Writing allowed me to discover myself and express my emotions without having to step out of my comfort-zone and speak about my experiences. I went from writing in my diary to published author in two years and ultimately published two books: Two Lives One Decision (murder mystery, 2012) and Destined (science fiction, 2015). Surely my neck has been dipped into the black abyss, but it had also found a way out. I was able to find bliss in amplifying the five senses...

"Its 11:11, make a wish!” Or dare I say…Make-A-Wish. Okay, I promise I’m not that cheesy. After publishing my novels, Two Lives One Decision and Destined, I decided to use my proceeds by donating to Make-A-Wish-Arizona. Coming from an Indian background, I understood that even the smallest of wishes – baking a cookie or having a birthday party – were almost a dream come true for children in a developing country. I guess I got lucky when I found a Make-A-Wish...

Here at USC, I hope to continue exploring, developing, and merging my passions for writing and medicine. Through USC’s interdisciplinary nature of “breadth with depth,” I plan to major in Creative Writing and Health and Humanity. In the past two years of high school, I found and led a medical community-service club, You and MeD, and a Literary Magazine club. As a fiction author, I hoped to promote the healing power of writing amongst children of all ages, and...

I’ll never forget the girl with the braid. Day one, Julianna rolled her eyes at me and complained about being forced to join a club she had “absolutely NO interest in.” But while writing prescriptions, DNA-making, CPR-training, and special-effects, she developed an interest in the endless possibilities of health fields. The moment she hugged me, I realized that if I could have this effect on one person, I might just have the motivational skills to impact more and, together,...