College going to me is not just about pursuing higher education; rather, it's about turning the challenges thrown at life into an opportunity for growth and making an impact in society. My realization of this actually began in the hospitals of India, as I was brought face to face with harsh realities around broken healthcare, crystallized in my home as I watched my mother struggle with autoimmune rheumatic disorders. These experiences taught me that the meaning of education must be found in the fact that it brings about a change. When I came into my sibling-caregiver role, I learned that knowledge is not merely for personal achievement but rather as an investment into tools that would bring about changes in other people's lives. Working with a rheumatologist this summer, integrating genetic data to model the progression of rheumatic diseases, opened my eyes to the transformative potential of research. It showed me that college is not just about learning existing knowledge but about pushing the boundaries of what we know and can do. I see college as a crucible where my passion about health innovation can be forged into tangible solutions for the suffering, like my mother's condition. Also, college offers the ability to connect gaps between challenges in a local perspective and find solutions from the world. My experience of serving on a graduate public health school board has taught me the need for interdisciplinary approaches to complex problems. By attending college, I hope to apply my linguistic skills and background in public health toward making meaningful contributions to programs such as the Refugee and Immigrant Health and Wellness Alliance. It is a great opportunity for academic growth and personal development toward compassionate understanding and community service. But most of all, college represents the assumption of responsibilities that come with knowledge. It is the realization that every problem set solved, every research paper written, and every all-nighter pulled is not only the means of personal success but also can potentially serve as a source of life improvement. Whether I'm developing personalized treatment plans using single-cell RNA sequencing or facilitating multilingual focus groups to address the health challenges faced by refugee populations, I see each academic pursuit as a step toward making a meaningful difference. Put simply, college to me is the springboard from empathy to action: a place where I hope to turn the helpless feeling of watching my mother struggle into the empowerment of creating solutions, take the lessons learned from community engagement and scale them up to address global health disparities. What I want to achieve from college goes way beyond personal success or even career preparation. I am working to be a bridge: modern research to application, local knowledge to global solution, and from the problems of today to the hopes of tomorrow. I aim not just to graduate with a degree but to emerge with the knowledge, the skills, and the perspective that will make a lasting difference in access to health care and its quality, both in my immediate community and across the globe. In this pursuit, I hope to be able to honor the resilience that I have witnessed in my mother and in the communities I have served by committing my education to their service and the service of countless others in similar challenges. Going to college for me is a means to transform personal experiences into universal solutions and individual learning into collective progress.

If there is one person whose career has influenced me, not only as a fan but also in being able to maneuver through life as a young woman, it is definitely Sabrina Carpenter. From singing on the Disney Channel all the way up to being one of the popular pop artists, she has been one of my inspirations and motivations during some of my most formative years. First time I listened to Carpenter's songs, I wasn't very confident in myself and didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do with my life. Her songs-most especially the tracks "On My Way" and "Why"-were really relatable, in terms of my experience of self-doubt and all that pressure to have your life's direction figured out. The sincerity within her lyrics made me less alone in my struggles and gave me courage to be on my way with self-discovery. In many ways, Carpenter's growth as an artist has paralleled my own development: She was maturing and coming into a more developed sense of self as she transitioned from teen pop into a more mature sound found in "Singular: Act I" and "Singular: Act II". Where she took risks experimenting with her music and aesthetic, I felt empowered to step out of my comfort zone and try new interests and passions. But this is like, really a pivotal point for me as a fan, and that is the release of "emails i can't send". This felt really emotionally raw and just introspective with emotion, evocative words that did hit home as I had experienced heartbreak and personal growth. Songs like "because i liked a boy" and "decode" really helped me process my feelings, but also gave me an important lesson about the power of vulnerability in art and within life. The many-faceted career of Carpenter has equally inspired me to diversify my interests. First, her success in the field of music, films, and on Broadway has inspired me to explore several sides of my talent without limiting myself to a single course. Her multitasking ability, yet remaining faithful to herself, has given me the drive to remain honest with myself while pursuing my goals. More importantly, Carpenter's awareness and advocacy for mental health and being open to struggles in life have affected the way I take care of my well-being. She is open about anxiety and pressures of fame, which influences me to be open about my own mental health and take care of myself. It was, I think, set in stone when Carpenter opened Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. The confidence, the stage presence of the artist-once-again took my breath away and just instigated an important factor in life: to believe in one's self, to seize opportunities. What impressed me most was Carpenter's resilience against public scrutiny, mainly during the "drivers license" controversy. This taught me much about receiving criticism and pouring one's energy into personal growth. She handled that situation with such class; it really taught me to rise above drama and put energy into creative expression. But in conclusion, Sabrina Carpenter's career has always served as more than an entertaining influence; it has given me light through my personal evolution process. Her music was the soundtrack to one of the most challenging and triumphant moments of my life, her career choices an inspiration for my own, and her personal growth parallel and encouraging for my own. By all, I continue on my path, carrying with me lessons and inspiration blessed from the leading ways of Carpenter's career, which have had the impact to shape me into what I am today.

As a young woman studying medicine, I realize the crucial role education plays in enabling individuals to take responsibility for their health and perhaps save lives through early detection. On a personal note, breast health education became very important when my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in her 60s. Although she eventually survived after treatment, her diagnosis came at a later stage than it could have had she been better informed about breast health and the need for regular screenings. Made this all the more real was the fact of having to watch her through aggressive treatments; the importance of early detection, proper education might have found her cancer earlier. It really opened my eyes to some of the disparities in knowledge related to breast health, especially across older generations and underserved communities. It further motivated me to learn all that I could about breast health and share that knowledge with the women in my life. Since then, I've made it a point to have frank discussions with my mom, aunts, and female friends about breast self-exams, mammograms, and risk factors. On a larger social level, I find that education about breast health would do much to reduce the impact from breast cancer, still the most common form among women in the entire world. Although survival rates have greatly improved because of advances in treatment options, early detection through screening remains synonymous with positive outcomes. Yet, many women continue to have poor access to education about their breast health or are facing major barriers to regular screenings. Many of these barriers could be overcome with breast health education. Education regarding breast anatomy, common changes for which to watch, and the importance of regular screening enables women to take responsibility for their health. Education might also help eliminate some myths and a portion of the fear and stigma at times associated with breast cancer, thus encouraging more women to seek medical care when needed. Besides, breast health education does not end with an individual; it ripples further on to the current societies. The one woman educated in breast health goes along teaching her knowledge to friends, family, and colleagues. This, at times unofficial, dispersion of information is often exceptionally functional to reach out to underrepresented populations that have no access to healthcare education via formal means. I am determined to pursue my medical education, and breast health education will be an important cornerstone in my practice. I envision developing programs that are available, culturally sensitive, and tailored to diverse communities' needs. I want to make sure all women, regardless of background or resources, know what they need to advocate for their own care regarding their breast health. After all, breast health education is important to me because it saves lives. By arming women with knowledge, we can detect breast cancer much earlier, reduce mortality rates, and assure better quality of life for whoever has been diagnosed with the disease. It is a mission that feels deeply personal because of my family history, but at the same time, I believe it has the capacity to affect public health on a whole different level. It is my firm belief that through education, we can build a future where fewer women face advanced breast cancer and more families avoid the pain felt by my family. That's the future worth fighting for, and just one of the many reasons breast health education will always be a passion and priority for me. Citations:

Dear Future Pranavi, As I sit poised on the brink of my college journey, I am seized with excitement and at the same time, trepidation. I write this letter to you, my future self - a souvenir of my starting line and motivators in dreams yet unfulfilled. Remember the day in biology class when we dissected a frog? That was the day I knew that I wanted to practice medicine. Something about the intricacy of life, even in that small amphibian, had amazed me. I hope by the time you read this, that fascination has only grown stronger. I know the road ahead is going to be hard. Mom always says, "Nothing worth having comes easy," and slowly but surely, I am beginning to see what she means. There will be late nights studying, hard exams, and times when you will wonder if you are cut out for this. But I want you to remember why we started in the first place. We're doing this for Grandma, who never had the chance to pursue her dreams because society told her a woman's place was in the home. We do this for all those girls in our community that have been made to feel like they can't succeed in science. And we do it for ourselves, knowing that we can contribute something different to the field of medicine. I hope that along the way you've made some incredible friends. I hope you have found those mentors who challenge you and inspire you. And I hope you had those moments of pure joy in your studies, those "aha!" moments when everything clicks into place. Keep in mind that your self-care does not exist. One can easily get caught up in the studying grind and forget it's there. Be sure you are still taking those morning runs that we love so much. They clear our head and remind us of the beauty in the world we're working to heal. I hope you have stared those fears right in the face. You know, that fear of public speaking? I hope you have made presentations to classmates and professors who were blown away. And I hope, when necessary, you learned to advocate for yourself and your ideas in rooms full of people who may not look like you. By now, you likely have faced some of the challenges that we've heard about: the subtle - and not-so-subtle - mysogyny, the pressure to prove yourself constantly, maybe even the challenge of balancing studies with starting a family - if that's the path you've chosen. I hope you faced these challenges with grace and determination. Most of all, I hope you remain kind. To your patients, your colleagues, and to yourself. Never forget that our superpower in medicine is empathy. In the close of this letter, I am so proud of you-wherever you may be in life, out of med school, or changing people's lives in the medical line-you have done so great from this girl writing to you. Keep pushing forward, breaking barriers, and never forgetting why you did this in the first place: to heal, help, and make a difference in this world. With all my love and admiration, Your Past Self

Growing up, I found solace in the pages of books, but it wasn't until I stumbled upon a dusty memoir in my high school library that I truly understood the transformative power of literature. The book was "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank, and it changed my life in ways I couldn't have imagined. I remember sitting in a quiet corner of the library, completely absorbed in Anne's world. Her words transported me from my small town to the confines of the Secret Annex in Amsterdam during World War II. As a teenager myself, I was struck by how Anne's hopes, fears, and dreams resonated with my own, despite the vast differences in our circumstances. Her resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity and her unwavering belief in the goodness of humanity deeply moved me. Memoirs allow readers to peer into the intimate lives of a multitude of different individuals who have struggled and triumphed in life, taking with them many valuable lessons. One memoir that has etched memories a book titled "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. This memoir accounts for an extremely unconventional and often difficult upbringing; it shows the strength of resilience and the power of embracing one's truth. The way she managed to draw strength from what happened in her life and use it as a foundation for further growth encouraged me to look at my own difficulties as a chance for my personal development, not as an obstacle impossible to overcome. Michelle Obama's "Becoming" further shaped my goals. This memoir chronicles her life from childhood to her role of First Lady, focusing on the themes of endurance, identity, and the transformative power of education. Obama's life has inspired me to dream bigger and realize that every stage of life brings in new challenges and opportunities to grow. These books let me know that our backgrounds-no matter how difficult they are-do not define our futures; they can serve as the foundations we will build from to make ourselves strong and full of character. These books have shaped my goals by inspiring me to take in different experiences and perspectives. They create a drive within me to keep challenging my mind beyond the limits of my own conceptions and to approach life with an open mind and heart. I have learned that personal growth is usually achieved by having experiences out of our comfort zones and taking in things we do not know. All this raw honesty and vulnerability in memoirs have influenced the way I look at and work out my relationships in my life. I have learned to appreciate candor and open communication in relationships, observing how sharing one's story can be a powerful bonding agent, helping individuals from all walks of life understand each other. These memoirs have engrained in my mind, in systematic order, the resolution to pursue work that can allow me to contribute positively to others in my career aspirations. In whatever way this may be possible-through writing, education, or service in the community-I will be contributing to a world wherein people feel empowered in sharing their stories and chasing after their dreams, regardless of their beginnings. Memoirs have been transformative in my life; they shaped my outlook on life, values, and goals. They taught me that each life is a story worth living and that our experiences, beautiful and painful, can be tools for personal growth and social change. Moving on, I carry with me the lessons and inspiration culled from these remarkable narratives, committed to writing my own story of growth, resilience, and positive impact.

The rising cost of essential medications, especially for chronic conditions like diabetes, has become a critical issue in our healthcare system. My diabetic father's experience with Ozempic highlights the urgent need for reform in drug pricing and accessibility. One solution to consider is implementing a value-based pricing model for prescription drugs. Under this system, the price of a medication would be directly tied to its proven effectiveness and the health outcomes it delivers. For biologic drugs like Ozempic, which has shown significant benefits for managing diabetes and promoting weight loss, this could mean setting a price that reflects its value in improving patients' quality of life and reducing long-term healthcare costs. However, to ensure accessibility, this model should be coupled with a sliding scale payment system based on income. This would allow patients like my father, who benefit greatly from the medication but can't afford its current high price, to access the drug at a cost proportionate to their financial means. Another approach could be to create a national drug purchasing pool. By consolidating buying power across state lines and even including private insurers, we could negotiate better prices with pharmaceutical companies. This could significantly reduce the cost of drugs like Ozempic, making them more affordable for patients and insurers alike. We need to go a step further and allow Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs directly with the manufacturer. Indeed, such a reform could lead to significant savings for the government and patients, thereby making drugs more affordable for seniors and all others on Medicare. We might explore an emergency access program to provide patients with their essential medications in an urgent way, much like my father needed. Such a program would provide temporary coverage for patients who suddenly lose access to their necessary medications due to sudden price increases or changes in their insurance, ensuring continuity of care while longer-term solutions are developed. Furthermore, it might become more obvious in which areas costs can be cut by increasing transparency related to the prices of drugs. Disclosure of research and development and marketing costs spent by the pharmaceutical firm may point out whether these prices are reasonable or if there is any latitude to reduce them without harming the creation of new medicines. Finally, investment in research into generic alternatives to drugs could, after some time, provide cheaper options. In this regard, expediting the approval process for such alternatives and offering various incentives toward the development of such drugs will provide a competitive market which, by its nature, diminishes prices. What happened to my dad with Ozempic is no isolated incident, neither should it be the rule. We can do better by embracing innovative solutions that will balance the interests of the patient, the insurer, and Big Pharma in a bid to ensure necessary medicines can be within the reach of all, irrespective of financial standing.

Growing up in a household where the issues of survival were paramount, the one question I needed and wanted someone to have asked was, "How do you feel?" That simple question yet profound in depth had the power to change the trajectory of life and, therefore, the aspirations of my childhood. My parents, both immigrants and hardworking, were consumed by the daily struggle of trying to make ends meet for our family. They had to work long hours; many times, each of them had more than one job, which left little time for emotional connection. Feelings, in our household, were expressed through sacrifice and providing. Teachers at school would also do little more than concern themselves with academic performance, never usually reaching the other dimensions of students' lives, like the emotional aspect of it. I was a child who didn't create troubles for them, so I remained in the background, discreetly, without them ever paying attention to my emotional needs. Without this question, "How do you feel?", a void in my emotional development was created. I learned to suppress feelings and be practical rather than emotional. I was very attuned to others' needs yet neglected my own, which later proved useful in social work, if one takes the long route. Uncomfortable articulating or processing emotions, anxieties and depressions dogged me throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. It wasn't until a very dark part of high school that I finally sought counseling and had my first taste of what it felt like to have someone ask me how I was feeling. For the first time, I felt seen, heard, and validated. The simple act of being asked about my emotional state opened floodgates of self-discovery and healing. It was then that I realized the impact such a question could have on the life arc of a person, especially a child. This realization has become the cornerstone for my desire to major in psychology specializing in child and family services. I want to be that person asking children, "How do you feel?"-that adult who creates a safe space for emotional expression and validation. That means the institution of programs placed within schools and community centers; these would put emotional intelligence on an equal playing field with academic achievement. I can also imagine workshops for parents-especially parents from immigrant backgrounds like mine-that would help them to understand the importance of communicating emotions with their children. It is, in fact, this absence that has made me all the more aware of just how necessary this question can be. It has fueled my passion for emotional education and support, particularly among children from backgrounds similar to mine, where mere survival often overshadows emotional nurturing. At times, this has been a painful journey, as it's forced me to confront my own emotional neglect and its consequences. But it's also been entirely empowering. In naming this hole in my childhood, I've found my calling-to make sure that the next generations of kids are asked about their feelings, are vindicated in their emotions, and are supported in their feeling development. What I wish someone had asked me when I was a kid has now become the very question that I am going to "bother" others with for the rest of my life and hope that the ripples of emotional awareness and healing spread much farther than the limited experience.

My life was profoundly affected by the loss of my best friend, under the influence, in a car crash over a year ago, reshaping my perspective and testing me in unprecedented ways. The sudden absence of this constant presence in my life left an indescribable void, unleashing a whirlwind of emotions that I've had to carefully navigate. In the immediate aftermath, I experienced overwhelming grief, anger, and disbelief, often hitting in unexpected waves. As time passed, guilt emerged as another adversary - the "what ifs" and "if onlys" that plague survivors. Through this painful journey, I've learned invaluable lessons about resilience, the importance of cherishing relationships, and life's unpredictability. This experience has taught me to be more empathetic and understanding of others' pain. I've learned that grief is a deeply personal process with no "right" way to mourn. I've discovered an inner strength I didn't know I possessed, finding ways to honor my friend's memory while continuing to live and grow. To cope with my loss, I turned to meditation and journaling. Meditation helped me find moments of peace amidst emotional turmoil, allowing me to sit with my feelings without judgment and gradually leading to acceptance. Journaling became a cathartic outlet for my thoughts and memories. Writing about my friend, our shared experiences, and my grief process helped me process my emotions and preserve precious memories. This experience has reinforced my desire to pursue higher education. I want to honor my friend's memory by living life to the fullest and making a positive impact on the world. Education is key to achieving this goal, providing me with the knowledge and skills to make a difference. My experiences with loss and grief will make me a more compassionate and understanding healthcare professional in the future. While my family and friends who supported me through this difficult time are significant influences, I've also found inspiration in historical figures who faced adversity and made important contributions to society, often without recognition. One such figure is Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant chemist whose work was crucial to understanding DNA structure. Despite her groundbreaking contributions, she was largely overlooked during her lifetime, with male colleagues receiving credit for her work. Franklin's dedication to science in the face of gender discrimination inspires me to pursue my goals relentlessly, regardless of obstacles. Another influential figure is Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cells, taken without her knowledge, became one of the most important tools in medicine. The "HeLa" cells have been vital in developing the polio vaccine, gene mapping, and countless other scientific breakthroughs. Lacks' unwitting contribution to science and the ethical questions surrounding her story have deeply influenced my understanding of medical ethics and the importance of informed consent. Lastly, I draw inspiration from Marie Curie, a pioneering physicist and chemist who conducted groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Curie's dedication to science, even in the face of personal tragedy and societal barriers, resonates deeply with me. Her resilience and passion for discovery motivate me to channel my own experiences into a drive for knowledge and innovation in the medical field. These women's stories, along with my personal experiences, have shaped my worldview and strengthened my resolve to pursue a career in medicine. They remind me that adversity can be a powerful catalyst for growth and that our actions can have far-reaching impacts, even beyond our own lifetimes.

Technology over the last few decades has revolutionized healthcare delivery and improved patient outcomes to great magnitudes. These are emerging technologies that can also be leveraged to further the practice of the allied health professional and first responder with much efficiency in speed and effectiveness. Telehealth is one of the most revolutionary technologies in health. The Telehealth platforms have made it possible for allied health professionals to provide health services across distances and mobility boundaries. This has increasingly been an important technology to extend services to patients who may be in remote areas or even in underserved communities. Remote monitoring devices make it possible to track a patient's progress and vital signs in real time to allow for timely interventions and adjustments to treatment plans. AI and machine learning have considerably contributed to allied health practices. Artificial intelligence can empower diagnostic algorithms for the analysis of medical imaging and clinical data, thereby assisting professionals in diagnosing conditions and devising personalized treatment plans. Accordingly, machine learning algorithms can predict patient outcomes and risk factors, hence informing preventive intervention and optimizing care delivery. Wearables and sensors have prime importance in monitoring and rehabilitation. These can monitor movements, heart rates, and other physiological parameters that could be useful in providing data on assessment and intervention. Firefighters, for example, can be helped with helmet-mounted indoor visualization and navigation devices to allow them to view through dark smoke in order to enhance their safety and effectiveness during emergency situations. Virtual and augmented reality will provide immersive environments for therapy and training in rehabilitation settings that will enhance patient participation and motivation. The technology will be used by the allied health professionals to practice clinical skills, explore anatomy and physiology, and develop innovative treatment approaches. EHRs have greatly enhanced patient care in that physicians can now access a patient's full medical history in very minimal time and with ease. This technology minimizes the repetition of tests, creates accuracy in diagnosis, and helps avoid some very expensive and medically unnecessary procedures. EHRs have been reported to decrease medication errors by 27% and duplicate testing by 30%, which ultimately contributes to enormous cost savings. When combined, the integration of such technologies has led to measurable improvements in patients. Health informatics studies have shown that it reduces the in-patient mortality rate by as many as 15%, decreases length of patient stay by 25%, and readmission probability within 30 days by 19%. While technology has a lot of advantages, the disadvantages associated with it involve data security, privacy concerns, and continuous training that is needed within rapidly changing technologies. However, the potential to realize gains in patient care and outcomes is much greater than these challenges. Technology in general has permeated allied health and first responder practices, affording new opportunities to advance the care of patients and outcomes. The continuous advance from telehealth and AI diagnostics to wearables, even to VR/AR therapy, is endless. So long as these professions of allied health professionals and first responders continue to be embraced for such advancement, investments in their own training and education will equip them in providing quality, patient-centered care to meet the ever-evolving demands of healthcare.

To Serve with a Purpose: The Call of the Military to Protect and to Heal The military, in my view, is the embodiment of selfless service and a commitment to the ideals of our great nation: standing between harm's way and our loved ones, resolve in protection of freedom that defines us as a people. And to me, who aspires to wear the uniform as a physician in the military, the opportunity to blend a passion for medicine with deep-seated desires to serve our nation is singular. The Dual Mission: Protect and to Heal Guardians of Freedom They are not mere defenders but living, breathing testaments to what our grand nation stands for. This is a commitment that has continued to defend, not only our borders, but also the principles our country was founded on, such as liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness. It is, therefore, this unwavering dedication in safeguarding our way of life that inspires me to contribute my skills and knowledge to their noble cause. Healers in Uniform Because of this, I see myself not just being a military doctor in the future but creating hope and comfort during disasters. Being able to give medical aid to people who put their lives in service for our country is a privilege that instills in me a deep sense of purpose. It's about preserving the health and strength of those who preserve our nation's security. Personal Motivation: A Life of Impact and Growth The greatest personal motivation for me is to be able to leave a practical mark on life. The military offers a platform not only to exert these realities but to intertwine medical challenges with the dignity of national service. Such a duality on that single platform raises my ambition for continuous learning, adaptation, and professional/personal growth. Embracing Challenge Military medicine's hard training and high-stakes environment push individuals to the limit, creating a crucible of resilience and excellence. This fits with my drive for continuous improvement and refinement of myself so that I will be able to give the best care possible in any given circumstances. Building Bonds Beyond Borders Serving with dedicated people from all walks of life is something that also genuinely excites me. Camaraderie, an esprit de corps that is hard to find elsewhere-this is what makes the military community special and gives me the opportunity to make friends and professional connections that will last a lifetime. Conclusion: A Higher Calling For me, joining the military as a doctor is not just a career choice; it's answering a higher calling. To me, it was about being part of a much larger whole than myself, making a contribution to our nation's safety and well-being while pushing the leading edges of medical science. The military is about some of the best that being an American has to offer: courage, compassion, dedication, and commitment to serve above self. More than anything, I see the future and am motivated by this opportunity to heal, to protect, and to make a long-lasting difference in the lives of those who give so much for our country.