Success for me means reaching my aspirations while simultaneously creating a sense of contentment and fulfillment in my life. My dream is to become a pharmacist, as I believe this career allows me to make a significant difference in people's lives by helping treat and prevent illnesses. Pharmacists also play a vital role in healthcare, acting as a safety net by double-checking prescriptions to ensure patients receive the right medications and dosages. This can save patients from potentially life-threatening errors. Moreover, my final goal is to develop pharmaceutical drugs that can alleviate suffering and improve the quality of life for those dealing with various medical conditions. However, I am aware that merely achieving professional goals does not guarantee happiness. Many successful individuals, including well-known public figures, experience unhappiness despite their many accomplishments. Therefore, my vision of success includes not only reaching my career goals but also leading a meaningful and joyful life. To make way for my future career, I have created a checklist of goals I want to achieve during my college years. First and foremost, I aim to earn a Bachelor's degree in biology, which will provide me with a strong foundation. Additionally, I plan to pursue a minor in pharmacology, allowing me to gain specialized knowledge in my chosen field. I also intend to engage in research projects during my undergraduate years to deepen my knowledge and gain practical experience. Shadowing a pharmacist is another part of my plan, as I will be exposed to the daily responsibilities and challenges of the profession. After completing my undergraduate studies, my next goal is to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. I plan to work as a pharmacy technician on the weekends while dedicating my weekdays to my schooling. This hands-on experience will be invaluable in preparing me for my future career. Upon earning my degree, I plan to make my goal a reality and dive into pharmacy. My mission is to make a positive impact by providing expert care, guidance, and support to those who need it. Achieving success and fulfilling my dreams will require the resources and support that a college education can provide. Access to academic counseling, a strong network of knowledgeable peers and mentors, and various funding opportunities will all play pivotal roles in my journey. Additionally, the encouragement and backing of my family and friends will be essential in helping me navigate the challenges and obstacles along the way. With determination, hard work, and the right support system, I am confident that I can achieve success in both my professional and personal life. By pursuing my dream of becoming a pharmacist and dedicating myself to helping others, I aim to lead a life that is not only meaningful but also deeply satisfying.

I was never good at the humanities. I grew up falling behind others in English, among other subjects as it was not my first language. History and art were subjects I always struggled with. I did not like how there were multiple answers or interpretations for these subjects rather than a concrete solution. Math, however, made sense, unlike the other subjects. My mom would spend countless nights teaching me equations and how to solve for x. My love for math led to a love for science. Science has always been my favorite subject. I loved how interesting it all was, the experiments, the classes, and the questions it answered. I also enjoyed how much it made sense. I could pick up new concepts easily compared to the struggle of studying history. My interest in science and knowing what science can do for others is what sparked my interest in a career in the STEM field. I am pursuing a career in the STEM field because I find science incredibly interesting and want to help others. I plan to major in biology in college and use that degree to enter the healthcare field. After volunteering at the Regions Hospital, I was set on making this goal a reality. At the hospital, I was able to see the environment firsthand. I witnessed the friendly relations between the doctors and their patients along with how happy and grateful their patients are. Everyone at the hospital plays their part in improving the lives of those in the community. In the STEM field, you can make a difference, whether it be in peoples’ everyday lives or by advances in technology. My STEM career aspiration is also shown in my academic and extracurricular activities. I have loved my STEM classes and pushed myself into taking Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment classes throughout high school. These classes only furthered my interest in the field. I took part in STEM-related clubs as well. My high school, Math and Science Academy really helped me hone my interests with its classes and clubs. My friends told me about SWENext, an engineering club, which I joined and immediately loved. I was excited every Friday when we would meet and could barely wait to see what we were building that day. I was able to run for a leadership position and became an officer. After noticing my school did not have a biology club, I started one. I was able to start one with my friends and lead the club. We have labs, outreach, and activities to encourage others to pursue a STEM career in both clubs. In conclusion, I am drawn to a career in the STEM field because of its ability to provide me with a platform to create a positive change in the world. I have always loved science and math which can be seen in my academics, extracurricular activities, and hospital volunteering. As I move forward in my STEM career aspiration, I am more than excited to learn and make an impact on the world. My family, friends, and environment helped me to make this decision. As I advance in my profession, I am excited about making a meaningful impact on the world through the lens of science, technology, and mathematics.

I was never good at the humanities. I grew up falling behind others in English, among other subjects as it was not my first language. History and art were subjects I always struggled with. I did not like how there were multiple answers or interpretations for these subjects rather than a concrete solution. Math, however, made sense, unlike the other subjects. My mom would spend countless nights teaching me equations and how to solve for x. My love for math led to a love for science. Science has always been my favorite subject. I loved how interesting it all was, the experiments, the classes, and the questions it answered. I also enjoyed how much it made sense. I could pick up new concepts easily compared to the struggle of studying history. My interest in science and knowing what science can do for others is what sparked my interest in a career in the STEM field. I am pursuing a career in the STEM field because I find science incredibly interesting and want to help others. I plan to major in biology in college and use that degree to enter the healthcare field. After volunteering at the Regions Hospital, I was set on making this goal a reality. At the hospital, I was able to see the environment firsthand. I witnessed the friendly relations between the doctors and their patients along with how happy and grateful their patients are. Everyone at the hospital plays their part in improving the lives of those in the community. In the STEM field, you can make a difference, whether it be in peoples’ everyday lives or by advances in technology. My STEM career aspiration is also shown in my academic and extracurricular activities. I have loved my STEM classes and pushed myself into taking Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment classes throughout high school. These classes only furthered my interest in the field. I took part in STEM-related clubs as well. My high school, Math and Science Academy really helped me hone my interests with its classes and clubs. My friends told me about SWENext, an engineering club, which I joined and immediately loved. I was excited every Friday when we would meet and could barely wait to see what we were building that day. I was able to run for a leadership position and became an officer. After noticing my school did not have a biology club, I started one. I was able to start one with my friends and lead the club. We have labs, outreach, and activities to encourage others to pursue a STEM career in both clubs. In conclusion, I am drawn to a career in the STEM field because of its ability to provide me with a platform to create a positive change in the world. I have always loved science and math which can be seen in my academics, extracurricular activities, and hospital volunteering. As I move forward in my STEM career aspiration, I am more than excited to learn and make an impact on the world. My family, friends, and environment helped me to make this decision. As I advance in my profession, I am excited about making a meaningful impact on the world through the lens of science, technology, and mathematics.

I was never good at the humanities. I grew up falling behind others in English, among other subjects as it was not my first language. History and art were subjects I always struggled with. I did not like how there were multiple answers or interpretations for these subjects rather than a concrete solution. Math, however, made sense, unlike the other subjects. My mom would spend countless nights teaching me equations and how to solve for x. My love for math led to a love for science. Science has always been my favorite subject. I loved how interesting it all was, the experiments, the classes, and the questions it answered. I also enjoyed how much it made sense. I could pick up new concepts easily compared to the struggle of studying history. My interest in science and knowing what science can do for others is what sparked my interest in a career in the STEM field. I am pursuing a career in the STEM field because I find science incredibly interesting and want to help others. I plan to major in biology in college and use that degree to enter the healthcare field. After volunteering at the Regions Hospital, I was set on making this goal a reality. At the hospital, I was able to see the environment firsthand. I witnessed the friendly relations between the doctors and their patients along with how happy and grateful their patients are. Everyone at the hospital plays their part in improving the lives of those in the community. In the STEM field, you can make a difference, whether it be in peoples’ everyday lives or by advances in technology. My STEM career aspiration is also shown in my academic and extracurricular activities. I have loved my STEM classes and pushed myself into taking Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment classes throughout high school. These classes only furthered my interest in the field. I took part in STEM-related clubs as well. My high school, Math and Science Academy really helped me hone my interests with its classes and clubs. My friends told me about SWENext, an engineering club, which I joined and immediately loved. I was excited every Friday when we would meet and could barely wait to see what we were building that day. I was able to run for a leadership position and became an officer. After noticing my school did not have a biology club, I started one. I was able to start one with my friends and lead the club. We have labs, outreach, and activities to encourage others to pursue a STEM career in both clubs. In conclusion, I am drawn to a career in the STEM field because of its ability to provide me with a platform to create a positive change in the world. I have always loved science and math which can be seen in my academics, extracurricular activities, and hospital volunteering. As I move forward in my STEM career aspiration, I am more than excited to learn and make an impact on the world. My family, friends, and environment helped me to make this decision. As I advance in my profession, I am excited about making a meaningful impact on the world through the lens of science, technology, and mathematics.

I was never good at the humanities. I grew up falling behind others in English, among other subjects as it was not my first language. History and art were subjects I always struggled with. I did not like how there were multiple answers or interpretations for these subjects rather than a concrete solution. Math, however, made sense, unlike the other subjects. My mom would spend countless nights teaching me equations and how to solve for x. My love for math led to a love for science. Science has always been my favorite subject. I loved how interesting it all was, the experiments, the classes, and the questions it answered. I also enjoyed how much it made sense. I could pick up new concepts easily compared to the struggle of studying history. My interest in science and knowing what science can do for others is what sparked my interest in a career in the STEM field. I am pursuing a career in the STEM field because I find science incredibly interesting and want to help others. I plan to major in biology in college and use that degree to enter the healthcare field. After volunteering at the Regions Hospital, I was set on making this goal a reality. At the hospital, I was able to see the environment firsthand. I witnessed the friendly relations between the doctors and their patients along with how happy and grateful their patients are. Everyone at the hospital plays their part in improving the lives of those in the community. In the STEM field, you can make a difference, whether it be in peoples’ everyday lives or by advances in technology. My STEM career aspiration is also shown in my academic and extracurricular activities. I have loved my STEM classes and pushed myself into taking Advanced Placement and Dual-Enrollment classes throughout high school. These classes only furthered my interest in the field. I took part in STEM-related clubs as well. My high school, Math and Science Academy really helped me hone my interests with its classes and clubs. My friends told me about SWENext, an engineering club, which I joined and immediately loved. I was excited every Friday when we would meet and could barely wait to see what we were building that day. I was able to run for a leadership position and became an officer. After noticing my school did not have a biology club, I started one. I was able to start one with my friends and lead the club. We have labs, outreach, and activities to encourage others to pursue a STEM career in both clubs. In conclusion, I am drawn to a career in the STEM field because of its ability to provide me with a platform to create a positive change in the world. I have always loved science and math which can be seen in my academics, extracurricular activities, and hospital volunteering. As I move forward in my STEM career aspiration, I am more than excited to learn and make an impact on the world. My family, friends, and environment helped me to make this decision. As I advance in my profession, I am excited about making a meaningful impact on the world through the lens of science, technology, and mathematics.

I was born in and have always been a resident of Minnesota, and my journey as a swimmer has been a defining aspect of my life. For as long as I can remember, I have always been in love with the world of swimming. As I approach my tenth year of swimming, I am able to reflect on how this sport has not only shaped me as an athlete but also impacted my future as a person with a strong desire to make a positive impact on the world. Being a high school swimmer has taught me invaluable life lessons. It has shown me the importance of teamwork, staying motivated, the necessity of determination, and never giving up. Swimming is not just a hobby to me; it is a significant part of my life, and I am committed to utilizing the skills and lessons I have learned along my journey to bring positive change to the world. One of the most important lessons I have acquired from swimming is the ability to set realistic goals and constantly pursue them, never giving up even if it gets difficult. The pool has always been my training ground for hard work and self-improvement. Whether it be in elementary school, middle school, or high school, I have always looked forward to swimming. It has taught me to persevere even when the going gets tough. I would fall short or sometimes even miss my goal completely, but I always tried even harder for the next swim meet. Through countless swim practices and competitions, I have met goals and friends within my community that I never thought possible. Looking ahead, my aspirations go far beyond the pool. I am driven by my desire to improve healthcare and change lives for the better. I am headed towards a future where I can contribute to this by conducting groundbreaking research, delivering healthcare to underserved communities, or innovating new medicines. Regardless of the path I choose, my commitment to giving back to the community that I have always known and hold dear will not waiver. The skills, qualities, and friendships cultivated through my journey as a swimmer are incredibly important to me. They have given me the essential values and knowledge needed for my future in the field of medicine. My ultimate goal continues to remain unchanging: to enhance the quality of life for those in my community and beyond, by advancing healthcare and ensuring that access to these improvements is universal. My ten-year swim journey has not only prepared me for this mission but has also fueled my determination to bring about positive change in the world.