“Morgan, wake up! Your mother has had a hypoglycemic reaction and we need to take her to the emergency room!” I remember being woke up out of a deep sleep, scared to death, thinking I was going to lose my mother due to an extreme low in her blood sugar as a result of her Type I diabetes. What a horrible feeling for a young child! While these episodes did not happen frequently due to my mother’s consistency in care: the infrequent bouts of blood sugar problems; the frequency of blood testing and shots; being aware of how stress, food, emotions, and illness could affect blood sugars; and the complications that could arise as a result of poor care, led to my dream of being a physician. When you see someone you love struggling on a daily basis with a chronic disease, your dream is to make their lives easier. This dream escalated as I realized I enjoyed working with medicine and people. After a traumatic four-wheeling accident where I had twenty-three breaks in my facial bones, the dream became even more of a vision for my future. I saw the effort and care the physicians and surgeons put into the care for my surgery, the weeks of having my jaws wired shut, and the months of healing. My definition of a dream is that it is a vision of my future, which captures not only my thoughts but my spirit. A dream will inspire me and empower me to do everything I can to achieve it. The dream becomes a desire that I want over everything else. My dream for my future is to be an Emergency room physician.

Helen Keller, once said, “I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, than those of blindness. Deafness means the loss of the most vital stimulus-the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thought astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” Keller added, “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.” As a person who has genetic sensorineural hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties, I understand the horrible effects of hearing loss and the challenges involved in overcoming this disability. As a Native American though, my mother told me that I did not have a disability. I had an obstacle to overcome. This mindset from my culture, set me on the path to overcoming my disability to accomplish my goal of medical school. While I am thankful each and every day I have never had to deal with a life threatening illness or other disabilities which others may face, I do face my difficulties in every conversation or situation I am in. I still have to think to enunciate some of my sounds properly. I always have to watch the speakers’ lips to understand what is being said and so I will not miss important information. This daily struggle has strengthen me, made me more goal oriented, enabled me to think of creative ways to ensure I get all needed information, and has made me more aware of my own difficulties and of the difficulties that others face. The difficulties of speech and auditory processing, which I have faced daily in my life, have made me an individual, who is very observant, attentive to others, goal oriented, analytic, and able to develop a strategic perspective to reach my goals.

My favorite scientific discovery is technology. Norwegian politician, Christian Louis Lange, once said, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” This quote summarizes how I see technology impacting the world around us in the future. The future of technology in medicine also contains benefits and problems. Robotics will be benefitting patients who are paralysis by enabling neurons to send messages to enable the patient to walk again using robotics. The future of cardiovascular care will be transformed by advances in artificial intelligence, digital health technology and mobile devices as a means to prevent and treat heart disease. Diseases such as diabetes will have better treatments as a looped system for testing glucose and giving insulin are combined into a pump. Brain technology will even be able to rewind diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Cancer may even be treated and cured with the use of artificial intelligence, precision surgery and application of digital sensors to kill cancer cells. Future technological innovation is going to keep transforming healthcare, yet while technologies (new drugs and treatments, new devices, new social media support for healthcare, etc.) will drive innovation, human factors will remain one of the stable limitations of technological breakthroughs. My pathway as a future emergency room physician will be affected by technology tremendously. The process of constant learning as technology advances will make my work more detailed and difficult but also more gratifying as drugs are improved, surgeries become more précised, treatment plans become more individualized and cures are found to improve patient healthcare. The risk of patient information being hacked, the technology not adjusting for individual differences and other obstacles that may arise as technology advances will ensure the physician is still involved in patient care.

My mother, who is a teacher, shared an article once that made me realize that there is more to money than meets the eye. The article told the story of a young boy who had started school making tremendous progress. By the time fifth grade came around, Teddy was not doing well academically. The teacher was frustrated with him and his lack of progress until she investigated past records and found out that Teddy’s mother had passed away and his father did not show much interest in him. At Christmas, Teddy gave her a gift of his dead mother’s used perfume and a bracelet with a stone missing. Teddy told her at the end of the day that she smelled like his mother. This broke her heart and she started spending a lot of time with Teddy and his academics improved dramatically. After Teddy left her class she got random notes from him telling of his graduation from high school, college, and even medical school. The last letter mentioned in the article is when Teddy asked the teacher to sit in the place of his mother at his marriage. The teacher went and she wore the perfume and the bracelet that Teddy had given her years before. Teddy thanked her for believing in him all those years and making him feel important. This story made me realize the importance of the thought behind a gift. Some people cannot afford to buy gifts but they show you they care in many ways. They may spend time with you or help you. There are many ways to show caring and it is not always about money. All of this is the preface to tell you how this story affected my life and taught me a true lesson about money.

Helen Keller, once said, “I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, than those of blindness. Deafness means the loss of the most vital stimulus-the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thought astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” Keller added, “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.” Deafness is a disability that is unseen but devastating. As a person who has genetic sensorineural hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties, I understand the horrible effects of hearing loss and the challenges involved in overcoming this disability. As a Native American though, my mother told me that I did not have a disability. I had an obstacle to overcome. This mindset from my culture, set me on the path to overcoming my disability to accomplish my goal of medical school thus taking me longer to reach my goal. Through the challenges of overcoming the obstacles of my disability, I also worked towards helping others overcome their obstacles. Due to increasing class-size, paperwork, rigorous expectations, laws, lack of differentiated instruction, and economic/family issues, educators are not able to work with all children to meet their varying needs. Observing these issues, I started tutoring students who were having educational difficulties. While tutoring these at-risk students, I was shocked at the futility in their faces as they looked at an assignment, because they had dealt with failure so many times before. Many of my students have parents who truly love them, but are unable to support them academically due to lack of education, speaking a language other than English, or having to work numerous jobs to put food on the table. It became a personal challenge to ensure I found a way for each to learn. Helping these students became a reflection of hope for me. Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they finally understood a concept made the time invested worthwhile. While I am thankful each and every day I have never had to deal with a life threatening illness or other disabilities which others may face, I do face my difficulties in every conversation or situation I am in. I still have to think to enunciate some of my sounds properly. I always have to watch the speakers’ lips to understand what is being said and so I will not miss important information. This daily struggle has strengthen me, made me more goal oriented, enabled me to think of creative ways to ensure I get all needed information, and has made me more aware of my own difficulties and of the difficulties that others face. The difficulties of speech and auditory processing, which I have faced daily in my life, have made me an individual, who is very observant, attentive to others, goal oriented, analytic, and able to develop a strategic perspective which will help me finance my education in medical school. As a Native American woman I have the goal of finishing medical school to help my culture and my extended family as there are few Native Americans in medical school. I know that with the skills learned from overcoming the challenges of my speech and auditory issues, as well as the persistence I got to see as my students I tutored worked to learn a math concept, I can apply the same persistence to paying off my tuition and my school loans.

Helen Keller, once said, “I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, than those of blindness. Deafness means the loss of the most vital stimulus-the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thought astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” Keller added, “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.” Deafness is a disability that is unseen but devastating. As a person who has genetic sensorineural hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties, I understand the horrible effects of hearing loss and the challenges involved in overcoming this disability. As a Native American though, my mother told me that I did not have a disability. I had an obstacle to overcome. This mindset from my culture, set me on the path to overcoming my disability to accomplish my goal of medical school thus taking me longer to reach my goal. Through the challenges of overcoming the obstacles of my disability, I also worked towards helping others overcome their obstacles. Due to increasing class-size, paperwork, rigorous expectations, laws, lack of differentiated instruction, and economic/family issues, educators are not able to work with all children to meet their varying needs. Observing these issues, I started tutoring students who were having educational difficulties. While tutoring these at-risk students, I was shocked at the futility in their faces as they looked at an assignment, because they had dealt with failure so many times before. Many of my students have parents who truly love them, but are unable to support them academically due to lack of education, speaking a language other than English, or having to work numerous jobs to put food on the table. It became a personal challenge to ensure I found a way for each to learn. Helping these students became a reflection of hope for me. Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they finally understood a concept made the time invested worthwhile. While I am thankful each and every day I have never had to deal with a life threatening illness or other disabilities which others may face, I do face my difficulties in every conversation or situation I am in. I still have to think to enunciate some of my sounds properly. I always have to watch the speakers’ lips to understand what is being said and so I will not miss important information. This daily struggle has strengthen me, made me more goal oriented, enabled me to think of creative ways to ensure I get all needed information, and has made me more aware of my own difficulties and of the difficulties that others face. The difficulties of speech and auditory processing, which I have faced daily in my life, have made me an individual, who is very observant, attentive to others, goal oriented, analytic, and able to develop a strategic perspective which will help me finance my education in medical school. As a Native American woman I have the goal of finishing medical school to help my culture and my extended family as there are few Native Americans in medical school. I know that with the skills learned from overcoming the challenges of my speech and auditory issues, as well as the persistence I got to see as my students I tutored worked to learn a math concept, I can apply the same persistence to paying off my tuition and my school loans.

A day three years ago lives in my brain. A young man called “Jay” was brought into our local emergency room where I work as a multi-skilled assistant. “Jay” was a popular guy who everyone liked. He never met anyone who wasn’t a friend, and he thought he was invincible (thought being the key word as he wasn’t thinking). Jay had mental health problems where he did not always make the best decisions due to depression. Unfortunately binge drinking, depression, and drug addiction does not discriminate. “Jay” had gone to a party and while he had drank before and had done some drugs, this time on a dare from some of his “friends,” he decided to drink more and take more drugs than usual. He of course passed out and his “friends” took pictures posing with him as he was unconscious. They never even realized in their own drunken state, that he had quit breathing. The depression which caused his decision to binge drink and take drugs had cost “Jay” his life. His “friends” did not call the ambulance for hours due to their own drinking, stupidity, and partying. They thought they were letting him sleep it off. The house where the party was located was only half a mile from the hospital. The slim chance of his life being saved though had unfortunately passed. While the emergency room team worked on “Jay” trying to find some way to resuscitate him, sad thoughts went through my mind. How awful that this young, vibrant life had been snuffed out due to depression, binge drinking, and addiction to drugs. “Jay” with his threatened ego responded to pop culture and thought that he could drink and take drugs in any amount. This response was not worth his life or the look of anguish I saw on his parents’ faces that night as they came to see their son for the last time. They would never hold their son or see him smile again due to the combined influence of ego, pop culture, “Jay’s” addiction to drugs, depression, and binge drinking. As a medical school student and as a multi-skilled assistant working in a local emergency room, I am passionate about substance use disorder and mental health treatment because I see cases such as this on a daily basis. I have seen people with both on suicide watch in the emergency room. I see the downfall of their health and their family dynamics as they struggle. I see the anguish in the parents’ or spouse’s eyes as they hurry in to see them, never knowing if this might be the time that death occurs. The look of a mother that is losing her child to drugs or a father who is so distraught as their son did not take his medicines correctly to control his mental health disorder. The families all wonder how they could have helped their loved one or stopped them from hurting themselves. I am eager to enter the health field so I can help patients who struggle with substance addiction and mental health disorders. I want to be able to recognize and treat the psychiatric and physical complications of addiction as well as mental health disorders. I want to be an advocate for understanding for my patients as well as ensuring that each patient receives the highest quality of healthcare. I would also like to find a solution to the problem of addiction and a way to cure mental health disorders so more people are not claimed as victims of each disease.

Fatigue, shortness of breath, problems concentrating, and depression. These were some of the symptoms I faced before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism at a young age. Frequent illness and problems with bones and muscles were some of the others. Hypothyroidism is an unseen, autoimmune disease that affects many but noticing the problems involved affect every body system and make the person who has it feel awful. You do not even realize how awful you feel until you are put on medicine and realize "Wow, I actually feel good!" This disease has affected my life in more ways than I can count. It has affected my eating as it makes me intolerant of many foods. It makes me feel fatigue and gain weight. It affects my mood and my hormones. I have lost hair, which to a young girl is a horrible problem as teasing then happens. My muscles are always sore and the loss of vitamin D makes my bones break easily. It has affected my education as at times my muscles are so sore it is difficult to carry my books. I am too tired to do my homework. I have a problem concentrating and thus focusing on taking notes in class. I get sick more often due to this autoimmune disease as well. It affects every area of my life, including my education. I became interested in healthcare through my volunteer work in high school and college. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance and big smile as he finished the race in last place. I've learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new thing and thankful for everything because many of them face death on a daily basis. I want to be a physician who realizes medicine is more than a science, it’s a service so I can help reduce healthcare disparities for people such as these. Through volunteering, I have observed the mark of a great physician goes beyond textbook knowledge, it involves empathy, understanding, as well as listening and clinical skills. This scholarship will help me gain knowledge in understanding the principles and applications of health, the risk factors, and disease prevention/interventions so that I can provide the best health care and benefits for my patients. My educational goals are to continue learning how to be accountable to and an advocate for each future patient. I will incorporate the knowledge learned with the understanding that each patient is a person with worries and I need to serve them with empathy, kindness, and patience. I want to continue learning from mentors as I finish medical school, finish residency, and start my new job. I will also continue my volunteering within the community. Receiving this financial assistance will enable me to continue with medical school. As a Native American medical student, I know the value in achieving my dream of becoming a physician as in what it will mean to me, my family, my future patients, as well as my culture.

Benjamin Franklin emphasized the importance of education by saying “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” This quote not only summarizes the high cost of college as interest is charged on student loans but ironically it also emphasizes the interest you earn by gaining the knowledge you learned at college as in what that knowledge will add to your life. As a Native American woman, a college education and beyond has been extremely important to me. I set a goal to become a physician to help my community and thus people of my culture. My family and friends have gone out of their way to support me towards my goal and I want to do the same for them to ensure they all receive the highest quality healthcare available to them. College has contributed to the person I am today as I value education. I feel that a person who stops learning gives up on life. Though not listed as one of our basic human needs, education is equally important with food, shelter, and oxygen. It kindles within me the flame of curiosity and helps awaken the ability to question, search for answers, and to reason. It has enabled me to change not only my life, but my outlook on the world. Education is not limited to textbooks, but to real life experiences and lessons that we gain through attending college. My academic studies and volunteer work have taught me that life and medicine are both built upon lifelong learning. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance and big smile as he finished the race in last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new thing and thankful for everything because many of them face death on a daily basis. These volunteer opportunities enabled me to see that as a Native American I could make a difference, not only in my culture, but in the world. Volunteering has enabled me to gain a beautiful mosaic of friends with different ideas, attitudes, viewpoints, dreams, accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, abilities and goals. As a Native American woman I know that less than 1% of physicians are Native American. This health disparity is harmful to my culture and going to college has helped me become a model for the children of my culture as well as an advocate for my future patients, who will face disparities of their own. College has taught me that medicine is more than a science, it’s a service. I want to give back by helping people on what might be their worst day. Through my medical volunteer work, I have observed the mark of a great physician goes beyond textbook knowledge, it involves empathy, understanding, as well as listening and clinical skills. I will incorporate all the knowledge learned with the understanding that each patient is a person with worries and that I need to serve them with empathy, kindness, patience and understanding.

Speaking about one technology is difficult when it involves medicine so I would like to explain technology as a whole withiin the area of medicine. Robotics will be benefitting patients who are paralysis by enabling neurons to send messages to enable the patient to walk again using robotics. The future of cardiovascular care will be transformed by advances in artificial intelligence, digital health technology and mobile devices as a means to prevent and treat heart disease, Diseases such as type 1 diabetes will have better treatments as a looped system for testing glucose and giving insulin are combined into a pump. Diabetes might even be cures via a pancreatic transplant from a cloned stem cell organ. Brain technology will even be able to rewind diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Cancer may even be treated and cured with the use of artificial intelligence, precision surgery and application of digital sensors to kill cancer cells. Future technology will have an effect on every disease or medical accident. People’s health will definitely be affected for the better. Future technological innovation is going to keep transforming healthcare, yet while technologies (new drugs and treatments, new devices, new social media support for healthcare, etc.) will drive innovation, human factors will remain one of the stable limitations of technological breakthroughs. Technology will have an effect on each person’s future. My pathway as a future emergency room physician will be affected by technology tremendously. The process of constant learning as technology advances will make my work more detailed and difficult but also more gratifying as drugs are improved, surgeries become more précised, treatment plans become more individualized and cures are found to improve patient healthcare. Technology will also enable me to seek expert advice, when it is needed, so more lives will be saved. The risk of patient information being hacked, the technology not adjusting for individual differences and other obstacles that may arise as technology advances will ensure the physician is still involved in patient care. Technology can be a savior or a destroyer depending on whose hands the technology falls into and what each person chooses to do with it. Technology can make life better while the hindrances that technology brings such as the expense, the lack of privacy, the destruction of the Earth, and the need to be constantly upgraded will be issues that will need to be solved.

Helen Keller, once said, “I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, than those of blindness. Deafness means the loss of the most vital stimulus-the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thought astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” Keller added, “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.” Deafness is a disability that is unseen but devastating. As a person who has genetic sensorineural hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties, I understand the horrible effects of hearing loss and the challenges involved in overcoming this disability. Through the challenges of overcoming the obstacles of my disability, I also worked towards helping others overcome their obstacles. Due to increasing class-size, paperwork, rigorous expectations, laws, lack of differentiated instruction, and economic/family issues, educators are not able to work with all children to meet their varying needs. Observing these issues, I started tutoring students who were having educational difficulties. While tutoring these at-risk students, I was shocked at the futility in their faces as they looked at an assignment, because they had dealt with failure so many times before. Many of my students have parents who truly love them, but are unable to support them academically due to lack of education, speaking a language other than English, or having to work numerous jobs to put food on the table. It became a personal challenge to ensure I found a way for each to learn. Helping these students became a reflection of hope for me. Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they finally understood a concept made the time invested worthwhile. While all of my students have increased in academic skills, I have been amazed at how they go home and teach their parents. One of my students learned a new algorithm for subtraction and taught her mother. Her mother called and told me that she had never graduated from high school due to not understanding math. I am currently working with this mother in the evenings, so she can gain her high school diploma and eventually a college diploma, thus enabling her to find better employment to give her daughter a better life. While I am thankful each and every day I have never had to deal with a life threatening illness or other disabilities which others may face, I do face my difficulties in every conversation or situation I am in. I still have to think to enunciate some of my sounds properly. I always have to watch the speakers’ lips to understand what is being said and so I will not miss important information. This daily struggle has strengthen me, made me more goal oriented, enabled me to think of creative ways to ensure I get all needed information, and has made me more aware of my own difficulties and of the difficulties that others face. The difficulties of speech and auditory processing, which I have faced daily in my life, have made me an individual, who is very observant, attentive to others, goal oriented, analytic, and able to develop a strategic perspective which will help me finance my education in medical school. As a Native American woman I have the goal of finishing medical school to help my culture and my extended family as there are few Native Americans in medical school.

Hearing is an ingrained part of most people’s life. They do not realize what you miss when your fiancé says “I love you” or “I do” at your wedding. They do not realize the true beauty in the sound of music or of hearing your baby’s first words. They do not realize the danger due to not hearing the screech of brakes or the shout of warning from a friend. They do not think about missing their parent’s final words of love. People do not realize the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion of a life when you cannot hear. Most people communicate constantly throughout the day, never realizing how truly blessed they are. They take the sense of hearing for granted, never realizing what they would miss if they could not hear. As someone with a hearing loss due to genetic nerve ending complications, I know the value of hearing. I have to work hard to focus on what people say. I have learned to read lips to help me, but with masks, this has been made harder. Hearing people with noise around makes it even more difficult. As a person working towards becoming a physician, I have learned to give high quality to at-risk populations such as those with disabilities. I have worked towards finding solutions for my obstacle in life and turning my life around. I hope I can do this for other people in my future career.

Good health is the optimum physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmities. A healthy lifestyle incorporates not only nutrition, but your lifestyle and mental/emotional health. The 5-A –day plan incorporates all aspects of a heathy lifestyle. This plan does stand for five fruits and vegetables per day, but it also stands for the 5 characteristics you must include into your life to have the optimum health level for a true healthy lifestyle. These characteristics of the 5-A-Day plan are awareness, acceptance, adaptability, accountability and attachment. A true healthy lifestyle is living your life to the best of your ability. A healthy lifestyle incorporates healthy food, health choices, and healthy living. Treat each choice you make as your life depends on it as it basically does. Each breathe we take, each minute we live, each ability we have, and each loved one we have are all blessings of living a healthy lifestyle. Each person needs to be ensured they are doing all they can to have the maximum number of blessings in their life by living the healthiest lifestyle they can by the choices and decisions they make. These five things lead to true harmony of your body, mind, and spirit and enable you to be the best and healthiest you that you can be.

I’ve been involved in the financial markets since I got my first job at the age of fourteen. My mother taught me to invest early and invest as a habit. The power of compounding interest works for you, the earlier you start. My mother encouraged me to save for retirement as she weekly watched shows such as Suze Orman and Till Debt Do You Part. She also had taken Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace class so she understood how compounding interest can work in your favor when you are doing investments at a young age. Whatever money I invested in a Roth retirement account she would match. She taught me the difference between ETF’s and mutual funds, stocks and bonds, and how fees could hinder gain. While my mother didn’t have a degree in finance or any investment training, she wasn’t afraid of learning and taught me to invest in what I knew. Thus, I kept expanding my knowledge as well as my investments. She believed that an investment in learning was more important than an investment with money as you didn’t risk losing the knowledge as you did the money. As I grew older, I became interested in Finance and investments. In high school I competed in finance with FBLA and won at the state level and got to go to nationals. As I started college my interest in finance grew and it became one of my Honors areas. I have worked numerous jobs, but have always continued to contribute to my Roth as I work my way through school.

The future of technology in medicine also contains benefits and problems. Robotics will be benefiting patients who are paralysis by enabling neurons to send messages to enable the patient to walk again using robotics. The future of cardiovascular care will be transformed by advances in artificial intelligence, digital health technology and mobile devices as a means to prevent and treat heart disease. Diseases such as type 1 diabetes will have better treatments as a looped system for testing glucose and giving insulin are combined into a pump. Diabetes might even be cures via a pancreatic transplant from a cloned stem cell organ. Brain technology will even be able to rewind diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Cancer may even be treated and cured with the use of artificial intelligence, precision surgery and application of digital sensors to kill cancer cells. Future technology will have an effect on every disease or medical accident. People’s health will definitely be affected for the better. Future technological innovation is going to keep transforming healthcare, yet while technologies (new drugs and treatments, new devices, new social media support for healthcare, etc.) will drive innovation, human factors will remain one of the stable limitations of technological breakthroughs. Technology will have an effect on each person’s future. My pathway as a future emergency room physician will be affected by technology tremendously. The process of constant learning as technology advances will make my work more detailed and difficult but also more gratifying as drugs are improved, surgeries become more précised, treatment plans become more individualized and cures are found to improve patient healthcare. Technology will also enable me to seek expert advice, when it is needed, so more lives will be saved. The risk of patient information being hacked, the technology not adjusting for individual differences and other obstacles that may arise as technology advances will ensure the physician is still involved in patient care. Technology can be a savior or a destroyer depending on whose hands the technology falls into and what each person chooses to do with it. Technology can make life better while the hindrances that technology brings such as the expense, the lack of privacy, the destruction of the Earth, and the need to be constantly upgraded will be issues that will need to be solved.

Bear, my wolf husky, loves to be a hospice pet therapy dog. He enjoys providing comfort, peace, and soothing companionship. I always enjoy taking him to visit as I am able to provide joy to people who are desperately ill. One day while visiting “Amy,” a woman dying from diabetic complications, I overheard a conversation between her and Bear. “Amy’s” kidneys had failed; she had neuropathy leading to amputations; and cardiovascular disease. This woman had no family in part due to her diabetes. She had been unable to carry a child to term and her husband had been killed in a car accident. One day while petting Bear she discussed her diabetes with him and the long struggle she had endured due to this chronic disease. The endless walking on a tightrope to maintain blood sugars, the complications due to lack of money to buy prescription medicines, the pain of neuropathy, fights against ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia, the knowledge of knowing she was dying, and the day by day fight against this dreadful disease. This overheard conversation between "Amy" and Bear was definitely a catalyst in my pursuit of a healthcare degree. “Amy” taught me the importance of honesty, patient care, and patient comfort. She also taught me the depth of the struggles that all diabetics face. I want to aid in quality healthcare for this vulnerable population. As a Native American woman, with a mother who has been a type 1 diabetic since the age of three, I realize the probability of myself getting this disease and recognize the effects of diabetes on women. Pregnancy and hormones make diabetes much harder on women than men. The thousands of shots and finger pricks to test blood are a toil for each woman dealing with this disease. I also realize that women normally put others needs before their own, at times letting their own health lapse due to caring for others. Actor, Stephen Furst, once said, “The only way to deal with the devil of diabetes is literally one day at a time.” This statement is valid and realistic. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in women but also contributes to heart disease, the first leading cause of death; cancer, the second leading cause of death; stroke, the third leading cause of death; and kidney disease, the ninth leading cause of death. In middle age women, diabetes is the leading cause of death especially in minority populations. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects every body system of the person who is dealing with it.. Some of the complications of the disease include kidney disease, neuropathy, heart disease, blindness, trigger finger, frozen shoulder, slow healing, weaken immune systems, gastroparesis, sexual dysfunction, fungal/bacterial infections, amputations, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, ketoacidosis, sleep apnea, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and Kussmaul breathing. Diabetes doubles the risk of liver, pancreas, and endometrial cancer. It also increases the risk of colorectal, breast, and bladder cancer by 20%. Diabetes leads to low intake or inability to process many minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, Vitamin D, chromium, zinc, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin E, and calcium which can lead to a variety of other complications. Women who have diabetes suffer these complications as well as having higher incidents of such complications due to hormones, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. I want to pursue my medical degree, along with a masters in public heath, to ensure not just women but all people of this vulnerable population, receive the highest quality healthcare that I can provide for them.

Change starts with you so if you see a problem find a solution.

My academic studies and volunteer work have taught me that life, technology, and medicine are both built upon lifelong learning. Patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance and a big smile as he finished the race in the last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new thing and thankful for everything because many of them face death on a daily basis. The patients I see in Guatemala know what being needful of medicine and what being true truly means as I help them sift through hundreds of donated glasses to find one pair to help them see again. The wonder on their face is priceless as they are able to once again see the beauty in the world. Their small gifts of thanks are the only thing I bring home as I leave my things for those who truly have need of them. As a Native American woman, I have not only faced the challenges of medical school but the challenges of being the only Native American within my class. I hope to become a model for the children of my culture as well as an advocate for my future patients, who will face disparities of their own. I realize medicine is more than a science, it’s a service. I want to give back by helping people on what might be their worst day. Through my medical volunteer work, I have observed the mark of a great physician goes beyond textbook knowledge, it involves empathy, understanding, as well as listening, and clinical skills. I will utilize my academic studies by learning to know and understand the principles and applications of health, the risk factors, and disease prevention/interventions so that I can provide the best health care and benefits for all of my patients. I will learn how to reduce disparities within healthcare so all my patients will receive the best possible individualized care. I will incorporate the knowledge learned with the understanding of treating each patient with empathy, kindness, patience, and understanding. I want to become a physician who sees to the whole person despite disparities and gives each person the high-quality medical care they need and deserve.

Norwegian politician, Christian Louis Lange, once said, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” This quote summarizes how I see technology impacting the world around us in the future. Technology advances will play a part in where I see myself in the future as an emergency room physician. Technology has and will continue to impact all areas of life such as communication, entertainment, education, and health. Its impact will improve our lives in many ways but with these improvements, there will also be obstacles. Communication is an important part of every person’s life. is an area of life where future technology will play a vital part as cell phones and social media advance. This ability to communicate anywhere and to share parts of your life with others is a wonderful way to catch up with friends and relatives across the world. This global connection will become more visual in the future as communication within our personal, business, and education world improves. Visual communication is a common language for understanding unlike the spoken or written word so interactions globally will increase. Interactive visual communication is also a great way to show businesses or education how trends can change. Unfortunately, though, visual communication can present the wrong graphics or image that you want to present to the world. Visual communication is remembered much better and if the wrong image is presented then it can cause damage to the business or the wrong learning can occur in education. Location trackers involved within numerous technology media such as phones and GPS will enable others to know a person’s whereabouts which can be beneficial for family members but can cause more criminal activities such as stalking and child abuse. Since the future of communication is progressing towards visual interaction laws, rules or regulations need to be developed to ensure the safety of all involved and also to avoid any misrepresentation of those involved. Entertainment is also advancing as entertainment becomes more interactive. Virtual reality will involve progressing to where all five senses of the consumer will be involved within different forms of entertainment such as movies and games, thus blurring the lines between the two. Consumer engagement is a vital ingredient in the recipe for future entertainment. When consumers get to interact and make decisions regarding their entertainment is will become individualized for each consumer. Thus consumers will get to develop the media to suit their individual enjoyment. Since virtual reality will become a part of all areas, not just entertainment, the pitfall of this type of communication could make social isolation a problem as people will interact more in the virtual world than in real life. This lack of human contact can create health or mental health issues as the escape into the virtual world each person creates becomes the norm. Education will also be affected in the future by technology. Cloud-based technology is already becoming a foundation for education. Socially based collaboration between different cultures around the world and virtual field trips will replace learning the language by reading and field trips to places within the community via a bus. ELearning will replace face-to-face learning. Biometrics will give authentic feedback of students learning to teachers or computers so the lesson can be altered to improve academic growth. Unfortunately with the cost of technology many schools will lag behind which will put obstacles in the pathway of many types of technology-oriented learning. Also, if teachers are replaced that will again take out the human factor of education, the ability to take care of the whole child, and lost employment for thousands of people. The future of technology in medicine also contains benefits and problems. Robotics will be benefitting patients who are paralyzed by enabling neurons to send messages to enable the patient to walk again using robotics. The future of cardiovascular care will be transformed by advances in artificial intelligence, digital health technology, and mobile devices as a means to prevent and treat heart disease, Diseases such as type 1 diabetes will have better treatments as a looped system for testing glucose and giving insulin are combined into a pump. Diabetes might even cure via a pancreatic transplant from a cloned stem cell organ. Brain technology will even be able to rewind diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Cancer may even be treated and cured with the use of artificial intelligence, precision surgery, and the application of digital sensors to kill cancer cells. Future technology will affect every disease or medical accident. People’s health will definitely be affected for the better. Future technological innovation is going to keep transforming healthcare, yet while technologies (new drugs and treatments, new devices, new social media support for healthcare, etc.) will drive innovation, human factors will remain one of the stable limitations of technological breakthroughs. Technology will affect each person’s future. My pathway as a future emergency room physician will be affected by technology tremendously. The process of constant learning as technology advances will make my work more detailed and difficult but also more gratifying as drugs are improved, surgeries become more précised, treatment plans become more individualized, and cures are found to improve patient healthcare. Technology will also enable me to seek expert advice, when it is needed, so more lives will be saved. The risk of patient information being hacked, the technology not adjusting for individual differences, and other obstacles that may arise as technology advances will ensure the physician is still involved in patient care. Technology can be a savior or a destroyer depending on whose hands the technology falls into and what each person chooses to do with it. Technology can make life better while the hindrances that technology brings such as the expense, the lack of privacy, the destruction of the Earth, and the need to be constantly upgraded will be issues that will need to be addressed as we use technology to make medicine, and the world a better place for all.

The impact I most want to have is to ensure there is equity in healthcare. I want to ensure that I am accountable to and an advocate for each and every patient I will serve as a physician. As a Native American woman, I know that healthcare is not equitable. I am taking action by not only educating myself but by volunteering to vulnerable populations who need equitable healthcare. Benjamin Franklin emphasized the importance of education by saying “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” This quote not only summarizes the high cost of college as interest is charged on student loans but ironically it also emphasizes the interest you earn by gaining the knowledge you learned at college as in what that knowledge will add to your life. College education and beyond has been extremely important to me as it has helped me to further my knowledge and skills to ensure I reach my goals of becoming a physician. College has contributed to the person I am today as I value education. I feel that a person who stops learning gives up on life. Though not listed as one of our basic human needs, education is equally important with food, shelter, and oxygen. It kindles within me the flame of curiosity and helps awaken the ability to question, search for answers, and to reason. It has enabled me to change not only my life but my outlook on the world. A college education has enabled me to learn to interpret and analyze. A college education has enabled me to become more knowledgeable about the world around me, about myself, about my career choices, and about other people’s viewpoints and cultures. It has breathed into me the ability to think, analyze, and judge in various complex situations that life may hand us. Education is not limited to textbooks, but to real-life experiences and lessons that we gain through attending college. I did many volunteer opportunities and internships in college where I learned new skills and grew into the person I am today. My academic studies and volunteer work have taught me that life, technology, and medicine are both built upon lifelong learning. Patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance and a big smile as he finished the race in the last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new thing and thankful for everything because many of them face death on a daily basis. The patients I see in Guatemala know what being needful of medicine and what being true truly means as I help them sift through hundreds of donated glasses to find one pair to help them see again. The wonder on their face is priceless as they are able to once again see the beauty in the world. Their small gifts of thanks are the only thing I bring home as I leave my things for those who truly have need of them. As a Native American woman, I know that less than 1% of physicians are Native American. This health disparity is harmful to my culture and going to college has helped me become a model for the children of my culture as well as an advocate for my future patients, who will face disparities of their own. I realize medicine is more than a science, it’s a service. I want to give back by helping people on what might be their worst day. Through my medical volunteer work, I have observed the mark of a great physician goes beyond textbook knowledge, it involves empathy, understanding, as well as listening and clinical skills. I will utilize my academic studies by learning to know and understand the principles and applications of health, the risk factors, and disease prevention/interventions so that I can provide the best health care and benefits for all of my patients. I will learn how to reduce disparities within healthcare so all my patients will receive the best possible individualized care. I will incorporate the knowledge learned with the understanding that each patient is a person with worries and that I need to serve them with empathy, kindness, patience, and understanding. College has enabled me to become a medical student who has learned all of this and more. Education is important as it is not just preparation for life, it is life. As I continue to learn whether it is through education, real-life experiences, or just by learning to fight my way through the joys and obstacles in my life, I realize learning has contributed to whom I am today but it has helped me to become a better version of myself. Not only am I more knowledgeable, but I have learned to be a part of my community by helping others. Through volunteering, I have also learned and gained many things. Volunteering has enabled me to gain a beautiful mosaic of friends with different ideas, attitudes, viewpoints, dreams, accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and goals. These things which I have learned will help me with my passion for reducing disparities in medicine for vulnerable populations.

Author Gladys Adevey once penned the words, “Love breaks the barrier of inequality, hate, and strife. It seals friendship with significance and importance, of which we become our best.” My fourth-grade teacher, Sandy Mason, is the perfect embodiment of Gladys Adevey’s words. I had recently moved to my new school and, as if by divine intervention, got placed in her classroom. When I first entered her classroom, I was nervous and apprehensive but Mrs. Mason challenged me to become more than I had ever dreamed possible. She was tough, not mean, and expected good behavior and work ethic. A special bond bloomed between us, and as I grew older, she followed my progress. She was the only Native American in our school system and this link strengthened my bond with her. Throughout each year, she sent me letters filled with congratulatory messages when awards were won and conveying encouragement when disappointments arose. My joys, triumphs, and burdens became hers. Although with this bond that existed between us, I would love to believe that I was the apple of her eye, I witnessed numerous times how she treated every child as if they were the most important child in her room. In her eyes, there were no lines of discrimination. She treated us all as if we were the best student in the class no matter the skin color, ethnicity, academic ability, or socioeconomic status. Through not only words but also unspoken smiles and gestures, she always assured every student that she was there for them to provide love, kindness, and support. In her room, every child was treated with dignity and respect. A perfect example of this was when I happened to witness one of her many acts of kindness. I had arrived early and noticed Mrs. Mason standing over one of my peer’s desks. This peer was one whose parents had said racist things about Mrs. Mason. She had this young man’s backpack in one hand and a stack of school supplies/new clothes in her other hand. She lovingly placed each item in his bag assuring the surprises would be found without any attention being called to his needs. I later found out that this boy’s father had lost his job and the family was under financial duress. This young man had worn the same clothes to school for weeks and they were getting threadbare. It was just like Mrs. Mason to not only provide for his needs but to do so in a manner that would preserve this young boy’s dignity and not bring any attention to her. This was in direct contrast to his parent’s treatment of her. The young man's look of awe and relief as he opened his backpack has stayed with me to this day. This scene was significant because I realized what she had done for this young man she would also do this for every child in her class. She taught me how we were supposed to truly love each other.

Nobel Prize author Pearl Buck once said, “If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.” This quote summarizes an issue of vital importance to me, how our culture has failed at-risk children. Due to increasing class size, paperwork, rigorous expectations, laws, lack of differentiated instruction, and economic and family issues, educators are not able to work with all children to meet their varying needs. Observing these issues, I demonstrated leadership by taking the initiative in 5th grade and started tutoring at-risk students who were having educational difficulties. I have continued tutoring since then and the program has grown to over 50 students weekly. Some of my greatest challenges as I demonstrated leadership through the rest of my high school and college education by recruiting and scheduling the tutors, attending workshops on instructional strategies for differentiated learning, researching and learning multicultural algorithms, training volunteers on what I have learned, collaborating with teachers to ensure individual students’ needs are worked on, ensuring paperwork is completed and parental releases are signed, and communicating between parents/teachers/students to ensure differentiated, individual, academic needs are being met and new learning objectives are set each week. While tutoring these at-risk students, I was shocked at the futility in their faces as they looked at an assignment, because they had dealt with failure so many times before. Many of my students come from a lower socioeconomic background but have parents who truly love them, but are unable to support them academically due to lack of education or having to work numerous jobs just to put food on the table. Helping these students became a reflection of hope for me. Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they finally understood a math concept made the time invested worthwhile. While I do not plan to go into teaching, I do feel the skills I learned in reaching out to other people, encouraging them, understanding cultural differences, and learning how to communicate according to their individual needs will enable me to do well in my chosen field of medicine. My experiences in tutoring led to my tutoring chemistry students in college, also. I saw an academic need and rose to meet its challenge. I enjoyed working with children but wanted to include activities that involved medicine. I became an Arkansas Hospice Pet Therapy Volunteer. Tears came to my eyes as I watched one young child tell Bear, my dog, how she was going to die but was worried about leaving her parents, and how unhappy they were going to be. As she explained the process of death to the ever-patient dog, I was overwhelmed. I never realized the love and worries a four-year child would have about leaving her parents. The fact my dog brought her some relief was great but I learned so much empathy from doing her therapy. I was also a counselor at Camp Aldersgate, a camp for students with chronic medical conditions. I learned so much from the indomitable spirit of these young campers and saw how much they enjoyed life! They loved laughing and enjoying every small activity they could do with limited independence. This type of volunteering continued as I went on a medical mission trip to Belize where I saw a true need, something I had never truly seen. I came back with an empty suitcase as I left everything I took to give to those who needed it more than I. Rue, one teenage girl used the rags of her old clothes to make me a hammock. She worked on it night and day so she could give me a gift for the medical needs and clothes we had provided for her family. When she gave it to me, I recognized her pride in being able to give back and value the hammock so much! She wanted to give me something to remember her as if I could ever forget. This opportunity led me to volunteer in other areas so I could help others within my community. My academic studies and volunteer work have taught me that life, technology, and medicine are both built upon lifelong learning. Patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance as he finished the race in the last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new experience and thankful for everything because many of them face death daily. I learned what being poor truly was as I went on a medical mission trip to South America and helped treat people for diseases, who truly had nothing. All of these opportunities taught me to see beyond the surface as each of these individuals and see the true person underneath. By volunteering, I have expanded my life by learning and meeting people of differing needs and abilities who have become a beautiful mosaic of friendship and knowledge in my life. I will use this grant to help me volunteer and improve my community. I would use it to supply the needed money for medical supplies within my medical school's free clinic.

My greatest achievement is my volunteer work. Through it, I have helped others and have learned many things myself. Nobel Prize author Pearl Buck once said, “If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all.” This quote summarizes an issue of vital importance to me, how our culture has failed at-risk children. Due to increasing class size, paperwork, rigorous expectations, laws, lack of differentiated instruction, and economic and family issues, educators are not able to work with all children to meet their varying needs. Observing these issues, I demonstrated leadership by taking the initiative in 5th grade and started tutoring at-risk students who were having educational difficulties. I have continued tutoring since then and the program has grown to over 50 students weekly. I have continued to demonstrate leadership through the rest of my high school and college education by recruiting and scheduling the tutors, attending workshops on instructional strategies for differentiated learning, researching and learning multicultural algorithms, training volunteers on what I have learned, collaborating with teachers to ensure individual students’ needs are worked on, ensuring paperwork is completed and parental releases are signed, and communicating between parents/teachers/students to ensure differentiated, individual, academic needs are being met and new learning objectives are set each week. While tutoring these at-risk students, I was shocked at the futility in their faces as they looked at an assignment, because they had dealt with failure so many times before. Many of my students come from a lower socioeconomic background but have parents who truly love them, but are unable to support them academically due to lack of education or having to work numerous jobs just to put food on the table. Helping these students became a reflection of hope for me. Seeing a child’s eyes light up as they finally understood a math concept made the time invested worthwhile. While I do not plan to go into teaching, I do feel the skills I learned in reaching out to other people, encouraging them, understanding cultural differences, and learning how to communicate according to their individual needs will enable me to do well in my chosen field of medicine. My experiences in tutoring led to my tutoring chemistry students in college, also. I saw an academic need and rose to meet its challenge. I enjoyed working with children but wanted to include activities that involved medicine. I became an Arkansas Hospice Pet Therapy Volunteer. Tears came to my eyes as I watched one young child tell Bear, my dog, how she was going to die but was worried about leaving her parents, and how unhappy they were going to be. As she explained the process of death to the ever-patient dog, I was overwhelmed. I never realized the love and worries a four-year child would have about leaving her parents. The fact my dog brought her some relief was great but I learned so much empathy from doing her therapy. I was also a counselor at Camp Aldersgate, a camp for students with chronic medical conditions. I learned so much from the indomitable spirit of these young campers and saw how much they enjoyed life! They loved laughing and enjoying every small activity they could do with limited independence. This type of volunteering continued as I went on a medical mission trip to Belize where I saw the true need, something I had never truly seen. I came back with an empty suitcase as I left everything I took to give to those who needed it more than I. Rue, one teenage girl used the rags of her old clothes to make me a hammock. She worked on it night and day so she could give me a gift for the medical needs and clothes we had provided for her family. When she gave it to me, I recognized her pride in being able to give back and value the hammock so much! She wanted to give me something to remember her as if I could ever forget. This opportunity led me to volunteer in other areas so I could help others within my community. My academic studies and volunteer work have taught me that life, technology, and medicine are both built upon lifelong learning. Patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance as he finished the race in the last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new experience and thankful for everything because many of them face death daily. I learned what being poor truly was as I went on a medical mission trip to South America and helped treat people for diseases, who truly had nothing. All of these opportunities taught me to see beyond the surface as each of these individuals and see the true person underneath. By volunteering, I have expanded my life by learning and meeting people of differing needs and abilities who have become a beautiful mosaic of friendship and knowledge in my life. I would improve my community no matter my future, because I have learned the value in it, not only for others but for myself. That is the true meaning of a great achievement.

Author Gladys Adevey once penned the words, “Love breaks the barrier of inequality, hate, and strife. It seals friendship with significance and importance, of which we become our best.” My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Sandy Mason, is the perfect embodiment of these words and this is why she made such a significant impact on my life. I had recently moved to a new school and, as if by divine intervention, got placed in her classroom. Mrs. Mason challenged me to become more than I ever dreamed possible. A special bond bloomed between the two of us, and as I moved from grade to grade, she followed my progress and accomplishments. Every year, throughout each year, she sent me cards and letters filled with congratulatory messages-even conveying encouragement when disappointments arose. My joys, triumphs, and burdens became hers. Although I would love to believe that I was the golden apple of her eye, I witnessed time and time again how she treated every child as if they were the most important child in her room. In Mrs. Mason’s eyes, there were no lines of discrimination. She treated us all as if we were the best student in the class no matter the skin color, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Through not only words but also unspoken smiles and gestures, she always assured every student that she was there for them to provide love, kindness, and support. In Mrs. Mason’s room, every child was treated with dignity and respect. A perfect example of this was when I happened to witness one of her many acts of kindness. I had arrived early at school and noticed her standing over one of my peer’s desks. She had his backpack in one hand and a stack of school supplies and new clothes in her other hand. She quickly and lovingly placed each item in his bag assuring that the surprises would be found without any attention being called to his needs. I later found out that this boy’s father had lost his job and the family was under financial duress. It was just like Mrs. Mason to not only provide for his needs, but to do so in a manner that would preserve this young boy’s dignity. This scene was significant to me because I realized what she had done for this young man; she would also do this for each and every child in her class, even me. Even though Mrs. Mason was not well-off financially, she made a regular habit of helping out families in need. I started volunteering because of the impact her high regard for people had on me. Not only did she give to others financially, she selflessly donated her free-time. She was often seen attending students’ ball games, concerts, plays, and recitals long after they had left her fourth grade classroom. This was important to us as students because she saw us as whole people. I realized you must accept the whole person, not only a tiny part of their lives. This was significant to me as she taught me to realize how I never should judge someone, but should treat each person as the unique individual they are. She was one of those teachers who you could tell really loved teaching. Her lessons stretched our imagination and broadened our interests. She always seemed to find just the right books to read aloud to the class that taught us life-lessons that went beyond the textbook. She was able to make even the dullest of topics come to life. She brought joy, curiosity, inquiry, thought, and self-knowledge into my learning, as well as to my classmates. She impacted my education as her differentiated lessons made me the scholar I am now. I remember her telling me in fourth grade, “You will be valedictorian,” “You will go to college and get scholarships,” and “I want you to take as many AP classes as you can.” These words were significant as I often remembered them as I chose classes or worked to maintain my GPA. To me, personally, she inspired me; she awakened a thirst for knowledge and a quest to always be the best version of me I could possibly be. She made me want to better myself not only academically but as a total person. She challenged me to become the best I could be. She was a role model I wanted to emulate as I saw her show God’s love in how she treated each and every student. The world seemed to stand still the day my mother told me that Mrs. Mason was admitted to the hospital and was in critical condition due to an unexpected stroke. For days on end, I visited her hospital room and sat by her bed, praying and hoping that a miracle might bring her back. Unfortunately, that was not her fate. For those of us left behind, we are left with the stories and memories that she so lovingly provided for us. Her life impacted not only mine but so many others. My life has been tremendously impacted and my heart will forever have the significant indelible mark left by the teacher known lovingly as Mrs. Sandy Mason.

Helen Keller, once said, “I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, than those of blindness. Deafness means the loss of the most vital stimulus-the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thought astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man.” Keller added, “Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.” Deafness is a disability that is unseen but devastating. As a person who has genetic sensorineural hearing loss and auditory processing difficulties, I understand the horrible effects of hearing loss and the challenges involved in overcoming this disability. Through the challenges of overcoming the obstacles of my disability, I also worked towards helping others overcome their obstacles. The volunteer opportunities enabled me to have fun but also gave me opportunities to be flexible, to learn new skills and knowledge, to adapt, as well as to nurture others. Through my hospice work, I’ve seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in their final days of life. I’ve comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I’ve learned to be humble explaining medical jargon for a non-English speaking mother, at my medical school’s free clinic. This mother works yet financially struggles, but her heart is all for the sick child in her arms. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance as he finished the race in last place. I’ve learned to be more fearless through the special medical needs children at Camp Aldersgate. They’re fearless to try each new thing and thankful for all because they face death on a daily basis. Through volunteering I’ve learned to use my own individual creativity to find true success in helping others as well as realizing that we all have difficulties in life. While I am thankful each and every day I have never had to deal with a life threatening illness or other disabilities which others may face, I do face my difficulties in every conversation or situation I am in. I still have to think to enunciate some of my sounds properly. I always have to watch the speakers’ lips to understand what is being said and so I will not miss important information. This daily struggle has strengthen me, made me more goal oriented, enabled me to think of creative ways to ensure I get all needed information, and has made me more aware of my own difficulties and of the difficulties that others face. The difficulties of speech and auditory processing, which I have faced daily in my life, have made me an individual, who is very observant, attentive to others, goal oriented, analytic, and able to develop a strategic perspective which will help me finance my education in medical school. As the only Native American in my medical school, I know that becoming a physician; will enable me to become a mentor for my culture as there are not many Native Americans in medicine. I recently married and we both work hard so I can borrow less money for medical school. We utilize our budget often and have budget dates where we ensure our money will cover our needs. My husband, a newly graduated teacher, makes a steady salary but it is not much. Therefore he works another job in addition to teaching. I am currently working four part time jobs in addition to attending school full time. I have written and published articles on saving money through writing scholarships that have been published on the internet. I also cook, we both take our lunches, we do not buy things often, and we always use coupons and rebates to save money. I write scholarships often and hope to win a few to offset the amount of my loans as well. Overcoming my speech/hearing difficulties, being thrifty in my utilization of my finances, and volunteering have all enabled me to make it to my third year of medical school. I want to become an emergency room physician who will always be an advocate for and accountable towards each future patient that I will serve. I will always work hard to ensure that each receive the highest quality, individualized healthcare that I can give them.

I grew up in a privileged home. It was not privileged in terms of money but in terms of love and support. Both of my parents worked numerous jobs to ensure I had my needs met, so my grandmother often took care of me. My grandmother taught me many life-lessons such as that I could use knowledge, skills, hard work, and integrity to accomplish my career goal of becoming a physician. She always gave her skills, time, and money to others in need. She taught me that the only people who are truly happy are those who find a way to serve others. My passion for healthcare stemmed from these life-lessons taught to me from my loving grandmother. My grandmother knew many of the remedies handed down in our family. I loved listening as she described the different plants and how they could be used to help with colds, headaches or the flu. She knew each plant, what it was called and what it could be used for. While these remedies were only used among our family, this knowledge she taught me has helped me in researching drugs for healing illnesses in within my own life. When I started volunteering like my grandmother, I gravitated to healthcare arenas. My grandmother had taught me to always learn from everything I did so her life-lessons has helped me gain skills that will help me as I become a physician. Volunteering taught me that patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. Through my hospice volunteer work, I have seen the strength of the human spirit as a person realizes what is truly important in life. I have comprehended the importance of honest communication by the tears and regrets of those left behind. I have learned to be humble as I break down medical jargon for a mother who does not understand English, at our school’s free clinic. The young man I mentor at Special Olympics taught me to have joy in the small things as I watched his victory dance and big smile as he finished the race in last place. I have learned to not be afraid to try new things such as medical technology, by volunteering at Camp Aldersgate, a summer camp for special medical needs children. They are fearless to try each new thing and thankful for everything because many of them face death on a daily basis. Each new experience teaches me the importance of the knowledge I’m gaining and about the vitality and the strength of each human spirit I’ll serve. Through my medical volunteer work, I have observed the mark of a great healthcare member goes beyond textbook knowledge, it involves empathy, understanding, as well as listening and clinical skills. While volunteering has taught me many skills, the best reward was meeting the diverse people, which helped me to realize the true meaning of the “melting pot” that makes up our great nation. Volunteering like my grandmother taught me has helped me gain happiness in helping others and in gaining a beautiful mosaic of friends with different ideas, attitudes, viewpoints, dreams, accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, abilities and goals who enrich my life. My grandmother taught me to work hard towards my goals. As a Native American woman I know that less than 1% of physicians are Native American. This disparity is harmful to my culture and going to studying healthcare has helped me become a model for Native American girls as well as an advocate for my future patients, who will face disparities of their own. I want to be a person who realizes medicine is more than a science, it’s a service. I’ll learn how to reduce disparities within healthcare so all my patients will receive the best possible individualized care. I’ll incorporate all the knowledge learned with the understanding that each patient is a person with worries and that I need to serve them with empathy, kindness, patience and understanding. The life-lessons taught to me by my grandmother will help me in my future career in healthcare as well as in life, to always help others in need.

My academic studies have taught me that both life and medicine are built upon lifelong learning. Patient care does not happen in a vacuum, it brings in research, knowledge, clinical skills, technology, as well as empathy, understanding, and kindness. I have learned so much through each volunteer experience I have participated in. My volunteer work has helped my community but is has also helped me become a better person.