The career path that I have chosen is within the medical field. I have worked in the medical field since I was 18 and have enjoyed my time there. I am currently pursuing a nursing degree while working full-time time a medical assistant and participating in a traditional guardianship within the Alaska Air National Guard. My roles as a medical assistant now, allow me to work with those suffering from opioid and alcohol dependence. I intend to continue working with the less fortunate once my nursing degree is completed. I believe that I am passionate about this field because there are so many people daily who need help, need someone to make them smile, and are on their last leg of hope with life. I can be the person who makes them smile, gives them hope, and is a shoulder to cry on. While working as a medical assistant, I have also had the opportunity to work with chronic pain patients. While these are not always the most happy individuals, understandably, it has again, been an eye-opening experience for me. I have not only learned so much about chronic pain and opioid dependence, but I have seen with my own two eyes people come out of some of the toughest battles they could face. They go from shells of a person to people who look forward to and plan for the future. There is so much to learn about the medical field, so much to explore and discover. But there is also so much joy in helping those around you without expecting much in return. Throughout my life, my mother has been a nurse and while this career field is stressful and trying at times, it has also been so rewarding for her. I intend to continue paying it forward by being the uplifting spirit for those around me who don't feel as though they can keep going. I also intend to be an advocate for my patients who cannot advocate for themselves. "Be the person who helps families grieve when they lose someone, but also be the person who celebrates in the little joys of life that you are sure to find in the medical field" was something that my mom always told me. One of the biggest lessons that the medical field has taught me thus far is that although life can be brutal, relentless, and heartbreaking at times, there is always a brighter day, and almost always who has it worse than you do.

Throughout my life, I won't lie that I was naive to substance abuse. Sure, my uncle was a borderline alcoholic who wasn't always the nicest person to be around. But besides this, there was nothing that I was exposed to that taught me about substance abuse. My mother believed that it was a weakness, something for one to simply get over. However, about two years ago, my older brother overdosed three times within 3 months. He was arrested and charged with four felonies due to substances within this timeframe as well. This was a life-altering experience for me. It was the first time that my eyes were opened to the fact that anyone is susceptible to opioid dependency. Coming out of basic training for the military, I was still somewhat naive and thought that my brother must have not enjoyed his life. Little did I know that I would become the lead medical assistant for an opioid/alcohol dependency program at my current job. Not only has this program taught me so much about the condition that affects so many individuals within the United States, but it has completely opened my eyes to the fact that this is an illness, just as depression and anxiety are. I have had the privilege to work with patients and see their lives completely changed for the better. They are now stable, functional adults who find joy in the small things in life. Some patients relapse, use, and then find themselves back in the hole they once fought so hard to get out of. But, they always stand back up. They keep fighting for the life that they know is possible. They keep trying. These people are resilient, they are strong, and they have the grit that I've never seen before. The first time meeting some of these patients, they are miserable, wishing for their aches and pains to end. They have covered their hurt and wounds for many years most of the time at this point. By their third, fourth, and fifth visits, they are happy and healthy. They are pushing themselves, getting jobs, going back to school, seeing the world's opportunities, and choosing to work with those who are in the same position that they once found themselves in. This has shown me that nothing is something that you cannot come back from. There is always a better version of yourself to accomplish. These people have inspired me more than anyone else ever has. They consistently show up for themselves, even when no one else will. They believe in themselves. Perseverance is the word that I would use to describe these individuals best and it is nothing short of an honor to be able to work with them daily. I hope to continue in my education regarding opioid and alcohol dependency, and can only dream to help more people come out of the darkness.

Throughout my life, I feel as though I have demonstrated leadership in many different ways. When I was a child, I never was the one to pick on other children, I was the one standing up for them. I distinctly remember a time when a boy in my class was being picked on by someone older, and I, in turn, bit him. That's right. I bit someone. In no way am I saying this was the correct or appropriate action to take in a situation like this, but this was me defending and standing up to someone when I did not know how to in any other way. I was also a competitive swimmer for most of my childhood, approximately 12 years. There were multiple hot days that people were drained from school, work, and life in general and I was the one that would encourage them to continue going. I admit that I also had days like this, but it was always encouraging to see others not give up. When I was a lifeguard at 16, I was one of the "leaders" at my pool, just meaning that when supervisors were not there, I was in charge. I ensured that things were done properly, cleaned and people were keeping up with their duties. At my current job, I am the lead medical assistant for a Medically assisted treatment program for opioid/alcohol dependency. Through this, on top of all of the responsibilities that come with the job, I also am in charge of all training that takes place in this program. I am the one who ensures people are doing the job correctly, treating patients accordingly, and charting to the standards. I am the person that people come to when there are questions regarding this program, and if I cannot directly answer them I take them to the provider that is in charge of this program. In everyday life, I have two younger siblings who look up to me and come to me for advice. I hope that I can achieve great things through my leadership skills. I would highly enjoy being a flight nurse one day and maybe even the lead Nurse anesthetist when that degree is complete. I hope that I can teach my future children leadership skills so that they do what is right and make others feel welcome and invited. Throughout my life, I hope that I can be the kind of leader that people want to be more like.

I think that I resonate the most with Jim. He works hard, is funny, and seems to be a large piece of the glue holding the office together. He and Dwight's rivalry is one of my favorite things about the show in general and it is amusing that most of the time Jim does not beat Dwight in his challenges to make him feel bad, but just to show that he is good at what he does. However, Jim is also very caring and compassionate. He cares for Pam and wants what's best for her, even if that does not always include him. He also seems to be one of the more laid-back characters throughout the show, not blowing things out of proportion the way that Michael and Dwight do. He accepts things as they are, but still strives to make the most out of a not-so-ideal situation. He has a lot of common sense, and I'd like to believe the same for myself. Jim also pushes his coworkers to better themselves rather than just doing the work for them, which is another quality that I find within myself as I would rather teach someone to do something than do it for them over and over again. Although Jim is not my favorite character throughout the television series, he does resonate the most with my self-image.