"One...two...three! Ready or not, here I come" I loudly shout as I pretend to look for my daughter. She is hiding in plain sight with a blanket over her head in a corner. Walking past her, "Is she in the living room? Nooo." I amuse her. After several more attempts of searching for her, I walk up to her and slowly pull the blanket off her head. "I found you" I shout. Her giggles fill the hallway and I pick her up and swing her around. These moments of innocence and joy are what truly bring me happiness. We have our moments with tantrums where her fists and feet meet the floor. Her screams fill the air instead of her giggles. That's what life is, right? These ups and downs. A never-ending ebb and flow of emotions and reactions. I decided to go back to school for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. This decision will disrupt our ebb and flow. It will create new chaos and opportunities for my family. I already work part-time as a business owner. I own a Salon and work as a stylist. My first degree is in Cosmetology and it worked out well. A tiny human's needs are constantly changing, and so is the balance of work and caregiving. In my experience, it feels as if I am forever evolving and morphing into what I need to be to make the situation work. This decision to switch careers and go back to school is based on wanting more of a stable and scheduled career instead of one that is also changing day to day. As we shift into this next chapter of structure, I am using my time management skills to prioritize my studies and my daughter. My business is able to function on its own with the help of management. I am looking forward to what this new career path has to offer my family. My goal is to specialize in pediatrics and work with other families. They deserve to be heard and cared for by someone with empathy. This is my way of giving back with what I have learned as a parent myself. Our voices matter and so does our time. The balancing act is a skill and a reward for what it means to be a parent. All while working hard to complete my program, the little giggles will still be my constant, and every day we can still play hide and seek.

The bass in the music made the floors shake. The lights bounced off the walls and the faces of everyone around me. A girl I barely knew grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. We were laughing and then everything went dark. I woke up the next morning in pain, crying, and scared. I knew I was home, but I didn't remember how I got home. Slowly, I managed to climb out of bed and find my roommate. Crying, "Why did we drink so much again? I didn't want to drink so much again. Who got us home?" At that moment, I realized that I didn't have to do everything she did to fit in, just because she was older and cooler than me. In 2017, I dropped out of college to pursue my career in health care. My drinking and partying got in the way of my schooling. I figured I didn't have the time to work, go to school, and party. My depression was eating me alive from the inside out and it was the only way to numb the pain. After my blackout night, I decided to continue with my Cosmetology Degree and devote my life to it. I had a dream to open my own salon and become my own boss. My heart was in it, but something was missing as my passion was for health care. I managed my sobriety well, but my depression was still at an all-time high. I sought help from doctors to manage my mental health and help me find the right path. It is an everyday battle, but one that I will not give up fighting. It takes courage to speak to therapists and talk about childhood trauma and learn skills to resolve it. In 2022, at the age of 25, I opened my salon during my second trimester of pregnancy. I painted the walls, built the stations, hung the mirrors, and installed the shampoo bowls. I created a rental salon and gathered a team of amazing women from all different backgrounds and ages. I did it. I made my dream a reality. I'm continuously making an impact on others by sharing my story and lending an ear behind the chair. My hope is that through our conversations, I can help people feel heard, supported, and empowered to make positive changes or seek help when they need it. In June of 2025, I am returning to school to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My drive to learn in the medical field never left. My salon is still operating. You can have more than one dream and goal. Your life doesn't end when you reach them, and it doesn't end at the bottom of a bottle. My daughter can look at her mother and see a woman who will continue to strive for her goals, and learn that she too can accomplish anything she wants. When she is older, we can lie in the grass, stare at the clouds and talk about our dreams together. The wind will be loud, the leaves will shake, and the sunlight will bounce off our faces.

The bass in the music made the floors shake. The lights bounced off the walls and the faces of everyone around me. A girl I barely knew grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. We were laughing and then everything went dark. I woke up the next morning in pain, crying, and scared. I knew I was home, but I didn't remember how I got home. Slowly, I managed to climb out of bed and find my roommate. Crying, "Why did we drink so much again? I didn't want to drink so much again. Who got us home?" At that moment, I realized that I didn't have to do everything she did to fit in, just because she was older and cooler than me. In 2017, I dropped out of college to pursue my career in health care. My drinking and partying got in the way of my schooling. I figured I didn't have the time to work, go to school, and party. My depression was eating me alive from the inside out and it was the only way to numb the pain. After my blackout night, I decided to continue with my Cosmetology Degree and devote my life to it. I had a dream to open my own salon and become my own boss. My heart was in it, but something was missing as my passion was for health care. I managed my sobriety well, but my depression was still at an all-time high. I sought help from doctors to manage my mental health and help me find the right path. It is an everyday battle, but one that I will not give up fighting. It takes courage to speak to therapists and talk about childhood trauma and learn skills to resolve it. In 2022, at the age of 25, I opened my salon during my second trimester of pregnancy. I painted the walls, built the stations, hung the mirrors, and installed the shampoo bowls. I created a rental salon and gathered a team of amazing women from all different backgrounds and ages. I did it. I made my dream a reality. I'm continuously making an impact on others by sharing my story and lending an ear behind the chair. My hope is that through our conversations, I can help people feel heard, supported, and empowered to make positive changes or seek help when they need it. In June of 2025, I am returning to school to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My drive to learn in the medical field never left. My salon is still operating. You can have more than one dream and goal. Your life doesn't end when you reach them, and it doesn't end at the bottom of a bottle. My daughter can look at her mother and see a woman who will continue to strive for her goals, and learn that she too can accomplish anything she wants. When she is older, we can lie in the grass, stare at the clouds and talk about our dreams together. The wind will be loud, the leaves will shake, and the sunlight will bounce off our faces.

The bass in the music made the floors shake. The lights bounced off the walls and the faces of everyone around me. A girl I barely knew grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. We were laughing and then everything went dark. I woke up the next morning in pain, crying, and scared. I knew I was home, but I didn't remember how I got home. Slowly, I managed to climb out of bed and find my roommate. Crying, "Why did we drink so much again? I didn't want to drink so much again. Who got us home?" At that moment, I realized that I didn't have to do everything she did to fit in, just because she was older and cooler than me. In 2017, I dropped out of college to pursue a career in health care. My drinking and partying got in the way of my schooling. I figured I didn't have the time to work, go to school, and party. My depression was eating me alive from the inside out and it was the only way to numb the pain. After my blackout night, I decided to continue with my Cosmetology Degree and devote my life to it. I had a dream to open my own salon and become my own boss. My heart was in it, but something was missing as my passion was for health care. I began to take care of my mental health seriously. I started therapy, reached out to my doctor, and started proper medications, and I took the time for self-care. It is an everyday battle, but one that I will not give up fighting. It takes courage to speak to therapists and talk about childhood trauma and learn skills to resolve it. In 2022, at the age of 25, I opened my salon during my second trimester of pregnancy. I painted the walls, built the stations, hung the mirrors, and installed the shampoo bowls. I created a rental salon and gathered a team of amazing women from all different backgrounds and ages. I did it. I made my dream a reality. I became a salon owner and a mother. In June of 2025, I am returning to school to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. As a student, having the toolbox my therapist and doctors created for me will help me succeed. I can focus and prioritize my time on my studies. Without seeking the help in the past I wouldn't be able to be the student I am now. It is important to create a foundation of stability in oneself. I advocate for others by educating them on the pathways to take to seek help. There are resources on campus that will not interfere with studies, and by missing class with a Doctor's note, you are excused. There is a proper way to navigate the system and sometimes someone just needs to be shown the proper steps. My drive to learn in the medical field never left. My salon is still operating. You can have more than one dream and goal. Your life doesn't end when you reach them, and it doesn't end at the bottom of a bottle. My daughter can look at her mother and see a woman who will continue to strive for her goals, and learn that she too can accomplish anything she wants. When she is older, we can lie in the grass, stare at the clouds, and talk about our dreams together. The wind will be loud, the leaves will shake, and the sunlight will bounce off our faces.

The sky is blue, the sun beams bounce off her cheeks, her smile is wide and her giggles fill the air. "Do it again mommy," she asks. I take the ball, throw it as high as I can, and it bounces off the warm pavement. It rolls towards her and she picks it up and laughs. I chase her through the grass trying to retrieve the ball. The small moments taught me to slow down. She relies on me to hear her and listen. You are your child's voice. As a parent, you must bring it to the doctor's attention. Your biggest fear is being brushed off as "over-worried" when you believe something is wrong. I experienced this and pushed to be heard to earn my daughter the proper treatment. My objective in pediatric medicine is to help other parents know that their voice, and their child's, is heard. I am pursuing my degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. I plan to specialize in pediatric care. This is a dream of mine to work with children and their parents. As a pediatric sonographer, I will create a safe space for these children while undergoing important testing in their care plan. This is the part where they can feel at peace before they receive their results. Their favorite movie can be playing in the background and I can hand stickers for a distraction and a job well done. My job is to capture the best image for the radiologist to determine what their illness may be, or what their improvements may look like. This career will not be easy on my heart to watch children suffer, but it will also be rewarding as I watch kids become healthier. Pediatric medicine is more than the child, but also the family. They deserve to know they are in the best care and they are always heard. Some of these children do not get to feel the sun on their cheeks or play in the grass. They are confined to the walls of the hospital and the workers around them. The people who choose to be in Pediatric Medicine, like me, should keep that in mind and make each encounter the best possible for those children and families. Each smile and laugh could be some of the only ones they have for the day when their health is constantly changing. We are the constant in their lives and we create the sunshine in their days.

I wish they still handed out suckers at the adult doctors' office. The anxiety from worrying about your symptoms, hoping they take you seriously, getting the referral for imaging, and the results back should at least get you a sucker, or a cute sticker. Many people struggle with anxiety when they go to their appointments. When someone is sick, or is feeling pain, I want to know what is causing it. As a sonographer, I can look inside the body and see exactly what it is. Diagnosing and finding the problem is what interests me the most. My ambition to learn about the human body is strong and I plan to use it to graduate with excellent grades and become a registered sonographer. It is not only my job to create the best photos for the Radiologist, but to comfort the patient during this time. Even though my empathy for the patient is there, I cannot reveal any findings on the ultrasound. I will remain strong, even if the diagnosis is worrisome. During this time, the patient's care is all about relaxing and receiving a proper test. As a woman, I will create a welcoming environment for my patients. They will know they are in a safe space and safe hands. I will look at patients coming in looking for answers for their symptoms of an underlying sickness, not just the next person on my to-do list for the day. My impact on the healthcare field will be treating people like humans and not like numbers. Their ailments are real. Each person is there for a different reason and with a different story. It is important to find a career that we are passionate about and have a drive to achieve. It is difficult as a woman to be taken seriously, especially with a career that sounds as if you only take photos all day long. In reality, your studies are crucial for you to conclude a diagnosis for the Doctors. It is easy to be overlooked. I believe that part of making a patient feel comfortable is explaining how you are measuring your ultrasounds and walking them through the steps. This way you show you do know what you are doing, and now they are confident in your abilities. This dream of mine is just starting. I am excited to see which field I will specialize in. My top two choices are pediatrics and echocardiograms. It will be an honor to listen to patients and take a look inside and see just what the issue might be. In just two years I will complete my program and my impact on health care will begin.

"More cows mommy" my daughters asks me. She hands me a blue marker and has a paintbrush in her left hand. Paint is dripping down her arm and onto the floor. She smiles at me as I draw the best cow I can. "So cute. Cute cow. Moo" she says. She takes her paintbrush and dips it in her purple paint and begins to color in my outlined cow. This is just one of the small moments where time is still and everything seems to slow down. I spend my days teaching her how to read, write, play, listen, and regulate emotions. She teaches me how to stop, look around, and enjoy moments as they happen. These past 2 and a half years I learned how to see the world through a whole new perspective. I look at the trees, each blade of grass, and rain drops splattering on the window. For her, I wanted to show her anything was possible. June of 2025, I am returning to school to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My expected graduation date is January 2027. My goal is to be a Registered Sonographer and work in a hospital for patients that are undergoing life-threatening experiences. When there is a problem I like to find the reason why. Using ultrasounds I can look inside the body and find what is causing a patient a problem. It is fascinating to be able to look at real time the flow of the human body. In this field I will excel at my personal talents of problem solving. This career not only fulfills my desire to learn and explore, but will create stability for my family. My daughter can look at her mother and see a woman who will continue to strive for her goals, and learn that she too can accomplish anything she wants. When she is older, we can lie in the grass, stare at the clouds and talk about our dreams together. The wind blow through the tree leaves, the birds will fly across the sky, and the sunlight will bounce off our faces.

The bass in the music made the floors shake. The lights bounced off the walls and the faces of everyone around me. A girl I barely knew grabbed my hand and led me away from the crowd. We were laughing and then everything went dark. I woke up the next morning in pain, crying, and scared. I knew I was home, but I didn't remember how I got home. Slowly, I managed to climb out of bed and find my roommate. Sobbing, "Why did we drink so much again? I didn't want to drink so much again. Who got us home?" At that moment, I realized that I didn't have to do everything she did to fit in, just because she was older and cooler than me. In 2017, I dropped out of college to pursue my career in health care. My drinking and partying got in the way of my schooling. I figured I didn't have the time to work, go to school, and party. My depression was eating me alive from the inside out and it was the only way to numb the pain. After my blackout night, I decided to continue working within my Cosmetology Degree and devote my life to it. I had a dream to open my own salon and become my own boss. My heart was in it, but something was missing as my passion was for health care. Grey's Anatomy was my new substance. In 2022, at the age of 25, I opened my salon during my second trimester of pregnancy. I painted the walls, built the stations, hung the mirrors, and installed the shampoo bowls. I created a rental salon and gathered a team of amazing women from all different backgrounds and ages. I did it. I made my dream a reality. I became a salon owner, and a mother. I managed my sobriety well, but my depression was still at an all-time high. I sought help from doctors to manage my mental health and help me find the right path. It is an everyday battle, but one that I will not give up fighting. It takes courage to speak to therapists and talk about childhood trauma and learn skills to resolve it. I also like to call it "medication roulette". You are on and off different antidepressants until you find the one that works for you. There is one out there, in a specific dosage, you just won't know until you try it, or a few. Over the next 3 years, my daughter taught me how to see the world through a whole new perspective. She taught me how to slow down and take in the trees, each blade of grass, and rain drops splattering on the window. For her, I wanted to show her anything was possible. No matter how hard life's struggles may seem, you can keep going. June of 2025, I am returning to school to study Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My expected graduation date is January 2027. My goal is to be a Registered Cardiac Sonographer and work in a hospital for patients that are undergoing life-threatening experiences. My drive to learn in the medical field never left. My salon is still operating. You can have more than one dream and goal. Your life doesn't end when you reach them, and it doesn't end at the bottom of a bottle. My daughter can look at her mother and see a woman who will continue to strive for her goals, and learn that she too can accomplish anything she wants. When she is older, we can lie in the grass, stare at the clouds and talk about our dreams together. The wind will be loud, the leaves will shake, and the sunlight will bounce off our faces.

Eight years ago, I never imagined myself returning to school. I started my college journey as a cosmetology major dreaming of opening my own salon. By the age of 25, I achieved that dream. That same year, I gave birth to my brilliant daughter, Bonnie. However, over the past two years I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. During my pregnancy, the ultrasounds were my favorite part of the doctor visits. Watching the little baby grow inside of me was always remarkable. This sparked my interest in sonography and I began researching on my own time. Eventually the thought of studying sonography crossed my mind. I pushed it off for a couple years until the postpartum haze wore off. I decided that, for my daughter and family, the best decision I can make is to go pursue my dream career of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. In August of 2025 I will begin my studies and start my path to make an impact on the world in my healthcare career. Sonography is more than just watching cute babies grow. It is watching peoples life change, sometimes for the worse. When people decide to go to the doctor due to symptoms they cannot find a cause for, they are often referred for an ultrasound. My studies would include the use of an ultrasound machine and learning how to capture and utilize images of organs to find anything that may be abnormal to help diagnose a patient. One of the many skills I gained from cosmetology is listening to customers, or in this case patients. When a patient tells me that they are experiencing an issue, I will listen and use all my knowledge and power to find what I can on the imaging to answer what is ailing them. The experience in the clinical room can be filled with anxiety for patients. It is my job to create a welcoming and safe space for all. This is the main way I can create an impact. There is always a need for more kindness in the world. My choice specialty is in pediatric sonography. Children and parents both deserve a provider who is willing to give them their full attention and someone who cares about their concerns. I want patients to feel that their concerns are legitimate and I will do my best to find their issue or confirm that there isn't one. It is common for parents to go in and feel like they are "overreacting" when they just want to make sure their child is healthy. I want to make the change in healthcare where we stop overlooking people's fears, especially for their children, and take them seriously. Everyone deserves an advocate or even just a provider that provides the experience where they hear the words "it's good you brought them in." No matter who I am scanning, I will always welcome them in. The change begins with listening, treating others as a human being, and never overlooking an issue.