1. How did you get into volunteer work and what do you find most rewarding about volunteering?

“I first started volunteering [when] I was in pigtails. My family really introduced it to me. It was the little things like placing flags onto gravestones for veterans or passing out snow cones at elementary schools. …I really liked how you can see … the smiles on their face, the good memories you can help them make. …What’s really gotten me into volunteering is Girl Scouts and being  part of Military Youth of the Year. … I was selected as Midwest Military for the year, so I get to lead children of all ages … I definitely see an impact right there. But volunteering is just really nice. It’s good for the soul.”

2. Outside of school and volunteering, what do you do in your spare time?

“I like music. I’m a part of Ann’s Merry Band of Fiddlers, it’s a Celtic fiddle group that I play in. We just did a suicide prevention event, or we’ll volunteer at nursing homes. I also enjoy painting and art. I enter the Audubon art contest every year. And I enjoy spending time with my family a lot. … Whenever Omaha has a cool cultural immersion thing going on, I always like to go to those, like the lantern festivals.”

3. Where do you see yourself after high school?

“Currently, I am looking at different universities where I can major in Biology, and minor in Spanish. I would like to study abroad, meet new people, and have a unique college experience wherever I go. I read about these programs where you go to refugee camps and you can put your medical skills to use as a CNA. And then I’d be able to speak in Spanish to the families, too, … then becoming a physician assistant is kind of my overall goal of life throughout as I go through college and medical school.”

4. What inspired you to go into the medical field?

“I’ve had my fair share of medical experiences, just from ear infections or different things. … I saw how they kind of helped me through it, and you know everyone’s super nice, and that difference it makes when someone comes into your room with a smile and kind of reassures you that everything’s OK. … I want to do the same, but more so for pediatrics … healing them and helping them, you know, get through the hardest things in life, especially at children’s hospital.” 

5. What inspires you to work so hard to help others?

“I view each day as a gift from God, and I know not everybody is able to seize that day as much, from certain aspects of their life, so I like to seize it for them. So even if it means making just a small difference, or large difference, in someone’s life for that day, whether it’s volunteering or in hospital or just doing the mini acts of kindness or complimenting someone at school. I think it just really inspires me that I can help people and then also my long-term goal. I know that if I keep getting good grades and I keep staying involved in the community, it will all come back full circle to help me when I need help in the future.”