I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve patients, work in teams, and build friendships. May these all lead to a legacy that I am proud of in heath care. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown as a person. I understand different cultures better, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. These patient need custom devices that I get to fabricate to make them able to accomplish their goals and become more independent/mobile. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and hosted events that many people benefited. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God puts in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go. To many more adventures and to others who get the call of healthcare!

I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve patients, work in teams, and build friendships. May these all lead to a legacy that I am proud of in heath care. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown as a person. I understand different cultures better, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. These patient need custom devices that I get to fabricate to make them able to accomplish their goals and become more independent/mobile. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and hosted events that many people benefited. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God puts in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go. To many more adventures and to others who get the call of healthcare!

I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve others, solve problems, and build friendships. I want to live a healthy life and encourage others. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown and became a better person. I understand different cultures more, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and I hosted events that benefited many people. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God places in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go.

I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve patients, work in teams, and build friendships. May these all lead to a legacy that I am proud of in heath care. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown as a person. I understand different cultures better, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. These patient need custom devices that I get to fabricate to make them able to accomplish their goals and become more independent/mobile. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and hosted events that many people benefited. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God puts in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go. To many more adventures and to others who get the call of healthcare!

I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve others, solve problems, and build friendships. I want to live a healthy life and encourage others. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown as a person. I understand different cultures better, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and hosted events that many people benefited. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God puts in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go. I think eating healthy is important. Each person is unique and the diet he or she needs is also unique. I want to live my best life, so eating things that give me energy and make me feel good are goals for me.

I am a 24-year-old grad student who loves to travel, serve patients, work in teams, and build friendships. May these all lead to a legacy that I am proud of in heath care. I have traveled all over the world, teaching English, caring for those rescued from human trafficking situations, providing physical and emotional support to churches, providing prosthetic care to impoverished people, and working on building a dormitory for a crowded orphanage. While most of these opportunities have been challenging, I have grown as a person. I understand different cultures better, see individuals that may get overlooked, and find medical needs that I can meet. I am currently studying to become a certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. I love serving others, especially those that are vulnerable and need special attention. Amputees and those that have been through injury or stroke are valuable people that often get overlooked by society. Each day I spend in the clinic, the more excited I am to give my time and effort to pour into the lives of patients that are each unique. Individuals have special interests and goals in life, as well as special medical concerns and need as they come into an orthotic and prosthetic clinic. I love working alongside other people, especially those that are different than me. As a clinician, I will get to work directly with physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, and most importantly the patients and families. My most valuable skill is the ability to make a friend. No matter how successful a person is, having people share the highs and lows of life is invaluable. I love making spaces for people to meet and build connections to the community they find themselves. I was a resident assistant for a college dorm for 3 years, allowing me to create a community that adhered to the housing policies and hosted events that many people benefited. This skill has grown and aided my connection to patients at the clinic and deepened friendships at home. As I get older, I want to leave a legacy that I was not afraid to serve others, learn, go overseas, or help a friend out. Church and faith are huge motivating factors for me to live out God’s calling for my life. I am so excited to see where He puts me and the lives God puts in my path. I value the connection and needs of those around me. I want to be more selfless and encourage others wherever I go. To many more adventures and to others who get the call of healthcare!

I want to come alongside amputees and get them back to walking and living their full lives as a prosthetist, my dream career.

Math is the logic aspect of the life equation. Math balances out emotions and abstract ideas into reality. I love math because it is right every time. It allows me to bring to life the plans I have for my career. I want to work with amputees, and math is a tool used to give the ability to walk back to a person that is missing a leg. Math can be challenging, but a variable or equation that is solved gives me a sense of accomplishment. It means a part of the healing process for an amputee is completed. I cannot make a person walk, that is his or her choice to make. The calculations and number crunching I do makes it easier for the patients I work with; I can balance the math so the artificial leg is more stable and move closer to a natural knee and ankle. Math is not just important to me and my career but to the world. We see the buildings that are built, the cars we drive, and the computers we use each day. Numbers and equations allowed a human to fly an airplane, put a man on the moon, and save lives with microscopic surgery. There are unlimited examples of how our world is a better place because of the feats mathematicians take to understand the world of math.

I would want everyone to read Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis. I think that this book can benefit everyone to learn, while also being engaging and entertaining. This book takes the reader on a journey through a new world where culture and language are explored to a degree that I cannot believe. There is some deep philosophy that is touched on like how humans view and cope with death, family structure, the importance of language, care of the environment, the value of different species, and so on. I love the connection that the main character makes with his foreign planet travel guide. They learn about each other’s worlds, backgrounds, values, and religions. I never thought a complex, deep story could be written in a simple and fun way. I learned so much from this book about life. Little words can make an enormous impact on what we try to communicate to those around us. We are limited by words but can use them in almost unlimited ways. This book encourages me to continually grow my vocabulary and use my words carefully. The book is a relatively short story, so there is no fear of the hundreds or thousands of pages some epics are written in. Reading level is mostly average with a few interesting words thrown in; most people that can read would follow along and savor the story. I hope you, and many others, get the chance to enjoy the simple pleasure of this gem of a book. May your day be the best it can be!

Working with my hands is my skill. All day long I am putting pieces together, fixing items, or taking apart things to find problems and solving them. I have many different abilities that I have learned from wood working, to automotive, to electronics, to music. The world is fascinating, especially how many small components work together to accomplish a goal like driving a car, heating up food, or making music. Science has always captivated me and using my hands to explore is my experience in life. I needed a desk for school, so I bought wood, cut the lumber, sanded, stained, protected and assembled the desk that I now use. My electric piano broke, therefore, I took it apart, soldered the broken connections and fixed the instrument. I bought a 30 year old car and it would not start one day. Looking though the repair manual, I followed the steps to take out the spark plugs and ignition coil to find the faulty components. Once everything was checked and put back together, the car stared right up. Tuning instruments is important, so when I play the ukulele I always carefully adjust the strings so the sound is just right before playing the notes. My goal in life is to give life and mobility to amputee though prosthetic care. I want to build artificial arms and leg so the amputees can be independent and live with purpose. Building skills along the way is vital for me to grow and help the people around me when something is broken or not working right.

Generosity is the radical action of turning your focus from yourself, seeing the struggle of another person, and meeting that need. I am a college student. I have limited resources, time, and energy. This means it is easy to focus on my own challenges, but that is not my life. I live my life to serve. I am seeking a career to help those that are impacted by limb loss, called orthotics and prosthetics. Amputees are often seen as outsiders and struggle to adapt to a life turned upside down by amputation. My desire is to meet these needs with prosthetics and hope. While physically allowing a person to walk or drive is necessary, the ability to restore a person’s purpose and independence is far more rewarding and exciting to me. I care for those that are overlooked and want to pour my life into a career to give a person his or her life back. I have been blessed in so many ways. Many people in my life have given without asking for anything in return. My friends and family have modeled generosity to me. I, in turn, want to encourage and brighten peoples day with whatever I have and in whatever way I can. May we all look beyond ourselves to make the world a better place for our friends, family, and neighbors near and far. Here is to generosity!

I like to build things with Lego. The things can be big or small, but the dreaming and imagination carries me far. The little blocks can be put together to make almost anything. The key is to think up an idea and problem solve until it is done. Sometimes I get stuck; the pieces will not go together. Or I do not have all the parts I need. This is where persevering comes in. The idea can come together as long as I keep at it. Using my brain to think through the options I have and change the details of the plan in order to get it done are the key to finishing what I started building. These skills have helped me in life. I have been working on cars at work. Some cars are easy to fix, other problems on cars are difficult. I need to think hard about the problems and persevere in order to get the jobs done. I am thankful for my hobby of Legos. I hope many others get to experience the joy of building with the plastic blocks and the life skills associated with Lego.

A smile was on his face. He knew me and I new him. I was serving special needs children and teens when I was in junior high, high school, and college. The camp was called Rainbow Express at Fullerton Free Church in Fullerton, California. It all started when I signed up for leadership training at the church I was going to. It entailed a week of camp, being paired with a child with special needs to share a meal, do activities, interact with other students at the camp, and being a friend to this special individual. At the time, I had no idea the impact I would make or how I would be greatly impacted. For over 8 years (about 1000 hours), I spent setting up, planning, and working each week with individuals that would be at the camp. Some of the tasks were easy to figure out: making a telescope or picture frame for craft, planning the route for the walk activity, or coloring the pictures for the story and lessons for the day. Many tasks were more difficult. Figuring out a snack that was healthy and not going to cause an allergic reaction with any of the children. Figuring out the theme and goals to teach at the camp. Setting up the stage for the announcement and skit time was time consuming and draining. I was able to do it. Each year, things got more familiar and easier. I enjoyed the work more and more. But the most rewarding part was spending time with my buddy. Playing a game or eating snack or singing songs to each other. These are the times that mattered. It was difficult to deal with the autism or down syndrome the students had. One would try to run out of the room every day. Another would get frustrated at craft and need to go to the quiet room to cool off for 15 minutes. Others would complain about not liking the snack or the rules or the leaders. All of these pale in comparison to the smile, laughter, and joy the children had at camp. I can see the good in life because of the students with special needs. The joy of walking and holding someone's hand to sharing food, sitting in the sun to holding a balloon. The more I worked with these children, the more simple things in life became real and important to me. My goal in life is to work with amputees. I want to bring the simple joys of life to them as they navigate and grow into the people they are suppose to be. Living without an arm or leg can be challenging, but there still is joy in life. I want to bring opportunities of joy and laughter to those that need it. Just like the children with special needs gave joy to me.

Music gives me hope. No matter how bad things get, a good song can change my emotions, perspective, and actions. Life gets hard. Family members get sick and die. School and grades do not pan out the way we think they will. Losing a job and running out of money are the reality for so many. My perspective has a huge impact on how I cope and move forward. My uncle died from COVID, and sometimes motivation and purpose seem unattainable. Expressing my emotions comes easiest when I am listening to a song. I can relate with the artist and the instruments guide my feelings. I do not feel as alone or messed up. Many other people have gone through worse things. The happy and sad moments in music allow me to understand that life is hard, but life does not have to be forever depressed. Good times will come. These are just seasons of life. My grandpa had a fall and was confined to a bed in a care facility for 3 weeks. I am so glad that he got better and is back in his house. There was a time when we though he only had a little bit of time left before he passed away. Having that time with him was special, the same way a song can be special. You never know what will be next in life, so savor the little things. Small joys can get a person though the worst in life. The band Owl City has upbeat songs that get to the heart of the human experience. Music can change the perspective of the listener and the actions a person does. There have been days where I did not want to get out of bed, or show up for a test, or go to work. But the hope and perspective that music has given me has allowed me to continue with the challenges in life. I want to give people the music to dream and to see the world as bigger than the problems and the pain that he or she is experiencing right now is my goal. I seek to open the doors to songs that can rally people together to change the world in little and big ways. This is what gives me hope.

There is nothing quite like being at the beach, looking out over the constant waves or hiking a mountain to hear the quite bubble of a little stream tucked up and away from all the hustle of city life. Nature is a special thing. The human body was meant to be curious and explore; nature is the place where we can focus on the simple things. I am always cautious about picking up the campsite or throwing trash from my meal away at the beach. If everyone did little things to take care of these places of nature, we would be in a healthier, safer, and more life giving place than we are right now. May we encourage each other and hold each other accountable when we interact with nature. We as individuals can do very little; as a society and a collective, humanity can change the world for the better.

I enjoy learning about the discovery of laughter therapy. A psychology professor, Dr. Annette Goodheart, began to look into laughter as a way to treat a patients conditions. She made a framework and implemented laughter for emotional and behavioral improvement. Norman Cousins took the research of Dr. Goodheart and many others to help him in his battle with a degenerative arthritis condition. No matter how bad the pain was for Norman Cousins, he kept a positive attitude and good humor. He even went to watch comedic movies to help him laugh and reduce the amount of pain killers. This led to increases in his ability to do tasks and sleep. Even with his chronic medical condition, he never gave up. He even was able to improve and reverse the disease that many doctors said was incurable, with the utilization of laughter therapy. He took his experience and published them in the Journal for American Medical Association. He lived his life with positivity and hope, using laughter to overcome the difficulties. Laughter therapy has become more and more known and implemented into many areas of study over the years. Patients lives benefit from the increase in treatment options. Let us not overlook some possible fields of study just because they seems childish, silly, or obviously not possible.

The truth to understanding the soul from John Ortberg. No matter what happens in life, the soul can prevail. He speaks in a way that I have never heard. Each person is the keeper of his or her soul. None of us are captains that can control or force our soul to be a certain way. We take care of it like a garden, slowly pruning and encouraging the life within us. Being honest with ourselves can stop some of the decay that our souls experience when we would have lied. Faith draws in the soul and points each person to the beauty that he or she was created with and designed to express. The human race has a longing beyond what is physical and scientific. Connection with other people feed your soul. Stillness can rejuvenate a person as he or she wrestles with the meaning of life, pain, purpose, and family. If the soul has purpose and is satisfied, then the insufferable situations become more bearable. Sharing kindness to other people will strengthen those around you and give you that soul satisfaction. Faith, hope, and love are powerful forces that allow the soul to overcome the obstacles of life.

To me, friendship is a person that is rooting for you in your corner. When I was alone and was discouraged with how things were going in my second year of college, I had a friend spend time with me. No matter the ups and downs, a friend is there to mourn or celebrate with you. Sometimes I need a word of encouragement or a listening ear; my friend is there for me when I need it. Sharing a meal with a friend can mean the difference between a cold winter's day or the laughter of an easy going summer day. I am a friend too. I have spend time with a college friend who had hip surgery and was stuck at home. Despite living in a different state, I flew out to talk, tell stories, and encourage. Friends have gotten me through hard days. I hope to be a refuge for those around me when they have difficult times in life.