Ryinn Gray

My goal in life is to simply better myself. A bit cliche but isn't that what everyone strives for? It's a persistent goal that can always be worked towards through other smaller goals. As every day goes by, I learn something new about myself, most of the time it's little things I notice but it explains why I do things the way I do. School plays a big part in that, as I have to know what works for me and what doesn’t work.

In the AAP I was able to discover what I wanted to do later in my life and a new goal to work towards. I discovered a passion for human anatomy and physiology and that in combination with my fascination with the connection of medicine and law has made me gravitate towards becoming a medical examiner. This prompted me to look for a new job as I am currently working a part-time retail job. I found an Emergency Medical Technician program that I have enrolled in for the summer so I can become an EMT. I just finished getting re-certified in basic life support as I needed it for the program. So, by the end of the summer, I will be working as an EMT which is something I have thought about for a while because I am also passionate about healthcare.

My passion for healthcare has made me become an active volunteer at the Blood Bank of Delmarva. Being a volunteer there has taught me a lot about how significant it is to donate blood; it is what makes medical procedures possible. When I have free time, I like to volunteer my time to help around the center. Most of the time I greet the donors to take their temperature and wipe down the tablets and reading materials, but I also do things like write thank you letters to the people who have donated, make pins, do administrative work, etc.

I do have a couple hobbies I do consistently, which are calligraphy and learning the piano. I got into calligraphy because of my handwriting, it's very italicized and looks cursive although it's not. I have a bunch of calligraphy pens and dip pens that I use to practice. I also am teaching myself to play the piano, an instrument I always wanted to learn how to play. I got my piano the summer of 2019 and am still learning as it is very difficult to learn by myself.

Something I am most proud is of how far I have come in my life. I went through majority of my life not having a clue what I wanted to do, confused on what I was working towards. I can honestly say that the path that I have created for myself with the help of my family is one that I am excited to take. Along the way I plan to strive for the best and take each moment and learn from it.

Interview by Jaden Gradwell, Spring 2021