Animals have an amazing ability to brighten our day effortlessly. I don’t think we, as a society, deserve the kindness that animals give us. I have always felt a deep and genuine love for animals and believe in giving them the utmost care and attention they deserve. I firmly believe that every living creature, from domestic animals like cats to exotic wildlife like zebras, deserves to be treated with care and compassion. I would love to pursue a career in the veterinary field, either as a regular veterinarian for pets or in a zoo. This passion started at a very young age when I got my first cat, Grayson. I practically grew up with him and the thought of anything happening to him would leave me shattered. Because of this, I believe going into the veterinary field would leave me feeling fulfilled, knowing I am making a difference for families and their beloved pets. However, if I were to take the path to becoming a zoo veterinarian, I could get the satisfaction of bringing in rescues in hopes that they will be able to be released back into the wild where they belong. I love watching the Tampa Zoo show because it brings me so much joy being able to watch the process of wild animals being rehabilitated and released into the wild and having families. Not only does that animal get a second chance at life in its natural habitat, but it also gets a chance to help keep that type of animal from extinction. I am also intrigued by the opportunity to conduct research and develop treatments for common animal viruses. Animals, much like humans, can be affected by a wide range of viruses. I believe it's important for us to focus on developing treatments to safeguard the health and well-being of our animal companions in the future. I recently welcomed a new addition to my family, Hazel, my pug last year. Unfortunately, we discovered that she suffers from epileptic seizures. Determined to improve her quality of life, our veterinarian prescribed medication to reduce the abnormal brain activity that triggers her seizures. I'm grateful that this treatment has significantly decreased the frequency of her seizures to about once every couple of months. This experience has inspired me to pursue a future in animal care and contribute to advancements in animal health research. As a high school senior, I'm eagerly looking forward to embarking on my academic journey to pursue my dream career in veterinary medicine. I am determined to enroll in a university known for its exceptional pre-veterinary program, as it will provide me with the solid foundation needed to gain admission to veterinary school. Despite my firm passion for animals, I am aware that the costs associated with my education can accumulate rapidly. Therefore, I am actively seeking scholarships to help with the financial burden, allowing me to concentrate on my studies without the anxiety of increasing expenses. I am eagerly anticipating the challenges and rewards of working in this deeply fulfilling field, where I can contribute to the well-being of our beloved animal companions.

Reading has become a comfort and a passion whenever I feel like getting whisked away into a story. BookTok has grown immensely over the past few years and has become an extraordinary community. All of my book recommendations have come from BookTok which has significantly filled my bookshelves. From the start of the year, I have slowly begun getting more and more into fantasy. My favorite so far is the Powerless series by Lauren Roberts. Those who love the Hunger Games series will enjoy these books that contain similar, challenging trials. However, this series has a twist with there being Elites, who have special powers, and Ordinaries, who don’t have any abilities. It is filled with action, suspense, and romance as well. The second book, Reckless, came out July 2 and has been the most anticipated release of the year. I read Reckless in a day and loved it as much as the first one. My second must-have fantasy book series is the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. This has a powerful female leading character who grows immensely as an individual throughout the series. Another fantasy must-read is Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, which takes place in a fantasy world with the leading female character, Iris, being a journalist who challenges herself to face the war on the frontlines in order to help her citizens be aware of what is truly happening in this world. I am currently reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Mass, which is also fantasy and known as essential for BookTok readers. There are also books that one cannot go without reading that fall in the romance category. Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter is known across BookTok as being the book to bring readers to love reading or help them come out of their reading slump. When reading this book, it truly felt like a rom-com was playing in my head the entire time. The leading characters in high school, Wes and Liz, are known as enemies but slowly grow fond of each other throughout the book. Each chapter also begins with a quote from a rom-com movie deepening the feeling of living in a rom-com. The sequel to this book comes out in October and will definitely be on my shelf. Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren is a lighthearted romance book about childhood friends who have slowly grown to love one another but stopped sharing contact after an incident that isn’t revealed until later in the book which makes you question what happened. Because of this, it makes readers like me want to read more to discover what happened with their past and hope that they regain their connection. I also enjoy reading about social issues and my favorite is The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith. This story is broken up into different parts containing the main character, Eden, and her years throughout high school. This book explores the topic of sexual assault and how the aftermath can deeply affect one's life. This will remain as one of my favorites because of how truly inspiring and beautifully written it is. All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven takes you through the struggles of mental health in teen years and how deeply companionship can impact one's life. This book is a definite tear-jerker and has also been made into a movie. All of these genres are very different and entertaining in their own way. Each has impacted the BookTok community by allowing us to connect through the power of these books.