“Just dance through the pain,” I say to myself. Throughout my dance career, I had never experienced a hindrance to my dancing. But as my condition worsened, I feared never having the chance to dance again. For over 6 years, I had been an avid dancer of Kuchipudi, a classical Indian dance form. The riveting performances that brought life to my culture created a facet of exploration and connection. It created an outlet away from the stressors of daily life, and I loved it. That all changed during a routine dance practice when suddenly, I felt an excruciating pain in my knee as it popped out of its socket, provoking an immediate meeting with the ground. Although I had not given heed to the prolonged aches and pains, I never would have expected such a devastating blow to my dance career. As I was forced to join the audience, the captivating feeling I felt while dancing had left a place of emptiness. I was determined to get my dance career back. But as I went from specialist to specialist, the answers to my painful dislocations, unexplained bruises, and agony of merely walking remained unsolved. With no one knowing the answers to my condition, I was ready to give up hope. But an appointment with a meticulous orthopedic had given me hope. From asking detailed questions, going through my history, and never dismissing anything I had said, the doctor had made me feel seen in my pain. After many visits and phone calls, I had finally been diagnosed with a chronic connective tissue disorder: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Finally knowing what was wrong with me allowed me to get treated in the right way. With physical therapy strengthening my muscles and medications warding off the pain, I learned how to live with my syndrome in a way that wouldn’t affect my whole life. As an aspiring physician, I hope to provide that same quality of care to each of my patients in a way that can improve their quality of life. But my love of the medical field didn’t stop at my own experiences. As I partook in experiences from student shadowing to healthcare camps to even running a blood drive, I looked at medicine in a whole new light. It wasn’t a matching game between symptoms and diseases, but rather, a field that took into consideration the whole individual to create a solution that could be implemented. While shadowing physicians, I saw firsthand the type of care and meticulous detail necessary for a successful diagnosis. Experiences like reading blood vitals and viewing the interconnections between body systems showed me that medicine is the perfect field for me, combining my fascination with the human body and my love of problem-solving. Now, attending UMKC’s BA/MD program, I’m given opportunities that allow me to fuel my passion for medicine. Even as a second-year student in the program, I’m already immersed in the field of medicine, even able to work with patients. Clinically, I work alongside highly trained medical professionals. I interview and connect with the patient before consulting the doctor regarding the best course of action. Academically, I’m learning all the intricate metabolic and biological processes that allow our bodies to function on a day-to-day basis. My diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is something I live with every day. From muscles pulling constantly and fatigue that makes me question how I’m going to continue in this field, sometimes it is disheartening. However, it's this diagnosis that brought me to find my passion for medicine, and I grow more in love with it every single day.