I was a young girl who adored my father before his passing. As I remember, it was a school break, and my brothers and I went to New Orleans to visit my dad's side of the family post-divorce. I asked my grandpa if I could go see my father, and after coupled argument he had with my step-grandmother, he said yes. When my brothers and I went into what I thought was a hospital; there I saw was my father, big, bald, and in a wheelchair. He wore a hospital gown, and didn't really walk. His condition was poor to the point he became unable to move as much. However, I was still excited to see my dad. I ran up to him and gave him a hug, and he hugged back with the warmth of life he had left. At the age of 8, on an autumn evening I was getting off the bus, and I remember a big smile on my face before I entered the door of my family home. My mother was sitting with her phone to her ear, and she had a frown on her face. She looked up to me, and walked close by. 8 year old me was bewildered as I couldn't measure what she was about to say to me next. "You father died," she uttered before tears streamed down her eyes, my two younger brothers came close behind me, and they too were at a lost for words. None of us knew the words to say. My mother sobbed, and I remember crying along. It felt like a part of me was taken away. Then, came his funeral. My father's body laid in a casket, I saw my mom hold his hand, and when it was my turn, I tried to hold his hand. It was cold, and heavy. There was no life left inside of him. One minute he was there and the next he was gone. "Congestive heart failure," were the words that I had heard in that time, "congestive heart failure is why your daddy died," my mother and grandmother said. That's when I took my time to do research. I was of age 9 and I wanted to know the why's of heart failure, and could this effect me? What could be done to prevent, and treat such a disease? I've found out nutrition and lifestyle has a major impact on the prevention, therapeutic, and even the cause of some diseases. Genetics can also play a major factor, so when I found out about the genetics portion, my young and inquisitive mind asked questions to my family. I wanted to get an understanding of my genetics, and what I was predisposed of. Eventually, later in my teens there was two of my family friends who passed away due to cancer. This motivated me further to pursue research in the treatment and development of cancer and other chronic diseases such as heart disease. Mainly, in how nutrition plays a role in chronic disease management. I am eager to play a role in prevention of chronic diseases. I would like to aide in preventing chronic diseases by exposing healthier food choices to low-income and minority communities, as these communities are at most risk of developing chronic diseases due to lack of education. I would also like to educate minority and low-income communities about the effects of their diets. For disease management, I would like to be a clinical dietitian, educate patients on nutrition, and hopefully save lives.