Even as a child, I had a clear passion for science and public health and began shadowing physicians at the age of twelve. I originally intended to become a physician but ultimately decided during my time as a biology student at the College of Charleston that was not for me, but I was still very passionate about science and medicine. After a few years of working mostly in the service industry, I decided to get my master's degree in public health from George Washington University so that I could finally begin to work in the field that has excited me for most of my life. I also enhanced my scientific literacy by participating in an internship during my master's program where I worked on developing a vaccine candidate to prevent colorectal cancer, and previously worked in a laboratory that specialized in hemp extraction after receiving my bachelor's. While my career in public health is just beginning, my time in the service industry was not without value - I became accustomed to working in a very fast paced environment that is largely dependent on effective teamwork, multitasking, time management, and quality customer service. I believe these skills will translate well into the world of public health, and I am very excited to see what I can contribute to such a large and diverse field.