I knew from a young age that I wanted to be something great. I wanted nothing more but to use my knowledge to help others. I wanted to care for anyone around me that needed it. In middle school, I decided that I was going to do that by earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. I loved chemistry and thought the science of pharmaceuticals was it for me.

I finished high school with honors and continued on to college with the same goals in mind. I was a Bio-Chemistry major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with my eyes set on getting into the PharmD program at UNC-Chapel Hill. I set my goals high and did everything in my power to accomplish them. Unfortunately, priorities with my family came first and I had to put a hold on my educational future. I knew, however, that I wasn't going to let anything stop me, and I managed to become a Nationally- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) during my break from school.

I did not take a course for my career, but instead learned on-the-job and through studying at home. I was going to make sure that when it was finally time for me to go to pharmacy school, I was going to be ready. I worked in the pharmacy at multiple retail chains, and then transitioned into the Pharmacy Department at CMC-Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC.

After working full-time and being out of school for 5 years, I finally had the opportunity to go back to school to pursue my career. However, I felt that pharmacy was no longer a career that I wanted to pursue. I loved working in the pharmacy and helping patients, but I felt like I wanted to help them in a different way. Through working at the hospital, I was able to network with many other healthcare professionals and had to opportunity to shadow a sonographer in the ultrasound department. I thought it was fascinating! He had been a graduate of the program at South Piedmont and had even taught a few classes there. He provided me with the information and I researched it that night when I got home.

Since I had been out of school for so long, I was required to take all of the prerequisite classes over again and start from the very beginning. Once again, I set my goals high, and finished all of the required and optional classes in one year and applied to the Medical Sonography program that same year. I was speechless when I received the acceptance letter in the mail. I couldn't believe it! I was beyond excited to begin my journey to becoming a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer.

With each semester that has passed in this program, I have been nothing but thankful for all that I have gained. The great friendships, connections, and knowledge is irreplaceable. I have proven to myself that dedication and hard work really do pay off and that I truly love and enjoy doing ultrasound and using it to help others. 

I have grown so much over these few years and have seen so many changes in my skill set. I have never been a great communicator but this journey has taught me how to speak confidently in front of my classmates, professors, fellow sonographers, radiologists, and also how to lead as the Class President. I have learned that I am a visual learner, and have used that to my advantage during the course of these two years. I learn best by being very organized and by being shown things rather than something just being explained to me. I have to be able to envision things in my mind in order to better understand them. I have done best by studying images and charts, and by making more flash cards than I can count. I have learned that sitting in the front of the class has been beneficial to me and that blocking out distractions is vital when I study or take notes.

Just like my journeys before this one, it has not been easy, but it has definitely been fulfilling. This journey has not only helped me become a better person, but it has helped me become the person that I wanted to be. Each patch has been different than the last but still stitched into the same beautiful quilt.