In my life, I have learned to take whatever is thrown at you and make it into something special, whether that be a learning experience, a lesson, or a blessing. I have learned to stare in the face of adversity and take note of what come along the way. This year, I was given the opportunity to participate in a lab exercise that included dissecting a fetal pig. When going into this lab I did not know what to expect. I have experienced death only once in my life and it was one of the most harrowing experiences I have had to this day. When walking into this lab, I had a more relaxed demeanor. I was not phased to begin with due to the cadaver being a fetal pig. If it were a human, I am sure I would have had a more visceral reaction immediately. However, I did experience a feeling that was unexpected. I felt sadness for the pig who had not even a glimmer of a chance of seeing the world. Pictures do not bother me, nor do videos of what I was about to do. However, when I looked down at the fetal pig I was momentarily overcome with grief and tears welled up in my eyes. However, the knowledge that this was an important aspect of the class overshadowed any thoughts of sadness I had in the moment. I was able to perform the dissection on the fetal pig and was able to obtain knowledge and firsthand insight into how the organs of the body meshed together to form what is me. My ability to focus on the important aspects of my knowledge instead of my personal emotions surprises me sometimes. Coming out of the lab, I gained a new insight into my personal abilities and I further solidified my thoughts that pursuing a degree in nursing is the right option for me. This lab was eye opening in more ways than one. It showed that I have a keen ability to display empathy for my patients, or in this case, my cadaver and my ability to focus on what needs to happen in the moment instead of letting my personal feelings cloud my judgement.