I’ve imagined what I could do, and how I could change the world. A college education will start me on a path of scientific research, to help me create a world where compassion towards others is the default and medical treatments are more affordable, more accessible, and more successful. Biology is the study of life. It is something I genuinely have a deep love and interest for. My primary effort as a student of STEM is to eliminate the use of animals in laboratory testing and classroom dissection exercises. I intend to eliminate the use of once living, breathing animals; which are forcefully bred and mass produced to supply the laboratory industry. By making realistic, anatomically precise simulators; human and animal, we not only save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering, we are encouraging compassion for animals in classrooms at a young age. Not to mention, saving money for schools in the long run. Money that could go towards teachers pay and other technologic advancements instead. Similar simulators, of higher sensitivity & detail can be created for medical laboratory testing. The food- chemicals industry and university laboratories are notorious for performing frivolous testing on live animals such as drowning mice tests and force feeding pesticides to beagles: senseless tests we already know the results to. This disrespect has to be stopped immediately and substituted with better alternatives. There is no doubt that STEM is the answer. As a freshman in college I was given the unique opportunity to discover and study the morphology and genomes of bacteriophages which can be used for phage therapy. This is used as response to bacteria that develop a resistance to antibiotics. Over the past three years I have been able to work for and shadow a pediatrician, invasive cardiologist, and dermatologist. With the pediatrician I was able to assist in rooming patients, performing physical checkups, (including height, weight, vision, hearing, blood, and urine tests,) applying fluoride to infants and toddlers, assist with vaccinations, setting appointments, and filing medical records. With the dermatologist I observed cases in a clinical setting and observed extreme cases in the hospital, including a biohazard! I assisted in surgical extractions of cysts, nevuses, and more. I also learned how to perform a punch biopsy, surgical suture, instrument tie, and surgical knot. With the cardiologist I was able to observe clinical cases concerning the TAVR operation. I was also able to participate in a research study conducted by the Oklahoma Aquarium in an effort to help our failing reef systems in the wild by studying bio-fluorescence in coral reefs. Each of these opportunities I have taken advantage of has stemmed from my love of biology and the miracle of life on earth. I’m sure it’s apparent how much I love nature. My love for the environment is supported for my love golf. Although they’re created by some deforestation, I’m consoled that the land is still green and breathing. Golf courses are pseudo sanctuaries for me. It’s a great game that helps one pause, refocus, and take stock of what you have to proceed. Additionally, I’ve been volunteering at animal shelters since I was 10 years old- which led me to adopting my dear dog, Duke. I recently volunteered at a campus food bank that distributes food to college students who cannot afford meals. It’s been very fulfilling. With all the hype surrounding us over space tourism and establishing weapons on the moon and settlements on Mars, there needs to be a push by my generation, internationally, to bring focus back on Earth and minimize, if not reverse the damage caused by predecessors.

Our planet is suffering in ways we probably don’t even know yet, but the deterioration that is already apparent shows that temperatures are rising, oceans are rising and species of plants and animals are going extinct before our eyes. I believe our Earth has being taken for granted for far too long. In an effort to aid conservation, I intend to promote respect for our planet through biological and environmental research. Biology is the study of life. It is something I genuinely have a deep love and interest for. My primary effort as a student of STEM is to eliminate the use of animals in laboratory testing and classroom dissection exercises. I intend to eliminate the use of once living, breathing animals; which are forcefully bred and mass produced to supply the laboratory industry. By making realistic, anatomically precise simulators; human and animal, we not only save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering, we are encouraging compassion for animals in classrooms at a young age. Not to mention, saving money for schools in the long run. Money that could go towards teachers pay and other technologic advancements in classrooms instead. Similar simulators, of higher sensitivity and detail can be created for medical laboratory testing. The food- chemicals industry and university laboratories are notorious for performing frivolous testing on live animals such as drowning mice tests and force feeding pesticides to beagles: mind boggling tests we already know the results to. This disrespect has to be stopped immediately and substituted with better alternatives. There is no doubt that STEM is the answer. As a freshman in college I was given the unique opportunity to discover and study the morphology and genomes of bacteriophages which can be used for phage therapy. This is used as response to bacteria that develop a resistance to antibiotics. Over the past three years I have been able to work for and shadow a pediatrician, invasive cardiologist, and dermatologist. With the pediatrician I was able to assist in rooming patients, performing physical checkups, (including height, weight, vision, hearing, blood, and urine tests,) applying fluoride to infants and toddlers, assist with vaccinations, setting appointments, and filing medical records. With the dermatologist I observed cases in a clinical setting and observed extreme cases in the hospital, including a biohazard! I assisted in surgical extractions of cysts, nevuses, and more. I also learned how to perform a punch biopsy, surgical suture, instrument tie, and surgical knot. With the cardiologist I was able to observe clinical cases concerning the TAVR operation. I was also able to participate in a research study conducted by the Oklahoma Aquarium in an effort to help our failing reef systems in the wild by studying bio-fluorescence in coral reefs. Each of these opportunities I have been given has stemmed from my love of biology and the miracle of life on earth. With all the hype surrounding us over space tourism and establishing weapons on the moon and settlements on Mars, there needs to be a push by my generation, internationally, to bring focus back on Earth and minimize, if not reverse the damage caused by our elders.