I will be financing my college education by myself. I had worked hard all throughout high school, sometimes working two or three jobs. I work two on campus jobs estimating to around twenty five hours a week, while taking a full semester course load. Additionally, I work as a private tutor for a couple hours on the weekends. Financially supporting myself can be very difficult, especially when working so much during a rigorous semester. But, I want to graduate with very little college debt. I find financial aid a tricky situation. My parents have not and do not intend to help me pay for my school. Therefore, although I do not receive funds from FAFSA due to my parent’s income, I would benefit from the financial assistance. My financial situation during school has hindered some opportunities for me. I have missed out on many club events due to having to work. I need to work my full hours during the week in order to pay for tuition, rent, and gas money. A scholarship would help me be able to be more involved in Nuclear Medicine Technology club, my major. My dream is to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, and I am currently in my junior year of the program. Receiving a scholarship would help me pay for my tuition, in order to complete my degree. During high school, I faced many health issues of my own. I found myself drawn to the patient first aspect of Nuclear Medicine Technology. I fell in love with the idea of comforting patients in a severe time of distress, as well as communicating the process of the scan to a patient in order to ease their nerves. Nuclear Medicine Technology stands out to me as a profession for the patient. I admire how the procedures and routines function around making the patient as comfortable as possible. Through and through, I am a person who loves human interaction. From my work experience as a waitress, cashier, bartender, and student instructor, I have discovered that I thrive in people-oriented atmospheres. I would consider myself to find joy in serving others, as well as possess strong interpersonal skills. Working with students on campus through Supplemental Instruction and the mail center has provided me with quick problem-solving skills. Student Instruction has encouraged me to adapt efficiently, including altering my communication skills to accommodate each individual’s learning style. My gentle communication skills will help me utilize my empathic ability to comfort patients as a future NMT. I believe my drive for continuing education and enthusiasm for Nuclear Medicine will support me in future specialized work. I aspire to make a difference in the lives of the patients, and truly create a patient focused environment.

During my sophomore year of high school, I found myself frequenting the hospital for visits including various blood work, hormone testing, and diagnostic scans. Towards the end of sophomore year, I went in for an MRI scan on my brain to check for a pituitary gland tumor. As an anxious sixteen year old, I walked into my scan feeling scared, cold, and on the verge of tears. The MRI technologist greeted me with a warm smile, and soothed my nerves. She explained the scan with great patience and treated me with such empathy. My MRI experience led me to research diagnostic testing professions. I found myself drawn to the patient first and educational aspect of Nuclear Medicine Technology. I fell in love with the idea of comforting patients in a severe time of distress, as well as communicating the process of the scan to a patient in order to ease their nerves. Nuclear Medicine Technology stands out to me as a profession for the patient. I admire how the procedures and routines function around making the patient as comfortable as possible. Through and through, I am a person who loves human interaction. From my work experience as a waitress, cashier, bartender, and student instructor, I have discovered that I thrive in people-oriented atmospheres. I would consider myself to find joy in serving others, as well as possess strong interpersonal skills. Working with students on campus through Supplemental Instruction and the mail center has provided me with quick problem-solving skills. Student Instruction has encouraged me to adapt to each individual situation, including altering my communication skills to accommodate each individual’s learning style. These communication skills will help me utilize my empathic ability to comfort patients as a future NMT. Additionally, my waitressing experience at Grand Geneva over the past three years has provided me with strong interpersonal skills. I have been able to interact with many different people from around the world, making sure they feel comfortable, and their needs are met. I place high value in the customer/patient first mentality because I too, have been vulnerable and looking for comfort or answers in the healthcare system. I believe that I can truly make a difference in my future place of employment: by demonstrating empathy towards patients, cultivating a positive environment, and utilizing my drive for learning to foster exponential personal growth. My integrity for work and education will help me succeed in a science-based learning environment. Throughout my schooling, I have been dedicated to performing well in my classes. My experience as a tutor has taught me efficient study strategies, which have expanded my learning style. I have discovered that I perform best as a kinesthetic learner, in hands-on scenarios. Additionally, my ability to adapt quickly in a scenario will help me thrive in a fast paced work environment. I am grateful for the leadership opportunities that have been provided to me through my work as a Student Leader, because I have found more confidence in my ability to help others. I am driven to make an impact in the team of Nuclear Medicine Technologists. Personally, I am largely a teamwork oriented individual. I thrive working in groups and communicating as a team. Because of the personal emphasis I place on communication, teamwork, compassion, and educational growth, I have confidence that I will succeed in my future role as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

I will be financing my college education by myself. I had worked hard all throughout high school, sometimes working two or three jobs. I work two on campus jobs estimating to around twenty five hours a week, while taking a full semester course load. Additionally, I work as a private tutor for a couple hours on the weekends. Financially supporting myself can be very difficult, especially when working so much during a rigorous semester. But, I want to graduate with very little college debt. I find financial aid a tricky situation. My parents have not and do not intend to help me pay for my school. Therefore, although I do not receive funds from FAFSA due to my parent’s income, I would benefit from the financial assistance. My financial situation during school has hindered some opportunities for me. I have missed out on many club events due to having to work. I need to work my full hours during the week in order to pay for tuition, rent, and gas money. A scholarship would help me be able to be more involved in the Nuclear Medicine Technology club, my major. My dream is to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, and I am currently in my junior year of the program. Receiving a scholarship would help me pay for my tuition, in order to complete my degree. During high school, I faced many health issues of my own. I found myself drawn to the patient first aspect of Nuclear Medicine Technology. I fell in love with the idea of comforting patients in a severe time of distress, as well as communicating the process of the scan to a patient in order to ease their nerves. Nuclear Medicine Technology stands out to me as a profession for the patient. I admire how the procedures and routines function around making the patient as comfortable as possible. Through and through, I am a person who loves human interaction. From my work experience as a waitress, cashier, bartender, and student instructor, I have discovered that I thrive in people-oriented atmospheres. I would consider myself to find joy in serving others, as well as possess strong interpersonal skills. Working with students on campus through Supplemental Instruction and the mail center has provided me with quick problem-solving skills. Student Instruction has encouraged me to adapt efficiently, including altering my communication skills to accommodate each individual’s learning style. My gentle communication skills will help me utilize my empathic ability to comfort patients as a future NMT. I believe my drive for continuing education and enthusiasm for Nuclear Medicine will support me in future specialized work. I aspire to make a difference in the lives of the patients, and truly create a patient focused environment.

During my sophomore year of high school, I was suddenly faced with undiagnosed medical issues. I was able to open my eyes to the functional working system within the medical field. Being only sixteen years old, I had not yet decided on a career path, but I admired how all the hospital staff interacted and worked together. One specific day I remember vividly: I was very nervous to have an MRI scan done on my brain, looking for a tumor on my pituitary gland. I hesitantly took a seat on the cold, solid gray hospital bed. A technologist came in and greeted me with the warmest smile on her face. Her pleasant disposition and friendly smile eased my nerves, allowing me to have a fully positive experience. The woman that helped me is the central reason I chose Nuclear Medicine Technology, because of how she was able to make me feel less anxious in my moment of distress. She inspired me to want to provide the same comfort for other patients going through a tough situation. A family friend who had worked as an NMT for over ten years explained to me that Nuclear Medicine Technology is highly focused on the physiology and function of the body, versus strictly anatomy. I was intrigued with how specialized systems within the body function together holistically, hence the reason I admire how the NMT profession explores more than isolated anatomical structures. Not only is the science behind the technology fascinating but the procedure as well. A nuclear medicine technologist has the opportunity to perform various imaging scans each day, with each patient having individualized needs; an aspect of the career that I am looking forward to navigating. Most importantly, I am a person who loves human interaction. I would consider myself to not only find joy in serving others but possess strong interpersonal skills as well. I aspire to build strong connections with coworkers and patients, be a lifelong learner (a goal easily attainable with the ever-changing knowledge and advancement of scans), and possibly have the opportunity to become an educator. I want to serve others and help them feel comfortable during a stressful period of health for them. I anticipate passing my NMT boards and moving on to work in a large hospital, where I can reach many lives. I want to give back to my local area by providing quality and empathetic care to all who need it. I am interested in the new theranostics technology of nuclear medicine. theranostics is similar to a less aggressive chemocancer treatment. The radiopharmaceuticals involved in theranostics allow the patient to be treated for their rapidly spreading cancer, but the radiopharmaceuticals to not attack the patient's body as much, leaving less of a side effect than chemotreatments. I am excited to learn more about theranostics in my continuing education in nuclear medicine.

Giving to others is highly important to me. Growing up in a religious family, I was taught from a young age to be empathetic towards others. My parents sent my two younger sisters and I to a private, Catholic grade school. We would attend mass every Friday and there was always a “giving basket” passed around. You could put money in there to help out the parish community. I remember an influential homily that our priest gave one week while passing around the basket. It was a story from the bible about a woman who passed by a beggar and gave him a singular coin. He was overjoyed and grateful, but what he didn’t know is that was the only money the woman had on her. This parable is meant to teach us that no matter how much you give, it only matters that you care. I really enjoy this story and carry it into my everyday life. I know that it doesn’t matter how much money you donate to the parish. For example, if you are wealthy and give a generous amount, it is only a fraction of your belongings. What really matters is not the amount or quantity of your donations, it is the heart that you give them with. Even if you do not have much and give back, that means more than someone who gives out of excess. Personally, I do not have much to my name. I am not rich, I am a first year college student. Giving back is important to me. I like to give back by volunteering at Special Olympic events and donating when I can to my parish. I believe that giving back in the form of acts of service is often more powerful than giving back to the community monetarily.

Personally, I think that one technology that inspires me that can change the world for the better is cell phone technology. The invention of the cell phone allowed people to have a more accessible connection. I am not talking about cellular connection, but rather a personal connection. Although there are many downsides to the invention of the cell phone such as increased screen time, social media, and other arguable factors, the cell phone allows people to reach others easily. The cell phone allows you to get in touch with your loved ones across the country. It provides a reliable form of contact across countries and oceans. This accessible form of communication is crucial in today’s society. Sometimes I find myself taking the gift of easy accessibility for granted. I don’t always recognize the privilege it is to have a cell phone. With a cell phone, the world is at your fingertips. Not only can you reach anyone, you can easily access the internet to further your knowledge. Before cell phones, my parents used computers and libraries to sift through large databases of material to find one answer. Now, we can have the answer to our question at the touch of a singular button. The invention of cell phones has allowed the expansion of knowledge for the world, keeping everyone in touch and up to date with current information. Often overlooked and taken for granted, the cell phone has actually had one of the greatest impacts on the advancement of society.

Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite book has always been "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. This particular children's book is close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, I love the message behind the story. If you have never read “The Giving Tree”, it follows the story behind a boy and a loving tree. Throughout both of their lives, the tree is continually empathetic towards the boy’s demands. Gradually, the boy grows older, and so does the tree. The message behind the ‘giving’ of the tree towards the boy warms my heart. No matter what the boy demanded, the tree did what he could to help the boy. The relationship between the boy and the tree demonstrates true, unconditional love. Secondly, my grandmother used to read me “The Giving Tree” story all the time. Whenever I would go to her house, I was eager to read “The Giving Tree”. My grandma is a loving, empathetic, and giving woman. Her heart of gold reminds me of the tree in the book. After listening to my grandma read the book to me, it instantly became my favorite. Still to this day, I have a hard copy of “The Giving Tree”. Once and a while I will pick up the book and the soothing voice of my grandmother will flow through my mind. Reading the story reminds me of the pure love I have for my grandma, and the unconditional love she has for me. Although it is a short children's book, “The Giving Tree” is a beautiful story close to both of our hearts.

The most helpful financial advice I have received is to start saving young. I started working the summer right before high school, and I have been saving up ever since. My nana is financially intelligent and she was the largest advocate for saving. She helped me open my savings and checking account at the bank. I am grateful for her and her advice. I saved up a lot of money for my college tuition and I even have started saving away money in a Roth IRA for future retirement. My nana says the younger I start saving, the more beneficial my savings will be. I am excited to continue to work hard and save my money to benefit me later in the future.

Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite book has always been "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. This particular children's book is close to my heart for two reasons. Firstly, I love the message behind the story. If you have never read “The Giving Tree”, it follows the story behind a boy and a loving tree. Throughout both of their lives, the tree is continually empathetic towards the boy’s demands. Gradually, the boy grows older, and so does the tree. The message behind the ‘giving’ of the tree towards the boy warms my heart. No matter what the boy demanded, the tree did what he could to help the boy. The relationship between the boy and the tree demonstrates true, unconditional love. Secondly, my grandmother used to read me “The Giving Tree” story all the time. Whenever I would go to her house, I was eager to read “The Giving Tree”. My grandma is a loving, empathetic, and giving woman. Her heart of gold reminds me of the tree in the book. After listening to my grandma read the book to me, it instantly became my favorite. Still to this day, I have a hard copy of “The Giving Tree”. Once and a while I will pick up the book and the soothing voice of my grandmother will flow through my mind. Reading the story reminds me of the pure love I have for my grandma, and the unconditional love she has for me. Although it is a short children's book, “The Giving Tree” is a beautiful story close to both of our hearts.

For me, sophomore year was a time of great change. I had been settling into high school, finding my good friends, getting into classes I was more passionate about, starting a new job, and slowly finding my way in the world. In March of 2019, I visited the doctor for a yearly checkup. The doctor discovered that I was not going through my regular hormonal cycles as I should have been, due to the fact that I hadn’t had my menstrual cycle for about four months. This condition is called amenorrhea, and is normally representative of underlying health problems. If left untreated, amenorrhea can result in osteoporosis. Because my bones were fragile and still growing, I was put on medicine to regain my cycle and to hopefully prevent bone deterioration. After about a month of being on medication, I showed no signs of improvement. It had now been five months, so my doctor ordered some tests to be done and gave me a higher dose of the medication. Naturally, I was a generally nervous person. I became very anxious for my health, which then sparked curiosity. I began to worry if the doctors would be able to find the answer, and more importantly, if the problem would be fixable. May became very difficult month. I was taking a higher dosage of the medication, causing my body to become overly exhausted. I frequently missed school for blood work tests, ultrasounds for tumors, and doctor visits. With no answer found in the blood work or ultrasounds, my doctor began to think I had a brain tumor on my pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a tiny, yet immensely significant gland located deep inside the brain, which is responsible for the regulation of hormones and other endocrine system functions. Without a healthy pituitary gland, my body would not be able to function properly. Small tumors like those on the pituitary can only be seen in MRI and CT scans. At the end of May, my mom, my grandma, and I visited an MRI center where they took a scan of my brain. I remember it being an eye-opening experience. Although I was nervous, I was amazed by the MRI technology. The medicine technologist who worked with me was beyond empathetic and helpful. She explained the whole process to me and eased my nerves. She injected me with contrast medication in my arm and I laid still for the large, complex machine to scan my brain. After the visit, we waited a couple of weeks to get the results from my doctor. Results were conclusive, I did not have a tumor on my pituitary gland. Relieved that I would not have to have surgery, I was grateful. Unable to find any other underlying issue that would have caused my annamorrhea, my doctor continued my high dosage medication prescription in hopes it would solve the problem. Thankfully, a couple of months later, I was able to revisit the doctor and be taken off the medication. Although it was a long and difficult road to recovery, the experience was immensely beneficial for me. All of the health workers, doctors, and medicine technologists who helped along the way also inspired me. Most importantly, the nuclear medicine technologist who helped me made a large impact on my life. Her kindness to me during my struggle sparked my interest in a medical profession. Now, two years later, I have decided on a career in Nuclear Medicine Technology. I have hopes to one day be as helpful to others struggling as the medicine technologist was to me.

For me, sophomore year was a time of great change. I had been settling into high school, finding my good friends, getting into classes I was more passionate about, starting a new job, and slowly finding my way in the world. In March of 2019, I visited the doctor for a yearly checkup. The doctor discovered I was not going through my regular hormonal cycles as I should have been, due to the fact that I hadn’t had my menstrual cycle for about four months. This condition is called amenorrhea, and is normally representative of underlying health problems. If left untreated, amenorrhea can result in osteoporosis. Because my bones were fragile and still growing, I was put on medicine to regain my cycle and to hopefully prevent bone deterioration. After about a month of being on medication, I showed no signs of improvement. It had now been five months, so my doctor ordered some tests to be done and gave me a higher dose of the medication. Naturally, I am a generally nervous person. I became very anxious for my health, which then sparked additional self-image issues. I was taking a higher dosage of the medication, which in turn messed with my hormones, causing my body to become overly exhausted. I frequently missed school for blood work tests, ultrasounds for tumors, and doctor visits., causing insurmountable stress from maintaining school work. With no answer found in the blood work or ultrasounds, my doctor began to think I had a brain tumor on my pituitary gland. At the end of May, my mom, my grandma, and I visited an MRI center where they took a scan of my brain. I remember it being an eye-opening experience. Although I was nervous, I was amazed by the MRI technology. The medicine technologist who worked with me was beyond empathetic and helpful. She explained the whole process to me and eased my nerves. She injected me with contrast medication in my arm and I laid still for the large, complex machine to scan my brain. After the visit, we waited a couple of weeks to get the results from my doctor. Results were conclusive, I did not have a tumor on my pituitary gland. Relieved that I would not have to have surgery, I was grateful. Unable to find any other underlying issue that would have caused my annamorrhea, my doctor continued my high dosage medication prescription in hopes it would solve the problem. Thankfully, a couple of months later, I was able to revisit the doctor and be taken off the medication. Although it was a long and difficult road to recovery, the experience was immensely beneficial for me.My journey with annemorhea sparked my interest in the medical profession. Now, two years later, I have decided on a career in Nuclear Medicine Technology. I have hopes to one day be as helpful to others struggling as the medical technologist was to me.