As a young man entering my senior year of high school, my mind races as I try to figure out what it is that I’ll commit my life to. What will be the driving passion, the purpose of my existence, the reason I get out of bed every morning to face another day of this life? Some people would try to encourage me to choose a career simply for its potential to make me wealthy. However, looking at the degenerate lives of the rich and the famous around the world, its apparent to me that the pursuit of earthly riches alone isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. I’d rather spend my days in pursuit of something more fulfilling. As far as I can tell from my past experiences and the experiences of those that have walked this life before me, there is nothing more mentally, emotionally, or spiritually fulfilling than the helping my fellow man achieve a healthier state of wellbeing. As a young boy I was fascinated by the television hospital drama ER. I was excited by how the doctors and the nurses worked together to save the victims that were rushed into the ward. Although the interpersonal drama and basically all other aspects of the show went over my head at age 5, the fact that those men and women saved lives was enough to keep me interested. I desire to be a Naval Nurse Officer so that I, along with my fellow RNs, could work together with the Naval Physicians in improving the lives of those that come to us for care. I use the term “improvement of lives” intentionally. I’d hope not only to help repair broken bodies, but to use the knowledge I learn at university to help educate patients on how to live healthier lives. I want them to focus on living life in pursuit of things that make them happy, as opposed to medication dosages and being cooped up in hospital beds. I’d strive to be an uplifting and comforting figure in the midst of the sorrow that is unfortunately an inevitable part of…