Throughout the entirety of my life, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, I did not understand the biomolecular processes or genetic causes behind the neurodegenerative disease; however, I knew that I would not be complicit with PD’s tendencies to strip one of hope. I began with running races to raise awareness and helping fundraise through local support groups, but have now found my passion in medicine and conducting biomedical research. While I am currently focused on a project about cell reprogramming of astrocytes to functional neurons in a spinal cord injury model, I do my best to stay up to date on research developments in Parkinson’s disease as well. PD diagnostic procedures are, unfortunately, characterized by the lack of standardized, objective diagnostic procedures, and testing treatments has proved to be difficult as well. It is for these reasons, along with others, that the development of brain imaging technology capable of detecting accumulations of alpha-synuclein is so impactful and transformative in regard to Parkinson’s research. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that, in PD patients, has been found to misfold and aggregate into congregations called Lewy bodies, which are thought to cause neuronal dysfunction. The ability to perform scans and image these bodies would change the way we do research and develop drugs. In March of 2022, the first images were shared. From the moment I read of this and viewed the images, I have been incredibly inspired and motivated to continue with my work in research and contribute to the field. This imagining technology quite literally revolutionizes the way that we see Parkinson’s, and will have incredible implications in patient care and research. Developments such as these are what provide researchers and medical professionals with optimism and motivation to continue searching for answers.

My younger sister once told me to follow my dreams, and worry about finances later; now, I'm not saying that this advice is necessarily good, but it was quite helpful. At the time of receiving this advice, I was debating whether I should attend my dream school, Columbia University, my "safety" school, the University of Minnesota, or an in-state school in North Dakota. My issue was the following: Columbia costs $85,000 a year, UMN costs $26,000, and any school in ND was free as a result of a scholarship I received. Due to the fact that I am paying for my own tuition, the choice seems relatively simple. However, there are few opportunities in the career path I am pursuing in ND, being biomedical research. I was stuck at a crossroads between what is best for my career, and what was best for me financially. It was then that my sister to me to forget about costs and follow my dreams. She had a point in that my career would be enriched by greater opportunities outside of the state of North Dakota. I would have access to a greater number of research labs, internships, and grant opportunities. Though I'd be paying less to stay in-state, I'd be receiving less. This encouraged me to attend school outside of ND. Though I would have to work much harder to support myself, I was okay with that. While I ended up rejecting my sister's advice by turning down my dream school, as a $350k 4-year debt accumulation was not quite palatable, the idea that it isn't bad to spend a little more, as long as you are investing in yourself, stuck with me.

I began working as a nursing assistant in Bismarck, ND in June of 2020, as I felt compelled to take action in the community that would soon hold the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world. Working in a healthcare setting, especially at this time, has allowed me to become exposed to and involved with numerous fields of medicine, and has also provided me with a direct perspective into the dynamics of patient care. I was on the neurology unit, where a large majority of our patients had dementia, were brought in from long-term care facilities, or were struggling with COVD. Many of these people were seniors. Being trusted with the most personal aspect of an individual, being their health, is a virtuous, but undoubtedly heavy weight to carry; however, the interdependent constitution of the team promotes strong reliance on one another. The ability to witness and aid in direct alterations to the quality of life of many individuals is the reward that justifies the heartache involved with inpatient care. Attempting to fight the inevitable can be unsurprisingly defeating, but the cases where misery transforms to vitality is incredibly motivating. The ability to witness these transformations, which directly result as a testament to the incredible work being done by my coworkers, is a catalyst of mutuality unlike any other. I suppose I could say that through my work, I aided and cared for seniors. I did all I could to ensure they were well cared for and as comfortable as possible. However, the impact that many of them made on me feels far more notable. I built many connections with my patients that left lasting impacts, and I consider myself lucky to have gotten to hear the stories of so many people that I would have otherwise never met.

1. Talk to yourself nicely- Nothing good can come of negative self-talk, especially when you're already struggling. Treat yourself the same way you'd treat a friend who was struggling with their mental health. 2. Make yourself a nutritious meal - It can often be hard to find to motivation to do this, but it doesn't have to be a complicated recipe! A quick fruit salad and whole-grain toast with peanut butter & banana is my go-to. 3. Head outside- Sometimes, some fresh air and a little sun can make a large difference by helping clear your mind. Go on a run, walk, or simply sit. 4. Tidy up your area- start with a small goal! It can be a bit overwhelming to try to tackle an entire cluttered room. Start with organizing the papers on your desk or tossing dirty clothes in a hamper. If you feel able, keep moving on to other areas. 5. Ask for grace- if work or a class is contributing to your stress, reach out to your boss or professor and ask for some time. This can be a day off, or an extension on a piece of work. Many times, people are more willing to help than you may have anticipated.

Throughout the entirety of my life, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, I did not understand the biomolecular processes or genetic causes behind the neurodegenerative disease; however, I knew that I would not be complicit with PD’s tendencies to strip one of hope. I began with running races to raise awareness and helping fundraise through local support groups, but have now found my passion in medicine and conducting biomedical research. While I am currently focused on a project about cell reprogramming of astrocytes to functional neurons in a spinal cord injury model, I do my best to stay up to date on research developments in Parkinson’s disease as well. PD diagnostic procedures are, unfortunately, characterized by the lack of standardized, objective diagnostic procedures. It is often diagnosed a significant amount of time after the presentation of initial symptoms, as there is no current biological marker currently in use in patient care. It is for these reasons, along with others, that the development of brain imaging technology capable of detecting accumulations of alpha-synuclein is so impactful and transformative in regard to Parkinson’s research. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that, in PD patients, has been found to misfold and aggregate into congregations called Lewy bodies, which are thought to cause neuronal dysfunction. The ability to perform scans and image these bodies would change the way we do research and develop drugs. Pharmaceuticals that target these accumulations would be much easier to test, as well as much more controlled. In March of 2022, the first images, taken by a team in Barcelona, were shared. From the moment I read of this and viewed the images, I have been incredibly inspired and motivated to continue with my work in research and contribute to the field. This imagining technology quite literally revolutionizes the way that we see Parkinson’s; it will have incredible implications for patient care and research. Developments such as these are what provide researchers and medical professionals with optimism and motivation to continue searching for answers.

Throughout the entirety of my life, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, I did not understand the biomolecular processes or genetic causes behind the neurodegenerative disease; however, I knew that I would not be complicit with PD’s tendencies to strip one of hope. I began with running races to raise awareness and helping fundraise through local support groups, but have now found my passion in medicine and biomedical research. I chose to attend the University of Minnesota with an intended major in Cellular & Organismal Physiology, where I recently completed my freshman year. While I plan to pursue a science-based track, I am still very passionate about the humanities. Philosophy and its subtopics, including ethics, are widely applicable to daily life and education in general, and it is also applicable to research principles. Ethicality of healthcare and research is just as important as effectiveness; for this reason, I am minoring in philosophy, which has helped me remain a well-rounded student, as well as preparing me to succeed in my future career, whether it be academia, healthcare, or a combination of the two. To begin preparing myself for a career in this field, I have gained experience as a neurological nursing assistant at a hospital and an undergraduate research assistant. I joined a lab in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota, where I began by volunteering for a semester, and am now completing a lab-independent research grant over the summer. These experiences have solidified my interest in the field of neurology. While I am currently working on a research project pertaining to cell reprogramming in spinal cord injuries, I am very excited about potentially working to develop treatments and clinical markers for Parkinson’s disease. There is much to be learned about the disease, and I have been fortunate enough to be a firsthand witness to how strongly previous research developments can improve the lives of PD patients. I look forward to being able to give back and contribute to the field that has significantly improved the quality of life of my father. Neurodegenerative diseases are incredibly devastating to both patients and families, so I am greatly anticipating being able to help provide hope, but more importantly, action and results, to those in need. Along with this, I look forward to potentially utilizing and implementing research developments into individualized care plans for patients as a neurologist. This scholarship would greatly impact my future, as I am paying for my own tuition and textbooks, so relief in this cost would allow me to reduce the loan amount needed, as well as allocating me more time to focus on my studies and research rather than working as much during the semester, better preparing me for graduate school and my career.

Throughout the entirety of my life, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, I did not understand the biomolecular processes or genetic causes behind the neurodegenerative disease; however, I knew that I would not be complicit with PD’s tendencies to strip one of hope. I began with running races to raise awareness and helping fundraise through local support groups, but have now found my passion in medicine and biomedical research. I chose to attend the University of Minnesota with an intended major in Cellular & Organismal Physiology, where I recently completed my freshman year. While I plan to pursue a science-based track, I am still very passionate about the humanities. Philosophy and its subtopics, including ethics, are widely applicable to daily life and education in general, and it is also applicable to research principles. Ethicality of healthcare and research is just as important as effectiveness; for this reason, I am minoring in philosophy, which has helped me remain a well-rounded student, as well as preparing me to succeed in my future career, whether it be academia, healthcare, or a combination of the two. To begin preparing myself for a career in this field, I have gained experience as a neurological nursing assistant at a hospital and an undergraduate research assistant. I joined a lab in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota, where I began by volunteering for a semester, and am now completing a lab-independent research grant over the summer. These experiences have solidified my interest in the field of neurology. While I am currently working on a research project about cell reprogramming in spinal cord injuries, I am very excited about potentially working to develop treatments and clinical markers for Parkinson’s disease. There is much to be learned about the disease, and I have been fortunate enough to be a firsthand witness to how strongly previous research developments can improve the lives of PD patients. I look forward to being able to give back and contribute to the field that has significantly improved the quality of life of my father. Neurodegenerative diseases are incredibly devastating to both patients and families, so I am greatly anticipating being able to help provide hope, but more importantly, action and results, to those in need. Along with this, I look forward to potentially utilizing and implementing research developments into individualized care plans for patients as a neurologist. This scholarship would greatly impact my future, as I am paying for my own tuition and textbooks, so relief in this cost would allow me to reduce the loan amount needed, as well as allocating me more time to focus on my studies and research rather than working as much during the semester, better preparing me for graduate school and my career.

This is Yoda, a 12 year old Ragdoll! His favorite activities include naps in the sunshine, chin and belly scratches, and hiding in paper bags. He is also terrified of grass (safe to say he is an indoor cat). While he may be attached by the tail to my dad, Yoda always happens to be next to me when I need a buddy the most.

Throughout the entirety of my childhood, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, watching a loved one become progressively unable to complete daily activities such as walking or working is quite confusing. However, as helpless as I felt, I knew one thing was certain; I would not be complicit with Parkinson’s tendencies to strip families of hope. My father’s condition has inspired me to contribute to the research and clinical care that has directly influenced his quality of life. I work as a neurological nursing assistant because of this, along with the fact that I also wanted to assist the community that would soon hold the highest COVID-19 mortality rate in the world. Working in a healthcare setting has allowed me to become involved with numerous facets of medicine and granted me a direct perspective on the dynamics of patient care. Involvement in a care team has far surpassed a job; it's a supportive community that learns, heals, and grieves together. Being trusted with the most personal aspect of an individual is an undoubtedly heavy weight to carry; however, the interdependent constitution of the team promotes reliance on one another. Hospital work has also furthered my understanding of the effects of financial and social inequity on health. I plan to supplement my education with political/philosophy classes and activism groups to grow and address these understandings, as a multitude of health issues are rooted within the unaffordable and exclusive nature of healthcare.

Throughout the entirety of my childhood, I have watched my dad live with Parkinson’s disease. As a young girl, watching a loved one be progressively unable complete daily activities such as walking or working is quite confusing. However, as helpless as I felt, I knew one thing was certain; I would not be complicit with PD’s tendencies to strip one of hope. I found gratification in running races to raise money and using every school presentation assignment as an opportunity to educate my classmates on what neurologists know and are hoping to know about the brain. While I enjoy spreading information and awareness about medical innovation, I can confidently say I am ready to start making advancements of my own through drug development and pathological research. Through working in healthcare and being involved in STEM-based clubs, I have been able to apply my personal story to my educational goals, which has fueled my academic drive. My job as a neurological nursing assistant has allowed me to integrate my studies into a work setting, and has provided me with insight into the actualities of medicine. As medicine is a consistently evolving and growing, the study of it never truly ends, allowing me to continue to learn throughout my entire life.