My dad is currently a Consumer Safety Officer with the Food and Drug Administration, located in Pharr, Texas. He has worked for the government for 22 years, and his job requires him to enforce and obtain voluntary compliance with laws and regulations protecting consumers from products that are harmful, improperly labeled, or in some other way dangerous. The products that come under their jurisdiction are numerous and varied. They include foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, cosmetics, toys and equipment used by children, and hazardous substances. During this time my dad has received extensive training on the job, and in the classroom, and has completed his assigned ORA-U training curriculum. He has conducted and participated in violative inspection, field examinations, consumer complaints, recalls, domestic and import sample collections, special details, import investigations, filer evaluations, training to other new hires, and providing technical assistance to the import community. As a Consumer Safety Officer (CSO), he is responsible for conducting inspections and investigations in an industry regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and submitting written computer-generated reports accompanied by supporting evidence documenting violations of the laws we enforce. He routinely examines products covering six primary areas: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, human and animal foods, biologics, bioresearch monitoring, and imports to ensure compliance with U.S. law. My dad has made a difference in the community because he is responsible for the protection of public health. He makes sure that not only the foods we eat are safe for consumption but other products such as cosmetics and medical devices we use are sterile and safe. Without him performing his duties in the FDA, companies could potentially sell harmful products, drugs, and goods to the public, and for this reason, I have always admired my father for I know the crucial role he plays in the health and wellbeing of others. One of my life goals is to graduate from UT Austin and apply to a physician assistant program to one day become a pediatric physician assistant. I strongly believe that this scholarship would help me tremendously in accomplishing my goal and becoming the person I have always wanted to be. I've always loved working with kids and from a young age, I knew that wherever life was going to take me, it was going to involve working with children. Since I love traveling and helping others I would like to begin my career as a traveling PA, to see other parts of the world and gain a better understanding of different cultures. I also realize that so many families from the valley can't afford primary health care and many are too scared to reach out to doctors. So, when I decide to settle down I would love to possibly go back to school and open my own office right here in the valley where I can support my community and bring all the knowledge and experience I gained thanks to this scholarship to my hometown. This scholarship would help me complete the amount of schooling needed to become a physician assistant which is a bachelor's, master's, and eventual PA program. I have a long road ahead of me but with the guidance of my professors, and support from Mcallen Emergency Room, I am determined to make my childhood dreams a reality.