As a child, I struggled with amblyopia, a condition where one of my eyes was much stronger than the other due to abnormal vision development. Many of my earliest memories involve the waiting room at my ophthalmologist's office, making 'breakfast' for my mom in the toy kitchen with fake food and plastic cutlery. If it were any other doctor, any other office, my early experiences with medicine could have instilled a fear of healthcare professionals and doctor's offices. This wasn't the case at all -- those were one of the most welcoming, patient, and understanding appointments I've had, even to this day as a young adult. Even though I was a difficult patient (screaming and fighting doctors, assistants, and my parents as I was forced to get eye drops at every appointment, refusing to wear the eye patch over my left eye for treatment) the staff was always kind and comforting. This kind of environment not only made me feel comfortable in a healthcare setting as a young patient, but it also inspired me as a young child to become an eye doctor myself. I'm much older than I was when I was being treated for my vision, but my dreams for a career in medicine have stayed with me as I grew. While I spent many years admiring medicine and doctors through rose-colored lenses, throughout my time in college, I've come to understand various nuances in healthcare. I've realized that many patients don't receive the quality of care that I did when I was younger, and develop a lifelong distrust of the healthcare system and healthcare professionals. Through my volunteering work, I've seen how patients are forced to advocate for themselves when healthcare staff dismiss their concerns and when insurance policies offer meager support. In my courses, I've learned about case studies that show healthcare professionals burning out, competing against each other, and creating a hostile environment pushing people to leave the field entirely. As I continue to pursue my dream career in medicine, my goal is to be the change I wish to see in healthcare -- fight against a fear-based hierarchy in favor of a team-based work environment, valuing medical students, residents, nurses, and other healthcare workers alike, see the patient as a person instead of a 15-minute meeting and really care to approach their treatment from a holistic perspective, and ultimately advocate for patients to ensure that they have both the knowledge and support to make the right decisions for themselves and their families. I have big dreams for my career in medicine, and with the help of this scholarship, I can continue to work hard in my classes and give back to my community, building myself up to become not only a great physician, but a compassionate one.

I’ve had glasses ever since I was two years old, leading many of my early memories to involve the waiting room at my ophthalmologist’s office. Spending so much time in the bright and colorful room, drawing on a big chalkboard mounted on the wall or busying myself with “breakfast” in the toy kitchen, made me feel comfortable in a medical setting, encouraging me to ask questions and learn things while I was there. Some of my vision problems were due to amblyopia, a misalignment of the eyes, and when I was 3 years old, I was told to wear an eyepatch for a period of time. The stylish 3-year-old that I was, I found the eyepatch to be incredibly uncool. Aside from that fact, the eyepatch, either in a “BandAid”-like form or fabric form, felt torturous for me to wear. I threw tantrums and refused to put it on more often than not. It was a trial in and of itself to force me to undergo this treatment in order to fix my vision -- however, my experienced ophthalmologist had a plan. He appealed to my imagination and my love for fashion, and showed me that I could in fact draw designs on my “BandAid”-like eye patches. He transformed a hateful method of treatment into a fun activity to express my growing creativity. This positive experience not only significantly improved my vision, but also exposed me to an understanding medical environment that I was inspired to be a part of. As a student later in my life, I often sought out books and encyclopedias with scientific facts to read in my free time. I’ve always been a strong math and science student, and as I grew through middle and high school, I took on more difficult courses that challenged me in all kinds of scientific disciplines. I have been fortunate enough to shadow several doctors throughout my time in high school and college, further exposing me to different medical environments like ophthalmology, pediatrics, and cardiology. Medicine is an incredibly fascinating field, with countless sub-fields and interdisciplinary applications with business, engineering, and even public policy. Every new piece of information can fit into a larger image of healthcare – as I learn more and more, I find myself asking additional questions and seeking further opportunities to explore the topic. During my freshman year of college, I began volunteering for Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, as a part of their Comfort Line program. Since February 2023, I have been calling a local elderly community member weekly, checking in on them and offering them a safe outlet for sharing their trials and jubilations in life. Throughout this experience, I’ve learned so much about what goes into the healthcare process from the patient side – how treatments are afforded and who can support patients who can’t afford it, how are patients treated based on their conditions/identities, and so on. This has been incredibly impactful on my healthcare journey. Our weekly conversations have interrupted the rose-colored perception of medicine that I’d built in my head as a child, and have inspired me to understand weaknesses in healthcare affordability and patient discrimination during treatment – both how/why they occur, and what can be done to eradicate them. My experiences as a pediatric patient, curious student, and mindful volunteer have informed my love for medicine and my passion for changing the field for the better.

A phrase I've heard all too often in my time as a medical assistant is "I can't afford this or that medication, so I'm not taking it". It's a phrase that knocks me out of the routine I've gotten used to and forces me to once again see the glaring issues people are facing in healthcare. My passion for medicine and healthcare originally existed as a rose-colored dream, a childlike excitement about fixing everyone's problems and making the world a better place. My own vision problems in my youth were fixed with 'magical' medical intervention and I couldn't wait to treated everyone in the way that I had been treated. As an older student, I took on more difficult courses that challenged me in all kinds of scientific disciplines, and explored opportunities to shadow doctors in various specialties like ophthalmology and cardiology. As my knowledge grew, so did my passion, as I realized all of the present and future medical developments and interdisciplinary applications with business, engineering, and even public policy that are possible. Everywhere I turned to in my curiosity brought me new perspectives that I could carefully fold away in my mind like priceless artifacts, ready to be referenced in my future studies. One such perspective I found in my volunteer work as a Comfort Line volunteer, calling a community member weekly for over two years now. As we got to know each other, I slowly got to know the trials they faced and continue to fight through in their life. Many of these trials had medical origins, which piqued my interest as a pre-medical student now in college. I got a little more than I bargained for -- yes, I learned about complex medical cases and their effect on the patient and their family, but I also saw a dark side of healthcare. The community member I spoke with often shared stories of their struggles to get the chance to even meet with healthcare professionals, difficulties in the face of lacking and impersonal patient care, and most of all, the never-ending battle to somehow be able to afford necessary care. These issues have come to the forefront of my experience as I started to work in the medical field during my summers away from school, and now I have heard too many patient stories that make my heart ache from the inability to miraculously fix their situation. I stare in the face of this doomsday forecast every week, and instead of being discouraged, I'm reminded that there are those working hard to fight back. The doctors and medical assistants that I work with treat their patients as though they're family, retaining whole families as patients for 20+ years. Young alumni from my own university have shared how they're starting to mitigate healthcare inequities even though they're fresh doctors just starting their careers. I see the work that needs to be done, and I also see the progress that can be made. My passion for medical knowledge combined with my compassion for people in my communities drive me to work with others to change the landscape of healthcare for the better.

The first time I heard the words "I'm sorry that I couldn't always be your teenage dream" in Olivia Rodrigo's closing song on 'GUTS', I felt old heartaches arise as though I had never grown past them. What a simple line, yet what a devastating impact. My teenage years were riddled with angst, insecurities, and emotional rollercoasters, as I'm sure most people's were. These formative years coinciding with high school, COVID-19, and the 2020 presidential election meant that I often felt that the world was burning down in various ways all at once. There was the loss of community resulting from virtual schooling, a loss of direction as I struggled my way through studying for the SAT and perfecting my college applications, and a loss of identity as I grappled with resolving what my friends all thought with what I felt in my gut. I was a girl adrift, looking for a safe place to figure out what direction I wanted my life to take, and who I wanted to bring with me into the new chapter after high school graduation. Precisely around this time, "Sour" came out and absolutely blew me away. I had found rare solace in Olivia Rodrigo's words, sharing fears of not measuring up and heartbreaks that were born from the betrayal of close people in one's life. Every drive to school was accompanied by "Sour" tracks on repeat, blaring from car speakers likely too old to be handling such abuse. Going to school in the face of academic struggles and ostracization from people I thought were my closest friends felt more doable after I had screamed out all of my feelings on the way there. A teenager no longer, I now look back at those years of my life and reminisce about how strongly I felt, how strongly I loved, and how strongly I lost. I grew from screaming "Where's my f**king teenage dream" to lamenting that "I'm sorry that I couldn't always be your teenage dream". Those years I spent wishing I was taller, skinnier, smarter, more confident and talented suddenly gave way to moments I looked in the mirror and loved what I saw. The people I ate lunch with and dreamed I'd be best friends with forever are just faces in the crowd now, just names in a dusty yearbook. The thoughts that once ruled my moral compass and ideals that were my personality fell to ruin over time, and I found that I could decide what was right on my own accord, from my own identities and experiences. Hindsight really is 20/20 -- the motivations, ideals, friends, and even self-concept I have now are nothing like what I thought they would be when I was a teenager with growing pains. If I could look back to my younger self and pass on a message, I'd say I'm sorry I didn't give you what you dreamed of, but I hope I've built something you can be proud of.

My mother got a 19 on her ACT when she was in high school. She came to the United States from the former USSR when she was barely 14 years old, with practically no English and no idea what her new life was going to be like. In school, she struggled to understand what was being taught in most classes and she had difficulty making friends and fitting in. She was often the target of cruel jokes because of her secondhand clothing and thick accent. My mother's family was very poor when they immigrated here, and everyone had to work in order to help the family get by. Every day after school, my mom would help my grandma at work, cleaning a local bank. This was her life for four long years. She knew that getting a college degree would open so many doors for her and her family, so in spite of her weak ACT score, she was able to get accepted to a local college. After changing her major from computer science, to architecture, to engineering, she finally decided on a career in finance, and graduated with a major in accounting. She then went on to get an MBA, all while having young children and working. My mom came from a poor immigrant household that could barely afford new clothes and a car, let alone college tuition, and she worked long and hard to get the successful and happy life she has today. My mom is my biggest influence and inspiration in life and the reason why I am the way I am. Growing up with a working mom who also made time for her family and for leisure allowed me to realize that I can have ambitions in my professional life and still enjoy my personal life. When I showed promise in academic areas, my mom encouraged my curiosity and taught me that hard work would bring me closer to my goals. She often brought me to our local library to peruse their collection of children's books, sometimes even multiple times a week because I went through books so quickly. She noticed that I was excelling in math at school and she found a program that would teach me more advanced math to keep my progress going. Her attentive and nurturing character molded me into a strong reader, as well as a strong math and science student. Now, I'm a Neuroscience student at the University of Michigan, working part-time, doing choroideremia research, and succeeding in my classes. My childhood dream of becoming an eye doctor has grown under the loving influence of my parents, especially my mom, and now more than ever, I have the drive and the opportunities to get there. It is only thanks to the resilient 14-year-old immigrant from Soviet Ukraine that I am a confident young woman determined to pursue my dream career in medicine.

I’ve had glasses ever since I was two years old, leading many of my early memories to involve the waiting room at my ophthalmologist’s office. Spending so much time in the bright and colorful room, drawing on a big chalkboard mounted on the wall or busying myself with “breakfast” in the toy kitchen, made me feel comfortable in a medical setting, encouraging me to ask questions and learn things while I was there. Some of my vision problems were due to amblyopia, a misalignment of the eyes, and when I was 3 years old, I was told to wear an eyepatch for a period of time. The stylish 3-year-old that I was, I found the eyepatch to be incredibly uncool. Aside from that fact, the eyepatch, either in a “BandAid”-like form or fabric form, felt torturous for me to wear. I threw tantrums and refused to put it on more often than not. It was a trial in and of itself to force me to undergo this treatment in order to fix my vision, however my experienced ophthalmologist had a plan. He appealed to my creativity and my love for fashion, and showed me that I could in fact draw designs on my “BandAid”-like eye patches. He transformed a hateful method of treatment into a fun activity to improve my outfits. This positive experience not only significantly improved my vision, but also exposed me to an understanding medical environment that I was inspired to be a part of. As a student later in my life, I often sought out books and encyclopedias with scientific facts to read in my free time. I’ve always been a strong math and science student, and as I grew through middle and high school, I took on more difficult courses that challenged me in all kinds of scientific disciplines. I have been fortunate enough to shadow several doctors throughout my time in high school and college, further exposing me to different medical environments like ophthalmology, pediatrics, cardiology, etc.. Medicine is an incredibly fascinating field, with countless sub-fields and interdisciplinary applications with business, engineering, and even public policy. Every new piece of information can fit into a larger image of medicine/healthcare – as I learn more and more, I find myself asking additional questions and seeking further opportunities to explore the topic. During my freshman year of college, I began volunteering for Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, as a part of their Comfort Line program. Since February 2023, I have been calling a local elderly community member weekly, checking in on them and offering them a safe outlet for sharing their trials and jubilations in life. Throughout this experience, I’ve learned so much about what goes into the healthcare process from the patient side – how treatments are afforded and who can support patients who can’t afford it, how are patients treated based on their conditions/identities, and so on. This has been incredibly impactful on my healthcare journey. I now have experiences that have altered the rose-colored perception of medicine that I’d built in my head as a child, and have been inspired to understand weaknesses in healthcare affordability and patient discrimination during treatment – both how/why they occur, and what can be done to eradicate them. I dream to become an ophthalmologist and improve quality of life by alleviating vision problems, as was done for me. Not only that, but I dream to be a physician who practices precision medicine and believes in holistic health, improving treatment accessibility and acting as an advocate for patients in their treatment process.

According to the Sorting Hat song from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, "Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest, And taught them all she knew". This and so many other quotes make it seem as though the Hufflepuff House is just for everyone who doesn't fit into any other House, but Hufflepuffs aren't the throwaways they're made out to be. Ever since reading the Harry Potter books for the very first time, I've always felt a strong connection with the Hufflepuff House and the characters that were in it. Maybe it was the mystery that it offered, as not a lot of information was shared about it in the books, or maybe I liked that the Hufflepuff Commons were by the kitchens at Hogwarts. Regardless, I was sorted into Hufflepuff more often than not, which gave me an odd sense of pride. As I grew older and more self-aware, I've found that strong Hufflepuff traits are those that I grew up valuing within my family, which is perhaps why I prize them so much. Hufflepuffs are known for their hardworking attitude, their loyalty, their patience, and their strong sense of justice. I may not be the most patient, but, the other qualities describe me to a T. I prize loyalty above almost all else, and staying true to my family, my close friends, and my principles is incredibly important to me. Once I make a connection with something or someone, the bond is everlasting (there's a reason why I never liked Twilight in middle school, and still don't to this day). My family has raised me to always work hard, in the face of any struggle or uncertainty. This value is the reason why I currently attend my dream university and why I've been able to enjoy many academic and professional opportunities in the past couple of years. My work ethic is a point of pride, and I know that by working hard, I can ensure future success, not only for myself but for those around me. Hufflepuffs value what is right and what is just, always standing by good principles and working to make the world a better place. This is what I do and always strive to be, especially pursuing a career in medicine. One must be able to put aside biases and outside pressures and just provide the best possible care for each patient -- the Hufflepuff sense of justice facilitates this ability. Maybe there was never a good selection of Hufflepuff T-shirts and little character representation in the Harry Potter universe, however, the Hufflepuff House is a label that I wear proudly, knowing what it stands for and what it contributes to those around me.

I've been calling a stranger once a week for 9 months, and it may be one of the most impactful relationships I've developed as a young adult. I volunteer with an organization called Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, and I've been a part of their WISE Comfort Line program since this past winter. This program pairs volunteers with a local elderly community member and encourages weekly calls, in order to battle isolation and provide companionship in difficult times. When I first called the person I was matched with, let's call her S for anonymity's sake, I could tell that we were incredibly different people, and I was apprehensive about the task that was entrusted to me. As we began our regular calls, I learned more and more about her life. We shared details about our families, our personal lives, her lived-out career, and my future aspirations. I learned about the tragedies that had befallen her throughout her life and the struggles that she continues to face today. She has lost many family members to diseases and accidents, and is the sole caretaker of several family members, all while dealing with her own health issues. I remember one particular week, we had an incredibly emotional phone call, as she confided how she was terrified of losing her child in the same horrific way she lost her partner just several years ago. In my nearly two decades of life, I could never imagine experiencing so much heartbreak over such a short period of time. That week, I cried for hours about S's situation, and my heart broke over the fact that all I could do was listen. As it turns out, listening is maybe all that's needed. After our hour on the phone together, nothing about S's life essentially changes, and yet as we schedule our next call, she always tells me how grateful she is for these conversations, and I hear how her voice always seems lighter than it was when she first picked up the phone. This is where the value of a program like this really lies. Having someone to talk to when experiencing incredible hardships doesn't suddenly make all of your problems disappear, but it does provide a safe space to process your emotions and let out your grief so you can continue to persevere another day. Through my volunteer participation in this program, I've seen firsthand what genuine companionship can offer in someone else's life. Even if there isn't a lot of impact on one person's part, it can be life-changing for someone else. Just a little conversation or a few extra minutes can be all the help in the world, and you'd never even know. It's important to help others because small acts of kindness have an invaluable impact. We can make the world an infinitely better place by all being in each other's corner.

If time travel was possible, would you do it? What if it was a rule that nothing could be changed during your trip -- what would you answer then? If you're anything like me, you might scoff and ask 'What's the point?'. I almost stopped reading "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi when I learned of the ridiculous rules in place at his 'time travel' cafe setting. If you choose to continue reading this short novel, you'll understand why I ended up reading it to the end. Each chapter is told from a different perspective, focusing on a different personal relationship: the relationship between lovers, the one between sisters, etc. Each person choosing to go back has a mission they wish to accomplish and they struggle with the rules presented to them by the cafe owner -- you must sit in a specific seat that is only available at a certain time, the trip cannot last longer than the time it takes for the coffee to get cold, you cannot leave the cafe, and you cannot change anything. They choose to take this chance, regardless of how useless it may seem, and yet they return to the present day changed forever. The real impact of this book lies in its focus on relationships. Every reader has those they hold dear and will be able to relate to the main character of each chapter. Your relationships with your loved ones have hidden layers that may never be revealed, but at a second look, you could realize so much. That is the real gift that time traveling at the cafe gives each main character. They may not have accomplished the mission they came with, however, they came back with a changed perspective that leaves readers moved beyond words. We can all learn to treasure the connections we have with other people, and in doing so, the world can become a better place for all.

In the room I grew up in, there's a drawer filled to the brim with obsolete technology, things generally considered worthless. I treasure this box of 'junk' because it gave me my childhood. I was born in the early 2000s, so I was growing up during a time of progress -- I'm old enough to remember when my mom's pink flip phone was replaced with a then-new iPhone 5, and the clunky Macs in my elementary school's computer lab were upgraded to sleek Dell monitors. Watching movies was my favorite pastime, and even that experience has changed throughout my life. We had an old TV in the house that could only show movies or shows on VHS tapes, then a DVD player in the living room that eventually stopped working, and now streaming services are the new entertainment platform. So much change in such a short time, and maybe that's why I find myself returning to the comfort of watching my favorite Disney movies on VHS. It's hard to explain the nostalgia and the wonder I experience when I put a tape into the TV. As I start to rewind the movie, I vividly remember complaining about the process as a 7-year-old, impatient to watch a film I'd already seen countless times. The title credits come on, the soundtrack plays in the background, and I almost feel transported to another time. I can sense the love and effort put into every frame and every note, using technology that's all too rare nowadays. Singing along to the music that defined my childhood brings me to tears nearly every time because I miss seeing the world around me with a child's eyes. Every happy ending warms my heart, and whatever worries I may have had disappear for a while. Disney has grown so much since it was first started in the 1920s, bigger than anyone could have imagined. While I love all of the new additions to the brand, whether in the parks or properties like Marvel Studios and Star Wars, I think the real magic of Disney comes back to its humble origins -- telling magical stories through hand-drawn animated pictures and orchestral soundtracks. Old stories from around the world were fashioned into something new and unique, bringing classics to new audiences that can appreciate them for decades to come. As a college student who has long left her childhood behind, I find myself coming back to all of the things I loved. Others may see outdated pieces of plastic when they look at my collection, but I see all of the memories Disney has made for me, and all of the ones I have yet to make someday.

As a woman in STEM pursuing a career in medicine, I'm acutely aware of disparities and lack of representation for women and BIPOC in this area. This has been an issue for centuries, and although the gap has been improving in the last several decades, especially in the medical field, there are still many ways to continue improving. I adore science and have always been wanting to learn everything I can in subjects like biology, chemistry, and more. Many young girls share this love for scientific knowledge but ultimately don't choose to go into STEM careers due to systemic barriers, lack of support, imposter syndrome, etc. Having women in STEM fields is a great benefit, as we have many different perspectives and strengths to offer, and it breaks my heart that there are so many issues on this front. I pursued my passions in both science and advocating for women in STEM by joining the Women In Science And Engineering Residence Program (WISE RP) at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. Through this program, I've learned so much about the history of women in STEM and why we continue to have inequity in this field, examining individual case studies across a variety of STEM fields. We were given resources for jobs and internships to build up our resumes and our confidence and practiced qualities that good leaders should exemplify. This was an incredibly valuable experience for me as a first-year college student and I wanted to continue to be a part of this amazing program. I'm returning in my second year to be a peer mentor for first-years in WISE RP going through the same experiences I did. Achieving individual success is incredibly valuable as a way to make breakthroughs for women and BIPOC in STEM, however, what may be equally as impactful (or even more so) is to give back to young girls that are following in our footsteps. It's crucial to support their interests in whatever STEM fields they're drawn to, encourage them to pursue opportunities, even ones they don't feel brave enough to go for, and provide them with advice and resources for any challenge they may encounter along the way. Creating a strong, diverse community for all young women in STEM ensures that they'll have support when pursuing higher education and careers and that they'll have numerous positive examples that inspire them to never give up. This is the way to end disparities in STEM fields and ensure that we go into the future with all of the brightest minds in the world.

"'Cause baby, I could build a castle // Out of all the bricks they threw at me" is one of my favorite and most empowering lyrics in Taylor Swift's discography. The message that lies behind these words is universally relatable -- everyone can connect to being doubted, made fun of, and torn down. Taylor Swift's songs give a unique look into her personal life that fans may not necessarily get otherwise, and the song New Romantics is no exception. There has always been controversy surrounding Swift's choices, her song topics, and her relationships, and she's been exposed to this criticism since she was a teenager even younger than me. Through New Romantics, we see that there are struggles Swift is facing but after all this time, she's choosing to go a different way, empowering herself despite other people's judgment and ultimately weakening their power over her. Lyrics throughout the song show exactly this -- "We are too busy dancing // To get knocked off our feet" is another favorite of mine, where Swift uses powerful words and images to explain her choice to enjoy her life in spite of others. I've had many moments in my own life that echo the message behind New Romantics. People I thought were close friends chose to end our friendship, despite all my best efforts. I chose an exciting and challenging first semester in college and all anyone told me was that I couldn't do it and I should quit before it was too late. I've been embarrassed by others, gossiped about, and judged by those who don't know any better. Going through these moments was a heavy emotional trial and I often had many doubts about my own character and ability. Over time, with the support of my family and friends, I was able to not only overcome my doubts and heartache but flourish despite what other people thought of me. I finished that first semester of college with a 4.00 GPA, which I earned through blood, sweat, and a lot of tears. I moved past friendships I once valued above all and I found a new community of people who love me for the way that I am and don't expect me to change myself to fit in with them. I've grown past high school drama and have been enjoying college life to the fullest. The struggles that plagued my life are mere memories now, and I've learned so much from those experiences. Every time New Romantics plays, I scream the words as loud as I can, knowing that I'm choosing to relish my life despite everything and that other people have lost their power over me.

Imagine you were able to buy a device that would prolong your life for 20 years, 30 years, or maybe even more. . . would you do it? As of 2014, this question is no longer a hypothetical. My favorite tech invention of the last 10 years is the 3D-printed heart sleeve or 'electronic glove' as the Independent calls it. When I first saw this piece of tech, I marveled at the design and I was almost in disbelief of what it could do. It seemed like something straight out of a science-fiction movie. There have of course been advancements and progress in the design, as recent as 2020, and scientists hope to put this life-saving device to use in the coming years. A combination of biology, medicine, and technology, the device uses a web of sensors and electrodes to tap into the heart's electrical activity and mitigate heart conditions like restarting your heart in the event of cardiac arrest. This is my favorite invention because it combines fields that I'm interested in as careers, medicine and technology, into one life-changing innovation. This device pushes the boundaries humans have established between life and death as well as the boundaries in healthcare today. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in America and a device like this could help significantly reduce these numbers if it's used among the general public. It can prolong people's lives as well as improve their quality of life. It can also spark discourse about difficult situations: if an individual is brain dead without any possibility of recovery, should this device still be operating in the patient's body? Would this life-saving device have the greatest positive impact on the world, considering economic status? New technology, especially in the medical field, comes with so many considerations, which makes them even more of a hot topic. This device is incredibly captivating and I personally look forward to future developments. As I've mentioned, I've had a lifelong interest in medicine and technology, and plan to pursue a career in medicine as I go through undergraduate and medical schooling. I'm old enough to remember when my parents upgraded their flip phones to the very first iPhone models and when my elementary school upgraded our computer lab from clunky early-generation Macs to sleek Dell computers. I've seen an enormous amount of technological advancements in my short lifetime and medicine is no exception. Advancements such as the heart sleeve mentioned above is something that improves life expectancy for afflicted individuals but more importantly, it can improve a person's quality of life. Going into this field, that's my top priority. I want to utilize innovations in biology and technology to improve quality of life for future patients.

My favorite scientific discovery is one that I learned of just recently in my AP Biology class. This discovery is the fact that most modern humans can trace their mitochondrial DNA back to one woman known as 'Mitochondrial Eve' or the 'Real Eve'. This discovery has enormous implications on our understanding of where humans come from, our evolutionary history, as well as how we all relate to each other, literally. Learning about this research was incredibly interesting and helped my understand more about human evolution and the mitochondria inside our own cells. For example, I had no idea that mitochondrial DNA was passed down matrilineally and that was why we could trace our species's origins to one woman. Additionally, this discovery created a lot of discourse about modern human origins and how it impacts our current-day society. The use of the name 'Eve' to describe the woman our mitochondrial DNA leads back too sparked a lot of controversy which was especially interesting to learn about. Most of all, I really love this discovery because the research that led up to it was done in the 1980s and a significant portion of the discovery was made by a woman named Rebecca Cann. It is only because of the efforts of her and her team that we have this mitochondrial DNA evidence to support the origin of modern humans. It's incredibly inspiring to know that such monumental research was done, in part, by an accredited and intelligent woman who was given credit for her work.

Just because you trust and care about someone doesn't make them right. Their opinions do not and should not overpower your own. For as long as I can remember, I've struggled with friendships. As an extrovert, I found myself longing for companionship as early as elementary school and I often fell short. Those I was friends with often had others who were closer and cooler and I always found myself on the outside. As a result of this, I always put every effort into the friendships I made throughout my school years. I did everything I could do be the best friend for them, hoping that someone would see that and treasure me as I did them. With this mindset, I inadvertently ended up putting these friends on a pedestal in my mind, seeing them through rose-colored lenses and thinking that they could do no wrong, ever. During high school, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and so many other historic world events, I was also trying to find myself and my voice, as most teenagers strive to do during this time. I was too easily influenced by the friends around me and clashed with my parents as I fought their opinions with ones that weren't even mine. Even if I found myself disagreeing, I stifled these thoughts because I thought to myself, this is what my friends think. . . they must be right. Having the benefit of hindsight, I realize now that I was struggling so hard for them to like me that I lost sight of who I was and what was important to me. Now, I have the opportunity to think critically about social or political issues and form thoughts of my own without feeling wrong or guilty.

Throughout my years of taekwondo training, I've gained so much knowledge and experience, all culminating with me receiving my first degree black belt earlier this year. Taekwondo, like many other forms of martial arts, is very reliant on interactions with others in order to succeed. With that in mind, as students rise through the belt ranks and accumulate more knowledge, they have a responsibility to act as a role model and mentor to lower ranked students. During my time at the dojang, I have learned so much through the mentoring of others and as I've learned more and more, I've been able to be a mentor to other students as well. I've assisted with correction of technique, demonstrations of technique, and instruction of new curriculum or etiquette. I've worked with many different kinds of students; some much younger and more energetic than me, others my age, and those who are much older and more physically limited than me. With all of these experiences, I approach each person with respect and patience, as well as an upbeat attitude. When I mentor other students, I want to share my love for taekwondo and instill them with a sense of self-efficacy that will benefit them not only in a sparring match but in all other areas of life.

I've probably read hundreds of different books in my relatively short life. Some of them I felt indifferent towards, some I loved, and some caused me to give up reading them for one reason or another. Asking someone like me to choose a favorite book can be like asking a person what their favorite song is. In the infinite playlist of the world's music, how could you possibly pick only one? For the sake of argument, I will attempt to choose. I could say that my favorite book is easily any of the Harry Potter books, the series that truly catapulted me into the world of 'grown-up reading' when I was a child, but as I ponder this question a little longer, I find myself settling on a different title. In elementary school, I was given a box of beaten-up, hand-me-down books from a family with older girls. In that box was my still-treasured copy of Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I grew up with an adoration for fairy tales stemming from watching classic Disney animations like Sleeping Beauty with my family. As such, Levine's retelling of Cinderella in her novel Ella Enchanted easily caught my attention and has yet to let it go. The main heroine, Ella, is intelligent, resourceful, kind, and loving, despite her situation, and Levine's fantastical world pulled me into her story. With classic inspiration, a lovable cast of characters, and a beautiful plot, Ella Enchanted became one of my comfort books that I love to reread to this day.

High school start times are the bane of my existence. Starting to learn at 8:00 am is simply impossible for me and thousands of other students across the country. Most wake up as close as possible to their school start time without being late, or maybe even sleep through their first class of the day. I would not fall into this category, but rather I find myself to be an outlier. Every school day, I wake up an hour before I leave my house to get to school, meaning my alarm playing Taylor Swift rings out at 6:15 am. I've been asked by so many people, "Why on earth do you do that to yourself? Don't you want to sleep?". Yes, of course I do, and yet there's something else that I enjoy more: getting myself ready for the day. I'm a big proponent of the idea that if you look good, you feel good, and it especially comes in handy when you're in high school, probably one of the most difficult times in one's life. I feel much more equipped to learn about DNA replication or differential equations if I have neon eyeliner or glitter eyeshadow as my armor. Waking up so early allows me to put effort into my appearance and express my creativity when I lack time to do much else. Styling a new sweater or trying out a new makeup technique allows me to express my true self and gives me the confidence to take on anything my day entails. A simple flick of eyeliner makes a world of difference.

"Part of Your World" is Ariel's iconic solo in the movie The Little Mermaid, and it almost wasn't even included. It's a good thing it was because it inspired many children growing up and watching that movie, myself included. Ariel sings about all of the things she's learned and collected, and expresses her desire to keep learning more, keep trying new things, and make something of her life. She dreams of the day she can grow up and start to truly understand the complex world around her. There's even a lyric specifically impactful to me as a young woman planning to pursue a career in STEM: "Bright young women, sick of swimming, ready to stand". This line is probably more adventurous or controversial for the 80s, when this movie came out, but I think it's incredibly meaningful and inspires me to be confident in myself and to pursue my dreams. Aside from impactful lyrics by Howard Ashman, the composition by Alan Menkel is absolutely brilliant. The music ebbs and flows, reminiscent of Ariel's home and it swells as she makes grand statements about her dreams. It's incredibly memorable and I get chills every time I listen to this song. He truly knows how to put together a song that will make you feel something as well as push a movie plot forward. Intense nostalgia combined with meaningful lyrics and emotional composition make "Part of Your World" a song that inspires me to keep pushing the edges of what we know and keep learning as much as I can about my passions.

The most common phrases in my vocabulary include "I'm sorry", "I'm not sure", and "Sorry to bother", as well as filler words such as "like" and "um". I'm sure this isn't a unique problem but rather a common symptom of low self-confidence and self-esteem. As I was growing up and becoming more and more intellectual, school became a lot more stimulating and interactive. I was expected to contribute to discussions, collaborate with classmates, and even correct people now and then if something was incorrect. Although I was and still remain a very competent student, I often struggled to see myself that way and tried to 'take up less space' in conversations as a result. Confidence is not a trait but rather a very crucial skill that many often lack, more often in women and other marginalized groups. Outside influences like social media and peer pressure can reduce one's image of themselves to nothing but dirt, something to scoff at. "Your speech isn't right, your appearance isn't right, your perspective isn't right"; all of these jabs sink their way into people's skin and it takes a tremendous amount of effort to move past that. I truly think that confidence takes so much work but it's worth it because you can gain a healthy and positive image of yourself, as well as the respect of those who matter. I've definitely had my struggles with confidence throughout my young life, especially relating to my appearance and my character. One thing I've found to be super helpful is to take a picture of myself when I look and feel good. As I surround myself with more positive moments regarding things I'm insecure about, I slowly start to build up my self-confidence and self-esteem, setting me up for future success.