My interest in becoming an optometrist began when I was in high school; it happened in an unconventional way. It wasn't watching videos or someone explaining to me what optometry was, but rather seeing the power of it firsthand. There was a time in my life when I felt emotions that I couldn't understand at the time. Seeing a family member on an operating table was the most petrifying moment I have ever experienced, especially when the person on the operating table was my father. My father had to remove a chalazion from his right eyelid. The doctor told my family that my father would be exposed to certain health risks due to diabetes and the severity of the cyst. This procedure was the hardest thing I have had to go through in my life because it made me feel helpless. Usually, when my dad needs help he always asks me, but this time I couldn't do anything. It's interesting to think that something so small had such a big impact on my life. My father recovered successfully and I was inspired. I realized that having the gift of sight is something people take for granted. Therefore, when I embarked on my university journey, I took part in several activities to further my thirst for knowledge about optometry. For example, I became the treasurer of the University of Florida pre-optometry club. As an executive committee member, I opened doors for others to find their passion for optometry by managing our budget and finances to sponsor trips and activities. In the meantime, I also worked as a secretary and shadowed at Eye Associates in Orlando, where I gained practical knowledge. I also volunteered for the KidSight vision screening program where I entered visio data...... middle of paper...... to understand the inner workings of the eye and the techniques used to help people. My passion for optometry remains free from negativity because I have seen the power of what it can do and the lives it can impact. I am highly aware of the prestigious reputation of your optometry program and the work in which your faculty is involved. My fervor for optometry is unmatched and I want to influence change in the most positive way possible, which is changing the culture we live in. Ralph Waldo Emerson famously wrote, "The health of the eyes seems to require a horizon. We are never tired, so long as we can see far enough." From what I accomplish in my life, I will see beyond the horizon and give others the same vision. I hope you will give me the opportunity to continue my studies at your institution, while still allowing me to show you my passion for optometry.