One obstacle that has always challenged me in my early education and grade school years is the problem of time management and the elimination of time waste. As a serious student, I have always been in situations where my goals have been time-sensitive with finite deadlines. To survive, I have been forced to learn the importance of prioritization and careful time management. Having a full academic load with many AP classes per year means that I have always had to compete with the best and brightest students in the most intense and time-consuming courses that my high school has to offer. Combining academics with a diversity of responsibilities from my clubs, the Varsity volleyball team, and different community service events meant that I needed to take advantage of every minute to be successful.     Time is something that I used to take for granted when I was young. Many kids pass through the grade school years without having strong motivation or direction for what they want to accomplish. In the absence of clearly defined goals, it is tough to be efficient, and kids can end up focusing their efforts on wasting time, passing time, and trying to find things to do with the time they have. I was fortunate to know I wanted to focus on my academics at a young age because I was taught by my parents never to take education for granted. They showed me many cases where children from all over the world are not given a proper education, a safe home, or proper nutrition. These lessons motivated me to do my best to take full advantage of my education and give back to my community where I could. From that point forward, my schedule has always been packed, with very little time left to waste.     Years of balancing academics, sports, and community service have allowed me to steadily improve the efficiency of how I do things to continue to be successful. Whenever there are idle portions of my school events and sports, I am working on assignments and projects. When I meet up with my friends, we spend our time together working on assignments during the school year. When I am in the car with another driver, I pull out my work and take care of what I can. When I am in class, I try to understand as much as possible ahead of my assignments and ask lots of questions to utilize my resources, such as peers, teachers, and friends. I have also improved my rate of understanding by identifying the learning methods that work the best and eliminating those that do not as I progress. All of these things help me be successful and better equipped to achieve my goals throughout grade school. Now that I am preparing for college, I know that these tools will be there to help me make the most of my time and allow me to pursue my dreams.

Whoa Is Me to Choose a Degree In search of a path to tread, A decision weighed heavy on my head, To choose a college degree for me, and shape a future I could not see. The choices were wide and daunting, A task that left my mind taunting, The fear of choosing the wrong path, Could lead to a future filled with wrath. The world around me seemed to change, As I struggled to find my range, The clock ticked away without remorse, And I was left with the difficulty of plotting my course. In the end, I chose to follow my heart, To pursue what ignited my passion from the start, In the face of peer pressure, I did not bend, And now my interest will never end. As I walk down the path I've chosen, With pride and determination unbroken, My journey has only just begun, Pursuing a career that I know will be fun!

My favorite dish is my mother’s chicken tikka masala. The recipe originated with her mother but has constantly changed throughout her life. My mother’s story began in an isolated village deep in the mountains of Nepal. She then ventured into boarding schools throughout northern India, where she learned about the traditional chicken tikka masala recipe from cooks while hiding in the kitchens. In those kitchens, she formed the dream that would bring her to America, where she would raise a family in a home far from the open pits where her meals were once cooked. Following the steps of her recipe draws my attention to the fusion of both south Asian and western influences that have helped shape me as much as the masala.   I listen carefully to my mother as I grind garlic, ginger, and turmeric in a bowl with garam masala. She talks about how, even to this day, she only uses naturally derived foods she would find in her village. We fry the chicken and onions while she tells me how important organic foods are in her culture and how processed foods are shunned. Mixing all of the ingredients over a low flame, the spices of my mom’s life blend and thicken into a delicious masala sauce. As I reflect on my choices, I can see the impact my mother's culture has had on me and how I've implemented her values into my own life.   The most challenging part of making masala is the long wait as it simmers over a low flame. As the smell travels throughout our home, family members are drawn to the kitchen for food and camaraderie. Feelings of pride resonate within me as I present our dish to them and feel the togetherness of being at home with my family. Much like my mother’s recipe, I am true to my traditional culture while adapting to the modern world. I am a fusion of my mother’s struggles in the third world and a new life in America filled with opportunity. I am a product of my family, and in a way, you could say that I am chicken tikka masala.

I was raised by my parents to value hard work, education, community, and my environment. My father was a first-generation college-educated engineer who worked three jobs to put himself through school. My mother had a difficult childhood in a village in Nepal and had to struggle through the different phases of her childhood. She had to overcome the loss of her father, the separation from her mother, the difficulties of boarding school without family support, shortages of food, and consistent sickness due to poor hygiene. Despite these challenges, she managed to educate herself and eventually find her way to America, where she completed a master's degree in psychology. The insights I have gained from my parents' struggles have taught me to work hard and do my very best with my academics, sports teams, clubs, and community. With a broader view of the world, I can fully appreciate the many gifts that westernized civilization and our environment offer. Although hard work has helped provide me with a solid educational footing, community service has opened my eyes to the importance of helping your neighbors and fostering an environment where we can count on one another. I have had the opportunity to volunteer in a variety of ways, including tutoring peers, working in local school events, helping children with special needs, assisting local food banks, and tutoring young children in need. Knowing the joy I have felt reaching out and helping others has led me to understand how I wish to help the world in my career. My dream is to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon where I can make a difference in other people's lives both directly and through helping our environment. This career path has a very long academic journey that requires a relentless pursuit of education. This pathway requires an undergraduate degree, a four-year medical degree, a five-year general surgery residency, and a two-year plastic surgery fellowship. I feel that this journey is worth it to be able to make a difference in the lives of my patients with disfigurement caused by injuries, birth defects, and diseases. I hope to use my talents as a surgeon to help restore my patients' confidence and self-esteem and to help make the world a better place, one smile at a time. Outside of my direct work, I plan to use my position in a leadership role to begin a grassroots campaign to help medical facilities improve their environmental issues related to medical waste disposal. The medical industry is currently heavily dependent on single-use disposable medical supplies that increase the total amount of waste generated from normal operations. Many of these items are not made with sustainable packaging and materials. Often, the channels used to dispose of waste materials do not utilize available recycling options or dispose of waste using proper methods. By starting focus groups within local facilities, we can work with management to improve the purchasing of biodegradable and recyclable medical products and look for disposal channels that assure medical waste is handled in the most environmentally friendly manner possible. With hard work within these groups and communication with our local and federal government representatives, I believe this movement can make sweeping improvements across all medical facilities and have a very positive impact on the environment. I feel that my drive and determination will carry me through the many rigors that I must face in completing my education and becoming a surgeon. This drive gives me the confidence to work hard and justify my family's sacrifices so I can become a surgeon and give back to society and the environment.

I woke in a cold sweat in the middle of the night, tormented by a recurring nightmare of having my face melted with hot grease. It all started from hearing a story my mother was telling a friend on the phone about a girl from Nepal getting her face severely burned from hot grease. When I asked my mother why this happened, she explained to me that this type of assault is quite common in Nepal and India, where she grew up. From that point on, I have had a recurring nightmare that started with me fixing my hair while looking in a mirror and then turning only to have hot oil splashed on my face and body. The nightmare would not recur very often, but when it did, it always shook me to my core. Finally, one day, I told my mother about it, and she explained that I should educate myself about these assaults, and through education and understanding the stories, I might replace my fear with knowledge and change my pattern of bad dreams. I took her advice and learned more about the assaults and the lives affected, but my obsession with the topic only made my nightmare more intense. One day, I was searching for a topic, and I came across a documentary about children getting their smiles back with reconstructive surgery. "These Kids' Lives Were Transformed by Plastic Surgery" is a segment from Inside Edition that showcases the incredible transformations of three children who underwent plastic surgery. The show highlights the positive impact that plastic surgery can have on a person's life, especially for children who have faced challenges due to their physical appearance. The transformation these children underwent was nothing short of miraculous, and the joy and happiness that radiated from their faces after the surgery were truly inspiring. It was at that moment that I knew I wanted to study to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon. It was then that I realized that even if my face was splashed with hot grease, I could still work to restore my face through surgery and get my life back. This ended up being the solution that ended my nightmare but started my passion for medicine and the pursuit of becoming a surgeon. Throughout high school, I have been pushing myself through a balance between competitive academics, sports, and community service. I know that the path to becoming a surgeon is long and difficult, but I am driven by the chance to help people who have suffered from assaults, traumatic injuries, and birth defects. I want to give them a new lease on life by restoring their confidence and helping them feel good about themselves again. I believe that a smile is one of the most powerful things in the world, and I want to be a part of making sure everyone has the ability to smile. Although I am no longer that scared little girl, I still remember what it was like to wake up to the nightmares of my childhood and the feeling of helplessness I felt when I saw my face ruined. Those memories will always be with me, but knowing that I am on the path to helping people in similar situations has calmed my fears and fueled my determination. Although I am in some ways that same little girl, I feel that I am now equipped to handle the rigors of college and obtain my goal of becoming a reconstructive plastic surgeon, where I can change lives one smile at a time.

I would like to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon to assist people with physical disfigurements and defects related to natural and circumstantial causes. I have always wanted to help people with these conditions since I was a little girl. I have spent many hours researching the difficulties that people face with disfigurement from various causes, and I would like to be in a position where I can make a difference. Becoming a surgeon involves a long journey of education and practice. The first two steps are obtaining an undergraduate degree and then a medical degree. Then aspiring plastic surgeons must complete a five-year general surgery residency program to gain hands-on experience with a broad spectrum of surgical procedures. This is followed by a two-year plastic surgery fellowship program, where I will obtain in-depth training in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Upon completion of the fellowship, I must pass a medical license examination in the state where I wish to practice and obtain the American Board of Plastic Surgery certification before starting my practice. As a surgeon, I will be able to provide surgeries to help victims of burn injuries, birth defects, and diseases. These procedures can help individuals by correcting physical disfigurement and improving their quality of life by boosting their confidence and self-esteem. One day I wish to be able to give back to society in a way that helps to justify my opportunities to obtain an education. Any help I can get with financing to assist in my long academic journey would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon so that I could assist people with physical disfigurements and defects related to natural and circumstantial causes. I have always wanted to help people with disfigurements since I was a little girl. I have spent many hours researching the difficulties that people from around the world face with disfigurement from various causes, and eventually, I would like to be in a position where I can directly help them. My parents have pushed me to work hard and pursue my education. I have learned that education is the key to independence, and I would like to earn a professional career as a surgeon so that I can give back to society.    Becoming a surgeon involves a long journey of education and practice that starts with obtaining an undergraduate degree and then a medical degree. Aspiring plastic surgeons must then complete a five-year general surgery residency program to gain hands-on experience with a broad spectrum of surgical procedures. This is followed by a two-year plastic surgery fellowship program, where in-depth training in plastic and reconstructive surgery is provided. Then a medical license examination must be taken in the state where I wish to practice to obtain the American Board of Plastic Surgery certification. With this certification, I could use my skills and abilities to help those in need of reconstructive surgery. These surgeries could help victims of burn injuries, birth defects, and diseases. Enhancements from surgery could directly improve my patient's quality of life by boosting their confidence and self-esteem.    Outside of surgical work, I would like to focus my efforts on taking steps to reduce medical supply waste's impact on the environment. As one of the largest industries in the United States, the medical industry is a consistent contributor to excessive pollution. Being a leader in my field, I intend to use my status to lead an effort to help the medical industry clean up its act. The medical industry is currently heavily dependent on single-use disposable medical equipment and supplies that increase the total amount of waste generated from normal operations. To make matters worse, many of these disposable items are not made with sustainable packaging and materials. Another issue facilities have is that the channels used to dispose of waste materials do not utilize available recycling options or dispose of medical waste using proper methods. Working with facility management is needed to assure that medical waste is managed properly with the cleanest and most efficient methods. This should be a top priority for every medical facility in America.    As a surgeon, I plan to prioritize working with management to choose suppliers and products that support multi-use stainable materials that utilize recycling options. Creating focus groups of environmentally concerned staff members will facilitate discussions and assure that these topics stay a top priority so that environmental considerations are made with all supply purchases and waste disposal steps. Another priority of focus groups will be communicating with leadership within other medical facilities in the region to start new focus groups. Making sure medical facilities in our region coordinate with staff in charge of medical supply purchases and waste management will produce improvements over time. Communicating with patients and the community to educate them in support of the movement will help support the efforts of the focus groups. I dream that over time our efforts will make a significant impact on pollution and waste issues around the globe. I would like to thank the North Star Dreamers Memorial Scholarship members for their consideration. Any financial help along this journey would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to become a reconstructive plastic surgeon so that I could assist people with physical disfigurements and defects related to natural and circumstantial causes. I have always wanted to help people with defects and disfigurements since I was a little girl. Outside of surgical work, as a member of the medical staff and medical community, I would like to focus my efforts on reducing medical supply waste's impact on the environment. As one of the largest industries in the world, the medical industry is a consistent contributor to excessive pollution. Being a leader in my field, I intend to use my status to lead an effort to help the medical industry clean up its act.    The medical industry is currently heavily dependent on single-use disposable medical equipment and supplies that increase the total amount of waste generated from normal operations. To make matters worse, many of these disposable items are not made with sustainable packaging and materials. Another issue facilities have is that the channels used to dispose of waste materials do not utilize available recycling options or dispose of medical waste using proper methods. Much of this waste makes its way into waterways and oceans around the world. Working with facility management to assure that medical waste is managed properly using the cleanest and most efficient methods is needed and should be a priority for every medical facility in America.    As a surgeon, I plan to prioritize working with my management to choose suppliers and products that support multi-use with stainable materials that utilize recycling options. Creating discussions and prioritizing these topics will help ensure that everyone on the team considers the environment with every medical supply used. Creating a focus group within the facility will identify staff members with an interest in helping the environment and help assure that environmental considerations are made with all supply purchases and waste disposal. One of the priorities of this focus group will be communicating with leadership within other medical facilities in the region to start new focus groups. Making sure medical facilities in our region maintain groups of employees that coordinate with staff in charge of medical supply purchases and waste management will assure that improvements continue to be made over time. Communicating with patients and the community to educate them in support of the movement will help the communities support the efforts of the focus groups. Coordinating our focus group efforts with the Department of Public Health will help provide more support and centralized communication nationwide. Bringing supply purchasing and proper waste controls to the forefront of medical facility management will minimize the amount of waste generated worldwide and prevent medical waste from polluting our waterways and oceans.

I think of my community as the areas near my home where people come together to help one another in times of need. It's where people can share experiences, ideas, and cultures with neighbors, and everyone feels an association with each other. Communities are often strengthened in times of disaster or despair because people find themselves in situations where they are unable to help themselves. During times like these, you truly learn to appreciate the real meaning of community when those around you come forward to help you in your time of need.   Understanding the importance of my community has been a lesson that I have learned during my high school years as I have found different ways to serve. I worked in my high school's Study Buddies program, assisting fellow students in need with algebra tutoring. I have worked as a volunteer in the fall, winter, and spring as a festival assistant, sharing experiences with elementary school children. I have served local middle schools at volleyball events as a referee and concessions attendant. I have contributed time at my high school to assist with decorations for various high school events. I have volunteered at holiday events with SPED for children with special needs. I have volunteered to prepare food for regional and local food banks to feed the hungry. Most recently, I have started tutoring underserved children around the country remotely through the LearnToBe tutoring program. Once I enter college, I plan to continue serving within my new college community. My tutoring of children around the country will continue remotely, and I will resume my assistance with local food banks near my college town.   As I progress with my pre-med study, I will take steps to work in children's hospitals, where I can volunteer in different ways to help children work through difficult medical conditions. Once I complete medical school, I will begin a five-year general surgery residency program to gain hands-on experience with a broad spectrum of surgical procedures. During this time, I will look for opportunities to work with patients suffering from burn injuries, birth defects, and diseases requiring cosmetic surgery and continue my volunteer work with nearby children's hospitals. Once I complete my five-year surgical residency, I can begin my two-year fellowship program, where I can begin working as a reconstructive surgeon. My ultimate goal is to be able to help patients of all ages requiring reconstructive surgery by successfully addressing their disfigurement from various conditions. Upon successful restoration procedures, I can help restore the confidence and self-esteem of my patients, one smile at a time.