At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. Connection is one of my core values. As a swim instructor, I built many meaningful relationships that bring me joy to this day. In the parent and baby lessons, the parents had to trust me completely as I coached them to exude confidence and enthusiasm while they submerged their infants and encouraged their toddlers to swim independently. Many of my students were on the autism spectrum and several started lessons after near-drowning experiences, so I learned how to meet each student where they were. Connecting with each student and watching them grow was a key experience that compelled me towards pediatric primary care. After college, when the pandemic turned my plans upside down, I took several classes taught by Child Life Specialists. For a class on grief in pediatric care, I interviewed a pediatric oncologist who told me that emotional intelligence is tremendously important in medicine. He reminded me that good providers connect with their patients, but that connection means you will feel pain with your patients. He advised talking openly about death and giving myself permission to grieve, advice that jump started my healing from recent personal losses. This guidance will allow me resiliency in an emotionally demanding profession. During my year as a medical assistant at a primary care clinic and outpatient addiction treatment center, the integrative medicine doctor told me that it’s not just the treatment you prescribe but also your relationship with the patient that is healing. I experienced this firsthand when I took the medical history of an elderly patient seeking care for the first time in his adult life only because a mass on his thigh had grown unbearably large. I listened attentively, knowing that if he felt dismissed, this patient might never again reach out for help. Eight months later he was pain-free and sending us selfies of his walks in the sun. The patient’s trust in his provider changed his life, and being part of his support team changed mine. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. It’s easy to tell the story of the 14-year-old girl who felt comforted by her pediatrician and was inspired to go into medicine, but I’d be lying if I said I never had moments of doubt after getting a bad grade or feeling exhaustion from chronic understaffing. I’ve thought deeply about what I want from life and from my career: a job where I make deep connections, where I advocate for those who need their voice amplified and where I end the day knowing I made a positive impact on someone’s life. I’ve considered other professions, like teacher or therapist, but I always return to the spark that ignited when I was 14 years old. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I have first hand experience with the pain, triggers and judgment a person with mental illnesses faces at the doctors office. With this knowledge I am much more equipped to create a safe space for my patients. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine. I truly believe my scary teenage years in the throws of anorexia will make me a better doctor.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. Connection is one of my core values. As a swim instructor, I built many meaningful relationships that bring me joy to this day. In the parent and baby lessons, the parents had to trust me completely as I coached them to exude confidence and enthusiasm while they submerged their infants and encouraged their toddlers to swim independently. Many of my students were on the autism spectrum and several started lessons after near-drowning experiences, so I learned how to meet each student where they were. Connecting with each student and watching them grow was a key experience that compelled me towards pediatric primary care. After college, when the pandemic turned my plans upside down, I took several classes taught by Child Life Specialists. For a class on grief in pediatric care, I interviewed a pediatric oncologist who told me that emotional intelligence is tremendously important in medicine. He reminded me that good providers connect with their patients, but that connection means you will feel pain with your patients. He advised talking openly about death and giving myself permission to grieve, advice that jump started my healing from recent personal losses. This guidance will allow me resiliency in an emotionally demanding profession. During my year as a medical assistant at a primary care clinic and outpatient addiction treatment center, the integrative medicine doctor told me that it’s not just the treatment you prescribe but also your relationship with the patient that is healing. I experienced this firsthand when I took the medical history of an elderly patient seeking care for the first time in his adult life only because a mass on his thigh had grown unbearably large. I listened attentively, knowing that if he felt dismissed, this patient might never again reach out for help. Eight months later he was pain-free and sending us selfies of his walks in the sun. The patient’s trust in his provider changed his life, and being part of his support team changed mine. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. It’s easy to tell the story of the 14-year-old girl who felt comforted by her pediatrician and was inspired to go into medicine, but I’d be lying if I said I never had moments of doubt after getting a bad grade or feeling exhaustion from chronic understaffing. I’ve thought deeply about what I want from life and from my career: a job where I make deep connections, where I advocate for those who need their voice amplified and where I end the day knowing I made a positive impact on someone’s life. I’ve considered other professions, like teacher or therapist, but I always return to the spark that ignited when I was 14 years old. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. Connection is one of my core values. As a swim instructor, I built many meaningful relationships that bring me joy to this day. In the parent and baby lessons, the parents had to trust me completely as I coached them to exude confidence and enthusiasm while they submerged their infants and encouraged their toddlers to swim independently. Many of my students were on the autism spectrum and several started lessons after near-drowning experiences, so I learned how to meet each student where they were. Connecting with each student and watching them grow was a key experience that compelled me towards pediatric primary care. After college, I worked as a medical assistant at a primary care clinic and outpatient addiction treatment center. The integrative medicine doctor told me that it’s not just the treatment you prescribe but also your relationship with the patient that is healing. I experienced this firsthand when I took the medical history of an elderly patient seeking care for the first time in his adult life only because a mass on his thigh had grown unbearably large. I listened attentively, knowing that if he felt dismissed, this patient might never again reach out for help. Eight months later he was pain-free and sending us selfies of his walks in the sun. The patient’s trust in his provider changed his life, and being part of his support team changed mine. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. That is why I am enrolled in medical school to pursue a career as a primary care physician, started courses in Summer 2024. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. Many of our patients identify as LGBTQ+, so wearing my rainbow pin sends a message of understanding, community and safety. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. That is why I am enrolled in medical school to pursue a career as a primary care physician, started courses in Summer 2024. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. Many of our patients identify as LGBTQ+, so wearing my rainbow pin sends a message of understanding, community and safety. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. That is why I am enrolled in medical school to pursue a career as a primary care physician, started courses in Summer 2024. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Throughout my four years of undergraduate college, I worked two part-time paid jobs and numerous volunteer jobs. Working between 15-25 hours per week -and full time over summers- while pursuing a degree in STEM was a balancing act. It took making a few mistakes to learn how to prioritize and efficiently use my time correctly. However, I feel like my experience in the workforce and my ability to appropriately delegate my energy will put me ahead in my career as a doctor. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. That is why I am enrolled in medical school to pursue a career as a primary care physician, started courses in Summer 2024. . I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.

At a routine doctor’s appointment when I was 14, I started hyperventilating. Since no one had taught me about panic attacks, I naturally assumed I was dying. Only one person was able to calm me down, speaking to me in my vulnerability with a kindness that immediately earned my trust. Ever since then, I’ve wanted to be just like my magical, empathetic pediatrician. Having her as a support person and role model made a huge difference in my life, and since that day in her office, I’ve aspired to provide that same kind of care, education and healing to others. I struggled with my mental health in my adolescence, particularly with a restrictive eating disorder. In high school it landed me in the ER. In college, I left before the end of my first year to treat it in earnest. I missed another quarter of school in my third year due to extreme anxiety following a major wildfire that threatened campus. Now I count each return to school among my greatest accomplishments, giving me the confidence to face hard times again. Majoring in Biopsychology not only fostered my interest in science but also provided me insight into the workings of my own mind and brain. In my current role as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, I’ve learned that high-quality care doesn’t come from a specific degree, it comes from a person who cares about other people. I care. Working in gynecology and primary care in an underserved community, I see how confusing, scary and painful medical care can be, so I am mindful to provide clear education to all. Being able to provide bilingual services in Spanish allows me to make a stronger connection to many more patients. I have seen that primary care will fulfill my values of connection and empathy in an unparalleled way. Healthcare is a right, and working in a clinic that strives to be accessible to all cements my determination to fight for that right. Through my recovery from my eating disorder, I have learned that I am deeply curious about how the brain and the body function. I learned to be comfortable experiencing and discussing intense subjects like grief and anxiety. I believe only a degree in osteopathic medicine will provide me the depth of knowledge I crave and train me how to holistically care for patients in a way that aligns with my values. My love of science combined with the joy I feel when I make a nervous child giggle through their vaccines, the calm I feel when I catch a patient who faints and the gratitude I feel when women thank me for listening to their experiences of domestic abuse make me know in my heart I am meant to have a career in medicine.