My grandfather laid there on the ground, my 13-year-old self stood there confused. As my parents rushed into our living room, I saw my grandfather’s crimson blood stain his white hair as a small pool of blood slowly began to form around his head. Frightened, I hesitantly dialed 911 and waited for their arrival. When I was in eighth grade, my grandfather was diagnosed with heart disease after suffering a heart attack. After spending hours in the emergency room, it was decided that my grandfather needed a pace-maker to help his heart continue to beat. After a long surgery, I was finally allowed to visit my grandpa at the hospital. I spent my evenings after school with my grandpa. I could usually be found either sitting next to his hospital bed doing homework, catching up on sleep, or watching my favorite Netflix shows. However it wasn't until I overheard a conversation between my grandpa and his surgeon that piqued my interest in biomedical engineering. My grandpa was told that he couldn't have any large electronic devices near the pace-maker in his heart. I realized the real beauty of medicine was within the machines. The pace-maker had not only saved my grandpa’s life but thousands of others just like him. It made me determined to understand what exactly biomedical engineering was. After several days, instead of my usual lethargic boredom-filled routine that I did off to the side of my grandpa’s bed, I began to delve deeper into the roots of biomedical engineering. After extensive research, I realized the power that biomedical engineers and that biomedical engineering was at the intersection of both technology and medicine. I was entranced by its ability to combat preexisting or evolving conditions with the power of science. Those few days of searching the web, sifting through numerous articles and papers, fueled my passion for biomedical engineering. It prompted me to pursue a degree for Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering along with a degree in Finance.

My grandfather lay there on the ground, my 13-year-old self stood there confused. As my parents rushed into our living room, I saw my grandfather’s crimson bloodstain his white hair as a small pool of blood slowly began to form around his head. Frightened, I hesitantly dialed 911 and waited for their arrival. When I was in eighth grade, my grandfather was diagnosed with heart disease after suffering a heart attack. After spending hours in the emergency room, it was decided that my grandfather needed a pacemaker to help his heart continue to beat. After a long surgery, I was finally allowed to visit my grandpa at the hospital. I spent my evenings after school with my grandpa. I could usually be found either sitting next to his hospital bed doing homework, catching up on sleep or watching my favorite Netflix shows. However, it wasn't until I overheard a conversation between my grandpa and his surgeon that piqued my interest in biomedical engineering. My grandpa was told that he couldn't have any large electronic devices near the pace-maker in his heart. I realized the real beauty of medicine was within the machines. The pacemaker had not only saved my grandpa’s life but thousands of others just like him. It made me determined to understand what exactly biomedical engineering was. After several days, instead of the usual lethargic boredom-filled routine that I did off to the side of my grandpa’s bed, I began to delve deeper into the roots of biomedical engineering. After extensive research, I realized the power that biomedical engineers and that biomedical engineering were at the intersection of both technology and medicine. I was entranced by its ability to combat preexisting or evolving conditions with the power of science. Those few days of searching the web, and sifting through numerous articles and papers, fueled my passion for biomedical engineering. It prompted me to pursue the 5-year joint program degree for Biomedical Engineering with a focus on Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering along with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. To further engage in the biomedical field, I entered a STEM-based innovation contest to create a device that would be utilized 50 years into the future. Researching and building a prototype gave me what felt like a first-hand experience of what it is like to be in a biomedical engineering lab. Implementing different forms of data analysis and current-day technologies, I brought my invention to life and was able to place second in the competition. This experience only added fuel to the fire.

My grandfather laid there on the ground, my 13-year-old self stood there confused. As my parents rushed into our living room, I saw my grandfather’s crimson blood stain his white hair as a small pool of blood slowly began to form around his head. Frightened, I hesitantly dialed 911 and waited for their arrival. When I was in eighth grade, my grandfather was diagnosed with heart disease after suffering a heart attack. After spending hours in the emergency room, it was decided that my grandfather needed a pace-maker to help his heart continue to beat. After a long surgery, I was finally allowed to visit my grandpa at the hospital. I spent my evenings after school with my grandpa. I could usually be found either sitting next to his hospital bed doing homework, catching up on sleep, or watching my favorite Netflix shows. However it wasn't until I overheard a conversation between my grandpa and his surgeon that piqued my interest in biomedical engineering. My grandpa was told that he couldn't have any large electronic devices near the pace-maker in his heart. I realized the real beauty of medicine was within the machines. The pace-maker had not only saved my grandpa’s life but thousands of others just like him. It made me determined to understand what exactly biomedical engineering was. After several days, instead of my usual lethargic boredom-filled routine that I did off to the side of my grandpa’s bed, I began to delve deeper into the roots of biomedical engineering. After extensive research, I realized the power that biomedical engineers and that biomedical engineering was at the intersection of both technology and medicine. I was entranced by its ability to combat preexisting or evolving conditions with the power of science. Those few days of searching the web, sifting through numerous articles and papers, fueled my passion for biomedical engineering. It prompted me to pursue the degree for Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University. In order to further engage in the biomedical field, I entered a STEM-based innovation contest to create a device that would be utilized 50 years into the future. Researching and building a prototype gave me what felt like first-hand experience of what it is like to be in a biomedical engineering lab. Implementing different forms of data analysis and current day technologies, I brought my invention to life and was able to place second at the competition. This experience only added fuel to the fire. As a engineer, I want to construct the future by utilizing the plethora of opportunities that this scholarship would provide me with. I am eager to learn from world renowned professors at Case Western Reserve University and instigate a new generation of neuro-based biomedical devices. I firmly believe that through this scholarships funding, I can use the education given to me to help construct the futuristic ideas I have dreamed about since I was young. If given the chance, I will use the resources provided by the Accusoft Corporation to help engineer a brighter future for the biomedical industry.

Every aspect of dance is beautiful. The expressions, the movement, the creativity it spurred-- all of it mesmerized me. As a child who grew up learning classical Bharatanatyam--a form of Indian classical dance -- my life was grounded in the fundamentals of dance. Despite my interest in all forms of dance, my parents never let me stray from the path of Bharatanatyam. However, I finally managed to convince them and decided to try out for my high school’s drill team. Transitioning from classical Indian dance to high school military-style drill was a cultural shock. In all honesty, I never thought I would make the cut for our drill team due to its outstanding reputation in our district. Drill requires extreme precision, core strength, and flexibility -- elements of dance that the more elegant Bharatanatyam had not instilled in me. I stood confidently and performed the tryout routine. I had made the team. It was not long before summer practices started. The first few weeks consisted of high-intensity workouts, practicing technique, and learning choreography. As the first competition routine audition drew nearer, I became restless. Would I be good enough to make the cut? After being one of six people unable to compete in the routine, I began to strive for more. In the days before the first competition, my muscles were so excruciatingly sore that I could barely walk to school. As auditions for the second competition neared, I spent every waking minute practicing and envisioning my tryout performance. It was finally tryout day, and I gave what I believe was the best performance of my freshman year; I was finally assigned to the routine! That moment was crucial; it proved that when I put my effort towards an obstacle, I could conquer, and with it, I excelled.