I will be pursuing Biomedical Engineering, though my path to get there may not be simply through a 4 year Biomedical program. It will be a meandering path I can’t yet be certain of. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, stemming from an interest in the function of biology and a desire to help actual human beings. Civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and others help human beings but they’re somewhat faceless. Medical innovation feels more personal to me. Online videos detailing the function of the immune system and other organ systems in the body helped spark that interest, which I then extended to all living things. The direct care of nurses, physicians, and emergency personnel requires a certain social engineering that I personally would prefer to avoid. However, I had a pre-existing joy of building and designing things which itself was fostered by my time building things in premade kits and the STEM program.  This I linked to my interest in the medical field, and made the jump to the idea of creating tools for medical personnel. I’m more interested in biomechanics specifically, but could be persuaded to do other things within Biomedical engineering.

  With a heavy focus into math and biologically relevant classes like Physics (Honors & AP), Pre-calculus (Honors), AP Calculus, and the Engineering program here at the Forrest Tech Center I’ve created a course load teaching me some of the foundations I can build on in higher education. I’m also taking AP Seminar to practice my research and presentational skills.  One aspect of my learning I have underappreciated until now is my skill in working in a team by spending a significant portion of my education working with other people to solve problems and communicate, something I experienced most in the STEM program but also throughout other classes. Of course, I’ve gained a certain amount of math skill as well.

My recent extracurricular activities consist primarily of running with my team for Chopticon’s Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track teams. While the skill requirement for running may be lower, it has still taught me discipline, leadership, and general self awareness in everything I do. I’ve also done individual tutoring for struggling students in elementary and middle school, practicing my ability to listen and break down challenging concepts in a palatable way. Extracurricular academic activities I’ve engaged in include robotics camps and visits to local technology expositions like the open house at USMSM in California, MD. My experience at the MATHCOUNTS competition was valuable in learning to lose, and keep going anyway. I reached the state level of competition, but only thanks to assistance from my peers

 Ultimately, I want to learn. If the best way to do that is at a 4 year university somewhere, that will become my goal. I’m not entirely sure yet, though. Naturally monetary concerns warp any plans I might make, but I am fortunate enough to have an excellent support system to minimize the risk of student debts hindering my life after graduation from such a university. So, I plan to major in a Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering program at a university that can offer me a high quality education. I’ll give them my full effort if they’ll give theirs.

Once I achieve employment at a research or development center for medical technologies, I will be a small cog in a larger machine improving the lives of people I will never see but I know exist. While people won’t know my name specifically, I’ll be happy knowing that I can help in my own way using the skills I have found myself to have. Making a difference, in my own way. Any large change requires lots of minor dedications like my own. I can have a more noticeable impact on the community surrounding me by participating in local events and decisions, flavoring the area around me and coloring my own life with activity.