The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart.

I am always faced with challenges. I have autism, ADHD, dyslexia and chronic compartment syndrome. But my challenges do not stop me, not once, not ever. I am always inspired to grow and learn. I had surgery in March of 2025, which forced me to put a pause on some of my education. I had to retake a lab over the summer, where I was "bullied" by my own professor. This of course upset me, but I had to remind myself how far I have come. I am beyond blessed to even be alive. Not everyone would understand what I have went through, and the same goes for me understanding them. We all have different stories, which make us unique. I was able to finish that lab with an A. I did a lot of reflecting from that class, and it made me realize how privileged I am. I then had to take chemistry in the fall, which I struggled greatly in. I went to tutoring sessions and begged my friends for help, yet I still failed the class. I had to remind myself that I tried my best, and that I still have another chance to retake the course. I passed every other class of mine that semester. I am always striving to do better, but I will always do my best with whatever task I am provided. Having effort that is determined and willing improve is something that I am proud to say I have. I'm not one to give up, especially when it comes to my life. I am dedicated to become the best version of myself, while knowing that EVERYONE is still learning. We are all humans on this planet trying our best, and having no judgement towards others has helped me smile more. I want to live my life to its fullest, with a smile at least once a day. I do things that make me happy, while also hoping to improve someone else's day. I consider the phrase "be someone else's luck" to be my motto. You never know what someone else has going on, and it doesn't take a lot of effort to do something nice for no reward. But I will admit, there is a reward, knowing that you could have made someone's day or made them happy, means the world to me. I'll end this essay with my own motto, "strive for better, but being yourself is best" - for authenticity makes the world smile.

I am a disabled college student who wants to change the world through holistic medical treatments. I plan on getting my degree in Health Science and going to nursing school, but I want to open my own practice to teach and educate about natural ways to heal the body. I was diagnosed with chronic compartment syndrome in 2020, and have had two surgeries. My legs to this day are still not 100% better, but I have found ways that help me move freely and also release my stress. Simple yoga and easy artwork are able to make me feel fully alive. My plan is to inspire those who struggle with disabilities and also help families of those who are supporting those with disabilities. I want to show that there are other ways to feel healthy and good about yourself other than pharmaceutical medication. Even though I do want to become a nurse, I think it would be beneficial if there were programs that included alternative healing methods for all patients. I want to provide the experience that I wish I had when I was struggling with my health, a positive way to cope and heal. The smile I grinned when I first found accessible yoga and paint that I could work with can not be compared to. The feeling of pure bliss when your needs are heard and met is something that I want to replicate for other people. Everyone who struggles with something, visible or not, deserves to feel content in their own body. Whether it is stretching, dancing, painting, clay making or something else, it can be the most freeing thing. Most people overlook natural health methods, but I want to be the person who brings them to light. Knowing that I was able to recover myself and continue to improve my health is beyond me. My career is something I want to expand upon. I want to research these holistic methods and start programs to see what would be the most beneficial for people. Life should be enjoyed, and everyone should smile at LEAST once a day. If I can find ways that bring smiles to faces, my goal is completed. I hope to bring more joy into the world, because we all could use a smile every once in a while. I hope that my journey inspires others as well, for nobody is ever truly alone.

Watercolor painting is healing, and that is my exact goal. I am currently studying health science, and found that holistic medicine works best when you are inspired to take action. I found my best medicine in watercolor artwork. I am able to release the stress of my day through bright images and depictions of nature. I strive to untangle my thoughts and express them through the paintings. My goal in life is to help others find their niche way to naturally heal, and for me it was watercolor artwork. I become lost in the way the paint flows on the paper; it is distracting enough for me to breathe calmly. I know that I can teach others how to meditate and paint, while also facing their inner struggles that go deeper than visibly seen. I am proud of every piece I have made, for they each have their own story. I also have learned that there are no mistakes in any art, as they are meant to happen. As life can be unpredictable, so can the paint. The paint mimics our inner subconscious, and we are able to have a more meaningful understanding of ourselves through the artwork. I aim to inspire those who have struggled or are struggling, as every piece of art has an admirer, our voices should be heard the same way.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others. Which is why I want to become a nurse.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others. My financial situation is slightly complicated. My parents are divorcing and my father will not pay for my college. My practice will become an open place for all financial situations. I will be able to allow insurance and payment plans since I understand that gaining/working for money is difficult and that everyone’s situation is different.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

Mental Health. Two words that have been a struggle with me for years. I am autistic with ADHD and bipolar disorder. I was not diagnosed until I was 18. It took me almost year to gather my thoughts about these diagnosis's. It made me realize all the things I have done in my life that were different from everyone else. How and why I behave the way I do. It was a difficult period of reflection. Yet it made me open my eyes. Just because I have these “issues” does not mean I am a problem. It just means that I have to work through my life slightly different than most. Which is perfectly fine! I feel that knowing your weaknesses will help one grow stronger. I found that I am still able to push through my most stressful situations with the help of therapy and medicine and also self belief. Self belief is a term I use for helping myself through conflict. If I believe I can concur the problem, I will. This is why I didn’t give up on my dreams of pursuing medicine. I know I will face rough patches, yet I will get through them. I want to become a psychiatrist to help those in need. I want to be the doctor that people come to for answers. I will be able to help people who were or were not diagnosed young. Since I was a child of neglected mental health, I know the signs and symptoms. I know that some parents will believe that their child is “normal” and with no “problems”. Yet I am here to show that these diagnosis’s ARE NOT (and I repeat, ARE NOT) problems. They are simply obstacles that their child has to work around to achieve their goals. Nobody should be shunned for a diagnosis, and I am here to help break the stigma. Everyone should have a fair chance in life, and it isn’t fair when someone is denied the help they need. This is why I will continue to fight for mental health. Why I will never back down from my stance. I will become a psychiatrist, and help those in need. Mental health is not an issue to be disregarded. We need to come together to help those who are suffering in silence. For everyone deserves a chance to feel like their best self. Mental health is a calling, and I am here to answer the call.

Starting out as an EMT made me want to go further. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

I am a freshman at the University of Miami. I got here because my father told me I could never get in. Especially not for nursing. Yet my aha moment took place in high school, in the ambulance. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart was pounding, and my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needed help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drove down to a location I didn’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, an oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride toward the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires the advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through a conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20-foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty-minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. Some patients don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

As a person with autism and compartment syndrome going into the healthcare world, I know I will help those who are similar to me. I am going to become an anesthesiologist nurse first, then a psychiatric doctor later. As a nursing major, I will be frontline in dealing with all people. Those with disabilities will never have to feel alone again. I will be their light and their guidance. I will be able to help them grow past the situations they are going through and treat them with the best care. I find that nobody should be left to suffer, especially not the disabled. I will be there to assist all in need. I know that disabilities are hard, and people should not have to be struggling with them, but we need someone brave enough to help. Someone strong enough to be the one who supports those with disabilities. This will be me. I will never abandon my patient due to a disability. I will take care of all patients. I will listen to their problems and help them through it. Nobody will have to be in the dark anymore. I will be here to help.

My mom is my light. She is what makes my day. She was abused when she was married and now she is finally free. I watched her struggle to get money since she had to work multiple jobs. She is a teacher, a saleswoman, and a mother. This woman never slept. She just continued to work. She worked to feed and care for my brother and I. I have never felt so inspired. She is the strongest woman I know. Yet we both have had our problems. Even though I was assumed to be a healthy baby, I grew to have some difficulties. I am physically and mentally disabled. I have to work twice as hard if not more than the average human to succeed. I have compartment syndrome, and my surgery was not successful. I still can barely walk. Thankfully my disadvantages have never stopped me. I continue to walk with pride, even when I fall. And I know that I will always have my mother's back as she has mine. She is the only person who has supported me and my illnesses. I know that I have not had the easiest life, yet being with my mother makes life seem better. Therefore I want to be strong like her. I want to become a nurse. Not only just a nurse though. I want to become a psychiatric doctor and an anesthesiologist nurse. I strive every day to save lives since my mother saved mine. I was abused by my father and nobody stood up for me, except for my mother. My mother has been my savior. I want to be someone's hero. I want to be able to make someone feel safe. I will be a helping hand no matter how bad the situation is. This is why I joined the ambulance at 16 and became an EMT. This is why I got my CNA certification as well as Med-Tech. However, my main future goal is to become a powerful combination of nurse and doctor. I chose anesthesia as a nurse because I know surgery is rough, and can be hard to handle. I want to be a nurse who will support patients throughout their surgery. I will be there to hold a patient's hand or talk them through the horrors of surgery. As for psychiatry, that has always been a passion of mine. I have struggled with my mental health countless times, especially as someone who is autistic and bipolar. The world is a challenging place for most people who don't have their life handed to them. The pains of mental health are real and should be listened to. Someone needs to be an ear for those suffering. As someone who has seen the trauma of life, and who has witnessed it. It is hard to go through without someone who is there for you. Thankfully I have my mother, but some people don't have this type of support. That is why I will be here, continuing to work every day. I will be a face that people turn to for guidance. I will be the one who will help those in need.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The woman in my life who inspired me, is me. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others. This scholarship will help me become a doctor.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others. My goal is to become an anesthesiologist nurse. Yet my biggest hardship would be being held back by my parents.

I was abused by my father. I persevered by standing up for myself and joining the ambulance even though he forbade me from it. The best part of my night was hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others, as a doctor.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

My parents are currently divorcing, and I have a restraining order against my father. Yet I found light in the ambulance. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

I used to vape. It was an unhealthy addiction. But then I joined the ambulance. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. The ambulance makes time feel irrelevant. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others. Mental health is important for all. Even those with dementia. We will find a way to help and support all those in need if we are given a chance.

As a nonbinary student, the EMS world is difficult but… The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

Mental health is our drive. I maintain my mental health by helping others, for example: The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

I come from a broken home. I have a restraining order against my dad. But that doesn’t stop me, because… The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

Leadership is taking action. For example. The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Helping another patient, our job completes once again. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Helping another patient, our job completes once again. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice time. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Helping another patient, our job completes once again. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. The nights of EMS could be considered busy, but I don’t notice. A normal shift starts at 6 pm and ends at 6 am. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. I found my true purpose, to help others.

My dream version of myself is to become a psychiatrist or anesthesiologist with the patience and strength to help those who are struggling daily, since I plan to become someone who is a helping hand and can ignore their own problems to save a life in front of them.

Let’s start by saying walking is a privilege. I am thankful to be able to walk. But I still struggle to walk. It isn’t easy when your muscles swell and push against your bones. I have had this condition for four years, and my father, who is a doctor, refused to treat it. He also has the same issue. But that’s besides the point, the major point is that walking is hard. I struggle to go from my cafeteria to my math class. The major thing that inspires me is to help myself improve. Taking mini walks to gain strength is something that helps me. I still need surgery to become totally free of my disability; but I work towards self improvement everyday. I am now an accepted nursing student, which is something I am proud of, but I need to improve my ability to walk so I can help others. It is going to be a challenge to try to save a life while I have to save my own by walking slowly or taking small steps. Every action I do, I have to do slowly. It is quite funny to see, when I used to be called stumpy; tiny legs that moved quickly, and now I am turtle. I do miss the ability to run, but I suppose I should be thankful I had the opportunity as a child when I needed it most. My life has been alright so far, but this recent diagnosis has been extremely rough. It is nearly impossible for me to walk 20 feet without pain. This scholarship will help me fund for my surgery and college experience. I am sure that my story is jumbled and messy, but that’s what life is like with my condition. It is a struggle to go outside or shopping. But I still want to make a difference in this world. I know that when I get my surgery I will be able to improve my own life as well as many others. I will become an anesthesiologist or a psychiatrist. Either way I will end up in the medical field, and I know I will be a helping hand for someone else who is struggling. I am not here on this planet to complain, I am here to educate and become enlightened. Teaching those about my condition is a helpful way to spread awareness for such rare chronic illnesses.

The lights and sirens have me mesmerized. The adrenaline running through my veins, my heart pounding, my body nearly shaking in excitement. It might be surprising to think that I am overjoyed with an ambulance call, but to me, it is more than just “another boring call.” The fact that I get to meet someone new, and help them with whatever is going on, means the world to me. The best part of my night is hearing the alarm saying that someone needs help. Watching the ambulance lights reflect off of the roads and buildings as we drive down to a location I don’t know. Putting on gloves is a simple task but it makes me beam. Carrying a LifePak 15, oxygen tank, and a BLS bag that drags me down, I lift them all as if they were feathers. If it is a long driveway or rough terrain, I continue to stride towards the patient with confidence. Once the patient is assessed and ready to transport, it is time to shine. Inside the ambulance with the patient is a brand new adventure. Even if the call requires advanced skills of the paramedic, I hold the patient's hand or comfort them through conversation about something they are interested in. Sometimes it is easy to tell what a patient likes to talk about, especially when they wear sports merchandise. Other times you have to figure out their personality in a more complicated manner. How did the patient react to you being there? Or maybe what are they feeling at this moment? Asking them questions about themselves, or their family, or about their pets is a good distraction to the needles in their arms. Conversation is the easiest way to gain a patient’s trust. One of my favorite memories was taking a man with dementia to the hospital after a fall. This situation was certainly not his best moment, so I observed his room and noticed he had a lot of images of boats and maps. During transport, I questioned him about the artwork, and we had a deep conversation about how he was a sailor. He painted a vision of the vibrant waves in California with the opal dolphins and emerald sea turtles. He explained the challenges of the sea, such as the hardships he faced with storms creating 20 foot waves and the wind nearly capsizing his boat. It’s amazing to think that our thirty minute conversation felt like hours. The fact that he could remember his life experiences and display them with such detail impressed me. This experience made me reflect and understand that healthcare workers really can improve a situation through even the smallest of conversations. There are patients who don't want to talk, but knowing that you are there to help is more than enough. There are moments when action begins at 8 pm for respiratory distress. Depending on the situation, a call lasts about an hour. Once the patient is safely in the hospital and we are on our way back to the district, we notice we have another call. Our journey continues where the energy is still high. It feels like we are flying down the highway. Picking up another patient, our job completes once again. The cycle repeats over and over, but it still feels like 8 pm, even though it is 4 am. Listening to the stories of a stranger fills my heart. Spending time with patients and having genuine conversations with them replaces my sadness and worries with endless glee. I found my true purpose, to help others.