I am Sarah Morrison. I was born to a young woman in an unnamed town in central Florida. Before my birth, I was promised to an older couple who had dreamt of having a child of their own yet were unable to conceive. Growing up I wondered who it was who gave birth to me, but the family I was gifted with was filled with so much love eventually it did not matter to me anymore. As a young girl, science and mathematics excited me. I would always proudly tell my mother when I grew up, I was going to become a famous physicist and attend MIT and be just like Nikola Tesla or Marie Curie, who were, consequently, at the top of my teenage celebrity crush list and my childhood role models. The family I was given was older, and as the years passed, time caught up to them. In 2008, when I was just 8 years old, amid the financial crisis of ’08, my father suffered what we would find to be a fatal massive heart attack. What was once a happy family had been ripped apart, my mother, brother and I were left to fend for ourselves. I respect my mother more than anyone I know. Though we were not related by blood, she gave me her determination and fiery personality. She taught me to never give up, never bow to harsh circumstances; that there is always something you can do to rewrite the future hurdling towards you. After a few months of struggling, my family became victims of homelessness. Thankfully, we were able to find shelter with the Salvation Army. We stayed for 3 months while my mother fought to stand back up, and eventually, we found a modest trailer we would call home. As I grow older, I understand life is nothing if not change; though as a child, I did not cope well with this. The years started to wear on my mother, she found herself in and out of the hospital with heart issues. I eventually started lashing out, all I wanted was a happy family. I started falling into crowds where I knew I did not belong. Running away, experimenting with drugs and alcohol and eventually becoming homeless and cycling in and out of the juvenile justice system. When I was 16, I found myself on probation which would last the next 3 years. I still did not submit to the fact that change was needed. For years I was on this divergent path. I dropped out of high school, seeming to have lost all passion I once had for learning. I have seen many things, and been given many opportunities, yet took none. I have been shown compassion when I did not deserve any. Yet I still stood strong in my delusions and bad behavior. But, one day I decided I had had enough. In 2019, once my probation had ended and I was free to choose what my life’s next step would be, I chose better. For the first time in years, I saw a light. I had been offered a rope by a friend in Texas and decided to climb. She bought a plane ticket, and I boarded the plane and never looked back. The day before I departed, I visited my mother for what would be the last time. She was still battling illness in the hospital. I remember vividly the bittersweet look in her eyes, one of pride and sadness. Five months after I moved, she would pass. These experiences are what motivate me. Every day I remember where I started and look at where I am. I want to do better and be the best person I can be, I want to make my parents proud, I want to make my younger self proud. As I child I knew I had so much potential and through those rough teenage years, I would hear it from adults all the time. I was extended hand after hand reaching to pull me up and never grasped them. I was extremely lucky to be surrounded by compassionate and forgiving people in my formative years. I do not believe I would be doing as well as I am today without them. I strongly believe with a little love and compassion; anyone can do great things. I want to prove to everyone, especially myself, that no matter where you start, or how low you sink, with effort, determination and a community full of forgiveness and support you can succeed. If I could do anything with my life, I would want to help others. I stand firm in the belief that if we want a great community, the support of its members is quintessential. There are many ways to achieve this, but I have chosen to go into the healthcare industry, specifically pharmaceuticals. Both of my parents passed away from long-term, chronic health conditions, so this is something close to my heart in a way. I remember spending time in the hospital visiting my mom and speaking with the hospital care staff. I remember them recounting stories and explaining how fulfilling health care can be with the right passion. Pharmaceuticals combine assisting others with my love of science and, more specifically as of recently, chemistry. I love learning and know I will be a lifelong student far past my college career. STEM excites me because I love learning. I started attending classes for the first time in 5 years last year and I love it. Nothing brings me more joy than attending my weekly lab class or reading my Bio textbook; I’ve even read a few chapters ahead of my class. I find everything so interesting and cannot wait to take more science classes next semester. I love learning how the world works and even more, I love a challenge. I love challenging myself and overcoming. STEM can be hard, but I did not pick it because it was easy.