“What’s the reason for your visit today?” “I...well...I have menstrual pain so severe that I have trouble concentrating in school. I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night and cannot sleep due to the pain. It feels like a constant stabbing that radiates to my lower back and legs. The pain is at its peak when I’m on my period; however, it’s present all month long. I can’t live like this. What should I do, Doctor?” I glanced at the gynecologist in anticipation and thought, “Will she be the one? Will I finally be believed?” The gynecologist gave me an all-too-familiar, blank stare. Before she even uttered a word, I braced myself for her response. With confidence, she proclaimed, “Some people just get cramps on their period; it’s natural. Take naproxen and deal with it.” I left the doctor's office that day with no probable cause or solution for my suffering. Unfortunately, this is the reality for many women, especially women of color, in our current healthcare system. If I could change our current healthcare system, one change I would make is ensuring that every physician takes women's health issues seriously. To combat gender bias in medicine, we need to understand its roots. In medical science, we inherently know less about the female body compared to the male body because women were excluded from most past clinical trials. This inequity results in women being misdiagnosed and brushed aside when they don’t present symptoms the same way men do. Due to this lack of information, physicians may struggle to identify women's conditions and are more likely to accuse them of being “hypochondriacs” or “emotional/dramatic” when they don’t know what’s going on. Beyond the continued inclusion of women in research, my solution to eradicating gender bias would be multifaceted. First, we need to raise awareness that gender bias is a real problem in the medical community. Many physicians aren’t even aware that they are discriminating based on gender; it’s a subconscious bias that they need to be conscious of in order to change. Awareness of this issue will lead to improved education in medical schools and will also make the general public more aware of the problem. This awareness will empower patients to recognize bias when it occurs and encourage them to advocate for themselves and their care. We also need to hold doctors and other medical professionals accountable and make it easier for patients to report physicians they believe have gaslighted or brushed them off. Reports shouldn't cause physicians to lose their job; instead, the report should be brought to the physician's attention in a gentle and constructive manner. This way, the physician is aware that their actions hurt a patient, allowing them to make changes to their care approach in the future. Another issue underlying patient gaslighting and inadequate care for women is physician burnout. Physicians are forced to see patient after patient, often allocating only 15 minutes per person. This is not enough time to make an accurate assessment, making the diagnosis process harder and making it easier for the physician to dismiss the patient’s concerns or refer them to another provider. We overwork our physicians in this country, and this exacerbates health disparities among women. There are many issues to fix in our healthcare system, and the care we provide to women is a critical one. I hope, in the future, a condescending “just deal with it” response to a woman's suffering will be a notion of the past, and we can work towards a more equitable future for all. Thank you for this opportunity.

I was 10 years old when chronic pain took hold of me and refused to let go. Living with an undiagnosed invisible disability for years was incredibly difficult. I couldn't have a normal childhood or social life, and school was an everyday struggle. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps,” it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen for pain relief, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one who was willing to listen. At age 17, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis and offered a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted, and I now have more pain-free days than pain days. My experience has motivated me to pursue medicine and dedicate my life to serving other disabled people, as once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, my worldview and life purpose changed. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to stand up for patients who suffer every day but seldom receive proper care, for patients who are not properly accommodated for their disability, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color who are overlooked by our medical system, even today. First, I wanted to further educate myself about disability so that I could be a greater asset to my community, which is why I am majoring in Disability Studies (B.A.), a major I created through the individualized major program at my university. When designing my major, I included courses covering everything from the mechanisms of various disabilities to the ableism disabled people face in society. In addition to my studies, I am highly involved in the disability community. I work at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my university, where I assist students with disabilities in finding assistive technology to support their educational needs. I work as a PCA for a disabled student on campus, assisting them with daily tasks to support their independence. I published an article through ShiftPress advocating for increased awareness on gender bias in medicine and its impact on women with chronic illnesses. I participate in research, studying the effects of various chemicals on pain receptors to hopefully find compounds that can better help those afflicted with chronic pain, a mission that holds personal significance for me. In the future, I hope to further expand my impact on the disability community. This scholarship will help me immensely with reaching my goals. My endometriosis surgery took place in October of my senior year, significantly impacting my ability to prepare strong college applications and apply for scholarships, which means that I currently am not receiving significant scholarships to fund my tuition. Additionally, there is a significant financial burden associated with studying to become a physician (4 years of undergrad tuition + 4 years of medical school tuition + 3-7 years of low-paying residency), therefore, any amount of money will help! While I still face challenges, I have overcome a lot, and my experience with disability has positively impacted my future endeavors by leading me to want to prevent people from suffering the way I once did. Thank you in advance for this opportunity.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a STEM degree in allied health sciences in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I believe I deserve this scholarship because I have a plan and am motivated. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Just looking at the price of an undergraduate degree, applying to medical school (MCAT prep + exam fees, application fees, travel fees for interviews, etc.), and medical school itself is taking an emotional toll on me, and I surely will have to take out a very large amount of loans in order to complete my education. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. My passion will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college pursuing an allied health sciences degree in order to get one step closer to my career goal of becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Just looking at the price of an undergraduate degree, applying to medical school (MCAT prep + exam fees, application fees, travel fees for interviews, etc.), and medical school itself is taking an emotional toll on me, and I surely will have to take out a very large amount of loans in order to complete my education. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. My passion will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a STEM college degree in allied health sciences in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Gender bias in medicine is a complex issue that comprises many different factors. However, by having more female physicians who are also chronic pain sufferers in practice, we can bring in more varied perspectives into the field and hopefully improve the care of women overall in medical facilities. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. My STEM education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interests in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Qualities that I look for in a career are doing something that is personal to people and helps them improve their lives immensely, even if it means that I have less of a work-life balance. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college, and my time there has taught me that working with people one-on-one is extremely valuable to me. I also look to be financially stable, as while money isn't everything, if I want to dedicate my life to helping others, I need to be able to help myself first. These important qualities inform my decision to, in the future, apply to a wide variety of gynecological residencies. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated in order to achieve my dream job. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Just looking at the price of an undergraduate degree, applying to medical school (MCAT prep + exam fees, application fees, travel fees for interviews, etc.), and medical school itself is taking an emotional toll on me, and I surely will have to take out a very large amount of loans in order to complete my education. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Just looking at the price of an undergraduate degree, applying to medical school (MCAT prep + exam fees, application fees, travel fees for interviews, etc.), and medical school itself is taking an emotional toll on me, and I surely will have to take out a very large amount of loans in order to complete my education. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite these difficulties, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized my true purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. I want to prevent others from suffering the way I did. I want to improve the care of chronic pain patients in this country. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and "drug-seekers," and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are clear financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Just looking at the price of college and medical school is taking an emotional toll on me, and I surely will have to take out loans in order to complete my education. Currently, I am working part-time at the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college and applying for scholarships in order to help support myself. Despite this, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

As someone with multiple chronic and debilitating medical conditions (irritable bowel syndrome and suspected irritable bowel disease, endometriosis, spinal arthritis and sciatica), I recognize the inequalities in the way people with disabilities, especially invisible disabilities, are treated by the general public and even medical professionals. Because of my own experience with my chronic pain not being taken seriously by doctors, combined with my own fascination with medicine, I am dedicated to becoming a doctor who will become an advocate for patients and work to improve some of the inequalities and biases in medicine today. I am currently a freshman pre-med college student majoring in allied health sciences. I am already well on my way to helping others with disabilities, as I am currently involved in research at my university that is working on testing a novel treatment for chronic back pain. I also work part-time for the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college. My job entails helping students with various disabilities get access to or learn how to use accessible technology that will aid them in their classes and mitigate some of the barriers to education they may face. Thanks for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship!

I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I finally got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that I not only had a passion, but a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, especially a female chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. My experience has made me more tenacious and indefatigable than ever before, and it is my goal in life to improve the care of chronic pain patients. I want to be a physician who stands up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and “drug-seekers”, and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. If there is one takeaway from my narrative, it would be that I am choosing to be a doctor, more specifically a gynecologist, not only because studying medicine is my passion, but because it is my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers. I hope, in the future, through my contributions to the medical community, a condescending “just deal with it” will be a notion of the past. In addition to being a pre-med student pursuing an allied health sciences degree, I currently work part-time for the Center for Students with Disabilities at my college. My job entails helping students with various disabilities get access to or learn how to use accessible technology that will aid them in their classes and help mitigate some of the barriers to education. Because I only work part-time, I have not faced many obstacles in balancing my work and student life, and I've learned how to manage my time in a way that allows me to do well in my classes, exceed at my job, and have some free time to engage in other fun activities around campus. Thank you for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship.

I have chosen to pursue a degree in Allied Health Sciences, and I plan to go to medical school due to my personal interest in medicine, my own experiences as a patient, and most importantly, my desire to create a better future for all patients going through the American health care system. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Gender bias in medicine has been a longstanding problem in healthcare that persists to this day. It is the sad reality that if a woman presents to the doctor’s office with the same condition as a man, she is less likely to receive the same evidence-based care. From studies to personal anecdotes, it has been well and widely documented that women are more likely to be accused of "faking pain” or "exaggerating symptoms'' and have higher odds of being sent home from hospitals without a proper evaluation of their symptoms. This practice can leave women without proper diagnoses for years and can even be fatal. As a woman who will soon work in the healthcare field, I hope that I can bring my experiences to the table and help bridge the gap between the quality of care men receive and what women receive. By having more healthcare providers who are willing to listen to women, such as myself, we can hopefully eradicate gender bias once and for all and allow women the care they deserve.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I plan to contribute to the field of science by pursuing my dream career—becoming a doctor. Not only do I want to be a doctor, but I would also like to be an advocate for chronic pain patients and possibly work on research to improve the lives of people who live with chronic pain. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to contribute to the field of science. For me, there are financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Despite this, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am currently a freshman in college. I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Attaining the funds to be able to attend college comfortably and stress-free would mean so much to me and increase my ability to make a positive impact on the world through my career. For me, there are financial hardships associated with going through the education system (university and medical school) for eight years. Despite this, I'll continue to put myself out there and be motivated. I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals, and I'll keep working for them, no matter what it takes. Education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose—my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

My passion for medicine is what motivates me to pursue my bachelors degree in allied health sciences and apply to medical school. There are many moments in my life that further solidified my passion for medicine and shaped me into the person that I am today. Three of those moments include volunteering at the hospital, visiting a Body Works exhibit, and my own experience living with chronic pain. Moment #1: Volunteering at Memorial Hermann Hospital There is nothing better than a genuine smile. Volunteering at the Memorial Hermann Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Unit taught me that. As I took patients' vitals, I also conversed with them about the weather, their families, and life in general. Sometimes we would even crack some jokes. I forged deep-rooted connections with these patients, and on my last day at the facility, the patients I had assisted expressed their thanks to me in the most wholesome way possible- with a smile. One patient even told me, “You know, seeing young people like you being willing to help out old people like me makes everything seem okay.” It was from then on that I knew that the smiles of the people I had helped were what fueled me, and I wanted to continue seeing smiles like those for the rest of my life. Moment #2: Visiting a Body Works exhibit The first time I saw a human brain, I was captivated by its intricacy. Plastinates of human organs were on display at the Body Works Exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. A childlike curiosity engulfed me as I peered at each arrayal. “The pancreas is so much bigger than I had imagined! Smoking can do THAT to someone’s lungs? So that’s what osteoarthritis looks like?” I began to develop a newfound interest in human anatomy, one that couldn’t have been forged by simply reading through anatomy textbooks or listening to a lecture. As I approached the end of the exhibit, all I could ruminate on was the fact that I wanted to learn more. Moment #3: My Story My main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who works towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. These moments have led to me wanting to further my education in order to acheive my goal of becoming a doctor. Thank you for this opportunity to apply to this scholarship.

I began to volunteer because of the joy it brought me to help others. Originally, I started out with smaller actions, such as picking up litter on the streets, serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving, and packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Eventually, I progressed to larger-scale projects of my own design, such as organizing a school-wide summer tutoring program and creating the first-ever “fish camp” for incoming freshmen at my high school. I've also volunteered with local organizations and non-profits that align with my values and goals, such as teenREACH (planned parenthood), where I worked to deliver age-appropriate, medically accurate sexual health information to teens in need. So far, I’ve obtained 400+ service hours, and I plan to exponentially increase that number in the upcoming years. Through all of my community service efforts, the volunteering position that impacted me the most was my position as a teen volunteer at Memorial Hermann Hospital. As a teen volunteer at Memorial Hermann Hospital, I mainly helped out the nurses in the pulmonary and cardiac rehab unit at the hospital. I took patients’ vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and helped monitor patients while they exercised. As I walked around the unit and took patients' vitals, I also conversed with them about the weather, their families, and life in general. Sometimes we would even crack some jokes. I forged deep-rooted connections with these patients, and on my last day at the facility, the patients I had assisted expressed their thanks to me. One patient even told me, “You know, seeing young people like you being willing to help out old people like me makes everything seem okay.” It was from then on that I knew that the smiles and satisfaction of the people I had helped were what fueled me; and, I realized that I wanted to continue helping people in any way I could for the rest of my life. My experience volunteering has directly contributed to my desire to pursue medicine and become a doctor. I am currently a freshman in college pursuing a health science degree, and I plan to apply to medicial school in just a couple of years. While my journey to become has already proven to be tough in more ways than one, I am more motivated than ever to acheive my goals. I see the challenges and issues my community faces in terms of healthcare equity, and I want to be a part of the soulution. Volunteering has empowered me to realize that I can make a difference; that I can influence change in my community. Through participating in community service, I’ve realized that even the smallest of actions can have a significant impact. While I might not immediately be able to solve major global issues, I can always start benefiting my community by taking small steps toward that end goal, in both my personal life and my professional life.

I began to volunteer because of the joy it brought me to help others. Originally, I started out with smaller actions, such as picking up litter on the streets, serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving, and packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Eventually, I progressed to larger-scale projects of my own design, such as organizing a school-wide summer tutoring program and creating the first-ever “fish camp” for incoming freshmen at my high school. I've also volunteered with local organizations and non-profits that align with my values and goals, such as teenREACH (planned parenthood), where I worked to deliver age-appropriate, medically accurate sexual health information to teens in need. So far, I’ve obtained 400+ service hours, and I plan to exponentially increase that number in the upcoming years. Through all of my community service efforts, the volunteering position that impacted me the most was my position as a teen volunteer at Memorial Hermann Hospital. As a teen volunteer at Memorial Hermann Hospital, I mainly helped out the nurses in the pulmonary and cardiac rehab unit at the hospital. I took patients’ vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation) and helped monitor patients while they exercised. As I walked around the unit and took patients' vitals, I also conversed with them about the weather, their families, and life in general. Sometimes we would even crack some jokes. I forged deep-rooted connections with these patients, and on my last day at the facility, the patients I had assisted expressed their thanks to me. One patient even told me, “You know, seeing young people like you being willing to help out old people like me makes everything seem okay.” It was from then on that I knew that the smiles and satisfaction of the people I had helped were what fueled me; and, I realized that I wanted to continue helping people in any way I could for the rest of my life. One of the main things that motivates me to volunteer is seeing the challenges and issues that my community faces and wanting to be part of the solution. Volunteering has empowered me to realize that I can make a difference; that I can influence change in my community. Through participating in community service, I’ve realized that even the smallest of actions can have a significant impact. While I might not immediately be able to solve major issues such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am a pre-med student who is currently a freshman at the University of Connecticut. My career goals involve making a positive impact on the world by becoming an doctor who advocates for chronic pain patients. I have always been interested in medicine. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH and volunteered with them as a teen health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital, working with elderly patients in the cardiac and pulmonary rehab unit. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. By receiveing this scholarship, I will be better able to pay for college. By completing my Allied Health Science degree, I will not only have the education I need in order to apply, attend, and be successful in medical school and later on in my career, but I will also have the opportunity to further develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership. My experience in college will build me as a person and allow me to become a better doctor for my future patients. Having the funds to pay for my higher education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose- my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers. (Thank you for this opportunity and for your consideration!)

This scholarship will help me pursue my future career goals by providing me with the funds to help pay for college, medical school, and beyond. My career goals involve making a positive impact on the world by becoming an doctor who advocates for chronic pain patients. I have always been interested in medicine. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH and volunteered with them as a teen health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital, working with elderly patients in the cardiac and pulmonary rehab unit. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. By receiveing this scholarship, I will be better able to pay for college. By attending college, I will not only have the education I need in order to apply, attend, and be successful in medical school and later on in my career, but I will also have the opportunity to further develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership. My experience in college will build me as a person and allow me to become a better doctor for my future patients. Going to college and having the funds to pay for my higher education will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose- my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Humanity is stronger when we are united. To be united, we need to understand each other. To understand each other, we need to stop making generalizations about other generations and instead take a moment to listen and reflect. The author of this ode is taking us one step in the right direction. The ode titled "Ode to Millennials-Gen Z" reflects on the challenges and potential of the younger generations, comparing them to the "Greatest Generation" that lived through the Great Depression and World War II. The ode is filled with optimism and admiration for Millennials and Gen Z while acknowledging the problems they face. The author uses this comparative element throughout the ode in a way that fosters understanding between generations. As a Gen-Z-er myself, I have noticed the disconnect between generations. This is articulated in the ode, as the ode touches upon the generational gap in communication and technology. It draws parallels between the older generation's preference for letter writing and the younger generation's use of telephones, or, in the present, between the older generation's preference for phone calls and the younger generation's reliance on text and social media. Younger and older generations of people oftentimes do not understand each other, which can lead to social tension and the oh-so famous "twitter wars", with the generations pitted against each other. The older generations believe they had it much harder and can oftentimes discredit the problems of the younger generation, while, as acknowledged in the ode, the younger generations are dealing with low income, underemployment, and the burden of student loans in the financial sense, as well as global warming. However, what I find interesting about this ode is that someone from an older generation is authoring it. This poem demonstrates that not every Boomer-Gen-X-er sees Millenials/Gen-Z as a "lazy, entitled, and spoiled generation". Instead, the author specifically states that they see the maturity, politeness, and kindness of the younger generations. The ode praises Millennials and Gen Z for their willingness to accept the challenges they face with a sense of duty, just as the "Greatest Generation" did. It acknowledges their grace in handling these burdens. The ode reflects a sense of hope and optimism about the younger generations, suggesting that they may become "The Greatest Generation 2.0." The ode emphasizes that Millennials and Gen Z hear the "call of duty" in their "rendezvous with destiny." It suggests that they are actively engaged with the world's problems and are ready to address them. Having such positive words about the younger generation coming from someone who is of the older generation is really such as stark contrast to what I have been exposed to, and it really gives me more hope for the future of humanity. Humanity is stronger when we are united. To be united, we need to understand each other. To understand each other, we need to stop making generalizations about other generations and instead take a moment to listen and reflect. Only then will we progress to a happier, more prosperous society.

After my laparoscopy in 2022, I got my life back. One technology that truly inspires me regarding the potential for medical technology to make the world a better place is laparoscopy, specifically its applications in the field of endometriosis diagnosis and treatment. As a young woman who has personally battled with this debilitating condition, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that laparoscopy has had on the lives of countless individuals like me. Endometriosis is a chronic and often excruciatingly painful condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Even to this day, endometriosis is a condition that is poorly understood by the medical community and often misdiagnosed, leaving many women to suffer in silence. However, laparoscopy emerged as a game-changing technology in the 1980s in the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Laparoscopy, also known as minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery, involves making small incisions in the abdomen and inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera (laparoscope) to examine the pelvic region. During the laparoscopy, any endometrial adhesions that are found can then be removed. This technology has revolutionized the way endometriosis is diagnosed and treated in several ways, from being one of the only ways women with endometriosis can get an accurate diagnosis of the condition itself, to being a mininally invasive outpatient surgery, to improving the quality of life of patients and empowering them to life better, reduced pain lives. The invention and the technology behind a laparoscopic procedure serves as a beacon of hope for individuals like me who have endometriosis. The existence of laparoscopies showcases the remarkable ability of medical technology to make the world a better place, and how it can change one life at a time for the better. My personal experience has fueled my passion for the intersection of healthcare and technology. Technology in healthcare truly demonstrates how innovative solutions can dramatically enhance the lives of those suffering from various different medical conditions. I'm inspired to be part of a future where technology continues to advance, offering new possibilities for healing, and ultimately, making the world a better place for all.

There's a fall-inspired drink from Starbucks that holds a cherished spot in my heart: the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It's not just a drink; it's a beloved character in my autumn narrative. Here's why. Every year, I eagerly await the return of the PSL at Starbucks. It marks the official transition from the new, fresh out-of-summer break stressed-out student era, into the pre-holiday era, the times when everyone starts to become more excited about what's right around the corner (Halloween, Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.) As someone who grew up in Texas, the Starbucks PSL advertisements and arrival were one of the only signs I had that signaled the transition between Texas's infamous two seasons- hot and hotter. But now that I'm located in Connecticut for University (Go UConn Huskies!), PSL has more meaning than simply denoting the transition into an arguably more fun season. The PSL is something that comforts me as the first nerve-wracking exams of the college semester start to roll around the corner. The PSL is more than just a drink; it's a warm embrace in a cup. The combination of rich espresso, velvety oatmilk, and the perfect blend of pumpkin-y and spicy flavors is nothing short of comforting, especially during a trying time such as exam season. Whether I have it iced or hot, it's the perfect companion for walks around campus, studying in the library, or simply huddling up with a book on a rainy day. But the PSL isn't just there for me when I'm stressed out, it was there for me after one of the most monumental experiences in my life. On October 4th, 2022, I finally had a laparoscopy for endometriosis, a surgery I had been waiting for all my life. Endometriosis is a condition that causes chronic, debilitating pain, and for me, endometriosis prevented me from living my life to the fullest. Despite endometriosis being estimated to affect up to seven percent of women globally, it is one of the most underdiagnosed conditions, due to a lack of research on the condition and medical bias against women. After seven years of pestering my doctors since the age of ten, insisting that something was wrong, I finally got my diagnosis in 2022 and had my surgery on October 4th, 2022. Recovery was difficult, but I always had something to look forward to every morning—my Starbucks PSL. Even on days that I was feeling a bit nauseous and could not stomach too much food, the PSL was something that I looked forward to. Sitting on my bed, gazing out my window, and sipping my PSL was my ideal way to recover. However, as grateful as I am that the PSL was there for me during a time when I was really comforted by it, the PSL is more than just a solo experience for me. The PSL has a unique way of bringing people together. The PSL gets people hyped, making meeting up with friends for a catch-up session at Starbucks even more special. It gives fostering connections and networking that special little thing, that special spice. Those moments spent sipping on our PSLs and sharing stories became cherished memories of my fall season. Overall, the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has become a character in my own fall story. It denotes the changing seasons, comforts me during the new school year and in other trying circumstances, and creates a bonding moment with me and my friends. As I mentioned previously, it's not just a drink. It's a delicious, heartwarming tradition that I cherish and look forward to every year.

My dream version of my future self is to be the catalyst for the life-changing reformation our medical system desperately needs.

Hello! My name is Natasha and I am a current senior in high school. My hobbies include participating in MMA (mixed martial arts), playing my flute, and jamming out to music. Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to become a doctor, and my experiences of going to a specialized health professions school like DeBakey HSHP, becoming a teen health educator through teenREACH, and volunteering at Memorial Hermann hospital have further developed my passion. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers— especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a doctor so that I can work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Winning this scholarship will help me attain my goals by lessening the financial hardships associated with attending university for four years along with an additional 4 years of medical school. Based on the financial aid packages I have received so far, my college tuition price is coming out to be around 40,000 per year, no matter which university I decide to attend. With this price tag, I will likely have to take out hefty loans in order to pay for my college and medical school education. Additionally, as someone with extensive medical conditions (endometriosis, chronic pain, IBS, facet joint/nerve-related spinal issues, etc), paying for my medical care along with my education is another burden I have to bear. In order to help pay for my education, I plan to get a job once in college. Even as a high-schooler, I have experience working a few jobs, such as working at the Houston Museum of Natural Science as a teacher's assistant and working at United Taekwondo as a part-time Taekwondo coach. Currently, I am working towards my CCMA (certified clinical medical assistant) certification, and once I am a CCMA, I plan to work in clinics while also pursuing my college education. As someone who has always been deeply involved in music (I have been playing the flute for the past 7 years and have participated in orchestras, bands, and flute choirs), heavy metal has a special place in my heart. As a band kid, some of my favorite parts of band music to listen to are the bass tones and drums, which are plentiful in heavy metal music. Additionally, whenever I am in a bad mood, heavy metal music always manages to cheer me up. Heavy metal music provides me with a cathartic release and expresses emotions in a way that I cannot find in any other medium. Some of my favorite heavy metal bands include Metallica and Black Sabbath. I truly believe there is no music more soulful than heavy metal, and heavy metal music has helped me express myself, regulate my emotions, and improve my mental health throughout my teen years.

Ever since I was little, I’ve always had a passion for medicine. As a result, at a young age, I decided that I wanted to gain as much experience in healthcare as possible, and I did so by going to a specialized health professions school like DeBakey HSHP, becoming a teen health educator through teenREACH, volunteering at Memorial Hermann hospital, and pursuing certifications such as CERT, CPR/BLS, and certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA). My experiences within healthcare have developed my passion for medicine and confirmed that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who works towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Outside of my desire to become a doctor and help others in my community in the future, I make an effort to help people in my community in the present and be an active member of my community. My engagement in volunteering has largely contributed to who I am today. I began to volunteer because of the joy it brought me to help others. I started out with smaller actions, such as picking up litter on the streets, serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving, and packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Eventually, I progressed to larger-scale projects of my own design, such as organizing a school-wide summer tutoring program and creating the first-ever “fish camp” for incoming freshmen at my school. So far, I’ve obtained 400+ service hours, and I plan to exponentially increase that number in the upcoming years. Volunteering has empowered me to realize that I can make a difference. Through participating in community service, I’ve realized that even the smallest of actions can have a significant impact. While I might not immediately be able to solve major issues such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, it brings me joy to know that I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

Ever since I was little, I’ve always had a passion for medicine. As a result, at a young age, I decided that I wanted to gain as much experience in healthcare as possible, and I did so by going to a specialized health professions school like DeBakey HSHP, becoming a teen health educator through teenREACH, volunteering at Memorial Hermann hospital, and pursuing certifications such as CERT, CPR/BLS, and certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA). My experiences within healthcare have developed my passion for medicine and confirmed that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who works towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Outside of my desire to become a doctor and help others in the future, I make an effort to help people in the present and be an active member of my community. My engagement in volunteering has largely contributed to who I am today. I began to volunteer because of the joy it brought me to help others. I started out with smaller actions, such as picking up litter on the streets, serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving, and packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Eventually, I progressed to larger-scale projects of my own design, such as organizing a school-wide summer tutoring program and creating the first-ever “fish camp” for incoming freshmen at my school. So far, I’ve obtained 400+ service hours, and I plan to exponentially increase that number in the upcoming years. Volunteering has empowered me to realize that I can make a difference. Through participating in community service, I’ve realized that even the smallest of actions can have a significant impact. While I might not immediately be able to solve major issues such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, it brings me joy to know that I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey HSHP, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. I did this while, unknown to my peers, I was going through an unexplained, undiagnosed daily agony- one that neither I nor doctors had an answer for. ______ “What’s the reason for your visit today?” “I…well…I have menstrual pain so severe that I have trouble concentrating in school. I occasionally wake up in the middle of the night and cannot sleep due to the pain. It feels like a constant stabbing that radiates to my lower back and legs. The pain is at its peak when I’m on my period; however, it’s present all month long. I can’t live like this. What should I do, Doctor? " I glanced at the gynecologist in anticipation and thought, “Will she be the one? Will I finally be believed? " The gynecologist gave me an all-too-familiar, blank stare. Before she even uttered a word, I braced myself for her response. With confidence, she proclaims, “Some people just get cramps on their period; it’s natural. Take naproxen and deal with it." I left the doctor's office with no probable cause or solution for my suffering. My hope for treatment was rapidly dwindling. I have dreams, but with my unidentified condition progressing, those dreams seemed more like a figment of my imagination rather than a probable reality. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial growths. I accepted. Once I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have an inate passion for medicine, but I also had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. My experience has made me more tenacious and indefatigable than ever before, and my goal is to pursue education in the healthcare realm in an effort to improve the care of chronic pain patients. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and “drug-seekers”, and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. I hope by pursuing a bachelor's degree in biology, attending medical school and residency, and then finally becoming a doctor, I hope to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

As a seven-year mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioner, I hold a black belt in taekwondo and have been training in kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) almost daily. Out of all of my hobbies, MMA has shaped me the most. As an shy 10-year-old, starting taekwondo was out of my comfort zone. However, after a few classes, I grew to love the sport. The Dojang was a place where I could be myself, away from the stressors of the classroom or home. Once I started to add BJJ and kickboxing to the mix, I was once again new to those martial arts, however, this time, I was outspoken, was not afraid to ask new questions, and was not afraid to employ new strategies in sparring, even if I knew that they might not work. I learned how to speak up for myself and my needs, which helped me not only become a better martial artist but also spilled over to other parts of my life, such as speaking up for myself and other students at school. MMA has taught me how to be an out-of-the-box thinker, be a stronger person (both physically and mentally), and to always persevere, even when the situation is dire. The resilience that MMA has created within me has carried on to other aspects of my life, such as helping me in my struggle in battling endometrosis, my chronic pain condition. Overall, without MMA in my life, I would not be the person that I am today.

Mathematics is such an important and fundamental subject with a wide range of applications in many different fields and aspects of daily life. For example, mathematics provides a systematic way of thinking about and solving problems. From basic arithmetic to complex calculus, mathematical concepts and methods are used to tackle a wide range of problems, both in academics and in the real world. Additionally, math requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are valuable skills in many areas of life, such as decision making, goal setting, and risk management. While some students may discount the importance of higher-level mathmatics, I beleive that math makes you a better critical-thinker and trains your thinking skills in a way that other subjects do not. Math is a universal language, and has been at the forefront of the development of new technologies, including some of our favorites: phones and rockets! Finally, math is an everyday expereince. Math is used in many aspects of everyday life, from counting change and balancing a checkbook, to calculating mortgage payments and making investment decisions. Knowing the basics of math is essential to understanding and thriving in the world around us. Overall, mathematics is an essential subject that provides a foundation for many aspects of life, and helps individuals develop important critical thinking, problem-solving, and quantitative skills that will help them in the current and beyond. I love math becase not only do I see the importance in learning it, but it brings me personal fulfillment. Math is a challenging and engaging form of problem-solving, and I find satisfaction in working through complex mathematical problems and finding solutions. I also find math to be beautiful and elegant, and I appreciate the simplicity and symmetry of mathematical equations and formulas. In addition to its beauty, math is precise and certain, and I find comfort in the idea that there is only one correct answer to a mathematical problem, instead of widely nuanced answers that can be found in subjects such as English. Lastly, I find math to be mentally stimulating, and I enjoy the challenge of wracking my brain to solve complex problems, such as those found in upper-level calculus or statistics. Ultimately, my reasons why I love math are varied. Throughout my life, math has engaged me in many unique and meaningful ways, and I hope that math continues to serve me in the future as it does for me now.

I love math for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to: 1) Math builds my problem-solving skills: math is a challenging and engaging form of problem-solving, and I find satisfaction in working through complex mathematical problems and finding solutions. 2) Math is beautiful: I find math to be beautiful and elegant, and I appreciate the simplicity and symmetry of mathematical equations and formulas. 3) Math has precision and certainty: math is precise and certain, and I find comfort in the idea that there is only one correct answer to a mathematical problem, instead of widely nuanced answers that can be found in subjects such as English. 4) Math has a comforting, global presence: math is a versatile and applicable subject that can be used in a variety of fields, including science, engineering, healthcare, finance, and more. I can see math everywhere, from the architectural designs of my city to the prices of items in a store. 5) Math gives me mental stimulation: I find math to be mentally stimulating, and I enjoy the challenge of wracking my brain to solve complex problems, such as those found in upper-level calculus or statistics. Ultimately, my reasons why I love math are varied. Throughout my life, math has engaged me in many unique and meaningful ways.

I believe it is important for everyone to have healthy eating habits to benefit both their physical and mental health. However, it is especially important for chronic pain patients, like me, to focus on their diet, as having a healthy diet can do wonders for reducing the pain associated with many chronic pain conditions. As someone who was recently diagnosed with endometriosis, a chronic pain condition, eating a healthy diet has significantly reduced the amount of pain I experience. Certain foods, such as processed and fried foods, can increase inflammation in the body, which can make chronic pain worse. On the other hand, a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, can help reduce inflammation and relieve chronic pain. For example, by reducing my added sugar intake, completely removing dairy from my diet, and increasing my green veggie intake, I was able to reduce my chronic pain by about 30%. This was a significant improvement for me, and while giving up/ reducing my intake of some of my favorite foods such as pizza or ice cream was difficult at first, the benefits to my health were too good to resist. Outside of the physical benefits of being in less pain, my mental health has improved significantly. Being in less pain than before means that I can accomplish more things now than I could before, which makes me feel better about myself. Additionally, eating healthier has improved my energy levels. It's well known that eating a well-balanced diet can provide the body with the energy it needs to manage daily activities and cope with chronic pain, and I have experienced this "side-effect" of healthy eating firsthand. Eating healthy not only makes me feel better in the present, but it will likely support me in the future as well. A healthy diet can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of other health problems, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, that can worsen chronic pain. As someone with a family history of type 2 diabetes, I feel more assured in my health when I make an effort to eat healthily. While I cannot cure my chronic pain condition, I can improve the way I experience the condition significantly by simply making an effort to eat healthier. In a way, my healthy eating habits have given me my life back, and in the future and in college, I hope to continue my healthy eating journey.

In a world where people are becoming more polarized and divided day by day, I believe we could all use a quick reminder of what it means to be human and reiterate to ourselves the importance of being able to work together for a common good. One book that has the potential to do this is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Adopted by the United Nations in 1948, this document outlines the basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality, political opinion, or any other way someone may identify themselves, and supports democracy and human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and the importance of respecting and protecting the dignity of all people; especially, when even in today's day and age, not everyone in the world has all of their rights that they are entiltled to, due to discriminatory laws (such as the maltreatment of women under Taliban rule in Iran), or systemic inequalities (such as the mistreatment of black and brown individuals by police brutality in the United States). It is a book that can foster a common understanding of what it means to be human and what we can do to promote equality, justice, and respect for all people. If everyone in the world could read this book, I believe that we the people can all gain a better understanding of their own rights and the rights of others, and be inspired to work towards creating a more just and equitable world.

To me, having integrity means always doing the right thing. Integrity involves upholding the principles of honesty, fairness, trust, accountability, and upholding personal moral principles, even in the face of adversity or temptation. The first part of exercising honor is being honest. Telling the truth and avoiding deception, even when it's difficult or inconvenient, while sometimes uncomfortable, is always the right thing to do. For example, I uphold this principle by returning lost or found items to their rightful owner, even if there is no reward or recognition involved. Second, being fair involves treating others equitably and not engaging in actions or decisions that could be perceived as discriminatory or unjust. I uphold this by giving everyone a fair chance when I initially meet them, and pushing any and all judgemental thoughts to the side. Third, being trustworthy involves keeping one's promises and commitments, and being reliable and dependable in all relationships. For example, if a friend of mine tells me personal information about themselves, I do not go around telling other people about their infomation unless I get permission to. Fourth, being accountable involves taking responsibility for one's actions and decisions, and acknowledging mistakes when they occur. I maintain accountability in my day-to-day life by always admitting when I'm wrong, even when it's embarassing or uncomfortable. Fifth, upholding moral and ethical principles involves acting in accordance with one's values and principles, and not compromising them for personal gain or convenience. I practice upholding my moral and ethical principles by not cheating on my schoolwork, even when I see some of my other classmates doing so. To me, having integrity is essential for building trust and positive relationships in all areas of life, and it's an essential aspect of one's character.

Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Volunteering Manager and the teenREACH Social Media Officer. I’ve obtained 400+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years. While I have participated in many volunteer projects, one aspect of volunteering in which I have gone above and beyond in my life is biology tutoring at my school. It all started my Freshman year when one of my biology teachers granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before one of our major biology exams. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that a small action, my mere few hours of tutoring, had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by as well as setting them up for future academic success. This revelation from mere Saturday tutoring spurred me to want to change more lives through tutoring. Following a discussion with my biology teacher, we devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. I wasn't getting paid to tutor, but the success of those who I'd tutored in the past was enough to drive me forward in my mission. I spent a significant portion of my sophomore-year summer planning the logistics of the tutoring project and creating lesson plans for my tutees to benefit from. With the logistics sorted out, and a team of eager tutors gathered, the tutoring program could commence! It has been two years since the summer tutoring project has been in place, and the program is a recurring, yearly project at my school! The success of this project has made me realize that not only am I capable of creating successful projects, but that small actions can have a significant impact. While taking a few hours out of my day to tutor others may have been a small action on my part, it has had a major impact on my tutee's academic achievement and confidence. My vision for the future is to continue to change lives through various aspects of service, and to continue to create and lead new projects. I am a current high school senior and I will be heading to college next year. In college, I plan to continue to tutor other students, take part in service-based clubs, and even create my own service-based club based on the needs of my community. Whatever the future holds for me, I know that I will continue to innovate, lead, and volunteer in a way that will best benefit those around me.

I am pursuing a college degree in biology in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. My experience has made me more tenacious and indefatigable than ever before, and my goal is to become a physician who will work towards fostering change and improving the care of chronic pain patients. I want to stand up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and “drug-seekers”, and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. Despite the financial burden that pursuing medical education will have on me and my family, I am determined to make my dream of becoming a doctor a reality. I hope, in the future, through my contributions to the medical community, I can save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

My involvement in athletics has greatly shaped who I am and taught me valuable lessons that I will take with me to college and beyond. I’m a current high school senior, and for the past seven years of my life, I’ve dedicated countless hours towards going to the gym and training in mixed martial arts. As a seven-year mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioner, I hold a black belt in Taekwondo (TKD) and have been training in both kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) almost daily. My experience with MMA started at age ten, at a time when I was insecure, unathletic, and relatively shy. I had spent most of my childhood watching MMA promotions such as the UFC, and I admired and felt inspired by the skills of the fighters I had watched. Despite this, due to my insecurity and lack of confidence at the time, I doubted my abilities to succeed as an MMA practitioner. However, on my tenth birthday, I finally summoned the confidence to ask my parents to enroll me at my local Taekwondo dojang. It was from then on that my journey as a martial artist began. Attending a Taekwondo dojang was initially completely out of my comfort zone; however, after a mere few classes, I grew to love practicing the sport. The dojang was a place where I could be myself, away from the stressors of the classroom or home. As I progressed as a martial artist, I was quickly given coaching opportunities, and at age fourteen, I got my first coaching job (I was paid ten dollars an hour to teach children’s group TKD lessons every Saturday). As my passion for MMA grew, I started to add other martial arts such as BJJ and kickboxing to the mix. Due to my increased confidence from practicing TKD for over four years prior, when I started practicing BJJ and kickboxing, I was more outspoken than ever before. I was not afraid to ask new questions, I was not afraid to push myself hard during class, and I was not afraid to employ new strategies in sparring, even if I knew that they might not work. I learned how to best speak up for myself and my needs, which helped me not only become a better martial artist but also spilled over to other parts of my life, such as standing up to bullies at school and speaking up for my/others' needs. While my increase in confidence over the years was the biggest positive impact that athletics has had on my life, there were a lot of other life lessons I picked up from being an MMA practitioner. MMA has taught me how to be grateful and respectful to those around me, think outside the box, be a stronger person (both physically and mentally), and take criticism. MMA has shown me how to persevere, even when the situation is dire. The resilience that MMA has created within me has carried on to other aspects of my life, and I feel that without MMA, I would not be where I am today.

Community service is a big part of who I am. It is my goal to continually benefit those around me and in my community, and in doing so, pave the way for a better tomorrow. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for four years, Beta for four years, NHS for two years, and teenREACH for three years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Volunteer Manager and the teenREACH social media officer. So far, I’ve obtained 400+ service hours, and I plan to increase that number exponentially in the upcoming years. Originally, I started to volunteer because of the joy it brought me to help others. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face brings me immense happiness. I started out with smaller actions, such as picking up litter on the streets, serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving, and packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Eventually, as my passion grew, I progressed to larger-scale projects of my own design, such as organizing a schoolwide summer tutoring program and contributing to the creation of the first-ever “Fish Camp” for incoming freshmen at my school. Volunteering has empowered me to realize that I can make a difference. While I may not immediately be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. Hopefully, through my contributions and the contributions of the hundreds and thousands of volunteers globally, we can get closer and closer to a safer, cleaner, healthier, and happier world. Thank you for this opportunity to apply for scholarships!

I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. Once I finally got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion, but a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to be taken seriously as a chronic pain patient, and consequently, how life-changing it is to visit a doctor who genuinely cares and has the patient’s best interest in mind. My experience has made me more tenacious and indefatigable than ever before, and it is my goal in life to improve the care of chronic pain patients. I want to be a physician who stands up for patients who live every day in agony but seldom receive proper care, for patients who get labeled as “liars” and “drug-seekers”, and most importantly, for the women, children, and people of color that are overlooked by our medical system, even today. If there is one takeaway from my narrative, it would be that I am choosing to be a doctor not only because studying medicine is my passion, but because it is my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers. I hope, in the future, through my contributions to the medical community, a condescending, “just deal with it” will be a notion of the past.

College excites me because a college degree will bring me one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. By attending college, I will not only have the education I need in order to apply, attend, and be successful in medical school and later on in my career, but I will also have the opportunity to further develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership. My experience in college will build me as a person and allow me to become a better doctor for my future patients. College will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose- my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers. I maintain a healthy mind, body, and soul amidst my high school challenges by maintaining a balance between schoolwork and my hobbies, and managing my stress in healthy ways. For me, a prime example of this is going to MMA practice. As a Mixed Martial Arts athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on solidifies my love for the sport. Not only does MMA make me healthier physically, but it helps me relax as it reduces any stress I’ve accumulated throughout the day from school. Putting the time into taking care of myself has made me more productive, more proud, and most importantly a less stressed individual. I recognize the importance of relaxing in my life and will continue to practice self-care daily to maintain my mental and physical health throughout college and beyond.

Higher education is important to me because it will allow me to achieve my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. By attending college, I will not only have the education I need in order to apply, attend, and be successful in medical school and later on in my career, but I will also have the opportunity to further develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership. My experience in college will build me as a person and allow me to become a better doctor for my future patients. College will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose- my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

I am pursuing a college degree in order to get one step closer to my dream career—becoming a doctor. I have always wanted to become a doctor. At six, I dreamt of donning my white coat, adorned with a badge that read “Dr. Natasha Khetan, MD." At eight, I eagerly showed my parents my “when I grow up” school project, featuring a sketch of myself in scrubs. At fourteen, I enrolled at DeBakey High School for Health Professions, ready to immerse myself in rigorous health science classes. At fifteen, I joined teenREACH as a health educator, and at seventeen, I volunteered at Memorial Hermann Hospital. My experience in medicine has further nurtured my passion and assured me that becoming a doctor is the right path for me. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers—especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a physician who will work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. By attending college, I will not only have the education I need in order to apply, attend, and be successful in medical school and later on in my career, but I will also have the opportunity to further develop my soft skills such as time management, communication, teamwork, and leadership. My experience in college will build me as a person and allow me to become a better doctor for my future patients. College will pave the way for me to fulfill my true purpose- my desire to save other little girls from having to wait seven years for answers.

Since I was little, I’ve always wanted to become a doctor. My experiences of going to a specialized health professions school like DeBakey HSHP, becoming a teen health educator through teenREACH, and volunteering at Memorial Hermann hospital have developed my passion. However, my main influence for becoming a doctor is my own experience living with chronic pain and my seven-year-long fight for answers. From ages ten to seventeen, I dealt with severe menstrual pain that lasted all month long. Despite presenting symptoms clearly indicative of a larger issue than “just cramps” since the age of 10, it took seven years of visiting doctors, developing severe stomach ulcers and SIBO due to my excessive use of naproxen, and pestering doctors endlessly before I finally met one doctor willing to hear me out. He diagnosed me with endometriosis and offered to perform a laparoscopy to remove my endometrial adhesions. I accepted. The moment I got my diagnosis of endometriosis, I realized that not only did I have a passion for medicine, but I had a purpose. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for chronic pain sufferers— especially female chronic pain sufferers—to not only be taken seriously but also receive appropriate care, and I want to be a doctor so that I can work towards fostering change in this aspect of medicine. Currently, I am in the process of applying to universities. My plan is to earn a bachelor's in biology while continuing to volunteer at clinics/hospitals, attend medical school, and then finally, become a doctor. I plan to achieve this by working hard, taking advantage of opportunities that come my way, and believing in myself and my abilities. Hopefully, through my future endeavors in medicine, I can help other chronic pain patients live their life to the fullest.

Two Words: Original poem by Natasha Khetan To be or to not to be an apple dangles from the poison tree. The concept of literary gurus sculpting words into enticing intricate worlds. The level of understanding to do what they are commanding. All in the capability of a couple little words. The thought of an eternal partner that in turn makes the heart beat faster. The concept of forever to attempt regardless of failed endeavors. The origin of tragedies the fastening of fate regardless of circumstance is all in the capability of two little words. Despite the saying “happily ever after” the unconscious mind composes a brand-new chapter. The human brain is intrigued. Carrying all to a close indefinite endings, dramas, stories, or prose is encompassed in the capability of two little words The End. (Thank you for this scholarship opportunity and I hope you enjoyed my poem! I had a lot of fun writing it.)

As a 17-year-old girl who has lived in Texas for the past six years, it is my own experience, stories of others, and disheartening statistics that motivate me to confront gender disparity in Texas. Gender disparity takes on many forms in Texas; however, of all the forms, gender bias in healthcare is of utmost importance to me, which is a prevailing issue that affects women not only in Texas but all over the world. It is the sad reality that if a woman presents to the doctor’s office with the same condition as a man, she is less likely to receive the same evidence-based care. In certain medical specialties, such as cardiac care and pain management, the difference between the care that a man receives and a woman receives is further exacerbated. Ever wondered why women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men? The answer lies in the fact that women are more likely to be told they are "faking their pain for attention" and have higher odds of being sent home from the ER without a proper evaluation of their symptoms. As a girl who recently received a preliminary diagnosis for endometriosis, I was lucky to eventually find a team of doctors who took my symptoms and pain seriously enough to run tests, prescribe medication, and diagnose me; however, it was initially a massive struggle to find doctors who would take me seriously. I was told repeatedly that I was “too young” or “didn’t look like I was in pain” or that “the pain can’t be that bad”. It was only after overusing NSAID pain medications to the point where I developed severe stomach ulcers, missing out on many days of school, and seeing a multitude of doctors and pestering them to help me find a solution to my chronic, debilitating pain that I was finally given a preliminary diagnosis of endometriosis, almost seven years of suffering later. Even after my preliminary diagnosis, it took even more pestering from my side to schedule a laparoscopic surgery in order to officially diagnose and remove endometrial growths, when found. Although my journey with getting taken seriously was harrowing and long, I was eventually able to get help- an opportunity that many women across the nation never get. In order to combat gender bias, we need to 1) raise awareness and 2) improve diversity among healthcare workers. Many physicians aren’t aware that they are discriminating based on gender; it’s a subconscious bias that they need to be conscious of in order to change. Awareness of this issue will lead to improved education in medical schools, as well as make the general public more aware of the problem so they can recognize it when it occurs to them or a loved one. Additionally, men are more likely to exhibit gender bias than women, so increasing the number of female healthcare providers in the workforce will decrease the chance that a patient will encounter a biased healthcare provider. In fact, my main goal in life is to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor, more specifically a gynecologist. Although I've always known I wanted to enter the medical field, my experience has motivated me to pursue gynecology and help those who have suffered similarly to me. As a female physician who is aware of the reality of gender bias in medicine, I would help to bridge the gender gap between men and women in medicine. While the road to combating gender bias may not be easy, it is critical to confronting gender disparity in Texas and around the world.

My name is Natasha, I’m 17 years old, and I have been diagnosed with stomach ulcers and SIBO, and have a preliminary diagnosis of endometriosis, a debilitating chronic pain condition. While there is no cure for endometriosis, I will be having laparoscopic surgery this October in an attempt to reduce my pain. Despite my struggles, I choose to stay optimistic. Through my tough times, I’ve learned that the best way to maintain an optimistic outlook on life is to see the good in every situation. While having to spend money on doctor's appointments, having to take medication every day, and living my life in pain are obvious downsides to my situation, there are benefits. As someone who is interested in becoming a doctor, being a chronic pain patient has led me to be a more empathetic and understanding person when it comes to those who are suffering and has further motivated me to pursue my dreams. Additionally, being able to frequently communicate with hospital staff has given me knowledge (about anatomy, different medications, and the work that medical staff does) as well as opportunities such as the opportunity to volunteer at the hospital. Essentially, my chronic pain has indirectly given me experience in the medical field and gives me a leg up when it comes to applying to premed tracks for college. Every situation has a silver lining, and focusing on that silver lining has helped me stay optimistic. Staying optimistic has taught me about the importance of optimism itself. Instead of cursing the universe for my situation, I have instead chosen to focus on the positives, which has empowered me to push forward. Staying optimistic is paramount to an individual's mental health and we should all strive to be optimistic- no matter what life throws our way.

My medical conditions have left me debilitated, frustrated, and even hopeless at times; however, though sharing my story and working towards my dreams, I hope to make the world a better place. Ever since I was ten, I’ve experienced debilitating menstrual pain. It got exponentially worse as the years progressed, to the point where I would schedule my life around my menstrual cycle. I wouldn’t go on school trips, I wouldn’t hang out with friends, and I wouldn’t even smile anymore. The first few times I went to the doctor, they prescribed me pain medication (high dose NSAIDS) that didn’t even make a dent in my pain. Being young and frustrated that my pain medications weren't working, I ended up overusing the pain medication prescribed to me, in hopes that taking larger doses would reduce my suffering. Due to my overconsumption of NSAIDS, I eventually developed acid reflux and severe stomach ulcers. Because of this, I could no longer use any oral pain medication, leading to me having to battle both the pain of the stomach ulcers and the pain of my period at full strength. By the time I hit high school, the pain that I previously experienced solely during my periods had begun to spread to the weeks preceding up to and after them, leaving me in chronic misery. Even stopping my periods (by taking norethindrone daily) didn't stop my constant agony. I would hide heating pads under my school clothes in an attempt to cope, as I knew that despite the pain that I was in, I still had to manage good grades in school because good grades are vital to those aspiring to have a career in medicine. I’ve passed out in school numerous times due to my pain, and in the second semester of my junior year of high school, I had more than twenty medical-related absences. After seeing a multitude of doctors and pestering them to help me find a solution to my pain, almost seven years of suffering later, I am finally being given a preliminary diagnosis of endometriosis. While there is no cure for endometriosis, this preliminary diagnosis has given me a possible reason for my pain and encourages me to persevere, even when the situation is dire. Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that occurs exclusively in people with uteruses. It is one of the most underdiagnosed diseases, despite presenting in almost ten percent of women. It takes on average ten years to be diagnosed with endometriosis after showing symptoms, partly because symptoms are often dismissed as being “just bad periods" and doctors often underestimate the amount of pain the patient is in. My main goal is to become a gynecologist. I know firsthand how hard it can be for female individuals to be taken seriously and get proper treatment for reproductive health issues, and I want to be a doctor that helps to foster change in this aspect of medical practice. Although I've always wanted to enter the medical field, my life experiences have motivated me to pursue gynecology and help those who have suffered similarly to me. I’ve taken the initiative to gain as much experience in the medical field as possible- I’m currently volunteering at a hospital and I am a teen educator for the nonprofit teenREACH. I also attend DeBakey HSHP and have taken health science classes pertaining to patient care, medical laboratory, and general anatomy. I put myself out there, I’m motivated, and I know I have what it takes to accomplish my goals and I'll keep working for them- no matter what it takes.

As a mentor, I strive to help others to succeed. While I’ve done a plethora of mentor work over the years, an example of my most significant work is tutoring through my summer tutoring project. My high school is known for its extremely rigorous curriculum and high drop-out rates. In order to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of our school and curb dropout rates, a group of students and my biology teacher devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help tutor other students. I spend hours preparing material to tutor over and actually tutoring my tutees. Overall, the summer tutoring project was a major success at our school and the freshman class came in more prepared than ever. While taking a few hours every day to tutor others may have been a small act of kindness on my part, it has had a major impact on my tutee's academic achievement and confidence.

One thing I do to improve the lives of the elderly people in my community is by volunteering at a pulmonary rehab center at a hospital in my community. Following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our elderly are facing lasting lung complications after contracting COVID-19. At the pulmonary rehab center, I help the elderly with their rehab exercises and I take their oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and heart rate measurements as needed. I also make sure to keep them company while they are exercising- we talk about our lives, crack some jokes, and overall have a good time. As someone who strives to be a doctor, I plan to go into a career field where many of my patients may be seniors. I view making an effort to care for the elderly at a young age to be crucial for me to be a more empathetic, caring doctor for my future patients.

My parents never knew where it all went. At first, it was just a few, insignificant pieces; then entire fistfuls. Their absences were skillfully hidden under the illusion of trust, which is something young children like myself were very proficient at obtaining. It was quite the fine art and game, thievery. The careful calculations, the need for subtle disappearance that required finesse, and the simple yet complicated action of keeping your face emotionless, despite the vivid, crooked plans that taunt your mind. A skilled method of destroying as much evidence as possible in the split-second of time you have, and an evidence-based alibi to prove your innocence, just in case. Most importantly, the timing. Time is a man-made concept, yet the one that is weighed as the heaviest burden for thieves. A mere one-second difference can lead to failure and as all first-class thieves know, failure cannot be reversed. You can never win back the trust of those who caught you. Once caught, you either live the life of a fallen legend or a legend that was never there. I desire the life of neither. Bearing the rules of the delicate art in mind, I once again found myself creeping into the kitchen, towards the cabinets, strangely calm. It was another bright, beautiful Saturday in Boston. A light breeze gently caressed my face through the open window, as Daeva, my cat, slowly paced around, licking morsels of cat food off the floor. The sink was full of unwashed dishes, but above that was a small cabinet, gently propped open, as if it were waiting for me to open it. I took a quick peek into the master bedroom, only to see my parents fast asleep. Perfect. These are perfect conditions for a young girl like me to be stealing the Kit-Kats meant for the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night. I tiptoed closer to the cabinet, trying to mask the light thumps of my feet on the kitchen floor. Occasionally looking behind me, I slowly approached the cabinet. I opened it swiftly to prevent the dreaded squeaking. Slowly putting my hand inside, I used my fingers to grip the edge of a Kit-Kat wrapper. Repeating the process several times until I had a fistful of chocolate, I then quickly shut the cabinet and rearranged it to the way it was before I invaded. Before making my way back to my room, I grabbed a bottle of orange juice as a decoy, just in case either one of my parents woke up. I tiptoed back to my room undisturbed. Mission Accomplished.

When people ponder the biggest problems facing the world, climate change and racism are some of the top contenders. While these are major issues that need work, in my opinion, the biggest problems are the ones that are hidden, with few people taking steps to solve them. I can think of no other issue that fits this description better than gender bias in medicine. It is the sad reality that if a woman presents to the doctor’s office with the same condition as a man, she is less likely to receive the same care. In certain medical specialties, such as cardiac care and pain management, the difference between the care that a man receives and a woman receives is further exacerbated. Ever wondered why women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men? The answer lies in the fact that women are more likely to be told they are "faking their pain" and have higher odds of being sent home from the ER without proper evaluation of their symptoms. The best way to ensure that gender bias is eradicated is to first raise awareness that gender bias is a real problem among medical professionals. Many physicians aren’t aware that they are discriminating based on gender; it’s subconscious. Awareness of this issue will lead to improved education in medical schools, as well as increased public awareness of the problem so the average person can recognize bias when it occurs to them. Patients sticking up for themselves and holding doctors and other medical professionals accountable is crucial to the process of combating gender bias. Equal access to proper healthcare will help women accomplish their dreams and lead more fulfilling lives. While the road to combating gender bias may not be easy, it is critical to developing a more equal society.

My favorite book is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers is a nonfiction work that argues that the traditional notions of achieving success (such as through “hard work” or “natural talent”) are generally wrong and that one’s circumstance matters more than talent in achieving success. The thing that I love about this book is that I actually disagree with many of Gladwell’s points. While this may seem contradictory, for me, reading a book where I agree with every word the author writes is lackluster and difficult to obtain educational value from. For example, I disagree with several of the points Gladwell creates in Chapter 8 in order to support his theory on why Asian students tend to outperform students of other races. Gladwell asserts that the Chinese numbering system is very simple, making interactions between numbers more accessible to Chinese students, therefore increasing their math scores. However, this does not account for all other Asian groups who also tend to outperform students of other races. Indian, Vietnamese, and Korean students tend to dominate in math as well, however, they don’t use the Chinese numbering system. I also disagreed with his ideology in Chapter 1 which stated that children who are redshirted (aka held back a year) had a significant advantage in classrooms over students who were not redshirted. To contradict, recent studies show that redshirted students performed worse on tests and were more likely to drop out of school. Other than a small advantage in varsity sports, redshirting is largely an impediment. There are parts of Outliers I did agree with, such as Chapter 7, “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes.” However, these instances were few and far between. Overall, reading from authors I don’t always agree with allows me to think deeply and challenge my own ideas.

My favorite scientific discovery is the internet. Not only has it opened up a new world of entertainment, but more importantly, internet access has allowed for people to stay in touch over long distances, presented new online job opportunities, and has granted people like me the gift of applying to scholarships easily and from the comfort of my own home. As someone who’s an aspiring doctor, the educational expenses for four years of college plus four years of medical school seem daunting. Nevertheless, with opportunities such as these scholarships readily available to me via the internet, I am further convinced that finances are no longer the major obstacle to achieving my goals as I once thought. Some people will argue that the internet has caused many problems, such as screen addiction. While that is true, in modern society, the benefits of internet access far outweigh the potential harms for most people. To recapitulate, the invention of the internet allows people of all backgrounds and needs to improve their quality of life; making it the best invention mankind has created thus far.

As an avid volunteer, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize local volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Club’s Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve accumulated over 350 community service hours, and I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years. While through these organizations I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries, my most significant work is projects I’ve helped to facilitate at my school to aid my fellow classmates, most notably, summer tutoring. My high school is known for its extremely rigorous curriculum and high drop-out rates. In order to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of our school and curb dropout rates, a group of students and my biology teacher devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. I spent a significant portion of my summer creating lesson plans for my tutees to benefit from. Not only did academically inform my students, but I also taught them valuable study skills and gave them high school "survival tips" to ensure my tutees were as comfortable as possible when making the transition from middle to high school. Overall, the summer tutoring project was a major success at our school and the freshman class came in more prepared than ever. Summer tutoring will now be a recurring summer event for our school, helping more and more freshmen as the years go on. Thank you for this opportunity to apply for scholarships!

Giving is important to me because my favorite thing in the whole world is seeing the smiles on other people's faces, (especially the ones where their whole face lights up and their eyes sparkle, those are the best kind of smiles.) I give back mainly through volunteering. I have joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH (and I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH). One of my most memorable experiences of giving back is tutoring at my high school. Two years ago, my biology teacher granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. Beyond tutoring, I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

The simple pleasures to me are working out, volunteering, and periodically indulging in what I love. As an MMA athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on brings me unexplainable happiness. As an avid volunteer, it brings me joy to help others in my community. I’ve done it all, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face brings me unexplainable contentment. Eating and sleeping are little things that make me happy. Periodically indulging in short naps after a long day at school or eating a piece of chocolate after I’ve finally finished my eight-page research paper for English are small but simple ways I keep the joy flowing through my veins. I don't need a million dollars to be happy; instead, seeking out fulfillment in my day-to-day activities is enough to satisfy me.

Something that drives me to continue to help others through service is the knowledge that small actions can have a significant impact. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I’m even the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. So far, I’ve obtained 300+ service hours, and I plan to increase that number exponentially in the upcoming years. While I’ve done a plethora of service projects over the years, an example of my most significant work is my summer tutoring project. My high school is known for its extremely rigorous curriculum and high drop-out rates. In order to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of our school and curb dropout rates, a group of students and my biology teacher devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. Overall, the summer tutoring project was a major success at our school and the freshman class came in more prepared than ever. While taking a few hours every day to tutor others may have been a small act of kindness on my part, it has had a major impact on my tutee's academic achievement and confidence. I found that small actions toward change were important in all aspects of service, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to donate to schools in need. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to proper education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

I used to be an awful listener. That is until I watched the Ted Talk “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation” by Celeste Headlee a few years ago. Headlee placed emphasis on the idea that most people listen with the intent to reply, rather than the intent to understand; which impedes their listening skills. Slightly embarrassed, I realized that I had a tendency to do this. I found this to be true for me especially when I would talk to adults; I would always mentally plot a response to what the adult is saying while they are talking, instead of just listening. However, after watching Headlee’s Ted Talk, I realized this habit of mine is what prevents me from fully absorbing what others, especially those older than me, are saying. In the days following my realization, I started to concentrate more on listening when others are speaking. By pressuring myself to be fully immersed in the conversation, I not only learned more from others, but my conversations began to flow more smoothly. To recapitulate, I actively listen to those around me by not letting my mind go astray. As for what listening means to me, I believe that listening is about giving the speaker your undivided attention in order to have effective conversations. Being a better listener entails having more meaningful relationships with friends, creating a good impression at a job interview, and effectively working as a team with your coworkers. It allows you to be a better communicator, which is advantageous in many circumstances. Overall, listening is important for all aspects of our lives and we should all strive to improve our listening skills.

The impact I hope to leave on the world is one of positive change. I plan to do so through volunteer work and consistently helping my community. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years by continuing to serve the organizations I am currently a part of and joining new organizations. I’m passionate about volunteering and serving my community because of the fulfillment I receive from it and the visible change I can see myself creating in my community. I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

I’m passionate about many things, from playing my flute to going to MMA practice to studying and furthering my education. However, my main passion is volunteering and being a good citizen in my community. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years by continuing to serve the organizations I am currently a part of and joining new organizations. I’m passionate about volunteering and serving my community because of the fulfillment I receive from it and the visible change I can see myself creating in my community. I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. As I continue through this journey called life, I plan to continue to pursue my passions- every single one of them.

I have many goals for my future, from traveling around the world to getting my black belt in BJJ to graduating from medical school and becoming a doctor. However, my most prominent goal is to continue to be an avid volunteer and good citizen in my community. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years by continuing to serve the organizations I am currently a part of and joining new organizations. I’m dedicated to volunteering and serving my community because of the fulfillment I receive from it and the visible change I can see myself creating in my community. I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. As I continue through this journey called life, I’m confident that I can achieve my goals- every single one of them.

I have many goals for my future, from traveling around the world to getting my black belt in BJJ to graduating from medical school and becoming a doctor. However, my most prominent goal is to continue to be an avid volunteer and good citizen in my community. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years by continuing to serve the organizations I am currently a part of and joining new organizations. I’m dedicated to volunteering and serving my community because of the fulfillment I receive from it and the visible change I can see myself creating in my community. I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. As I continue through this journey called life, I’m confident that I can achieve my goals- every single one of them.

I have many items on my bucket list, from traveling around the world to getting my black belt in BJJ to graduating from medical school. However, my most prominent goal is to continue to be an avid volunteer in my community and achieve 500+ volunteer hours by the time I hit twenty-five years old. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years by continuing to serve the organizations I am currently a part of and joining new organizations. I’m dedicated to volunteering and serving my community because of the fulfillment I receive from it and the visible changes I can see myself creating in my community. I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. As I continue through this journey called life, I hope that I can add expand my bucket list and simultaneously clear my current goals one by one.

I stay committed to speaking my mind by standing up for myself and others whenever needed. For example, my school has a high dropout rate. We had a Saturday tutoring program to help curb this issue, but I felt that the students at our school needed something more than mere Saturday tutoring. I spoke up and brought up my concerns to my biology teacher, and following a discussion, we devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. The summer tutoring program was highly successful, with tutees increasing their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. It’s important for people to speak their minds because it creates honesty, and honesty creates change. Had I not been honest about the fact that our school needed to do more for our students, then change via the summer tutoring program would not have occurred.

I think the best way to live a long, healthy life is to eat healthily. Many Americans today tend to neglect eating well and resort to stress-eating, and with so many fast-food restaurants surrounding us on a daily basis, it’s easy to see why. When I was younger, I used to consume a lot of food, specifically junk food, as a way of managing stress. Not only did it make me gain an unhealthy amount of weight, but it made me feel lethargic and only caused me more stress later on. Breaking out of this cycle and managing my stress in more productive and healthy ways has made me an improved version of my previous self, and one that I am very proud of. The saying “you are what you eat” is true. To be fit and healthy, it’s in people’s favor to eat well. Not only will it help prevent obesity, but also some of the number one killers, such as heart disease and certain types of cancers. We should all take a look into our pantries and fridges, and ask ourselves “are we improving our lives, or slowly destroying them?”

Something that I love about myself is my drive to help others. It’s helped me benefit my community in more ways than one. It's led me to become an avid volunteer; in fact, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Club’s Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I jump at any and all opportunities I receive to better the lives of others. However, when I’m asked about the volunteer project I believe demonstrated my drive to help others the most, my school’s summer tutoring project always comes to mind. Two years ago, my biology teacher granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. Beyond tutoring, I’ve done everything from picking up litter to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. I love my drive to help others because not only does it benefit my community, but I believe it will benefit me in my quest to become a doctor, as it will ensure that I will be a more empathetic, caring doctor for my patients.

I’m committed to being selfless because my favorite thing in the whole world is seeing the smiles on other people's faces, (especially the ones where their whole face lights up and their eyes sparkle, those are the best kind of smiles.) I help others mainly through volunteering. I have joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH (and I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH). One of my most memorable experiences of helping others is tutoring at my high school. Two years ago, my biology teacher granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. Beyond tutoring, I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, my selflessness can still benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal. Selflessness is of paramount importance to our lives; not only does it make others feel good about themselves, but it makes the benefactor feel good about themselves as well. Selflessness is at heart mutualistic, therefore we should all make it our goal as humans to be more selfless.

I relax and take care of my mental health by continually doing what I love and managing my stress in healthy ways. For me, a prime example of this is going to MMA practice. As a Mixed Martial Arts athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on solidifies my love for the sport. Not only does MMA bring me happiness, but it helps me relax as it reduces any stress I’ve accumulated throughout the day from school. Taking care of myself has made me more productive, more proud, and most importantly a less stressed individual. I recognize the importance of relaxing in my life and will continue to practice self-care daily to maintain my mental and physical health.

My main hobbies consist of practicing MMA, playing my flute, and volunteering. As an MMA athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on makes me want to train harder the next day. As a flutist, I love seeing the joy on the people’s faces as I perform the beautiful Bach Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2 or the majestic Telemann Fantasy No. 2. Taking the time out of my day to work towards achieving something that makes both me and others happy is the epitome of enjoyment to me. As an avid volunteer, it brings me joy to help others in my community. I’ve done it all, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face makes me want to continue with my endeavors. To me, exploring my hobbies is about developing myself in ways other than academics. Although I want to work in the medical field and be a doctor as a career, I still see the value in continuing what I enjoy. Engaging in my interests has made me less stressed and given me something to look forward to after a long day of studying.

Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work. I've been a member of Interact for three years, Beta for three years, NHS for one year, and teenREACH for two years. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve obtained 300+ service hours so far, although I plan to exponentially grow that number in the upcoming years. While I have participated in many volunteer projects, one of my favorite projects was participating in summer tutoring at my school. One lesson that I have learned through service towards others, specifically tutoring, is that small actions can have a significant impact. While taking a few hours out of my day to tutor others may have been a small action on my part, it has had a major impact on my tutee's academic achievement and confidence. Last year, for instance, one of my biology teachers granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before one of our major biology exams. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that a small action, my mere few hours of tutoring, had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by as well as setting them up for future academic success. This revelation from mere Saturday tutoring spurred me to want to change more lives through tutoring. Following a discussion with my biology teacher, we devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. I wasn't getting paid to tutor, but the success of those who I'd tutored in the past was enough to drive me forward in my mission. I spent a significant portion of my summer planning the logistics of the tutoring project and creating lesson plans for my tutees to benefit from. The tutoring program was designed to set up each tutor with a small group of tutees. My tutees were mainly incoming ninth graders, and many stated that they were taking tutorials out of fear of flunking out of high school. Upon learning this, I taught them valuable study skills and gave them high school "survival tips" to ensure my tutees were as comfortable as possible when making the transition from middle to high school. Again, while taking a few hours every day to tutor others may have been a small act of kindness on my part, it had a major impact in my community. Beyond tutoring, I found that small actions toward change were important in all aspects of service, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

To me, the epitome of living with gratitude is giving back to the community and those around you. It’s about giving to those who are less fortunate, and not taking your own blessings for granted. The way I demonstrate gratitude to my community is mainly through volunteer work. As an avid volunteer, I’ve joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. With well over three hundred hours of volunteer work under my belt, I’ve made it my goal to give back to my community in any way I can. I also demonstrate my gratitude to those around me by taking the extra steps to help out my family and friends when they need it. For instance, my sister is a beginner violinist who often struggles to play some of her favorite pieces. As a musician myself, I often help her with her rhythm and tuning, even when she doesn't explicitly ask for help. The care and effort I've put towards my sister's musical abilities have not only made her a better musician, but they have created a closer bond between us. Gratitude is of paramount importance to our lives; not only does it make others feel good about themselves, but it makes the benefactor feel good about themselves as well. Gratitude towards others is at heart mutualistic, therefore we should all make it our goal to show more appreciation to the people around us.

Something that drives me to continue to help others through service is the knowledge that small actions can have a significant impact. Throughout my life, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I’m even the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. So far, I’ve obtained 300+ service hours, and I plan to increase that number exponentially in the upcoming years. While I’ve done a plethora of service projects over the years, an example of my most significant work is my summer tutoring project. My high school is known for its extremely rigorous curriculum and high drop-out rates. In order to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of our school and curb dropout rates, a group of students and my biology teacher devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. Overall, the summer tutoring project was a major success at our school and the freshman class came in more prepared than ever. While taking a few hours every day to tutor others may have been a small act of kindness on my part, it has had a major impact on my tutee's academic achievement and confidence. I found that small actions toward change were important in all aspects of service, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to donate to schools in need. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to proper education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

I used to be an awful listener. That is until I watched the Ted Talk “10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation” by Celeste Headlee a few years ago. Headlee placed emphasis on the idea that most people listen with the intent to reply, rather than the intent to understand; which impedes their listening skills. Slightly embarrassed, I realized that I had a tendency to do this. I found this to be true for me especially when I would talk to adults; I would always mentally plot a response to what the adult is saying while they are talking, instead of just listening. However, after watching Headlee’s Ted Talk, I realized this habit of mine is what prevents me from fully absorbing what others, especially those older than me, are saying. In the days following my realization, I started to concentrate more on listening when others are speaking. By pressuring myself to be fully immersed in the conversation, I not only learned more from others, but my conversations began to flow more smoothly. To recapitulate, I actively listen to those around me by not letting my mind go astray. As for what listening means to me, I believe that listening is about giving the speaker your undivided attention in order to have effective conversations. Being a better listener entails having more meaningful relationships with friends, creating a good impression at a job interview, and effectively working as a team with your coworkers. It allows you to be a better communicator, which is advantageous in many circumstances. Overall, listening is important for all aspects of our lives and we should all strive to improve our listening skills.

To me, friendship is about caring for your friends and taking the extra step to support them when you can, whilst expecting nothing in return. One of my most memorable experiences of helping my friends is starting a tutoring program at my high school. Two years ago, my biology teacher told us she was hosting tutorials on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam, and she needed some students that were confident in the subject matter to help her out. Knowing that some of my classmates were struggling terribly in biology, I jumped at her offer. After the tutorials and following the exam the next week, I was thanked by several of my friends that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. In my eyes, confidence is one of the most loving gifts you can grant someone; it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Ever since that day of tutoring, I have vowed to continue to make meaningful, lasting changes in the lives of others as my signature display of friendship.

I practice self-care by continually doing what I love and managing my stress in healthy ways. A prime example of this is going to MMA practice. As a Mixed Martial Arts athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on solidifies my love for the sport. Not only does MMA bring me happiness, but it reduces any stress I’ve accumulated throughout the day from school. As a younger version of myself, I used to consume a lot of food, specifically junk food, as a way of managing stress. Not only did it make me gain an unhealthy amount of weight, but it made me feel lethargic and only caused me more stress later on. Breaking out of this cycle and managing my stress in more productive and healthy ways has made me an improved version of my previous self, and one that I am very proud of. To recapitulate, self-care has made me more productive, more proud, and most importantly a less stressed individual. I recognize the importance of self-care in my life and will continue to practice self-care daily to maintain my mental and physical health.

My favorite scientific discovery is the internet. Not only has it opened up a new world of entertainment, but more importantly, internet access has allowed for people to stay in touch over long distances, presented new online job opportunities, and has granted people like me the gift of applying to scholarships easily and from the comfort of my own home. As someone who’s an aspiring doctor, the educational expenses for four years of college plus four years of medical school seem daunting. Nevertheless, with opportunities such as this scholarship readily available to me via the internet, I am further convinced that finances are no longer the major obstacle to achieving my goals as I once thought. Some people will argue that the internet has caused many problems, such as screen addiction. While that is true, in modern society, the benefits of internet access far outweigh the potential harms for most people. To recapitulate, the invention of the internet allows people of all backgrounds and needs to improve their quality of life; making it the best invention mankind has created thus far.

The elderly are often neglected members of society. Especially following a pandemic in which visiting retirement homes was greatly limited, many of our elderly most likely feel very lonely. Something I do to improve the lives of elderly people in my community is by going and playing music for them. As a flautist, I love seeing the joy on the elderly people’s faces as I play the beautiful Bach Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2 or the majestic Telemann Fantasy No. 2. My favorite thing in the whole world is seeing the smiles on the senior’s faces as I perform, (especially the ones where their whole face lights up and their eyes sparkle, those are the best kind of smiles.) It makes me happy that I’m bringing some liveliness into their likely mundane lives. As someone who strives to be a doctor, I plan to go into a career field where many of my patients may be seniors. I see making an effort to care for the elderly at a young age to be crucial for me to be a more empathetic, caring doctor for my future patients. More people dedicated to volunteering at retirement homes or interacting with the elderly in general would be a much-needed kind gesture towards our elderly.

I stay true to myself by indulging in what I love on a daily basis, whilst keeping my goals in mind. My purpose in life is to live healthily, happily, and to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor, and my actions on a daily basis are akin to that. As an MMA athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on brings me unexplainable happiness. As an avid volunteer, it brings me joy to help others in my community. I've gone out of my way to join numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Club’s Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I’ve done it all, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face brings me unexplainable contentment. Having the courage to accept who I am and what I want out of my life has helped me stay true to myself and progress towards my goals. My advice to others attempting to stay true to themselves would be to begin by not being afraid to be who you are!

To me, the epitome of generosity is giving back to the community and those around you. It’s about giving your hundred percent towards a cause, even when you are under no obligation to. The way I demonstrate generosity to others is mainly through volunteer work. As an avid volunteer, I’ve joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. With well over three hundred hours of volunteer work under my belt, I’ve made it my goal to give back to my community in any way I can. I also demonstrate generosity by taking the extra step to help out my family and friends when they need it. For instance, my sister is a beginner violinist who often struggles to play some of her favorite pieces. As a musician myself, I often help her with her rhythm and tuning, even when she doesn't explicitly ask for help. The care and effort I've put towards my sister's musical abilities have not only made her a better musician, but they have created a closer bond between us. Generosity is of paramount importance to our lives; not only does it make others feel good about themselves, but it makes the benefactor feel good about themselves as well. Generosity is at heart mutualistic, therefore we should all make it our goal to show more generosity to the people around us.

As an avid volunteer, I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Club’s Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. While through these organizations I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries, my most significant work is projects I’ve helped to facilitate at my school to aid my fellow classmates, most notably, summer tutoring. My high school is known for its extremely rigorous curriculum and high drop-out rates. In order to better prepare incoming students for the rigor of our school and curb dropout rates, a group of students and my biology teacher devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. I spent a significant portion of my summer creating lesson plans for my tutees to benefit from. Not only did academically inform my students, but I also taught them valuable study skills and gave them high school "survival tips" to ensure my tutees were as comfortable as possible when making the transition from middle to high school. Overall, the summer tutoring project was a major success at our school and the freshman class came in more prepared than ever. Summer tutoring will now be a recurring summer event for our school, helping more and more freshmen as the years go on.

Something I’ve learned about myself is that I’m a natural leader. I discovered this when I successfully led a team to create and present a Teen Talk from scratch. I am involved in teenREACH, a nonprofit that aims to provide medically accurate sexual health information to teens in need through Teen Talks, which are presentations given for teens by teens. Typically, the adults in the organization make the Teen Talk presentations for us teenREACH members and we simply present them; however, I wanted to create a presentation on something I was passionate about, so I took the initiative to do just that. With a total of three others in my group, I created a group chat, shared a Google Slideshow presentation, and set up our first initial Zoom meeting to discuss the logistics of our educational Portrayal of Sex in the Media presentation, a presentation created with the intent to shed some light on some of the inaccuracies regarding relationships and sex commonly depicted by the media. With the researching roles equally divided amongst us, I ensured to send our reminder messages of tasks that needed to be completed to effectively guide my group members throughout the three-week period that we allocated for ourselves. Upon the presentation’s completion, I reached out to our teenREACH coordinator to get approval from Planned Parenthood to present our Teen Talk presentation. Our "Portrayal of Sex in the Media" Teen Talk took place on April 13th, 2021, and it was a tremendous success! This success was not only a result of all the effort my group members dedicated to the preparation of our presentation but also because of my innate ability to lead others into accomplishing something meaningful. I plan to use my ability to lead to take initiative in all aspects of my life.

The simple pleasures to me are working out, volunteering, and periodically indulging in what I love. As an MMA athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on brings me unexplainable happiness. As an avid volunteer, it brings me joy to help others in my community. I’ve done it all, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face brings me unexplainable contentment. Eating and sleeping are little things that make me happy. Periodically indulging in short naps after a long day at school or eating a piece of chocolate after I’ve finally finished my eight-page research paper for English are small but simple ways I keep joy flowing through my veins. I don't need a million dollars to be happy; instead, seeking out fulfillment in my day-to-day activities is enough to satisfy me.

When people ponder the biggest problems facing the world, climate change and racism are some of the top contenders. While these are major issues that need work, in my opinion, the biggest problems are the ones that are hidden, with few people taking steps to solve them. I can think of no other issue that fits this description better than gender bias in medicine. It is the sad reality that if a woman presents to the doctor’s office with the same condition as a man, she is less likely to receive the same care. In certain medical specialties, such as cardiac care and pain management, the difference between the care that a man receives and a woman receives is further exacerbated. Ever wondered why women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men? The answer lies in the fact that women are more likely to be told they are "faking their pain" and have higher odds of being sent home from the ER without proper evaluation of their symptoms. The best way to ensure that gender bias is eradicated is to first raise awareness that gender bias is a real problem among medical professionals. Many physicians aren’t aware that they are discriminating based on gender; it’s subconscious. Awareness of this issue will lead to improved education in medical schools, as well as increased public awareness of the problem so the average person can recognize bias when it occurs to them. Patients sticking up for themselves and holding doctors and other medical professionals accountable is crucial to the process of combating gender bias. Equal access to proper healthcare will help women accomplish their dreams and lead more fulfilling lives. While the road to combating gender bias may not be easy, it is critical to developing a more equal society.

The most difficult situation I’ve had to deal with is debilitating menstrual pain. Ever since I was ten, I’ve had severe period pain to the point where I would just have to lie down and cry for ten days straight every month. It became so bad that I would schedule my entire life around my period. I wouldn’t go on school trips, I wouldn’t hang out with friends after school, and I wouldn’t even smile anymore. The first few times I went to the doctor, they prescribed me some pain medication that didn’t so much as make a dent in my pain. Despite all the pain that I was in, I still had to manage good grades in school. I would hide heating pads under my school clothes in an effort to cope, as I knew that grades would be important to my future. Despite all the pain that I was in, I chose to persevere. However, recently, I switched doctors, and as a result, received a preliminary diagnosis for endometriosis. This preliminary diagnosis has given me a possible reason for my pain and encourages me to keep going. While there is no direct cure for endometriosis, I am more motivated than ever to become a doctor and help others who have suffered similarly to me.

The quality I value the most in myself is my drive to help others. It’s helped me benefit my community in more ways than one. However, when asked about the volunteer project I believe demonstrated my drive to help others the most, the summer tutoring project I helped host at my high school always comes to mind. To preface, I’m an avid volunteer. I've joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH. I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH; I’m the Interact Club’s Vice President and the teenREACH social media officer. I jump at any and all opportunities I receive to better the lives of others, and such was the case with tutoring. Two years ago, my biology teacher granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. This revelation from mere Saturday tutoring spurred me to want to change more lives through tutoring. Following a discussion with my biology teacher, we devised a plan to set up an online tutoring program over the summer, where students would help other students. I wasn't getting paid to tutor, but the success of those who I'd tutored in the past was enough to drive me forward in my mission. I spent a significant portion of my summer creating lesson plans for my tutees to benefit from. The tutoring program was designed to set up each tutor with a small group of tutees. My tutees were mainly incoming ninth graders, and many stated that they were taking tutorials out of fear of flunking out of high school. Upon learning this, I taught them valuable study skills and gave them high school "survival tips" to ensure my tutees were as comfortable as possible when making the transition from middle to high school. Beyond tutoring, I’ve done everything from picking up litter to serving meals to the homeless to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. I believe my drive to help others will benefit me in my quest to become a doctor, as it will ensure that I will be a more empathetic, caring doctor for my patients.

Joy to me is living life with a purpose whilst periodically indulging in what I love. As an MMA athlete, it brings me joy to go to the gym and train. Every time I go to the gym, I can feel myself getting stronger, I can spot my technique getting better, and I can see my rank increasing. Knowing that I am building a better version of myself every time I put my BJJ gi or boxing gloves on brings me unexplainable happiness. As an avid volunteer, it brings me joy to help others in my community. I’ve done it all, from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. Knowing that my efforts have placed a smile on someone else’s face brings me unexplainable contentment. Joy can also be found in the little things. I love to eat and sleep. Periodically indulging in short naps after a long day at school or eating a piece of chocolate after I’ve finally finished my eight-page research paper for English are small but simple ways I keep joy flowing through my veins. I don't need a million dollars to be joyful; instead, seeking out fulfillment in my day-to-day activities is enough to satisfy me.

I make others feel loved by helping them when they need it, whilst expecting nothing in return. One of my most memorable experiences of helping others is tutoring at my high school. Two years ago, my biology teacher told us she was hosting tutorials on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam, and she needed some students that were confident in the subject matter to help her out. Knowing that some of my classmates were struggling terribly in biology, I jumped at her offer. After the tutorials and following the exam the next week, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. In my eyes, confidence is one of the most loving gifts you can grant someone; it’s a gift that keeps on giving. Ever since that day of tutoring, I have vowed to continue to make meaningful, lasting changes in the lives of others as my signature display of love.

My favorite book is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers is a nonfiction work that argues that the traditional notions of achieving success (such as through “hard work” or “natural talent”) are generally wrong, and that one’s circumstance matters more than talent in achieving success. I love this book is that I disagree with many of Gladwell’s points. While this may seem contradictory, for me, reading a book where I agree with every word the author writes is lackluster and difficult to obtain educational value from. For example, I disagree with several of the points Gladwell creates in Chapter 8 in order to support his theory on why Asian students tend to outperform students of other races. Gladwell asserts that the Chinese numbering system is very simple, making interactions between numbers more accessible to Chinese students, therefore increasing their math scores. This point of his makes no sense, as it does not account for all other Asian groups who also tend to outperform students of other races. Indian, Vietnamese, and Korean students tend to dominate in math as well, however, they don’t use the Chinese numbering system. I also disagreed with his ideology in Chapter 1 that stated that children who are redshirted (aka held back a year) had a significant advantage in classrooms over students who were not redshirted. To contradict, recent studies show that redshirted students performed worse on tests and were more likely to drop out of school. Other than a small advantage in varsity sports, redshirting is largely an impediment. There are parts of Outliers I did agree with, such as Chapter 7, “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes.” However, these instances were few and far between. Overall, reading from authors I don’t always agree with allows me to think deeply and challenge my own ideas.

Giving is important to me because my favorite thing in the whole world is seeing the smiles on other people's faces, (especially the ones where their whole face lights up and their eyes sparkle, those are the best kind of smiles.) I give back mainly through volunteering. I have joined numerous organizations that emphasize volunteer work, such as Interact, Beta, NHS, and teenREACH (and I hold officer positions in both Interact and teenREACH). One of my most memorable experiences of giving back is tutoring at my high school. Two years ago, my biology teacher granted some students the opportunity to go to school on a Saturday in order to tutor some of our fellow classmates before a major biology exam. Following the exam, I was thanked by several students that I tutored who got A’s on the test, with some improving their overall grades from C’s to A’s. Their statements made me realize that my mere few hours of tutoring had the ability to increase their grades dramatically, giving them greater confidence in a subject they may have previously been intimidated by. Beyond tutoring, I’ve done everything from picking up litter on the streets to serving meals to the homeless during Thanksgiving to packing books to send to underdeveloped countries. While I may not be able to solve major global problems such as pollution, poverty, or the lack of access to education, I can always benefit my community by taking small steps toward that end goal.

I believe society can most effectively empower women by combating gender bias in the medical field. It is the sad reality that if a woman presents to the doctor’s office with the same condition as a man, she is less likely to receive the same evidence-based care. In certain medical specialties, such as cardiac care and pain management, the difference between the care that a man receives and a woman receives is further exacerbated. Ever wondered why women are more likely to die from heart attacks than men? The answer lies in the fact that women are more likely to be told they are "faking their pain for attention" and have higher odds of being sent home from the ER without a proper evaluation of their symptoms. As a girl who recently received a preliminary diagnosis for endometriosis, I was lucky to have a team of doctors who took my symptoms and pain seriously enough to run tests, prescribe medication, and diagnose me; however, many women across the nation do not have the same opportunity that I had. Endometriosis is a debilitating condition that occurs exclusively in people with uteruses. It is also one of the most underdiagnosed diseases, despite presenting in almost ten percent of women. It takes on average ten years to be diagnosed with endometriosis after showing symptoms, partly because symptoms are often dismissed as being “just bad periods" and doctors often underestimate the amount of pain the patient is in. Gender bias in medicine is a major disservice to all women, and by combating it we can effectively empower women to live their best lives. In order to combat gender bias, we need to understand its roots. The majority of medical science is based on the belief that women are just smaller versions of men with different reproductive organs. Because of this, most research has been conducted on men. Because men have always been studied more, we know more about their bodies over women’s bodies, leading to women being misdiagnosed and brushed to the side when they don’t present symptoms the same way men do. The best way to ensure that gender bias is eradicated is to first raise awareness that gender bias is a real problem among medical professionals. Many physicians aren’t even aware that they are discriminating based on gender; it’s a subconscious bias that they need to be conscious of in order to change. Awareness of this issue will lead to improved education in medical schools, as well as make the general public more aware of the problem so they can recognize it when it occurs to them or a loved one. Patients sticking up for themselves and holding doctors and other medical professionals accountable is crucial to the process of combating gender bias. To corroborate, improving diversity in healthcare workers may also help alleviate gender bias. Men are more likely to exhibit gender bias than women, so increasing the number of female healthcare providers in the workforce will decrease the chance that a patient will encounter a biased healthcare provider. In fact, my main goal in life is to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor, more specifically a gynecologist. Although I've always known I wanted to enter the medical field, my experience with endometriosis has motivated me to pursue gynecology and help those who have suffered similarly to me. Equal access to proper healthcare will help women accomplish their dreams and lead a more fulfilling, joyful life. While the road to combating gender bias may not be easy, it is critical to developing a more accepting, equal society.