Go on. Pet the dog. This is all I would hear in my head when I walk by one. This is all I hear in my head when I walk past one. Whenever I see these creatures walk by me, I am drawn in. As a kid, I have always loved animals. I even consider them to be my friends. So, whenever I would hear about a dog who had cancer or a cat that broke its leg. I would always think about what I can do to help. This care for animals led me to choose that I wanted to become a veterinarian so that no other kid would ever have to hear something sad about animals ever again. As I grew up, I found that not only did I like to help and connect with animals, but also with other humans.

Every time I would see someone walk their dog, I would always fail at fighting my urge to pet it. Every time I would see an advertisement about animals on TV, I would immediately go and try to convince my parents to let me take care of one. Perhaps it wasn’t the fluffiness of their fur or the playful nature. But what really attracted me to them was that I felt connected with these animals in some way.

One day, I came to school and had a conversation with my teacher. She had informed me that one of her dogs had caught cancer. When I heard this, I thought about that dog and the countless others in the world who might be suffering. All I wanted was to be able to help them. I then figured I wanted to become a veterinarian. So I could help all animals live happy lives without any suffering. 

One day, I met a man named Kailash Satyarthi. One who was a global activist against child labor and trafficking. At a young age, he witnessed kids working in harsh conditions around him. While he was still at school, he decided to dedicate his life to ensure that kids get a proper education and aren’t forced to work so hard at such a young age. After I heard his story, I decided to work for that cause. Now, I wanted not only to help the animals but also the people in need. I volunteered with a few institutions similar to Kailash Satyarthi's Foundation and researched human welfare & the related problems we face in the world. After the completion of my program, I specifically became interested in mental health.

Our society faces many problems that can be quite scary for some. This can cause people to develop trauma, whether it’s at a young age or recently. I learned about the different ways that people can deal with trauma to limit its effect on their daily lives. According to an article called “Learning How to Recover After a Traumatic Event” by professionals at Winchester Hospital in Massachusetts, 2 out of the 8 most effective ways to overcome trauma are related to reaching out or talking to someone about the way you feel. When I heard about this, something clicked in my brain. My dream now is to become a psychotherapist. I want to help people overcome problems that they may feel they are struggling with. I thought a lot about it and figured out that not only would I enjoy working with others, but I would be able to help others who need it so they can lead better lives. 

Throughout my childhood, I always knew I wanted to do something that would assist others. As a child, I wanted to help animals and become a veterinarian. As I grew up, I realized I wanted to help the humans too. I want to help those who are suffering. Furthermore, to support them in every way possible to help them lead better lives. I want to give each one of them an assurance that they'll find a way. That there always will be someone to support them and comfort them. And I want to be that someone.