If I were to go back in time and tell 5th grade me that I was here: attending Physician Assistant school, she would probably have a few questions. One being, “What’s a Physician Assistant?” Secondly, she would be surprised. “Not a teacher?” Growing up, I always loved school. I was a straight-A student, perfectionist, and had a desire to learn. I always thought school was my passion, as I have always excelled in it. Due to this passion in school, I always thought I wanted to be a teacher. I was never truly introduced to anything in the medical field until my best friend introduced me to Grey’s Anatomy in middle school. It might sound cliche, but I have never broken a bone, been to the emergency room, nor does anyone in my family work in healthcare. Almost my entire life, I was never truly exposed to this field or ever thought I would find my passion in it. While the journey that led me to medicine was unexpected, once I discovered it, I never looked back. Once I got to high school, I took every opportunity to learn everything I could about healthcare. I took every class available, from medical therapeutics to exercise science. I was immediately drawn to the PA role, not just for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients, but also for the versatility it offers. As someone with a wide range of interests and a tendency to be indecisive, the idea of choosing one career path or specialty to stick with for the next 40 years felt overwhelming. That’s a huge decision to place on a teenager. But when I discovered the PA profession, I felt a sense of relief. The ability to pivot specialties, adapt to new interests, and continuously grow within the field was exactly the kind of flexibility I needed in a lifelong career. I graduated high school with my medical assistant certification and began college with one goal in sight: becoming a Physician Assistant. Though I had done well academically, aced my ACT, and was accepted into every school I applied to, I chose to attend college just 20 minutes from home. It wasn’t what I originally envisioned, but I couldn’t imagine leaving the constant support of my family. My parents have been the greatest examples of hard work and humility in my life. Watching them navigate life with determination and grace, despite limited opportunities, taught me the value of perseverance, gratitude, and doing your best with what you have. Neither of my parents attended a four-year university. My mom graduated high school while pregnant with my older sister and has worked at our family’s restaurant for as long as I can remember. My dad earned an Associate degree and built a career across a range of fields, from construction to home internet installation. Despite not having traditional academic paths themselves, they saw my potential early on and made countless sacrifices to help me chase my goals. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for every opportunity I’ve earned. I know that the work ethic they passed down to me will be one of my greatest strengths as a future Physician Assistant. This work ethic became the foundation for how I approached college and my early clinical experiences. Now that I am here, I owe everything to my parents and want to do whatever I can to repay them for everything they have sacrificed for my dreams.

One of the most defining and difficult experiences of my life occurred when I was only eight years old. I am one of the many women who are survivors of childhood sexual assault, an event that deeply impacted me and my understanding of the world from a young age. While I struggled to comprehend what had happened, I remained silent for years. Until my older sister came forward on my behalf. I still remember the moment I had to recount that night to detectives, reliving something I had worked hard to suppress. I was too young to testify in court, and much of what happened after was kept from me. To this day, my assailant remains free. Despite the injustice, I chose not to let this experience define me in a negative way. Instead, it became a source of quiet strength: a reminder of the importance of empathy, awareness, and the power of a supportive community. My family stood by me, and their unwavering love helped me heal. Through years of reflection and growth, I came to understand how deeply trauma can affect a person, often invisibly. Survivors of sexual assault often carry guilt, fear, and shame. Many remain silent, worried about not being believed, or being judged. This silence can be dangerous and isolating. This experience has shaped the type of provider I hope to become, one who not only treats physical symptoms, but also sees and supports each patient in a deeper way, beyond just medicine. It has taught me to pay attention to the quiet cues, to be compassionate with every patient, and to recognize the deep trust that healthcare providers are privileged to hold. I am especially committed to being an advocate for those who may not feel safe speaking up, whether due to abuse, trauma, or fear of judgment. We live in a world where these stories are far too common. As a Physician Assistant, I will use my perspective and empathy to help create a safer, more inclusive healthcare environment. One where patients know they are seen, heard, and believed. My life experiences have given me the emotional awareness and sensitivity to treat patients not just with clinical skill, but with deep human compassion. This, I believe, is at the heart of what it means to be a truly effective and equitable provider. I’ve gained valuable life lessons, built stronger values, and grown in confidence. Most importantly, I now have a clearer vision of the kind of provider I aim to be.

My parents have been the greatest examples of hard work and humility in my life. Watching them navigate life with determination and grace, despite limited opportunities, taught me the value of perseverance, gratitude, and doing your best with what you have. These traits instilled in me the drive and passion to pursue my dreams from a young age. They have uplifted and inspired me every step of my journey. I would never be where I am today without them, and I am forever grateful to be blessed with such a strong support system. Neither of my parents attended a four-year university. My mom graduated high school while pregnant with my older sister and has worked at our family’s restaurant for as long as I can remember. My dad earned an Associate degree and built a career across a range of fields, from construction to home internet installation. Despite not having traditional academic paths themselves, they saw my potential early on and made countless sacrifices to help me chase my goals. I have always had extremely high expectations of myself, even higher than my own parents. They were proud of me no matter what. While I sobbed at getting a B, they comforted me and told me it was okay and that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. To this day, I still hold these high standards over myself. Though I had done well academically, aced my ACT, and was accepted into every school I applied to, I chose to attend college just 20 minutes from home. It wasn’t what I originally envisioned, but I couldn’t imagine leaving the constant support of my family. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for every opportunity I’ve earned. I know that the work ethic they passed down to me will be one of my greatest strengths as a future Physician Assistant. This work ethic became the foundation for how I approached college and my early clinical experiences. Having a strong support system can be the most important things in building your own success. You need people to believe in you and support you, even when you don't believe in yourself. You need a team that has your back and reminds you why you worked so hard to get here in the first place. Without this support it is easy to lose sight of your goals. Burnout can ruin so much progress on the path to success. You will run into many obstacles on your journey, and without the right motivation and support around you, it may feel easier to quit and give up. Instead, you need to surround yourself with people who lift you up and push you to keep going and overcome even the largest obstacles. These people are what make a difference in your success and reaching these goals. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful I chose to stay home for this journey. It allowed me to develop independence while remaining grounded in the support system that raised me. I’ve gained valuable life lessons, built stronger values, and grown in confidence. Most importantly, I now have a clearer vision of the kind of provider I aim to be.

If I were to go back in time and tell 5th grade me that I was here: attending Physician Assistant school, she would probably have a few questions. One being, “What’s a Physician Assistant?” Secondly, she would be surprised. “Not a teacher?” Growing up, I always loved school. I was a straight-A student, perfectionist, and had a desire to learn. I always thought school was my passion, as I have always excelled in it. I was placed in the gifted program in third grade, and since then, I have always had extremely high expectations of myself, even higher than my own parents. They were proud of me no matter what. While I sobbed at getting a B, they comforted me and told me it was okay and that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. To this day, I still hold these high standards over myself. (You don’t want to know how many days I cried after receiving my first C ever... Thanks, Organic Chemistry.) Organic Chemistry was the first course I struggled with my sophomore year of college. No matter how much effort I put in, I couldn’t seem to grasp the concepts. However, I was determined to improve my grade so I retook the course over the summer and ended with an A. Organic Chemistry challenged me more than any other class. Despite studying for hours, attending every lecture, and working with tutors, I struggled to keep up. I finished the course with a disappointing grade—but I didn’t give up. Instead, I retook the class over the summer, and earned an A. That experience reminded me that failure isn’t final—it’s an opportunity to grow, adapt, and come back stronger. That mindset is one I carry into every challenge. Due to this passion in school, I always thought I wanted to be a teacher. I was never truly introduced to anything in the medical field until my best friend introduced me to Grey’s Anatomy in middle school. It might sound cliche, but I have never broken a bone, been to the emergency room, nor does anyone in my family work in healthcare. Almost my entire life, I was never truly exposed to this field or ever thought I would find my passion in it. While the journey that led me to medicine was unexpected, once I discovered it, I never looked back. Once I got to high school, I took every opportunity to learn everything I could about healthcare. I took every class available, from medical therapeutics to exercise science. I first learned about the PA profession during a career exploration project in my junior year of high school. I was immediately drawn to the role, not just for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients, but also for the versatility it offers. As someone with a wide range of interests and a tendency to be indecisive, the idea of choosing one career path or specialty to stick with for the next 40 years felt overwhelming. That’s a huge decision to place on a teenager. But when I discovered the PA profession, I felt a sense of relief. The ability to pivot specialties, adapt to new interests, and continuously grow within the field was exactly the kind of flexibility I needed in a lifelong career. I graduated high school with my medical assistant certification and began college with one goal in sight: becoming a Physician Assistant. Though I had done well academically, aced my ACT, and was accepted into every school I applied to, I chose to attend college just 20 minutes from home. It wasn’t what I originally envisioned, but I couldn’t imagine leaving the constant support of my family. My parents have been the greatest examples of hard work and humility in my life. Watching them navigate life with determination and grace, despite limited opportunities, taught me the value of perseverance, gratitude, and doing your best with what you have. Neither of my parents attended a four-year university. My mom graduated high school while pregnant with my older sister and has worked at our family’s restaurant for as long as I can remember. My dad earned an Associate degree and built a career across a range of fields, from construction to home internet installation. Despite not having traditional academic paths themselves, they saw my potential early on and made countless sacrifices to help me chase my goals. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for every opportunity I’ve earned. I know that the work ethic they passed down to me will be one of my greatest strengths as a future Physician Assistant. This work ethic became the foundation for how I approached college and my early clinical experiences. While in school, I began working as a medical assistant at a family care clinic that offers both primary and urgent care services. In the last two years, I’ve grown tremendously. I assist with many procedures, biopsies, and x-rays, and routinely perform lab draws, injections, and patient intake. I work closely with both a Physician Assistant and a Nurse Practitioner, and regularly interact with PA and NP students completing their clinical rotations. Being in this environment, surrounded by providers who are eager to teach, has deepened my understanding of the PA role and affirmed my desire to pursue it. I’ve come to appreciate that a PA not only provides patient care, but can also serve as a mentor—something that resonates deeply with my early passion for teaching. Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful I chose to stay home for this journey. It allowed me to develop independence while remaining grounded in the support system that raised me. I’ve gained valuable life lessons, built stronger values, and grown in confidence. Most importantly, I now have a clearer vision of the kind of provider I aim to be.

If I were to go back in time and tell 5th grade me that I was here: attending Physician Assistant school, she would probably have a few questions. One being, “What’s a Physician Assistant?” Secondly, she would be surprised. “Not a teacher?” Growing up, I always loved school. I was a straight-A student, perfectionist, and had a desire to learn. I always thought school was my passion, as I have always excelled in it. I was placed in the gifted program in third grade, and since then, I have always had extremely high expectations of myself, even higher than my own parents. They were proud of me no matter what. While I sobbed at getting a B, they comforted me and told me it was okay and that I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. To this day, I still hold these high standards over myself. (You don’t want to know how many days I cried after receiving my first C ever... Thanks, Organic Chemistry.) Due to this passion in school, I always thought I wanted to be a teacher. I was never truly introduced to anything in the medical field until my best friend introduced me to Grey’s Anatomy in middle school. It might sound cliche, but I have never broken a bone, been to the emergency room, nor does anyone in my family work in healthcare. Almost my entire life, I was never truly exposed to this field or ever thought I would find my passion in it. While the journey that led me to medicine was unexpected, once I discovered it, I never looked back. Once I got to high school, I took every opportunity to learn everything I could about healthcare. I took every class available, from medical therapeutics to exercise science. I was immediately drawn to the PA role, not just for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients, but also for the versatility it offers. As someone with a wide range of interests and a tendency to be indecisive, the idea of choosing one career path or specialty to stick with for the next 40 years felt overwhelming. But when I discovered the PA profession, I felt a sense of relief. The ability to pivot specialties, adapt to new interests, and continuously grow within the field was exactly the kind of flexibility I needed in a lifelong career. I graduated high school with my medical assistant certification and began college with one goal in sight: becoming a Physician Assistant. I chose to attend college just 20 minutes from home. It wasn’t what I originally envisioned, but I couldn’t imagine leaving the constant support of my family. My parents have been the greatest examples of hard work and humility in my life. Watching them navigate life with determination and grace, despite limited opportunities, taught me the value of perseverance, gratitude, and doing your best with what you have. Neither of my parents attended a four-year university, but they saw my potential early on and made countless sacrifices to help me chase my goals. Their sacrifices and unwavering support have instilled in me a deep sense of responsibility and appreciation for every opportunity I’ve earned. I know that the work ethic they passed down to me will be one of my greatest strengths as a future Physician Assistant. This work ethic became the foundation for how I approached college and my early clinical experiences. I’ve gained valuable life lessons, built stronger values, and grown in confidence. Most importantly, I now have a clearer vision of the kind of provider I aim to be.