I am drawn to the art piece “Open Door” by Akiane kramarik, as it reminds me of my time in a nunnery in Lamia, Greece. This oil painting depicts a young girl standing in front of a church door grasping a candle, which is symbolic of her desire to believe in a higher power, yet uncertainty, as illustrated through the wavering flame. Once being this girl myself, I can connect with the great trepidation she feels watching those around her piously devote their lives to God, while being unable to commit herself to an entity she does not entirely understand nor believe in. This piece inspired me to create a poem from the perspective of the young nun, which I will share here: God is watching over me; I cannot move nor speak nor breathe without his judgement. His demonic glare trailing my every step, his omniscient ears waiting to catch me slip. He who is all-knowing, yet does he know of my wavering faith? I bear his divine cross, yet am riddled with uncertainty. I watch as others fall to their knees in prayer, passionately weeping tears of relief, sadness, and joy; thanking him, wishing on him as if he is a star. Yet here I am, standing in the doorway, watching; plagued with overwhelming guilt. Cradling this candle like a mother holds an infant. My eternally empty womb, sheds bloody tears with each full moon. Forever forsaken by the world, yet loved by this holy man. God; my uninvited companion.

As an incoming freshman at Boston University, tuition cost is something that is constantly on my mind. With that articulated, the most valuable piece of financial advice I have ever received was to buy property during my third year of college. While expensive, this is very clever, as I would reside in this property for the remaining two years of schooling, and then rent it out to tenants and begin to make revenue. What would initially be a liability, would become an asset, and help fund my post-graduate education. One of my main goals in life is to become a physician, more specifically a neurologist. This particular aspiration demands extensive schooling, immense funding, and complete focus, leaving almost no room for outside activities such as a job. Despite the lack of funds (stemming from the inability to work,) it is expected of one to obtain basic necessities coupled with a living space, all while paying for the education. The majority of people, being unable to cover expenses for everything, are forced to take out loans they have no form of paying off in a timely manner, leading them to inevitably fall into crippling debt. Buying property during the third year of undergraduate schooling would combat this catastrophic scenario, and allow for me to entirely focus on my studies without facing financial burden. I would be passively earning an income and have the ability to not only provide myself with a solid place of residence and basic necessities, but also directly pay for my prolonged education. I am very grateful to my Godmother, who enlightened me with the knowledge of buying property. It ensures that I will always have the ability to provide for myself, even if I lack a job due to pursuing a higher degree.

My favorite hobbies are figure skating coupled with learning to pilot the C152 aircraft, as both grant me the privilege of freedom and flight. Skating allows me to embody my authentic self through elegant movements, and where words lack, emotions prevail. My sorrows are transformed into beauty, and complex storylines are illustrated through even the most delicate details. Soaring through the vast cerulean sky, dotted with textured white clouds allows me to have a true taste of liberty, and consider the world from another perspective. Excitement courses through my veins each time I align the nose of the aircraft with the thick, white arrows, seconds before accelerating down the runway and propelling into the air. The best feeling in the entire world is flying through the air, whether it’s from propelling myself off the toe-pick of my skate, or applying full thrust and launching from the runway. These extacurricular activities are part of me, and I will be continuing them throughout my time at university. I am forever grateful for the knowledge gained as a result of the lessons I have had, and am excited to see what the future holds.

I am committed to living selflessly because selfless actions save lives. The summer before tenth grade, I suffered an anaphylactic reaction in a foreign country, and it was because of the quick actions of the people surrounding me that I was able to successfully make it to the hospital to receive immediate treatment. This frightening experience prompted me to raise awareness about the prevalence of life-threatening allergic reactions, as well as the proper actions to take to mitigate them. With the initial help of my tenth-grade biology teacher, I perfected a presentation on the significance of anaphylaxis, and why everyone should have the knowledge of how and when to properly use an EpiPen. The teachers in my high school magnet program graciously let me present to each of their classes, and as my confidence and passion for the project grew, I began carrying multiple EpiPen trainers on any given occasion to provide spur-of-the-moment demonstrations. I happily acquired bruises from successful lessons and taught absolutely everyone that had the “fortune” of crossing paths with me the importance of effectively administering an EpiPen. Once quarantine hit, epiinfo.us came to life; an expansive and interactive website that arms the general population with the knowledge to properly aid the two percent of Americans who will suffer from an anaphylactic reaction in their lifetime. My long-term goal for this project is to reach the aviation industry, as currently flight attendants are not trained in using these life-saving devices. Considering that over 3.6 million Americans rely on EpiPens, my hope is to train the flight attendants in taking the proper actions when someone is experiencing this deadly reaction, since there will be no nearby hospital. I will continue this endeavor throughout my time at university, and onto my journey of becoming a physician.

Becoming a pilot has been a bucket list item since I was fifteen years old–the age at which I discovered women in the United States were permitted to become pilots. From a young age, the complexity of airplanes had captivated me, however, I had been under the impression that I would never have the opportunity to fly a plane due to my gender. I come from a Greek family, meaning there are jobs deemed “acceptable” for women to have, while others are allocated to men. It wasn’t until I was shaking hands with a female British Airways Captain that it even occurred to me that I could make my dreams of becoming a pilot a reality. On my seventeenth birthday, I was gifted my most cherished gift of all time: the gift of flight. For two years, I had had a sheet of notebook paper containing the steps to becoming a pilot plastered onto the inside of my closet wall, hidden from sight. The idea of soaring through the vast cerulean sky invigorated me, but I felt embarrassed and even shameful for wanting to pursue something practically unheard of in not only my family but in my culture. (For context, Greece welcomed its first-ever female pilot in November of 2020.) The moment I pushed in the throttle and accelerated down runway 26R however, all of my worries quickly dissolved, and I knew aviation would forever be part of me. When I have the privilege of flying, the edges of my lips involuntarily crack into a wide grin, and the adrenaline courses throughout my entire body. I am eternally grateful to my parents for supporting me in fulfilling my life-long passion, and to be working under such an incredible flight instructor who never ceases to inspire me.