What inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field was my early exposure to hospitals and healthcare because of my mother. She worked as a night shift labor and delivery nurse for 15 years and is now working in an educational setting as a CTE teacher building our local high schools' Allied Health program from the ground up. I don't remember much about the hospital she worked in, other than the stale smell of hospital food and how the floor she worked on always had a baby crying. I was young, and wasn't disturbed by anything I might have seen. I was excited to see where my mom worked because she always was and still is very proud to have been an L&D nurse. She showed me the nursery, where the babies get their first bath, and always let me sit in what I would call a "spinny chair" behind the reception. We live in a small town, and I'm always told how much my mom is missed by her old co-workers or patients that had my mom help deliver their babies. Although some probably don't consider this to be a big impact, and maybe she never won any awards, but even now I see the effect that she has had on my community and since I was a kid I've always been eager to do the same. Her pride and humility in her profession have been my inspiration to have a career in health care. In a nation where people's experiences with health care and health professionals, especially in women's health seem to be overwhelmingly negative, I have no fear or doubts about pursuing health care. I want to be a member of a community that makes a noticeable difference in the way people feel about healthcare professionals, I want to cultivate a positive experience for not just expecting mothers but families as a whole. To do this, I need to understand that only a small portion of clinical care makes up for a person's health and that a majority of their health happens outside of a hospital or doctor's office. To make a difference, I want to try my hardest to make sure patients are connected with resources and programs to ensure their needs are met for not just their best interest but their family. In addition to this, I am continuing to learn to be as culturally aware and competent as I can be, to ensure comfort for all patients. I want to embody my mother's warm and welcoming nature because I feel re-establishing the trust between patients and providers is what healthcare in the United States needs. If I can do my part in helping bridge the gap, then I'll try my hardest to do so.

I believe that on the field, I exhibit the qualities of commitment, teamwork, and discipline by making sacrifices for the betterment of my teammates. My junior year of high school, it was our first season back from the COVID-19 pandemic and we were all so grateful and excited to get back to doing what we love. As expected, our turnout was a little low. We didn't have a goalie, and no one was willing to take a shot at stepping into the cage. To be transparent, it wasn't my decision, but I decided that someone needed to do it, and if it meant being able to give everyone else a good season then I had no problem giving it a try. Unfortunately trying wasn't enough, I was a deer in the headlights. It was possibly the most humbling experience I've had to date. Even though I wasn't the best, I still think that my efforts speak more than my failure. I believe that I exhibit these three traits because of my ability to work with my teammates to understand what I could improve on alone, and what we could improve on as far as defense. I disciplined myself to keep a positive attitude, never relent, and always communicate with my teammates and coaching staff rather than letting my emotions get the better of me, and possibly negatively affect my ability to work with the team. Overall I think I embody commitment the most. I stuck the season out until the last game despite feeling the desire to quit. I told my coaches and teammates that I'd do the job, and it wouldn't be fair to leave them high and dry in the middle of an already difficult season. Off the field, I embody these traits effortlessly through my school work, other extracurriculars, community service, family and my friends. I put school first, and work with professors and classmates when necessary to make sure everyone involved has their needs and expectations met. I value my routine, and always make sure assignments are completed on time and early so that any free time I have isn't spent worrying about due dates and new assignments. College has been my biggest commitment, as well as my parents. They've sacrificed a lot for me to be here pursuing a degree, and it's only right that I do the same by dedicating everything I have to make sure that I do it the right way, and achieve as much as I possibly can. There have been times when it's been overwhelming and even scary, but I know that in the long run, I'll be thankful for the lessons I've learned here, and on the field.

To me, my mental health is important because it doesn't just impact myself, but the people I love. I remember one day in high school when I had come home during my free period, simply because being at school was overwhelming and I found myself excessively anxious sitting at a desk. My mom was home and in bed and I don't remember what we had talked about, but I do remember when she said: "I'm just really worried about you." I stood at her bedroom door for a few seconds, not even conscious of the excuse coming out of my mouth. I told her I loved her and would see her in a few hours, trying not to cry as I made the drive back to school. She had said those words with such simplicity and sounded so upset that she didn't know what to do. It made me feel scared and guilty. Scared because I wasn't aware of what was deteriorating my mental health, and guilty because I hadn't realized how it had been weighing on my mother. She's struggled with her own battles with mental health and the idea of her having to shoulder my own ate me alive. I decided that making a change was necessary and inevitable. Finding a balance between school, extracurriculars, my friends and family, and work were first. I had exhausted myself so much with applying to college, having perfect grades, and building my resume with numerous extracurriculars that it had enveloped me completely. The stress of these things combined had me develop copious amounts of anxiety, that the thought of being behind on a single assignment made my heart rate spike. The habit of staying up until the early hours of the morning to do homework and sacrificing time with friends and family for club meetings was over. I quit isolating myself and began asking for help where I needed it. Speaking with people about my struggles and anxieties helped me drastically. Soon enough, I found a healthy way to manage my time among the multiple areas of my life. I saw my relationships improve, as well as my relationship with myself. I had been taking care of myself and my mental health, and the physical benefits can speak for themselves. I was getting more sleep, exercising, I wasn't skipping meals, and school became easier to manage. I looked happier and felt more at peace with where I was. Now, as a freshman in college and over 700 miles away from home, I place a lot of value on putting my mental health first. Having a daily routine is the most important factor in maintaining my mental wellness. Whenever I sense myself getting overwhelmed, I take time out of my day to make sure to practice self-care and make sure my needs are met. I call my parents frequently, and finish my assignments as soon as I can so that any free time I have isn't plagued with anxiety about being behind. Even though I look back on that day with feelings of guilt and even sadness, I'm grateful that my mom had expressed her worry about me. I don't think I'd be here at The University of Alabama and as healthy as I am had she not said those few words.

In my high school, we have a food pantry. I have been running, stocking, and distributing from this food pantry all year. I am like the student advisor. I have always loved community service, but this is a way to contribute to the students at my school. On Fridays, I make sure the students have their backpack full of food before they go home for the weekend. I may have not had the opportunity to get to know these amazing students without the pantry. As I move forward into college and a career in healthcare, I will reflect and carry this experience with me. Healthcare has evolved from just bedside care. When working in a community, it is best to know the members of the community and how they can be helped. Focusing not only on the illness, but the whole person. I feel blessed to be able to have this view from a young age.