In fifth grade, I watched VSauces’ “Travel INSIDE a Black Hole” video on YouTube for the first time. After those ten minutes and forty-four seconds, I knew astronomy would forever be a part of my life. Even when I knew practically nothing about what I found to be the most fascinating scientific subject, learning about the bizarre nature of black holes filled me with this indescribable sense of wonder. Hearing Michael Stevens, the creator of the VSauce YouTube channel, talk so passionately about how they form, the concept of event horizons, the brilliant scientists who designed acoustic simulations of black holes that trapped sound waves, and more, drew me to learn more about the phenomena of the universe; it was all so enrapturing. The impact that a singular video had on me is why I want to dedicate the small amount of time that I’ll exist in the universe to studying how the billions of stars we see at night form, live, and die. From that point on, I did everything to deepen my understanding of the universe. I was fortunate enough to join my middle school’s Science Olympiad team and work with my coach and beacon of encouragement: the incredible Mr. Dennis Papesh. I competed in astronomy events, including Solar System and Reach for the Stars, that allowed me to research planetary, stellar, and galactic formation, which became some of my favorite astronomy concepts. To get a closer look at the galaxies and nebulae I studied for my events, I read an endless number of astronomy encyclopedias and built my first MEADE Infinity backyard telescope. It was a full-circle moment when my partner and I made it to the Science Olympiad State competition for Astronomy during my senior year of high school. To this day, whenever I feel like giving up, I think of the last email that Mr. Papesh sent me: “You are an exceptionally hard-working student. Your attitude and efforts will get you far in this world. Stay safe, Mr. P.” Before the beginning of my undergraduate journey, everything I did to expand my knowledge of the universe increased my passion for astronomy tenfold. As an astrophysics major at Ohio State, I am interested in multiple career paths, such as teaching high school physics or working at a planetarium in a science museum (a job that mirrors my current one as a planetarium presenter for Solstice Outreach). However, the ideal job for me is doing astrophysics research through graduate school. Before I began my undergraduate career, I didn’t truly know what graduate school entailed. However, working with my mentor is enlightening, as both learning about her experiences and completing a small project (the nebular spectroscopy of NGC 1300) to understand the process of scientific research, helps me make informed decisions about my future. Because of her, I am motivated to reach this goal by participating in research fellowships, specifically the Lamat Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, an astronomy and astrophysics research experience for undergraduates, during the summer of 2026. Ultimately, in 10 years, I want to earn my PhD and research star formation and the structure of galaxies as a postdoc. Eventually, I want to work as a professor, as not only do I want to express my love for astronomy through teaching and research, but also work to bridge the gap in access to astronomy amongst marginalized groups in society. Completing my bachelor's is only the first step on a long road of dedication to master the skills required to do astrophysics, even on days of failed code and lengthy physics problems.