I have always been enamored with the medical field. I find the human body so interesting. All of its functions and complexities. But, most importantly, I want to help people. During my junior year, I took my basic nursing assistant classes, and I have been working at Heritage Estates Nursing Home for the past three years as a CNA and Med Aid. I have learned so much from having first-hand experience, but most importantly, it has taught me empathy. I help to provide healthcare, but I am also a friend to all of my residents. I get to listen to their stories, and help comfort their fears. It gives me a sense of pride when I can get a resident to eat that no one else can, or when they smile when I walk in the room and tell me they’re happy to see me. It’s not always easy, and sometimes we lose people we have grown to love, but it’s rewarding and necessary. I was fortunate to be able to intern at Regional West Medical Center during high school. I was able to observe surgeries, deliver babies, translate for a young, worried mother, and sit in on appointments to help parents address their concerns for their children. This made me ever more passionate about my decision to be a doctor. I am currently an exercise science major on the pre-med track at Creighton University. Because of the experiences I was able to have during my internship, I plan to focus on women's health care in my medical practice when I am a doctor. I also plan to use my exercise science degree to help women learn how to keep their minds and bodies healthy. I could tell you about my current grades and the campus organizations I am involved in, but I would rather tell you a little bit about who I am as a person. When I was in 8th grade, the police came to my house to let us know that they had found my dad dead. The next morning, I got up and went to school because I didn’t know where else to go. I went every day after that too. This is a constant reminder to me that we have absolutely no idea what anybody else is going through. My motto has always been that you do not have to be friends with everyone, but you do have to be kind to everyone. I make it a daily practice to spread love through kindness. Taking care of my own mental health and other people's mental health is very important to me. I am a natural born leader. Being a leader has taught me that it is okay to fight. When we are younger we are taught that fighting is a bad thing. Of course, that is true when it is in the context of physically or emotionally hurting someone. But I have never been one to back down from a fight when it comes to things like love, tragedy, and especially following my dreams. I am ready to take up that fight for quality healthcare for women as well. As I continue to step into adulthood, I will continue to lead courageously, and by example. Every life experience that I have had, has made me who I am. I am the whole of all of my parts, and I know that I will continue to leave this world better than I found it.

Being the child of a single mother has not been easy. Whether it be financial or relationship issues, I have been dealt a great deal of it. My mother and I have always been close and our relationship is unlike most others. I love her and know that I can always count on her to support me no matter the situation. My mother is a great role model and someone I aspire to be like. On February 12, 2019, my mother and I were getting food from the Taco Johns drive-through after a long hard day when the Scottsbluff Police Department called. My mom answered the phone and immediately began sobbing, my heart started racing as I had no idea who or what was on the other end. They had called us that evening to inform us that my father was found dead in his apartment. He had committed suicide after battling his mental health struggles. In a panic, I began to call all my close family friends and they rushed over to my house. That day changed my life forever. I was so confused and lost that I got up on February 13th and went to school. The bags under my eyes were big enough to carry heavy groceries like milk and laundry soap, but I could not sit in my own depression. Stares followed me all day when finally a savior pulled me out of class to help me understand my emotions. Ever since that day, I have cherished every moment with anyone in my life for there is no way to predict the future. My mother and I have gotten by ever since, but life will never be the same and I now do everything to make my dad proud. Death changes people, and it definitely changed me. My life will never be the same. My dad was not at any of my parent night festivities. He will not be at my graduation to watch me walk across the stage. I was not able to share I was going to college with him. He will never walk me down the aisle and he will never know his future grandchildren. As cliché as it sounds, grief is funny. You never know when or how it will hit. It could be a song you hear in the background or a fleeting memory that makes you smile and sob all at the same time. I could have used my dad’s death as an excuse to be angry and to lash out at other people, but I refused to do that. “You do not have to be friends with everyone, but you do HAVE to be kind to everyone” was one of the first things I remember my mom telling me when I started elementary school. She explained that you have no idea what anyone is going through outside of your interactions with them and that we have no idea what weights or burdens other people are carrying. I have always tried to live my life with that thought in mind and to work daily to show people love through kindness. I understand the burdens people carry that no one else knows about. Even though I have lived through tragedy, I have made it my goal to spread love every day. I make it a point to compliment someone new every day, or at the very least to smile at someone who looks like they are having a bad day even if I am having a bad day. Thinking back on times I think I have made an impact in someone's life, I think about the time I gave one of my basketball teammates a hug in the hallway and told her how proud I was of how she had played at her game the day before. I noticed she started to get tears in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything other than thank you at the time. The next day she told me she couldn’t say anything when I hugged her or she would have cried, but she needed that hug more than anything. She had just found out a family member had passed away, and she was trying to make it through the day. My mom’s voice ran loudly through my head, “you just have to be kind to everyone.” Thank you for the opportunity to apply to this scholarship. I will rely heavily on scholarships to fund my college education so that I am not drowning in student loan debt. Organization like yours make that possible for students like me.

From as early as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to grow up. I would be failing my younger self if I cut my education short and did not pursue my dreams. I have worked so hard toward my academics that not becoming a doctor would be wasting my talents. No one in my family has gained a college degree in any major and I would love to make history for my family. As cliché as it sounds, my utmost goal in life is to help others. I do not just want to help others through the medical care I wish to provide but in every aspect of life. I want to be a role model for young minority women. I want to be an example that anyone can become anything if they concentrate and work for it. I have taken multiple Spanish classes and I am very confident in saying I have a second language. I hope to use this to widen the spectrum of people with whom I can connect. I hope to become a Pediatric Surgeon. I understand how much work this will take and how many years I will be in school, but I would not set my goals this high if I thought I couldn’t do it. Being the child of a single mother has not been easy. Whether it be financial or relationship issues, I have been dealt a great deal of it. My mother and I have always been close and our relationship is unlike most others. I love her and know that I can always count on her to support me no matter the situation. My mother is a great role model and someone I aspire to be like. On February 12, 2019, my mother and I were getting food from the Taco Johns drive-through after a long hard day when the Scottsbluff police department called. My mom answered the phone and immediately began sobbing, my heart started racing as I had no idea who or what was on the other end. They had called us that evening to inform us that my father was found dead in his apartment. In a panic, I began to call all my close family friends and they rushed over to my house. That day changed my life forever. I understand the burdens people carry that no one else knows about. Being a leader has also taught me that it is okay to fight. When we are younger we are taught that fighting is a bad thing. Of course, that is true when it is in the context of physically or emotionally hurting someone. But I have never been one to back down from a fight when it comes to things like love, tragedy, and especially racial injustice. When you are one of very few black people living in a community, you learn early that there are times when you must be willing to stand alone, and that fighting is honorable and necessary. My great-grandfather was a high ranking member of the Louisville branch of the NAACP. He marched hand-in-hand with Dr. King, and was close friends with Muhammad Ali during some of the most volatile and instrumental times in our cultural history. Not backing down and fighting for my culture is ingrained in my DNA. My life experiences are what have shaped me, and what will make me an outstanding doctor.

@t.west912

I have always been enamored with the medical field. I find the human body so interesting. All of its functions and complexities. I was fortunate to be able to intern at our local hospital this semester. I was able to observe surgeries, deliver babies, translate for a young, worried mother, and sit in on appointments to help parents address their concerns for their children. This solidified my decision to enter the healthcare field after high school. I will be a pre-med student, with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric/prenatal surgeon. I did not acquire my first job until the early summer of my junior year. I had always been too busy to uphold a position in a workplace. In the second semester of my junior year, I was enrolled in the Basic Nursing Assistant course to gain my CNA license in the state of Nebraska. As soon as I was on the registry, I began looking for jobs that would suit me best. As I was researching, I found an opening at Heritage Estates, a local nursing home. I was filled with excitement and nerves when I submitted my application, however, when I made it through to the interview, I only had confidence. I knew that my personality and social skills would benefit me and get me the job. When I met the Director of Nursing, she expressed how impressed she was by my appearance and demeanor. We had a great conversation and at the end of the meeting, she stated that she had never experienced such a well-planned interview. As I was preparing to leave, we shook hands and she expressed that I had the job no matter what. I could not help but smile, I had worked so hard to get to that place and I finally felt rewarded for my time. I have worked as a CNA at Heritage Estates for just under a year and I am working toward my Medication Aide Certification in the State of Nebraska. The relationships I have built through this job I hope to never lose, I can always count on my coworkers and management. This job has taught me what it is like to work in a healthy environment and now I will accept nothing less. As cliché as it sounds, my utmost goal in life is to help others. I do not just want to help others through the medical care I wish to provide but in every aspect of life. I want to be a role model for young minority women. I want to be an example that anyone can become anything if they concentrate and work for it. I have taken multiple Spanish classes and I am very confident in saying I have a second language. I hope to use this to widen the spectrum of people with whom I can connect. I hope to become a Pediatric Surgeon. I understand how much work this will take and how many years I will be in school, but I would not set my goals this high if I thought I couldn’t do it.

I have always been good at everything. I do not say this to brag, but sports especially came very naturally to me, and I played varsity volleyball and soccer as a freshman, but I didn’t make the varsity basketball team even though all of my teammates that I had played with for years did. This one season taught me more about leadership than anything else I have ever done. I could have given up and quit when everyone else did. There were many times that I wanted to, but instead I led. My freshman basketball team was not good, but I set the example by working harder than anyone else in the gym, and we won games we never should have won because of it. Now looking back on it, I am almost certain that was my basketball coach’s intention. Not that he didn’t think I could play on the varsity team skill-wise, he just saw what I was going to be capable of in life and he needed me to see that myself. He knew the type of leader I was capable of being. This one season set me on the trajectory of being the volleyball team captain/setter and leading our team to set the record for the most wins in a season in school history, and to the first district championship since 2004. I pride myself just as much on leading loud and standing up for myself and for other people who can’t stand up for themselves when necessary as I do on leading quietly and always putting in the work and setting the blueprint for other people to follow. I would never ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. The leadership skills that I have learned through sports will carry on to all aspects of my life. Leadership is not about power. It's about people. Knowing this has allowed me to be a positive role model for the younger children in our community. I often help with sports camps so that I can make a positive impact on the next generation coming up, especially the young women in our community. I let them know that I believe in them, that I see them, and that I know they are capable of amazing things. Being a leader has also taught me that it is okay to fight. When we are younger we are taught that fighting is a bad thing. Of course, that is true when it is in the context of physically or emotionally hurting someone. But I have never been one to back down from a fight when it comes to things like love, tragedy, and especially following my dreams. I have been accepted to multiple colleges in the pre-med program. I plan to enter the pre-med program at Creighton. I will rely heavily on additional scholarships to pay for schooling so that I do not come out of undergrad drowning in student loan debt. As I step into adulthood, I will continue to lead courageously, and by example. Every life experience that I have had, has made me who I am. I am the whole of all of my parts, and I know that I will continue to leave this world better than I found it.

I will be a first-generation college student to a single mother. I am also a biracial female. I am a minority student (African American and white) living in Western Nebraska with my single mom. When I was in 8th grade, the police came to my house to let us know that they had found my dad dead. The next morning, I got up and went to school because I didn’t know where else to go. I went every day after that too. This is a constant reminder to me that every day when you walk through the halls, you have no idea what anybody else is going through. My motto has always been that you do not have to be friends with everyone, but you do have to be kind to everyone. “You do not have to be friends with everyone, but you do HAVE to be kind to everyone” was one of the first things I remember my mom telling me when I started elementary school. She explained that you have no idea what anyone is going through outside of your interactions with them and that we have no idea what weights or burdens other people are carrying. I have always tried to live my life with that thought in mind and to work daily to show people love through kindness. I understand the burdens people carry that no one else knows about. Even though I have lived through tragedy, I have made it my goal to spread love every day walking through the halls of Scottsbluff High School. I make it a point to compliment someone new every day, or at the very least to smile at someone who looks like they are having a bad day even if I am having a bad day. Just last week I gave one of my freshman basketball teammates a hug in the hallway and told her how proud I was of how she had played at her game the day before. I noticed she started to get tears in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything other than thank you at the time. The next day she told me she couldn’t say anything when I hugged her or she would have cried, but she needed that hug more than anything. She had just found out a family member had passed away, and she was trying to make it through the day. My mom’s voice ran loudly through my head, “you just have to be kind to everyone.” have always been enamored with the medical field. I find the human body so interesting. All of its functions and complexities. But, most importantly, I want to help people. During my junior year, I took my basic nursing assistant classes, and I have been working at Heritage Estates Nursing Home since June. I have learned so much from having first-hand experience, but most importantly, it has taught me empathy. I help to provide healthcare, but I am also a friend to all of my residents. I get to listen to their stories and help comfort their fears. It gives me a sense of pride when I can get a resident to eat that no one else can, or when they smile when I walk in the room and tell me they’re happy to see me. It’s not always easy, and sometimes we lose people we have grown to love, but it’s rewarding and necessary. My love for people is what drives me . If I can care for people in a caring and compassionate manner, I will have a successful life.

I am a three-sport athlete. I play varsity volleyball, basketball, and soccer. I am a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, HOSA, Bearcats Committed, and Link Crew. The awards I have received are too numerous to mention here, but I am the captain of my volleyball and soccer teams, Academic All-State for volleyball and basketball, GNAC All-Academic for volleyball and soccer, selected to the West Nebraska All-Star team, along with many others. Sports have been a part of my life since I was old enough to walk. It was more chasing butterflies and doing somersaults than actually playing soccer. I fell in love immediately, and I’ve been playing ever since. Of course, when I was little it was more about getting out and being active, but even then, I was learning life lessons even if I didn’t know it at the time. One of the biggest lessons sports has taught me is how to lead. How to lead loudly and how to lead quietly. I played varsity volleyball and soccer as a freshman, but I didn’t make the varsity basketball team even though all of my teammates I had played with for years did. This one season taught me more about leadership than anything else I have ever done. I could have given up and quit when everyone else did. There were many times that I wanted to, but instead, I led. My freshman basketball team was not good, but I set the example by working harder than anyone else in the gym, and we won games we never should have. Looking back, I am certain that was my basketball coach’s intention. He saw what I was going to be capable of in life and he needed me to see that myself. This one season set me on the trajectory of being the volleyball team captain/setter and leading our team to set the record for the most wins in a season in school history, and to the first district championship since 2004. The year I was born. The leadership skills that I have learned through sports will carry on to all aspects of my life. Leadership is not about power. It's about the people. Knowing this has allowed me to be a positive role model for the younger children in our community. I often help with sports camps so that I can make a positive impact on the next generation coming up, especially the young women in our community. Being a leader has also taught me that it is okay to fight. When we are younger we are taught that fighting is a bad thing. Of course, that is true when it is in the context of physically or emotionally hurting someone. But I have never been one to back down from a fight when it comes to things like love, tragedy, and especially racial injustice. When you are one of the very few black people living in a community, you learn early that there are times when you must be willing to stand alone, and that fighting is honorable and necessary. With a great-grandfather who was a high-ranking member of the Louisville branch of the NAACP, who marched hand-in-hand with Dr. King, and who was close friends with Muhammad Ali during some of the most volatile and instrumental times in our country’s history, you could say not backing down and fighting is ingrained in my DNA. As I step into adulthood, I will continue to lead courageously, and by example.

Growing up as a biracial female in the world today proves to be unknowingly challenging. However, these challenges have shaped me into the caring and intelligent person I am today. Living in a world where the color of my skin automatically restricts my freedom and capability to be great has taught me many valuable lessons. My first year of high school is when my naivety about the situation was finally gone. Attending a fairly diverse school in the area I live in, opened my eyes to how biased people truly are toward black individuals. In the first few weeks of school when the “get to know me,” papers and activities were completed set the tone for how the rest of my life would be. I read my paper aloud expressing my joy and passion for the medical field and how badly I wanted to be a surgeon or doctor of some sort. My teacher with an up-and-down look responded with “that career path might be too challenging for someone like you.” I had never felt so belittled, and from there on I made an obvious point to be the best at everything I do. That one comment also shaped how I would become a leader in my school so that other students didn’t have to feel the same way I did at that moment. Black women as doctors should not be the exception. It should be standard so that when black teenage girls share that their dream is to be a doctor when they grow up, their white teacher won't tell them that it's going to be too hard. Aside from that, implicit bias and racial disparities in health care for black women are astounding. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. It is a well-known fact that racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality healthcare. It is my goal to help bridge the gap in the quality of healthcare for minority people and provide medical care with love and dignity for every single person I encounter. I am a three-sport athlete. One of the biggest lessons sports has taught me is how to lead. How to lead loudly and how to lead quietly. As a leader, there are times when you need to stand up and advocate for yourself and those around you, and there are times you have to set the example and be the role model. These attributes have always come naturally to me. Being a leader has also taught me that it is okay to fight. When we are younger we are taught that fighting is a bad thing. Of course, that is true when it is in the context of physically or emotionally hurting someone. But I have never been one to back down from a fight when it comes to things like love, tragedy, and especially standing up for others. With a great-grandfather who was a high-ranking member of the Louisville branch of the NAACP, who marched hand-in-hand with Dr. King, and was close friends with Muhammad Ali during some of the most volatile and instrumental times in our country’s history, you could say not backing down and fighting is ingrained in my DNA. In addition, to all of the health and science classes I have taken throughout my high school career, I have also made it a priority to learn Spanish. I am committed to making sure that everyone has access to quality healthcare. In moments of adversity. Look for the helpers. I want to be a helper.

As a freshman in high school, I received a t-shirt as a gift that said "I'm not for everyone." I'm not sure this was supposed to be a compliment, but I took it as one anyway. I am young, black, and proud. And I'm not for everyone. I am unapologetically me. Growing up as a biracial female in the world today proves to be unknowingly challenging. However, these challenges have shaped me into the caring and intelligent person I am today. Living in a world where the color of my skin automatically restricts my freedom and capability to be great has taught me many valuable lessons. My first year of high school is when my naivety about the situation was finally gone. Attending a fairly diverse school in the area I live in, opened my eyes to how biased people truly are toward black individuals. In the first few weeks of school when the “get to know me,” papers and activities were completed set the tone for how the rest of my life would be. I read my paper aloud expressing my joy and passion for the medical field and how badly I wanted to be a surgeon or doctor of some sort. My teacher with an up-and-down look responded with “that career path might be too challenging for someone like you.” I had never felt so belittled, and from there on I made an obvious point to be the best at everything I do. That one comment also shaped how I would become a leader in my school so that other students didn’t have to feel the same way I did at that moment. Black women as doctors should not be the exception. It should be standard so that when black teenage girls share that their dream is to be a doctor when they grow up, their white teacher won't tell them that it's going to be too hard. Aside from that, implicit bias and racial disparities in health care for black women are astounding. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. It is a well-known fact that racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality healthcare. It is my goal to help bridge the gap in the quality of healthcare for minority people and provide medical care with love and dignity for every single person I encounter. I'm not for everyone, and I'm okay with that, as long as I can blaze a trail for others to follow their dreams.

Sports have been a part of my life since I was old enough to walk. I played on my first soccer team when I was two. It was more chasing butterflies and doing somersaults than actually playing soccer, but this was my first experience with a team. I fell in love immediately, and I’ve been playing ever since. Of course, when I was little it was more about getting out and being active, but even then, I was learning life lessons even if I didn’t know it at the time. One of the biggest lessons sports has taught me is how to lead. How to lead loudly and how to lead quietly. As a leader, there are times when you need to stand up and advocate for yourself and those around you, and there are times you have to set the example and be the role model. These attributes have always come naturally to me. I have always been good at everything. Sports especially came very naturally to me, and I played varsity volleyball and soccer as a freshman, but I didn’t make the varsity basketball team even though all of my teammates that I had played with for years did. This one season taught me more about leadership than anything else I have ever done. I could have given up and quit when everyone else did. There were many times that I wanted to, but instead, I led. My freshman basketball team was not good, but I set the example by working harder than anyone else in the gym, and we won a lot because of it. Now looking back on it, I am almost certain that was my basketball coach’s intention. Not that he didn’t think I could play on the varsity team skill-wise, he just saw what I was going to be capable of in life and he needed me to see that myself. He knew the type of leader I was capable of being. This one season set me on the trajectory of being the volleyball team captain/setter and leading our team to set the record for the most wins in a season in school history, and to the first district championship since 2004. The year I was born. My volleyball coach calls it “Tierra doing Tierra things.” I pride myself just as much on leading loud and standing up for myself and for other people who can’t stand up for themselves when necessary as I do on leading quietly and always putting in the work and setting the blueprint for other people to follow. I would never ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself. The leadership skills that I have learned through sports will carry on to all aspects of my life. Leadership is not about power. It's about the people. Knowing this has allowed me to be a positive role model for the younger children in our community. I often help with sports camps so that I can make a positive impact on the next generation coming up, especially the young women in our community. I let them know that I believe in them, that I see them, and that I know they are capable of amazing things. As I step into adulthood, I will continue to lead courageously, and by example.

Should I talk about how I am smart, driven, and talented? Should I talk about how I am a good friend, someone who always has others’ backs, fights for injustices, and stands up for others when they can’t stand for themselves? Should I talk about how I’m a three-sport athlete and work in a long-term-care facility? Or maybe even how I have overcome tragedies and adversities? Then I realized yet again, that the whole is greater than the sum of all of its parts, and every single thing that I have experienced through life has made me exactly who I am. When I was a freshman I was given a t-shirt that said "I'm not for everyone." I'm not sure that it was supposed to be a compliment, but I took it that way. I have always been unapologetically me, even if that means forging ahead alone. As a minority, female student, I have made it my mission to be a strong role model for other younger girls in my community and school. I do this primarily by coaching and helping with youth sports camps. I am the captain of my volleyball and soccer teams, and I play basketball so this is the easiest way to connect with these young people on a level they relate to. I know how important it is to teach young girls how to pour so much love and confidence into themselves that the world cannot break them. I have been stopped by parents numerous times to let me know how much of an impact I have had on their children's lives. This means more to me than anyone will ever be able to understand. I am also a volunteer for the Catpacks program. This program provides weekend meals for food-insecure students and their families. The program provides packs to over 200 students in our local schools. Teachers let the director know what students may need a little bit of extra support, and a pack is discreetly provided for that student to take home with them over the weekend. For me, this program is about spreading love through kindness. I was fortunate to be able to intern at our local hospital this semester. I was able to observe surgeries, deliver babies, translate for a young, worried mother, and sit in on appointments to help parents address their concerns for their children. This solidified my decision to enter the healthcare field after high school. I will be a pre-med student, with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric/prenatal surgeon. It will be a dream come true when I reach the point in my professional career where I can volunteer for Doctors without Borders. If not being for everyone means I can blaze a trail for those behind me for others, then I'm okay with not being for everyone.

Should I talk about how I am smart, driven, and talented? Should I talk about how I am a good friend, someone who always has others’ backs, fights for injustices, and stands up for others when they can’t stand for themselves? Should I talk about how I’m a three-sport athlete and work in a long-term-care facility? Or maybe even how I have overcome tragedies and adversities? Then I realized yet again, that the whole is greater than the sum of all of its parts, and every single thing that I have experienced through life has made me exactly who I am. When I was a freshman I was given a t-shirt that said "I'm not for everyone." I'm not sure that it was supposed to be a compliment, but I took it that way. I have always been unapologetically me, even if that means forging ahead alone. As a minority, female student, I have made it my mission to be a strong role model for other younger girls in my community and school. I do this primarily by coaching and helping with youth sports camps. I am the captain of my volleyball and soccer teams, and I play basketball so this is the easiest way to connect with these young people on a level they relate to. I know how important it is to teach young girls how to pour so much love and confidence into themselves that the world cannot break them. I have been stopped by parents numerous times to let me know how much of an impact I have had on their children's lives. This means more to me than anyone will ever be able to understand. I am also a volunteer for the Catpacks program. This program provides weekend meals for food-insecure students and their families. The program provides packs to over 200 students in our local schools. Teachers let the director know what students may need a little bit of extra support, and a pack is discreetly provided for that student to take home with them over the weekend. For me, this program is about spreading love through kindness. I was fortunate to be able to intern at our local hospital this semester. I was able to observe surgeries, deliver babies, translate for a young, worried mother, and sit in on appointments to help parents address their concerns for their children. This solidified my decision to enter the healthcare field after high school. I will be a pre-med student, with the ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric/prenatal surgeon. It will be a dream come true when I reach the point in my professional career where I can volunteer for Doctors without Borders. If not being for everyone means I can blaze a trail for those behind me for others, then I'm okay with not being for everyone.

“You do not have to be friends with everyone, but you do HAVE to be kind to everyone” was one of the first things I remember my mom telling me when I started elementary school. She explained that you have no idea what anyone is going through outside of your interactions with them and that we have no idea what weights or burdens other people are carrying. I have always tried to live my life with that thought in mind and to work daily to show people love through kindness. Now that I am a senior who lost my dad in 8th grade, I understand the burdens people carry that no one else knows about. Even though I have lived through tragedy, I have made it my goal to spread love every day walking through the halls of Scottsbluff High School. I could have been bitter, but I decided that I would show people how much they matter daily instead. I make it a point to compliment someone new every day, or at the very least to smile at someone who looks like they are having a bad day even if I am having a bad day myself. Just last week I gave one of my freshman basketball teammates a hug in the hallway and told her how proud I was of how she had played at her game the day before. I noticed she started to get tears in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything other than thank you at the time. The next day she told me she couldn’t say anything when I hugged her or she would have cried, but she needed that hug more than anything. She had just found out a family member had passed away, and she was trying to make it through the day. My mom’s voice ran loudly through my head, “you just have to be kind to everyone.” Because of my love for helping people, I plan to enter the medical field to eventually be a doctor, specifically a pediatric surgeon. Parents with children facing medical needs are going through some of the most traumatic times of their lives. I want to be able to step in and care for their children with kindness and compassion. Children who are facing medical needs at times can’t fully grasp what is going on. They are afraid, and they need someone they can trust and bond with. I plan to continue to “be kind to everyone” through medical practice. I have also always dreamed of being in a place in my professional life where I could work with Doctors Without Borders. Living in the United States, it is easy to take the availability of quality medical care for granted. Sharing love through medicine would be one of the greatest achievements of my life. We never fully know the true impact we have on people, so it has always been important to me to make sure the people around me feel seen and loved. To be kind to everyone.