When looking back at the year 2020, most people will not have fond memories of what it brought. Although these unprecedented times have been hard for everyone including myself, I am thankful for all the adversity that came because this year has brought clarity about my true aspirations in life. Kicking off the year early, our country was overtaken by a pandemic that refined us to living fearfully in our homes. The safety guidelines put in place resulted in isolation; from school, from the community, from collegiate volleyball, from an accustomed lifestyle. This isolation was very difficult for me since I thrive in environments where I am challenging myself and engaging with others. The problem solving and teamwork that came from playing a collegiate sport was gone. The face to face interactions with my college professors was gone. Everything that I once took for granted had dissipated due to this virus. Despite the negatives that came from isolation, it allowed me to have time to reflect and learn more about myself more than ever before. I came to the realization that I will never be satisfied with a career that does not engage with other people or require interaction.

The year seemed to get better in the summer. The beaches were open to the public and this alone made my summer have a sense of normalcy. I have been working in Virginia Beach as a beach lifeguard since 2016, saving lives and proactively protecting the thousands of visitors that come to the 5-mile long shore called Sandbridge. Being a part of ocean rescue is something I am very passionate about; not only are we trained to save people from the water but we are trained in basic life-saving skills. This training came about from a fun summer job, but it really sparked my interest in the medical field. Just when things were going right in 2020, the year threw another curveball. One day patrolling the beach on the ATVs we were dispatched to a drowning call out of our guarded beach.The insanity of performing a “Code-X” line search, finding and putting the dead body on a paddleboard, getting to shore, beginning CPR, and transporting them was a tragic event to say the least. Understandably, this would be a lot for any 19-year old to digest that works as a lifeguard fora fun summer gig. I never thought I would be put into the situation or that this sort of tragedy would happen on our beach. This is something that will stick with me forever, not just as a tragic accident but a turning point in my life. From tragedy, I realized I wanted to continue on a path way of helping people. Working with a team of paramedic and fire professionals made me feel a part of something I didn’t know I was missing. From this, I enrolled in an EMS Academy with the City of Virginia Beach to train for my EMTB certification and run rescue with the city. Aside from my prior knowledge from the lifeguarding courses I have taken, this EMS course continues to build on my knowledge and is absolutely fascinating. Being able to understand the human body and how to help save lives is something that gives me more satisfaction than I could have imagined. Running student shifts in the ambulance has been so gratifying, knowing that I am making a difference in someone in need. This opportunity has also been so eye-opening to the pathways available in the medical field which has piqued my interest even more.

Many people say that 2020 is going to be a year to remember. Events such as coronavirus, a toilet paper shortage, and an election that was so infantile. Until a few months ago I don’t think I would have looked back at this year as a positive experience either. However, in reflection, I find that 2020 is the year I found myself. Don Zanamata said, “It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, bedimmed.” The isolation that came from the virus made me realize who I am as a person and in what environments I thrive. I learned that I wanted to enter the medical field after the tragedy that happened on the beach this summer. From here I want my light to continue in the field of healthcare and give people in need the best chance at a better life