I had a severe injury when I was younger and that has shaped me into the person I am today. I broke the growth plate in my left knee when I was in fifth grade and was in a full leg cast for six months. My case was special because a piece of the soft tissue flipped into my growth plate so I became a case that was presented to a board of doctors and had multiple people studying my injury. That being said, I had many doctor visits and was poked and prodded for months on end. I was discouraged because I had realized that I would never be able to play sports or do something active for a long time. This was such a hard time in my life and the nurses helped me through it. I was so close to needing surgery which was scary news to hear. The nurses were so kind and compassionate and impacted my life in such a positive way. I could only imagine how terrifying it would have been to have surgery at only ten years old. This is what made me realize that I wanted to be a nurse. This hardship was tough but I managed to persevere. After my injury, I had to find other ways to fill my time. I found that I loved baking and painting. Once I could get back to physical activity I had to find another sport I could do safely. Since I was told I could never be a gymnast again because of the long-lasting effects, I decided to try out for the cheer team. This one was one of the best decisions that I could've made. I met my best friends and fell in love with a new sport. My injury might have seemed like something stopping me from doing something I love but in reality, it was just time for me to start something new and enter a new phase of my life. Serving people is very important to me. I am involved in the Student Council, National Honor Society, and Rotary Interact Club. These all have one main goal; helping others and the community. I am also a volunteer in the kids ministry at my church and I love seeing their big smiles every week I am there. Serving others has impacted me personally because I have gotten a new perspective on life. I have realized that I should be grateful for where I am and what I have. I also need to appreciate the phase of life I am in and not wish to go back in time or for time to go by faster. Service is generally important because it impacts both the volunteer and the one being served in a positive manner. It creates a better environment for people to live in as well. There are so many positive things about serving others. I have many goals for myself that I plan on achieving. I am going to The University of Alabama and am majoring in nursing. My dream job is to be a pediatric nurse anesthetist. This job holds such a special place in my heart. I have wanted to be a nurse for a while but have struggled to decide what I want to specialize in. It took a lot of thinking but after going through the hardships of my life I have decided that this is the field I will pursue.