When I tell people I spent much of my childhood in an out of the hospital, their first instinct is to wonder what happened to me. They express their sympathies and dance around the question. The thing is, I was the healthy one. Instead, I spent my youngest years trailing my brother through countless exam rooms and sat through endless consultations. Even though the words were too big for my tiny little brain, the notion behind it all was not; my brother was really sick, and we all needed to be there to help him get better. My brother, who is five years older than me, has faced what felt like an endless onslaught of health concerns. He was born with a cleft lip and palate and hearing problems, as well as having been diagnosed with aplastic anemia at the age of five. It felt like every week was a new appointment with a new care team discussing his next surgery. But it seemed that as the years went on, so did the distance between appointments. As he grew older, her grew healthier, and now he lives as a successful, independent, and above all else, healthy young man. While my young brain couldn't quite grasp the depth of the problems at hand, I knew that it wasn't something to be taken lightly. I would ask my dad a million and one questions in hopes of seeing reality the way they saw it, and as I aged I did just that. I learned in a very blunt conversation with my mother one day that my brother has less than a five percent chance of surviving, and survive he did. Those words changed the way my brain worked in an instant. Suddenly, fighting with him over useless things didn't matter, and I instead began to try and see the world from his eyes. I could only imagine the fear and the loneliness of being deathly ill and not knowing if tomorrow will ever come. That's when I decided that I wanted to be on the other end of the stick, giving patients the care they need. I wanted to be part of the team of professionals that saved the lives of patients who thought they had no time left. I excelled in biological sciences above all else and scoured the internet for all the possible careers in healthcare available for me. I settled on becoming a surgical physician's assistant, so I could somehow pay back the heroism that saved my brother to those who have found themselves in the same shoes. I hope that as a woman in healthcare, not only can I inspire other young women to strive for the same, but to also show that I can save lives just as well as a man can. Even though male-dominated careers like middle-to-upper level healthcare jobs are opening more and more to women each day, I still strive to be living proof of the capabilities of women to thrive in this field.

The products of human biology can be used for construction purposes. This is something I learned in my engineering class during my Junior year, where I read how scientists are devising ways of creating construction materials using human waste (ie: plasma and urea) in order to be able to have enough resources to construct Martian colonies. Although the innovation is designed to build extraterrestrial structures, it is very possible that the technology could someday be harnessed in order to make more sustainable and environmentally-friendly resources to build structures on Earth. This inspired me into believing the positive impacts of technology on the world because it demonstrates a step towards uniting technological advancement with environmental friendliness. By recycling biological materials into inanimate uses, especially to fill holes in raw material shortages, humans can effectively maintain the same lifestyles while leaving a far lesser polluting footprint on the Earth.

Since the fourth grade, I’ve always known that there was something wrong with me; I was never completely happy, never completely satisfied, and never completely comfortable. My mind would run a mile a minute every waking moment of my life, and it all came to a head when I began feeling my lowest. I didn’t understand the weight of the feelings I was having until I was in the seventh grade and nearly acted on them a few times. My mental health shifted more from self-loathing feelings to constant anxiety that I couldn’t shake no matter what I did. And although I had learned to want to live a full and meaningful life, I was living it scared and on-edge. As my Junior year progressed, the old feelings began to mix more and more with the current ones, and I had quickly fallen into the worst mental fatigue I had ever faced. I have always faced these challenges alone. I never had a shortage of friends to turn to, but I never wanted to be a burden on them. Instead, I turned to other coping mechanisms far more often; I became even more invested in the music I enjoy, I started diving deeper into artistic expression, and I did as much research as I could to try and logically explain why I was feeling the way that I was when, for the most part, I had a decent life. I had come to realize that a lot of the issues I faced were worsened by the lack of easily-accessible mental health education, mental health stigma, and the fear of rejection that comes with it, and so I decided to become an advocate for mental health. I always extend my ear to whoever is in need of help and I always extend resources and knowledge to those suffering the same things that I do, and that in itself brings me a lot of fulfillment. It helped put into perspective just how much people feel in their day-to-day lives without anyone else knowing, as well. It changed my relationships, too, as I have the ability to form much stronger emotional connections with people and I can empathize with anyone. It means more than anything to me to be able to help others, and I always try and make sure that my loved ones— and even people I’m not close with— can come to me for anything. My mental health is a struggle I will likely never overcome, and in many ways it haha hindered me in living the life I idealize, but I realize that perfection is impossible, healthy mind or not. Additionally, it has blessed me with a deep sense of emotional intelligence, an empathetic nature, and a passion for making others feel better in their moments of need.

The ways in which one could live the healthiest possible life is something that has been debated for ages, but there is science that supports certain claims and defies others. I believe the best way to live a long, healthy life is to live for yourself; working out to keep yourself in healthy physical shape, eat as healthy as you can, and take care of your mental health. The first two are difficult for many people and is often a long term goal, but I don’t believe that rigidity is necessary to reap the benefits of such a lifestyle. Allowing yourself those unhealthy foods while still maintaining an otherwise healthy diet is, in my opinion and experience, the best way to live. Working out is also something that not many can completely do or struggle to find the motivation for, but maintaining even a small level of daily activity can help you stay strong and healthy for much longer than one who lives a sedentary lifestyle. Lastly, learning to accept and understand one’s mental health is incredibly important, but it’s not taught about enough. Mental health is the gateway to human behavior, so learning to understand and work with one’s own mind can open the path to improving habits in other areas.

The technology that can be accessed just through a computer is truly astonishing to me. I am one of six young women in my Honors Principles of Engineering class, where we get hands on experience with 3D printers, autoCAD, robotics and mechanics, and more. The technology that has inspired me the most thus far is our autoCAD software Fusion 360, where we’re learning how to construct real items, simulate different tests and events, render objects, and send them over to our printers to fabricate for us. Although autoCAD is not a new type of software, it was my first time experiencing it. I learned how to use accurate measurements to make certain objects, and the necessity of doing so. This technology inspires me because it allows me to envision the possibilities of autoCAD for massive-scale projects in a way that is safe, effective, and efficient. The applications of such software that I’ve seen are no bigger than something like a car, which in itself is incredibly impressive, but I’m inspired to take that to an even bigger scale. Using autoCAD for large-scale projects would help reduce the resources needed for prototyping, which would help the environment. Using different and a larger expanse of disaster simulations could both protect the people manufacturing the final products, but also the users in the future. Lastly, autoCAD softwares allow the designer to optimize their construction through digital trial and error, which would save time and materials that would traditionally have to be used for physical processes. I know that my knowledge of autoCAD is growing and that, despite how much it’s capable of, it still has its limitations, but one day I hope that it can reach new heights and help to further optimize the future of engineering.

The ever-growing understanding of the sciences throughout the world is something I’ve always admired and wanted to learn more about. A few years ago, I did a biography on one of the worlds greatest scientists, Isaac Newton, who I’ve grown to admire and appreciate as I learn more and more about his contributions to the world of science and mathematics, which still holds modern relevance long past his lifetime. I admire Isaac Newton for his incredible mind and the creativity and ingenuity of his scientific pursuits. His resume is quite extensive, involving things such as developing new theories on light and color, inventing the reflecting telescope, establishing the three laws of motion, establishing the universal law of gravitation, developing calculus, and advancing our understanding of chemistry. Newton’s expansive and everlasting impact on the scientific world is incredibly inspiring to me. For all of my life, I’ve been fascinated by the understanding that we as humans have achieved of the universe in which we exist. It is truly remarkable to me to consider just how far scientific knowledge reaches, much of which was brought forward by Isaac Newton. My admiration for Newton’s work pushes me to make my own impact on the scientific world. I hope that in my lifetime I can help better the world through the expansion of scientific discovery and application in the same way that Isaac Newton did in his lifetime, and to have a lasting impact on the planet that will help guide and shape the future of science, as he did.

The most helpful piece of financial advice I’ve ever received came from my uncle a few months ago, through which he explained to me how to lead a financially-stable life as soon as I become an adult. The first part of the advice he lent me was to understand and apply for any financial support or programs I am eligible for such as grants and scholarships for college. He told me that by reaching out through as many avenues as I can, I can help myself accumulate financial aid for my future education. The second part of the advice he gave me was to understand how credit and banking works, and how to utilize those systems to the best of my ability. He suggested setting aside a small chunk of every future paycheck as soon as I get a proper job as to start a backup fund for any situation in which I may need it (but ultimately aim for retirement), and do not touch it unless it is absolutely necessary. Then he advised me to understand the ins and outs of credit and how to work with it regularly to maintain a great credit score, which would significantly help with big future financial endeavors. In conclusion, his advice to me that day was expansive, but it encompassed much of what I’ll need to know as I transition into my adulthood, and I plan on taking advantage of it.