Growing up with two younger brothers who were adopted out of the foster care system has shaped so much of who I am today. Their experiences have opened my eyes to the struggles foster, adoptive, and kinship families face, especially when taking in children who have experienced trauma or major life transitions. Seeing firsthand how these children, like my brothers, adjust to new homes and new families sparked a desire in me to make a positive difference in their lives. My mom, who’s been a nurse for over 20 years, has also had a huge influence on my path. Growing up, I saw how dedicated she was to her patients and how she always went above and beyond to make sure they felt cared for, both physically and emotionally. She taught me that healthcare is more than just about treating someone’s body; it’s about understanding their life experiences and offering support when they need it most. I want to follow in her footsteps and make a real impact on people’s lives, which is why I’ve decided to pursue a career in healthcare. The more I learned about healthcare, the more I realized that the path I wanted to take was occupational therapy. My brothers’ experiences with occupational therapy showed me just how powerful it can be in helping children overcome challenges and develop the skills they need to succeed. I saw the benefits of therapy in their daily lives and how it helped them with basic tasks, schoolwork, and even just managing their emotions. It was amazing to see how therapy helped them not only grow but also build confidence and independence. That’s when I knew that I wanted to become an occupational therapist, to help kids like my brothers build a strong foundation for the future. In addition to my personal experiences, I’ve also been lucky to contribute to organizations that support families and children in need. Volunteering at The Haven Resource Center, which provides resources to foster, adoptive, and kinship families, has shown me just how overwhelming it can be for families who suddenly take in children, especially when they need immediate things like clothes, diapers, and other essentials. It’s been eye-opening to see how these families are often just doing their best to provide love and stability, but they sometimes need extra support to meet the practical needs of their kids. It made me realize how important it is to offer both physical and emotional care to these families, something I’m passionate about providing as an occupational therapist. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with Love Gives Adoption, an organization that my parents founded to raise awareness about the adoption and foster care process, and Consider the Lily, which helps rescue and support girls who’ve been exploited. These experiences have shown me the power of service and have further fueled my desire to make a difference in the world. I’ve learned that making a positive impact doesn’t always mean doing something big, it’s often the small, consistent actions that help change lives. Looking ahead, my goal is to become an occupational therapist who works specifically with children and families affected by trauma. I want to help kids build the skills they need to succeed in life, just as occupational therapy has helped my brothers. I hope to create a lasting, positive impact on the world by supporting children and families in overcoming challenges.

Growing up, I was deeply influenced by my mom, a nurse for over 20 years. Watching her care for others with so much dedication and compassion made me realize the profound impact healthcare professionals have on people’s lives. Her ability to comfort and heal inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a difference too. Additionally, my two younger brothers, who were adopted from foster care, have special needs, and their experiences further shaped my desire to help others. I saw how occupational therapy helped them gain independence, build confidence, and improve their quality of life. This sparked my interest in becoming an occupational therapist, as I want to help children overcome their challenges and thrive. From a young age, I’ve always wanted to help people, especially those who face difficulties others may not understand. My brothers’ adoption stories showed me the challenges that many children in foster care and adoption face. They also taught me that having the right support can help these children overcome obstacles and reach their potential. I believe healthcare is the best way to offer that support, and it’s why I am passionate about pursuing a career in this field. I want to go beyond simply treating physical issues and focus on addressing the emotional and intellectual needs of those I work with. As an occupational therapist, I would focus on helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in life, particularly those who may be gifted or have special needs. These children often face challenges that aren’t always obvious to others, like emotional struggles or social isolation. I believe it’s important to address both their intellectual growth and emotional well-being so they can thrive academically and socially. I want to be someone who not only provides the tools they need to overcome challenges but also empowers them to feel confident and capable. In addition to my personal experiences, I have volunteered at The Haven Resource Center, which helps foster, adoptive, and kinship families. This experience has shown me the importance of offering both practical and emotional support to those in need. I hope to make a difference in the lives of children who face challenges by helping them navigate their emotional, social, and intellectual needs. I want to empower them to live fulfilling, confident lives. This is why I’m passionate about healthcare and why I’m excited to pursue a career as an occupational therapist. With the right guidance and support, I believe every child has the potential to succeed.

Growing up with two younger brothers who have special needs has really shaped my desire to become an occupational therapist. Both of my brothers were adopted from foster care, and their experiences navigating life after trauma have given me a unique perspective on how intellectual and emotional needs go hand in hand. One of the most impactful things I remember was the occupational therapy visits we had at our house. These sessions helped my brothers develop important skills, from fine motor skills to emotional regulation, and watching their progress inspired me to pursue a career where I could make a difference in the lives of children facing challenges. My mom has been a nurse for over 20 years, and I’ve always looked up to her. She often shared stories of her work, showing me, how helping children wasn’t just about fixing a problem; it was about understanding them as a whole and giving them the support they need. Seeing this in my mom, and then in my brothers’ therapy sessions, made me realize how powerful therapy can be in helping children overcome obstacles and live fulfilling lives. As I look toward a future in occupational therapy, I’m especially interested in working with gifted children. Gifted children often experience challenges that are not immediately obvious to others. While their intellectual abilities are advanced, they may struggle with emotional issues like anxiety, perfectionism, and social isolation. I’ve seen how these emotional struggles can affect my brothers, who sometimes felt overwhelmed or disconnected because of their differences. Because of my personal experience with my brothers, I want to help gifted children navigate both their intellectual growth and their emotional well-being. I believe occupational therapy can be a great way to support these children, helping them feel understood and providing the tools they need to manage their emotions, while also encouraging their academic success. For gifted children, emotional well-being is just as important as intellectual development. These children may often feel isolated from their peers because their abilities set them apart. This can lead to feelings of frustration or loneliness, which can hinder their ability to thrive academically and socially. My goal as an occupational therapist would be to help these children develop emotional resilience. Through personalized therapy sessions, I want to help them manage anxiety, build confidence, and develop social skills so they can connect with others and feel like they belong. I would also use mindfulness practices and coping strategies to help them handle stress and frustration, allowing them to approach challenges with a calmer, more balanced mindset. Beyond the emotional support, I want to ensure that gifted children are intellectually challenged and engaged in their learning. Many gifted children find themselves bored or disengaged in a traditional classroom setting because they’re not being challenged at the right level. Volunteering at The Haven Resource Center, which supports foster, adoptive, and kinship families, The work I’ve done at The Haven has shown me that providing emotional support can make all the difference in a child’s ability to succeed academically and socially. By helping families with basic resources like clothing and diapers, I’ve witnessed how small acts of support can relieve stress and allow parents to focus on their child’s emotional and developmental needs. I’ve also had the privilege of being involved with Love Gives Adoption, a nonprofit my parents founded to raise awareness about the foster care system and support families through the adoption process. Being part of this organization has helped me understand how emotional and social support are key in helping children feel confident and secure. As I look toward my career in occupational therapy, I want to bring these lessons with me. My goal as a future occupational therapist is to help gifted children feel seen, understood, and capable. I am excited to help them develop the skills they need to succeed academically, build strong social connections, and lead fulfilling lives. I believe that by addressing both their intellectual and emotional needs, I can help gifted children overcome the challenges they face and reach their full potential.

Ata young age, I was diagnosed with anxiety, and dealing with it made me realize how hard mental health issues can be to manage. There were days when I felt so overwhelmed that I couldn’t attend school or speak up for myself. I tried therapy and medication, and although it was a challenging journey, I learned a lot from the experience. It taught me that mental health struggles are real and complicated, but with the right support, people can get better. This made me realize how important mental health care is, and it inspired me to pursue a career where I can help others facing similar challenges. In addition to my personal experience with anxiety, I also faced trauma from being a victim of a Title IX case, which brought on a lot of emotional and mental pain. Dealing with the aftermath of this trauma was incredibly difficult, but therapy played a huge role in my healing. I went through EMDR therapy, which helped me process and work through the trauma I had experienced. EMDR therapy allowed me to confront the pain, make sense of my emotions, and slowly start to heal. Through this process, I learned that recovery is possible, but it takes time, support, and the right kind of therapy. The healing I experienced through therapy is one of the main reasons I’m so passionate about mental health now, and I want to help others who have gone through similar traumatic experiences. My brothers had their own struggles, including trauma from their early lives. They both had special needs and needed extra support to adjust to their new family and environment. One of the ways we helped them was through occupational therapy, where therapists came to our house to work with them every week. I saw how these sessions helped them develop important life skills and gave them a sense of stability. Watching this made me realize the power of therapy and how it can truly help people overcome obstacles. It inspired me to consider a career in healthcare, particularly therapy, to be able to help others in the same way. Both my personal experience with anxiety and watching my brothers go through their own challenges have made me believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. Too often, people struggle with mental health issues in silence, either because they feel ashamed or don’t know where to turn for help. I know how hard it can be to reach out, and I want to make sure others know it’s okay to ask for help and that many people are facing the same exact issues. My goal is to become a therapist or work in a related field where I can help children and families who are dealing with emotional struggles, trauma, or mental health challenges. My own struggles with anxiety, as well as seeing how therapy helped my brothers, have led me to pursue a career in mental health. I’m determined to make a positive impact by ensuring that everyone has access to the support they need to live a healthy life.

Growing up with two younger brothers who were adopted from foster care, I saw firsthand the challenges they faced as they transitioned into our family. These difficulties were not just emotional and psychological but also physical, as both brothers had special needs that required extra support. This often meant navigating not only a new family dynamic but also addressing the trauma they had experienced before entering our home. One of the ways we helped them adjust was through occupational therapy. I remember therapists coming to our house every week, working with my brothers to help them develop the skills necessary for daily life. I saw how these sessions empowered my brothers to make progress in ways that seemed impossible before. It was through these experiences that I developed a passion for the field of occupational therapy and a deep desire to help others in similar ways. What I saw in my brothers’ therapy sessions inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare, specifically OT. I realized how powerful healthcare professionals can be in helping people regain their independence, especially those facing challenges from a young age. The ability to make an obvious difference in someone’s life through therapy and support seemed both fulfilling and essential. The role of OT in improving my brothers' quality of life made me want to be part of that same transformation for others. Along with my personal experiences, my mother has been a significant source of inspiration. She has been a nurse for over 20 years, and throughout my life, I’ve seen her compassion and dedication to her patients. Her empathy, ability to connect with those in need, and her passion for serving others have all shaped my own view of healthcare. I saw how rewarding it was for her to help people, and I knew that I, too, wanted to be in a field where I could serve others. As a woman entering the healthcare field, I hope to bring the same level of compassion and dedication that my mother and the therapists who have worked with my brothers and continue to do so. I want to help children and individuals facing similar challenges and provide them with the support and tools they need to live more comfortable lives. I believe that healthcare is not just about treating physical abilities but it's also about addressing emotional and mental well-being, particularly for those who have gone through difficult transitions. By working in healthcare, I hope to help individuals to overcome obstacles and live the most fulfilling lives possible. In the future, I hope to focus on advocating for children, especially those from foster care or traumatic backgrounds, ensuring they receive the care and resources they need. My goal is to contribute to a system that helps people from all walks of life, especially vulnerable populations, to live better and healthier lives. The combination of my personal experiences, my education, and the influence of my mother’s career has solidified my decision to pursue healthcare and make a positive impact.