My mom physically battled cancer for eight years. When I was about 12 or 13 years old, I remember she had to get emergency thyroid surgery. Being that young, there are only so many things you can understand about the medical world. I just knew something was wrong. The doctors diagnosed her with thyroid cancer and recommended a thyroidectomy. As I got older, during my high school years, my mom developed another cancer. This cancer was T-cell lymphoma, a type of skin cancer that I now understand can be very aggressive. For about five years, she managed it through treatments where her blood was taken out, exposed to ultraviolet light, and returned to her body. My mom worked as a flight attendant for 30 years and often only had two or three days off a week. She had to schedule treatments on her days off, and after years of repeated blood draws, her veins became scarred, making it harder each time. In the summer of 2020, my mom began acting out of the ordinary. Her behavior resembled someone who was intoxicated. My dad immediately contacted her oncologist, and she was rushed to the ER. A brain scan showed a large mass on her frontal lobe, and she was transported to a hospital in Tucson, Arizona. At the time, I was working as an EMT in the fire department, and this was a hospital I frequently went to. I remember bringing in a patient and seeing my mom in one of the ER beds. As soon as I came around the corner, she smiled and looked so happy to see me. After a biopsy, we learned the skin cancer had metastasized to her brain and was aggressive. I was on shift when I got the news. Over the next month and a half, she went through intense chemotherapy. She lost her hair, gained weight, and felt awful, but she never stopped being a mom. She continued to check in on me and my sisters, even while fighting for her life. She later became a candidate for a stem cell transplant. We found a perfect donor in Europe, and the procedure was approved. When she came home, she was extremely tired. The doctors said it was normal, but her condition didn’t improve. She got worse. When she went back for another scan, the cancer had spread throughout her brain. She had reached the point of no return. I got that news while transporting a patient. I went to her room and saw the nurses who had cared for her. One nurse cried with me as I sat next to my mom. My mom was no longer able to speak, only making small facial expressions. I remember holding her hands and crying harder than I ever had before. That was the moment it truly hit me. Before I left, I told her I loved her, and I remember seeing her smile. A few days later, she was placed on hospice and passed away six days after coming home. Working in medicine, I have seen death, but nothing prepares you for losing your own parent. This experience changed how I see my patients. Every person I care for is someone’s loved one, just like my mom was. Their time may be limited, and how they are treated matters. Because of her, I approach every patient with compassion and patience. I carry that with me as I work toward becoming a physician assistant. I know she is watching over me, and I believe she is proud of the man I am becoming.

Something I want to build in my life is a strong, meaningful relationship with my future children. Becoming a father is both exciting and intimidating, especially at this stage in my life. While I am focused on preparing for my future, saving money, pursuing scholarships, and continuing my education. I also recognize that fatherhood is one of the greatest responsibilities and opportunities a person can have. I choose to look at it as a privilege: the chance to shape a life, create lasting memories, and provide the kind of support every child deserves. I was fortunate to grow up with a father who was deeply involved in my life. As a child, I looked up to him in every way. He worked for a waste management company, and I remember watching him drive those large trucks, thinking he was extraordinary. Beyond his work, he was always present. He supported my passion for soccer, spent weekends watching professional games with me, and made time for small but meaningful traditions; like going out to eat before my games. Those moments may have seemed simple, but they left a lasting impact on me. They showed me what it means to be present, supportive, and engaged as a parent. My mother also played a significant role in shaping who I am. She worked as a flight attendant for 30 years and exemplified hard work, resilience, and selflessness. Even while battling cancer during the later part of her career, she continued to put others first and approach life with strength. Her perseverance, combined with my father’s guidance, gave me a powerful example of what it means to care for others and remain committed through adversity. These experiences have shaped my vision for the future. I want to build a family environment where my children feel supported and valued. I want to be present in their lives, encourage their passions, and create meaningful experiences they will carry with them into adulthood. Unfortunately, not every child grows up with that kind of support, and not every man recognizes the importance of being actively involved. I want to help change that, starting with my own family. By building strong relationships within my future family, I believe I can make a positive impact that extends beyond my household. The values I pass down can influence future generations and contribute to a stronger, more connected community. Ultimately, building a meaningful relationship as a father is not just a personal goal; it is a lifelong commitment to creating a positive and lasting impact.

Option 3 Relationships play a role in both my personal and professional goals because they directly influence how I learn and connect with others. Research on human connection and learning emphasizes that strong relationships create an environment where people feel engaged and motivated. This sense of connection, often referred to as social synchrony, allows individuals to align emotionally and cognitively, leading to better outcomes (MacMahon, 2020). I have seen the impact of this firsthand through my experience teaching EMT students at a community college. Teaching is an experience that was foundational to my understanding of human relationships; especially in developing confidence when speaking in front of others. Teaching showed me that the first step in building any effective learning environment is understanding your audience and how individuals learn. Some students are hands-on learners, others prefer verbal instruction, and some learn best visually. When teaching EMT skills, I had to incorporate all three methods to ensure students were fully engaged and prepared. I realized that one could not build strong relationships with my students unless there was time to understand how they learned best. This experience reinforced the idea that connection and personalization are essential for success; whether in education or any professional setting. As someone pursuing a career as a physician assistant, relationships will be central to my success. In healthcare, the ability to build trust and connection with patients, colleagues, and other medical professionals is essential. Just as students perform better in connected learning environments, patients are more likely to feel heard in care where there is a strong interpersonal connection. There is research that supports the idea that engagement and performance improve when individuals feel a sense of familiarity and trust. These principles directly apply to patient care and teamwork in a medical setting (MacMahon, 2020). My experience teaching has already prepared me to approach patients in a similar way. This approach begins with understanding their needs and adapting to ensure they feel comfortable and supported. On a personal level, relationships are equally important to my long-term goal of becoming a great father. Much of my understanding of relationships comes from my mother, who worked as a flight attendant for 30 years. Her career was centered around serving others, and she consistently demonstrated humility, kindness, and a commitment to doing the right thing. She often put others before herself, and while that approach can sometimes be challenging, it taught me the importance of selflessness. Watching her interact with people showed me that small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact. My mothers influence has shaped the way I treat others, especially in the medical field. Whether I am helping someone in a high-pressure medical scenario or simply offering support in everyday life, I strive to approach people with the same level of care and respect that she modeled. A parent’s example is one of the first exposures children have to relationships, and it plays a critical role in development and relationship success. Connection can also enhance learning and development from the outside in. I believe that surrounding myself with supportive and driven individuals leads to personal success. Whether through friendships, mentorships, or romantic relationships, being connected to people who share similar values and goals helps me stay motivated and accountable. Ultimately, relationships are not separate from my goals; they are foundational and critical to my success as a future healthcare provider and father. By building meaningful connections, I can create positive environments that foster growth, trust, and a lasting impact in every aspect of my life. MacMahon, S. J. (2020). Human connection and learning: Understanding and reflecting on the power of the social dimension for learning. ACCESS: Contemporary Issues in Education, 40(1), 15-23.

I worked in the fire department for about two and a half years in a rural county in southern Arizona. Resources were limited, and we often had only 13 individuals on shift covering an area of around 354 square miles. There was a specific borderline that we shared with another fire department. I worked 48-hour shifts and usually arrived at the station around 7:30 a.m., before the 8:00 a.m. shift start. We did this so the previous shift could go home early and so we could check the trucks to ensure everything was fully stocked and ready. One morning, I arrived early and was checking a truck when tones were dispatched for a massive head hemorrhage. The patient’s location was on the border between our department and another, meaning it would be at least 10 minutes before the patient received care. Like any other 911 call, we responded rapidly. The other department arrived about 35 to 40 seconds before us. I remember turning down the street and seeing a large accumulation of fluid running down a hill. This fluid was blood coming from the patient’s head and extended approximately 20 yards. With limited personnel on scene, the paramedics handled advanced life support while I and the other EMTs performed chest compressions and managed the airway. It was a chaotic scene. The patient had severe injuries, including a possible hip fracture or dislocation, a femur fracture, bilateral tibia and fibula fractures, and significant head trauma. He was unresponsive and bleeding rapidly. I attempted to insert an i-gel, a device used for airway control, but there was so much blood in the airway that I had to suction every couple of minutes. After 10 to 15 minutes of effort, the paramedics called the scene, and the patient was pronounced dead. We later learned the man had been street sweeping the hilly roads of Rio Rico, Arizona. While driving downhill, the pneumatic brakes of his vehicle failed. Instead of staying inside the frame of the apparatus, he chose to jump. We were told by his coworkers that he had just started his shift that morning after saying goodbye to his wife and children. Emergency medicine has both successes and failures. I responded to several traumatic scenes during my time as a firefighter, but this one stood out. It reflected the sadness, the hard work, and the inevitability of tragedy in life. I believe this experience shaped me and prepared me for a career as a physician assistant. While I may not directly respond to incidents like this as a PA, I will have the opportunity to work in emergency medicine. My time in the fire department instilled teamwork, discipline, and perspective. I have seen people on their worst days, and I believe that experience has prepared me to handle the challenges of clinical medicine