I never thought I was good enough to be a doctor. To be a doctor, you had to be resilient, precise, intelligent, and at the very top of your class. But then I found myself in an operating room, watching life hang in the balance, and everything changed. I was born in Zanesville and then moved to Pickerington Ohio when I was eight years old. I grew up in a close-knit community where service, humility, and perseverance were daily values. Whether it was giving my younger siblings tennis lessons or volunteering at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, I have always found meaning in showing up for others, and I think that’s exactly why medicine calls to me. My decision to pursue a career in medicine was solidified through firsthand experiences that brought me face-to-face with the fragility of life. One of the most formative moments occurred during a shadowing experience at Genesis Hospital in Zanesville. It was another summer day, where I was shadowing a cardiologist. I watched as he put on his scrubs and began surgery on a patient. I was standing in the OR, watching as the surgical technologists set up the equipment. All of a sudden, someone yells “code blue!” The patient was having a heart attack. My heart began pounding. I was absolutely horrified by the thought of him dying right then and there. After ten minutes of giving chest compressions, they successfully saved this man. That moment changed everything for me. I didn’t know the patient personally, yet I felt overwhelming relief when he was stabilized. It was then I realized I didn’t just want to study medicine– I wanted to be part of it. That day, I realized being a doctor wasn’t about being perfect– it was about staying calm in chaos, caring deeply, and choosing to show up every single day. As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that few professions offer the opportunity to make a profound impact on people's lives as medicine does. As a result, I’ve pursued every opportunity to immerse myself in medicine, such as volunteering in hospitals, shadowing, and participating in research to align with my dream of becoming a physician. I was a research assistant at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and contributed to a study on scoliosis. This experience was incredibly enjoyable, and doing this made me feel like I was truly contributing to advancing medicine. Being a part of the orthopedic team was truly eye-opening. Alongside my research, I shadowed numerous orthopedic surgeons and observed how they treated disorders of the bones, joints, and connective tissues. Now, as a current sophomore attending Case Western Reserve University, my perception of being a doctor has changed drastically. Though top grades, resilience, precision, and intelligence are important, the most essential quality is dedication. One must stay consistent and never give up. Now, after everything I’ve experienced in the medical field, I have the confidence to be a physician because I want to do it more than anything. I am committed to pursuing medicine no matter the challenges I face, and I think that’s more important than anything. One day, I hope to return to the same hospital I was born in– Genesis Hospital. But this time, I hope to return as a physician instead of a student. Whether I’m treating hearts or healing bones, I want to give someone the same chance at life I witnessed that day in the OR. That moment sparked a calling, and I’m ready to follow it.