to others inspired me at a young age to get involved in my school and community. I developed a do-all-try-all mentality, as well as a love for trying new things and stepping up to the plate anytime new challenges arise. My brother’s inspiration became one of the biggest pillars of who I have become. If I could describe myself now in a few words, I would say I am a compassionate, hardworking, and driven student-athlete. I love learning and am passionate about my education. I love trying new things and allowing my knowledge and curiosity of the world to grow. Above all, I love lending a helping hand whenever possible. I have been an avid member of my school and community, participating in many different organizations that invested in each. In my senior year, I had the honor of serving as president of the local Future Business Leaders of America, National FFA Organization, and Student Council. In these, I had the opportunity to lead and participate in many different projects and events that served the people of our community. I do not believe the younger me would have ever imagined the success, excitement, and fulfillment I would get from being so involved in my hometown. Now that I have graduated high school, I get to focus on my college education and future career. Through taking dual credit courses, I learned about biomedical engineering, a career focusing on advancements in state-of-the-art medical technology that aims to help diagnose and treat medical problems around the world. The more I learned about it, the more invested I became. It hit all of my passions, including science, math, technology, and above all, my drive to help others. My plans in college are to major in biomedical engineering and minor in business. After college, my career goal is to work with local hospitals and clinics to provide services where specialized health care is lacking. I hope to be someday able to invest back into the community that invested so much in me. Being awarded this scholarship will greatly benefit me in so many ways. Getting this scholarship will help offset the expensive costs of college tuition, fees, and living expenses. I will be in much less debt and more financially stable during and after my college years. This scholarship will help propel me on the path to getting my degree, as I will be more focused on my schooling, and not on the burdens of paying for college. With this scholarship, my goals and plans for my future look much more attainable. Everything I have worked and strived for has led me to this moment, and getting this scholarship will help my dreams and goals become a reality.

I was diagnosed with Dermatographia at the age of Four. It was discovered that I had it by my allergist. At the age of 1, my parents found out I had a peanut allergy due to an allergic reaction to peanut butter. Over the next several years, I had to carry a bag everywhere. Inside the bag were two sets of Epi-Pens, allergy medicines, and an emergency paper with instructions. I remember my mom at the grocery store reading everything she picked up. When I was about four, the neighbor boy came over to play. We were playing outside on my front porch. He went home and came back with some Cracker Jacks. Not knowing they had peanuts, I ate some. My mom saw it and ran to get my bag, gave me allergy medicine right away, and waited with the Epi-Pen in hand in case my airway started to shut. Time passed, and I was fine. Nothing happened to me. My mom called the doctor, and they thought it would be a good idea to have an allergy test done. After the test, my mom received a call saying my peanut allergy came back at zero and to schedule with my allergist. The allergist wanted to do a scratch test on my back to confirm any allergies I had or may have outgrown. The nurse scrubbed down my back and wrote numbers on it. Just as she began putting drops of oils on my back, my entire back flared up in raised welts. The doctor wanted to know which ones the nurse had scratched. When she said none, he knew. I had Dermatographia. Injuries and trauma to my skin in the slightest will make my skin break out in large red welts. Because of this, I couldn't complete the scratch test. Everything would show positive just from the prick of the skin. To test my peanut allergy, I had to do a food sensitivity test. Luckily, I did grow out of my peanut allergy. As I got older, kids noticed my skin condition. Anytime I fell in the grass, my legs would look like they had red lashes all over them. When I became involved in sports, it would get embarrassing at times. Any trauma to my skin showed in an exaggerated flare. My skin is extremely sensitive, and it makes me self-conscious at times. I have only met one other person with the same skin condition as me. I try my best to take care of my skin, which seems to help. As for my future, I always knew I would be involved in the medical field somehow. I plan to become a Biomedical Engineer. I want to be a part of creating, even inventing, medical technology and prosthetics that can help people and better their lives.

I have always loved playing school sports. My parents signed me up for Lil' Hoopsters and volleyball camp each year. In Fifth Grade, I got to play real volleyball and basketball. I was so excited to be on an actual team and wear a uniform. My team was a band of sisters. We cheered for each other and gave each other high fives. Playing sports over the years helped draw me out of my shell. It has taught me work ethic and determination. In Seventh Grade, my world opened to Softball. This was the year I met the coach who has impacted my life the most. In my first year, I played in the outfield. There wasn't much to do out there. However, I can't express enough the thrill I would feel when that ball came in my direction. I loved the chants, the yelling, and the upbeat vibes emanating from both dugouts. The atmosphere drew me in and made me want more. By the end of the season, I was hooked. I decided to talk to my coach about learning to pitch my eighth-grade year. My coach invited me to pitch practice and promised me he would put in as much work as I did. I was in the gym every day. My coach was true to his word. If I called him for a practice, he was there. The day practice officially began was the day COVID shut everything down. We didn't have a softball season that year. I didn't let that stop me. Every day, I would go to the field by my house and pitch into a net my parents bought me. When the lockdowns were over, Coach was back in the gym working with me. My ninth-grade year was the first year I pitched in a game. It was snowing sideways and was so cold. Our team was losing big time. My coach asked me if I wanted to go out and pitch. My heart said yes, my nerves said no, and my numb hands didn't understand how it would be possible. I went out there a ball of nerves and remember walking most of the batters in those last two innings. After the game, my coach told me he was proud of me. I couldn't understand how. I cried the entire way home. I felt like a failure like I had let my coach and team down. At my next practice, he told me why he wanted me out there in that situation. It was sink or sink time. My coach was teaching me how to be mentally tough. We were not getting out of that situation. He wanted me to know how that felt. I now understand and am thankful for that lesson. Pitching has taught me that every ball is a new opportunity and not to dwell on the last. This applies in life. Softball and pitching has become a passion for me. Seeing my coach's dedication to me and the sport has lit a fire in me. He has taught me so much. He taught me the importance of mentorship and commitment. I wouldn't be who I am today without him. Determination, drive, and grit are what I have learned most from playing sports. It has taught me how to be mentally aware in a rough situation. Most of all, I have learned I want to be a softball coach and ignite that spark in someone like my coach did for me.