1) "Watch" is my all time favorite song due to how the melody accurately reflects the sentiment driven in the lyrics, creating a symphony of pulse racing visuals that tug your heartstrings to make you feel sentiments of happiness, longing, and grieving all at once. The way the melody picks up when Billie is describing the feeling in her chest, the loss of love and the reflection of what once was, how it plagues her and causes her pain. This is a primary example of the teenage love experience, laced with unknown feelings and unnavigable thoughts. An experience of passion and emotion stronger than any previous feeling, exacerbating any thought or sentiment that crosses the mind. "I'll sit and watch my heart burn, with the fire that you started in me" demonstrates how Billie feels abandoned with the effects of the emotions but is in isolation when attempting to navigate them. She's in a field of her own, forced to confront her heart, face to face, and create meaning of what she feels. That tight feeling you get in your chest, always gets to me. Frustration boils up in my chest when emotions are too strong, and it can boil over and feel like fire pulsating through my veins, scorching their lining. Billie perfectly resembles this feeling in "Watch", and listening to this song relieves that tension while recognizing the validity of the experience. 2) "Lovely" used to blast through my Beats headphones on cold, hollow days of isolation, curled up in my bed with rain pattering on my window, eyes fixed on my wall. At the age of fourteen, I had no idea what I was feeling and couldn't put words to the emotions. Quarantine sent me into a spiral of self reflection and identity development, all skewed by my half-developed teenage brain that had been frozen by the lack of community and relationships. Doing things I had always loved: swimming, baking, calling my friends, all felt meaningless. "Heart made of glass, my mind of stone", embodies the foreign emotions that constantly circulated my head. I was irritable, vulnerable, yet forced to carry through with a sentiment of force and strength, "all alone". 3) "idontwannabeyouanymore" reflects how I've grown to appreciate the traits I obtain that may make me seen as weak in the eyes of others. I've always reflected a sense of vulnerability and sensitivity, deeply caring about my role in interpersonal connections and how I can support them. People pleasing had become my main personality trait, and I began to lose myself in the success of others. My voice was never the loudest in the room, as I had softened it so others could be heard. My shoulders were always hunched so others could expand their chests and take advantage of the clean atmosphere. "Don't be that way, fall apart twice a day" demonstrates how I became obsessed with analyzing myself due to it being ambiguous to me. I was in a constant cycle of self deprecation, observing every action I took, like a personal psychoanalyst. However, my personal growth over the years has assisted me in reframing my personality in a manner that makes my care for others productive and helpful. I take pride in assisting others, but I don't rely on it anymore. "idontwannabeyouanymore" reflects my character development and eventual acceptance of my traits as powers that I carry, and will for the rest of my career and life.

The urban outskirts of Kalamata, Greece, were an unfortunate place to be experiencing Medical issues in the 20th century. My uncle, who resided in the area, developed painful, scaly skin on his elbows, scalp, and legs. Recognizing the severity of the issue, he went to a local pharmacist, then to a small general clinic. The doctors that treated him weren't specialized in a specific field, dermatologists were lacking. He was told it was likely eczema or an allergic reaction, prescribing creams that exacerbated the irritation. As the symptoms worsened, so did his frustration and need for proper medical advisory. The nearest dermatologist was an hour away, but my uncle didn't own a car and couldn't miss work without risking losing income. He was left in a state of isolation, requiring him to tend to his own condition alone. He later learned it was psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune disease that could have been managed in a much more efficient manner, if it had been caught earlier. His story inspires me not because he suffered in silence, but because it embodies the widespread issue of access to medical care in the world. Telemedicine isn't about replacing in-person care, it's about removing the barriers that delay diagnosis and treatment for people who are in need of care. It is a transformative tool that is reshaping how healthcare is delivered and making it more accessible worldwide. The concept is antiquated, but developments in video conferencing, mobile health platforms, and remote monitoring have transformed telemedicine into one of the most powerful forces for medical equity in the 21st century. Healthcare shouldn't be defined by geography. It should be a constant definition throughout the world, providing necessary help to people in need. With telemedicine, a child in a remote area with heart issues can now seek a pediatric cardiologist hundreds of miles away within days. A patient with a chronic illness can check in regularly with their physician without needing transportation or taking time off work. Telemedicine enables mental health support in real time, remote triage during public health crises, and ongoing care in communities affected by war or disaster. Telemedicine is a technology grounded in empathy. Innovation doesn't have to mean complexity or exclusivity, it can mean connection. I hope to practice medicine not just with skill, but with reach. We can build a world in which distance doesn't dictate who gets to be well.

"If he said yes would go" I jokingly giggled as my friend tripped over her words. Expecting an acknowledgment of supreme meme utilization, all I got in return were blank stares. "You guys haven't seen that meme....?" I nervously asked. "No..haha.." awkward silence filled the room. I frantically searched for it on TikTok, but I knew it wouldn't have the same effect. "Oh! That's not.." I tried again.. desperate for some signal of familiarity from my peers. To my despair, I was met with the same response. Best believe I never said anything again. Just kidding! I'm known for always replying to a friend's message with a meme, even in person. I find that memes can serve as an inside joke, making you instantly closer to the person as long as you both know it. If they don't.. consider your friendship ruined because you're automatically the weird one. Gen Z memes are seriously the best thing that ever happened to me. When I first started working as a lifeguard, I had a shadow shift with someone I had never met before. She seemed like an intriguing person with a similar personality to me, but we kept being separated my gaping breaks of silence in our conversation, both knowing that something was missing. Four hours into our eight hour shift, I mentioned "This is definitely how Tim Cheese felt scheduling his 3 AM meeting.." (Tim Cheese is symbolic of the grind culture in America and burnout in office jobs), to which I received a belly laugh from my new work friend, replying with a joke about John Port (a related character). Cracking a Gen Z chronically online meme joke is possibly the best way to make new friends, as you're already on the same wavelength. There's no other generation I'd be.

"Start the next set on the bottom!" My swim teacher belted across the obnoxiously loud atmosphere of the Pavilion Pool. My mother had signed me up for the swim team due to my commitment to playing Roblox all day calling my friends nonstop. She knew this wasn't a sustainable lifestyle and wanted me to expand my horizons to athletics. I had never been so bored in my entire life. The black line at the bottom pool never moved, the clock always ticked at the same pace, it was seriously the most mundane activity I have ever participated in. That same practice, I kept glancing around the pool, wondering if ANYTHING interesting was occurring while I was swimming back and forth for hours on end. In my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of something sparkling in the sunset, the vibrant colors reflecting on the previously uniformly blue hue of the pool. It was a gorgeous costume, adorned with rhinestones and crystals, which different colors splashed all over its swimsuit silhouette. The athlete wearing the costume wore ruby red lipstick and eyeliner so long it almost touched her hairline. Intrigued, I nervously approached the woman after my swim practice. "I just wanted to say that I absolutely love your costume, and was wondering what it is for?" I felt intimidated speaking to such a professional looking swimmer. She smiled and explained to me what the sport of synchronized swimming was, similar to underwater gymnastics and dance. Amazed, I went home that day and begged my family to put me on our local team, the Southern Nevada Desert Mermaids. The story of how I became interested sounds artificial and non-genuine upon first listen, but it cultivated a passion for this niche sport in a form I had never felt in my life. Eight year old me rolled out my mat for the first practice, being the earliest one at the pool, with a bright grin spread across my face. The second the coach told us to show her our splits, I knew I didn't have the natural talent for this sport. However, I knew I was determined to succeed, so I just considered it a hinderance in my path to success. Ten years later, I still get awkward glances from Target employees when they see my cart of Knox gelatin, waterproof eyeliner, ankle weights, and nose clips. However, I just smile back, because the niche sport that I accidentally stumbled upon a decade ago has completely shaped my personality and lifestyle. Every routine run with clothes on, cardio set with weights, and competition while injured has brought me through a journey of navigating how to approach intense emotions, discomfort, and even pain. I have developed an ability to convert whatever feeling into discipline and drive. Whether I'm blasting my favorite hype music and singing along, or fighting tears while listening to David Goggins, I know that the second I hit the water, I'm able to focus on the objective at hand. The difficult yet fulfilling experiences that synchro has introduced me to have shown to be opportunities to prove my true abilities. Instead of wincing at discomfort or fearing pain, I choose to embrace it, invite it in, and use it as a stepping block to my success. As I enter my senior year of high school, I'm excited to finally pursue my dream of competing collegiately. Although there are no scholarships for the sport, I won't let that alter my goals of surrounding myself with other hardworking athletes and continuing my constant desire to reach my maximum potential.

Kalia D. Davis exhibited a level of balance between school and sports that is extremely difficult to achieve. Not only did she excel academically and athletically, but she managed to maintain her interpersonal connections and a well rounded life. That is something that I have aspired to do throughout my high school career as a competitive artistic swimmer for ten years. Finding the balance between my academic life and my personal life was something I struggled with, as there is extreme pressure from each side encouraging you to put more effort into the given field. To be exceptional, you have to put in even more effort than expected, doing more than everyone around you. However, it's extremely difficult to do that when that is the exception in everything you do. Competing at the national and international level requires a lev el of discipline and mental strength that is rare among teenagers. The only way to get around it is to go through it, and teach yourself the way to balance everything by way of experience. Whenever my friends wanted to hang out, I always had practice. When I had a test tomorrow, I had practice. Motivated, practice. Down, practice. I knew it was a constant in my life and I accepted that I decided to maximize it. I continued to show up, despite my mood or whatever happened in my life that day. Some days I would be driving to practice blasting my favorite hype music, singing along with a smile spread across my face. Others, I would have a David Goggins podcast episode playing, tears forming in my eyes, and hands trembling. The second I dive into the pool, I've learned to control my emotions and utilize the intensity of them to convert those feelings to energy and motivation. While certain people refuse to understand my point of view and often criticize my decisions, the feeling of succeeding is something that is completely unparalleled. The weight of a medal swinging on my neck, bowing my head as the glistening plate is placed upon my shoulders, for just a moment, makes every feeling of discomfort and pain worth it. Even looking back at old videos of competitions and seeing how you've improved provides fulfillment that most can't comprehend. My passion for the niche sport of artistic swimming has driven me to desire to compete collegiately. Although there are no scholarships offered for the sport, I won't let that undermine my discipline and hard work for the past decade. The only way to make dreams succeed is to completely commit to them, seeing every road block as another hindrance to circumvent. I hope to succeed to the extent that Kalia did, and mimic her passion and drive to maximize my potential in collegiate artistic swimming with the scholarship money.