Screech!!! The bus's brakes scream as they stop. I look up to see buildings that look like stone and marble statutes. The buildings were tall with beige, shiny finishes. The grass was too green to be real and the atmosphere felt like home. I had embarked on a journey I never imagined. I was here, here at Emory School of Medicine. Many people walk around in white coats, teal coats, and soft, colorful crocs. I was part of an elite group of about 30 high school students who would soon be part of the Emory School of Medicine's mentorship program, called the Emory School of Medicine Pipeline Program. This program introduced long-distance students, like me, to the world of medicine. This has inspired students to become future doctors, nurses and other medical professions. This program greatly influenced my interest in medicine. Over the course of two years, I was able to create connections and gain lasting mentors through these experiences. In this program, I completed case studies on sexual health, neurology and public health. Through these case studies, I was able to practice my leadership skills and investigative thinking with my peers. Through the Emory Pipeline program, I also learned about new technologies in the medical field and how these new technologies have helped our local hospitals. These experiences opened the door for me to explore my professional calling. Through the Emory Pipeline program, my peers and I registered with undergraduate and medical students at Emory University and the Emory School of Medicine. Additionally, as we registered each year, we were able to meet new people. I was grateful to meet the co-founder, Zwade Marshall, who was a four-year medical student and resident at Grady M...... middle of article...... This is the one of several research projects that focus on adolescent health. However, its proximity to your university reassured me that your university was the best option for my future in nursing. Anatole France once said: “To accomplish great things, you must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe. I believe my nursing life and research begins in Baltimore, Maryland at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. I believe that a whole new world will open up to me because I have decided to live improving the lives of others. Likewise, for my mentor Zwade Marshall, I want to do a lot for my community using the best tools, which are education and medicine. I know that a graduate degree and research is not the final step. Then again, I know the University of Maryland is the best place to start.