The needle pierced through my heart as the medicine kicked in through my veins–or did not–as the sharp and shattering pain followed the needle to and from my heart. Ouch. It was all I thought as they took blood directly from my heart. They found out that I had a low amount of platelets because my platelets fused and created mega-platelets. Machines did not count accurately, so they thought I was as good as dead, yet I was not. They took time and effort to investigate and soon found the truth about the condition. In Spain, health care was free, and helped immigrants like my parents by explaining every step of the way. Had they not done more research, the treatment would have harmed rather than helped me. I did not realize the blessing of such care until I visited other countries. From Asia to America, the health care was not as thorough; it even affected my mother as they wrongfully performed surgery for her minor heel spur. After ten years, she feels the pain of her spur and the surgery. Yet, it is not only my mother that is suffering. Many folks could have minor and unaffecting conditions–like me–but due to their healthcare, their condition may have become a deadly issue. It is not one item but one of the most crucial things worldwide: Health care. There is much gain through a revolution within the healthcare system. First, Laziness and Nonchalance. Whether it is laziness from the patient or the caretaker, everyone will start taking steps forward to the best options–that may be caring about the strange cough occurring for three months or the contradicting symptoms a patient is showing–which can cause people to finally want, not an easy solution, but an adequate explanation. The second is Silence. People will speak up about their medical issues without worrying about the cost or humiliation. People of low income, immigrants, or those with bad medical experiences can finally open up their shells about their fears. And, lastly, Equity. If I had the same treatment as others, I would not be writing this essay, but my treatment was different because that is what I needed. Not only will society gain fitness, but also a passionate and benevolent mindset in this cruel world. Healthcare workers can aid patients in not getting the wrong treatment, and patients can communicate their needs to healthcare takers to finalize a unique remedy. It aids the medical care employees to find answers quicker and patients to get better cures. A shed of light can finally reach the gloomy and impaired households as they gain their human right: to have a healthy life.

One book that many overlook. Many laugh at or dismiss it as cute. Yet, the book that embraces verity, where reality always overcomes challenges, is "The Princess and The Pea." While the story is well-known, not many dive deeper into the distinctive theme; from a surface level, it may seem a bit misogynistic as they label a “true” princess to be sensitive and delicate. However, that was a mere example of what previous generations believed about princes and princesses. The main takeaway is that the princess proved everyone who doubted her wrong, not out of revenge or vengeance. Instead, all she did was be herself, and the truth came forward without anyone pressuring it to resurface. The theme was never judge and always be true to yourself: that is what our society needs. I have lived in three distant countries with different cultures, civilizations, and people. Yet something the three countries had in common was a specific mindset that people, including myself, contained. That trait was to judge others and themselves. My mother made it her mission to compare everything–good or bad–to us. She would compare my grades to others and express her happiness as I almost turned English into my native tongue. In addition, she would compare the houses and vacations of my friends to ours and deflect on the fact that she could not give me such opportunities. She clearly did not read "The Princess and The Pea," if not, she would have understood that my friends have lower grades because they have to work and balance school life, something I did not have to experience. She would also comprehend that she is the most diligent worker ever. She may regret not enjoying money, but she taught me the significance of dedicated work and the value of money. I am also guilty of this, as I humored the moments when my friends could not understand Spanish Class. I learned three languages without help, so I viewed it as a simple task and did not understand their frustration. I joked about it with my mother but opposed it instead: she reminded me how I felt when learning English and how supportive they were. Along silly plotline, "The Princess and The Pea," is a hidden gem that explains humanity in ways that society has forgotten: to have an open mind and open heart to others and ourselves.

Independent and resilient is how people describe me, and I believed them. As the only child and daughter of my immigrant parents, I had to learn a lot from an early age: A translator, a bright student, and an obedient child. There were no shortcuts, no fun days, and absolutely no sad days. It did not matter how tired or depressed I felt because I had other better things to do than to mop around and be unproductive. That is until Miss Taylor Swift shot right through my feelings. It was a gloomy-looking day, a gloomy-feeling day, and I finally shattered. Although I do not allow myself to have breaks, music is one escape I allow. So, when I pressed on my “Moody Mix” on Spotify, I did not expect to hear “The Archer” by Taylor Swift. But, I did not expect to ugly-cry to a song I almost skipped. But I did, and it broke me. No, it broke me free from the chains of generational expectations and pressure of others. I disillusioned myself to think I was indestructible for not crying. Yet, I was at my weakest point when I did not cry. Taylor Swift’s songs have always placed a butterfly-like effect on my stomach, but this time, reality and truth were in my stomach, and boy, could I not digest it. I was distraught at the amount of tears my body–or just a body overall–could generate in just 3 minutes and 31 seconds. I thought I was alone and a lone wolf, an independent and caring person, and determined and goal-oriented, and–I thought I was all of these things. But I am more than my dreams. I am a girl who loves crying to Taylor Swift. A girl who loves painting her nails. A girl who loves learning new languages. A girl who loves just because she wants to. I don’t need to be goal-oriented or act tough as a wall. For eighteen years, I have been blind, and a song that is not even four minutes has given me my eyesight. A set of words sung in a high-pitched voice has taught me what no one could have. I can take breaks while still becoming successful. I can cry like a normal person. Finally, I can be independent but still ask for help. After my breakdown, I went to my parents, who’ve never seen me cry so much since I was young. They were not disappointed. They were not angry. They were not even surprised. They listened and comforted me as if they knew how fragile I had become. A song about anxiety and vulnerability caused me to turn vulnerable and fearful like an actual human being. From my delusional self to my current self, the way her music has affected me and given me a moment of peace cannot be mimicked by any other living being or thing. While I am still learning the ropes to loving my new mindset, I will continue to follow her Eras Tour; it is only fair since she has followed me from misery to my new heaven–a merry mind.

The shift of countries was the strangest thing I experienced. It did not feel right or wrong; I did not feel anything. The language, culture, and even clothing were different, but those were not the hard things to wrap my head around: it was my actual mindset that I could not handle any longer. I lived in Spain every day like there was a tomorrow: no ambition, appreciation, or self-esteem. However, that all changed when I entered the United States. Everyone here minded their own business but still helped out when they could. It was the rarest phenomenon of all: to see people empower but compete with each other. I grasped how I needed to change for myself, my parents, and my will to live. While roping and climbing through new obstacles in life, I earned a passion for pharmacy and medicine. To put it plainly, we were poor in Spain. I vividly remember one sorrowful night. My mother and I came home from after-school activities and were desperately hungry. For as long as I can remember, we always had milk (and sometimes cookies!) for dinner. That night was the same as any other until it was not. I remember how she turned around when filling my glass up, thinking I could not see her fill the rest with water to make up for the small amount of milk left. Although we were penurious, I never felt like I lacked things until that night when my mother had to go hungry, and I had to drink milk with water. I drank a sip and passed it to my mother; even at that age, I knew no one would want to go to bed hungry. She and I have been sharing that glass of milk ever since. For my mother and that regretful night, I knew I had to change my reality and live like there was no tomorrow. The mountain seemed impossible to climb. Nevertheless, I knew I had no choice but to look ahead. I started studying and evolving to change my timid mindset. I pushed myself and used my broken English to create friendships, which lasted for five years. I challenged myself by improving my confidence. I delivered speeches to my peers when applying to be an officer in my school club. My first encounter with an intimidating crowd was when I ran for National Secretary of Beta Club. Though I did not win, I crushed my speech like a bug. My sponsors and friends were in awe of my new, poised character. The wisdom I obtained was priceless, as I used it the upcoming year when I became Secretary for my high school Hosa Club. The aspect that pushed me to the pharmaceutical branch was when my hard work paid off. I was invited to The Congress of Future Medical Leaders and presented with the Award of Excellence. I talked to Nobel Prize winners, and they bestowed an introduction and explanation to their new research. I created a mindset to fit the aspirational American lifestyle. Driving through the awkwardness, pain, and struggle, I became the best version of myself. Now that I can achieve my personal goal, I want to use the same resilience and determination to reach my goal for the medicinal aspect by becoming a biomedical scientist: To aid in the cure of cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. It may seem impossible, but they said it would be impossible for me to change--It seems nothing is impossible after all.

A desire or curiosity to know something; a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable. That is the definition of wonder, precisely how I felt when I saw the film Wonder. The author has a remarkable talent for naming books because I felt the Wonder in the movie. Every character had its own “wonder” moment. The movie consists of masterful scenes that emphasize every person’s hidden thoughts and problems; it exposes the truth about life in the subtlest way possible. The movie is about a spirited boy named August Pullman, or Auggie. He suffered due to his facial differences from others all his life, which was called Treacher Collins Syndrome. This syndrome mainly affects the cheekbone, jaw, and ears, causing the face to appear different from other regular faces. He finally decided to face his biggest fears and attend a public school in fifth grade. However, he was not the only one that had to overcome problems. His mother and father tried not to worry about their son. Meanwhile, his sister Olivia tried to navigate her teenage years and the loneliness of not being Auggie. It opened my eyes to my friends' pain and the struggles of those around me as the characters navigated their unique journeys of adversity and resilience. Auggie’s contrast with others reminded me of myself, who was also alone due to being of a different ethnicity. However, moving into an accepting community, I forgot that people still feel that sense of solicitude. The movie brought nostalgia and wisdom back to me. To never allow others to sense what I did during my younger years. It made me wonder about those around me and the struggles they hide. I now go out of my way to include my peers and colleagues. Through my school clubs, I allow others’ ideas to blossom and evolve like I wish mine were. August's sister, Olivia Pullman, dealt with problems similar to his but in unlike manners. She felt invisible to her parents and had to adjust to becoming a high school teenager. It may seem small, but that moment is truly one of the scariest experiences to occur to someone. The transition and the change in friend groups were offbeat, yet I prevailed due to my friends. However, even then, I felt solitary again and believed no one could understand my emotions. Her character made me wonder if my friends were also quietly misunderstood. Once I opened up to them, we realized we were never alone, just simply blind. The last idea of the movie made me wonder about life from my parents' point of view. Much like Auggie’s parents, my parents made a shift by moving to a different country and internally worried about me. Although they had their adult obstacles, they always paid attention to me. It made me wonder how much I affected them; I opened up to them, and they broke down like I had never seen her before. I left a sense of responsibility to help them, which caused me to become independent and care for others around me. Wonder taught me to become aware, pondering, and attentive to my peers, friends, and parents. The movie was a translation for me. Like the title, I wondered and asked questions until I found my answer and faced reality head-on. I won't wilt due to my distinct features. Instead, like Wonder said, “You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.” I will use my differences to learn new kinds of skills and become the best version of myself.

Volunteering came in like a wrecking ball in my life. Quite literally. My mindset before volunteering was: quiet, mind your business, you are on your own, life is unfair, and you cannot do anything against it. I was convinced we could not help people because whatever happens is meant to happen. Don't get me wrong, I still agree with that phrase, but 'whatever happens' doesn't have to be cruel and inhumanely done. After moving to a completely different country, I crumbled. I was lost, depressed, like I was in a meaningless movie that never ended. That was until I learned to find reason within others. I was in middle school when a school club made us write notes to our teachers. I picked a caring teacher and wrote a simple but meaningful letter. It was meant to be anonymous, but the teachers did not care who it came from. They just appreciated the simple letter. The next day my teacher was beaming while tapping my note on her wall. She heard me come in and exclaimed the happiest 'Good morning' I had heard of her in a while. Before I could ask, she described how a student had written her 'an amazing' card (it was pretty average). She explained how she had a family member in the hospital, and that card meant the world to her. I was utterly stunned by how few of my words were able to make her day so light. This was awakening to me; learning that I helped someone was unbelievable. From then on, I have it my mission to help everyone. Just like I crumpled, everyone could be going through a storm in their life. My current mindset is: to expressive, help everyone no matter what, and lean on others; life is unfair, but we can do something against it. I have gone to nursing homes to gift baskets full of amenities to the patients. I have bought and donated gifts for orphaned children. I have made my friends and loved ones smile with simple compliments. This has cost me nothing; I have gained empathy and sympathy by understanding and learning about others' pasts and struggles. I do not think I could live without volunteering; it has become so valuable and significant that life would feel empty. Because no one helped me when I was in pain, I thought I couldn't help others ease their pain, but I was wrong. Even applying for this is aiding my parents to pay for my college. I am not comfortable or struggling with my current lifestyle, but I still save more than I spend. My mother works from 4 AM to 11 AM so I can have a happy life and a full belly. My dad works from noon to 8 PM to buy me a computer for school work. They work hard for me, and I want to work hard for them. Their support upheld my ambition and needs, and I want to pay them for everything they did for me.

Imagine: You are in the corner of a stadium. Lights are flashing and beaming everywhere. Everyone is excited and in disbelief that they are here. The bright lights suddenly get dim as smoke and a spotlight appear. The one and only Taylor Swift appears on stage. She confidently walks downstage and poses for her fans as electric guitars start playing, and you immediately recognize the tune. It is "Style." Suddenly, your alarm clock wakes you from your "Wildest Dreams," and reality hits. The summary of my life; I daydream and dream about attending one of her concerts, but life is not the coolest, so I have to wait until it is. Honestly, I was not a Swiftie before. She did not appeal to me in my younger years, but perhaps not knowing the language had something to do with it. Maybe I was so engrossed in learning and living that I paid no mind to her songs unless it was the iconic "Shake it Off." I thought they were overly hyped and did not understand the obsession over her. But boy, was I wrong. My best friends love Taylor Swift, so naturally, they blasted her music in their cars like there was no tomorrow. It was not until I listened to her in an enclosed space: that I realized how amazing the songs were. The culprit of stealing my heart was "Wildest Dreams." At least, that is the one that started my devotion. Soon enough, "Style" would follow, then the classic "Blank Space," and so on! I was enraged with myself; the fact that I did not listen to her before felt as though I had wasted years without her voice. Albeit the entire album is outstanding, "Style" will have a special place in my heart. Perhaps due to the alluring electric guitars, or the lyrics describe the excitement of love with a guy with "slicked-back hair." They say the songs we listen to are the way we view life. Through my music, I view life as "you only live once," though I did not act accordingly until this song came in my life. I moved from Spain to America; the language barrier was immense since the languages are vastly different. It felt as though I jumped from a plane without a parachute on. Conceivably, I no longer sensed the need to do something exciting. It took me two months to learn the language, and I was uttermost proud of myself for it, but the turbulence my mental and physical health bore was drastic. I had always been the top student in my previous school, and suddenly not knowing how to say 'hello' was an awful occurrence. I've grown since then: I am comfortable with the language, I have many friends to rely on, and I love living here, yet the uneasiness and worry I had from learning the language still lingered. It may seem unrelated, but her song gave me the spark I lost. As silly as it sounds, the music makes me want to run away and do the things I always wanted to do. The song gave me the courage to dance in front of everyone in prom (with my date)! It gave me the courage to talk to strangers and become friends during camps. It gave me the courage to be happy. The song fills my lungs with air and breathes thoughts into my brain; Taylor Swift gave me a match to light my fire again, and I would not be the person I am now without her beautiful tunes pumping excitement through my heart.