My diverse experiences increase my motivation to work in macro-level practice. There are many problems that can be addressed by changes in policy and I am passionate to start working to help people from this level. I started my career with five years of work in research laboratories, in academic and research settings, studying behavioral and molecular genetics in fruit flies and nitrogen use efficiency in seed corn. I have excellent attention to detail and organizational skills and a passion for discovering the unknown. However, I have a strong commitment to social justice and concern for the welfare of all people. Eager to increase my time in direct support of people and causes of importance to me, I began professional, volunteer, and academic work. I was hired as a counselor tech at a rehabilitation facility for addiction; this experience only increased my compassion for those in need and motivation to improve systems.In my free time, I enjoy mentoring individuals with substance use disorder and am a mentor through New Opportunities of Carroll for a child at-risk in my community. I have written letters with Amnesty International and collected petitions regarding statewide issues in Iowa. I also take human services classes from Des Moines Area Community College and will graduate in the summer of 2021; this academic work has provided me with new academic awareness and is a great supplement to my studies in biology and English.