My name is Ann-Michal Dyer, and I am from South Point, Ohio. I was raised on a farm and grew up with the most supportive and loving family anyone could ask for. They are the reason I was able to see the importance and power of a higher education, unlike many of the students in Appalachian Ohio. However, my hometown did provide me with a certain set of morals and values that I will always cherish. I find myself to be family oriented, and I identify strongly as a follower of Christ. I have lived on the same property since I was born, but I switched high schools half-way through my sophomore year. I started out at a public school called Chesapeake, but I decided to make a change and transfer to a private school across the river in Huntington, West Virginia. I felt the need to do this because I wanted to be better prepared for a college career at Ohio State. This was the best decision I could have made for myself, and it was a better fit all around. As expected, school work became more challenging, but I knew it would be worth it.

Seeking a better education also brought upon many other great opportunities that would help me decide on a career path. My two-week internship I completed in my senior year of high school, in particular, stood out among the rest. For my senior communications class, I was able to chose two different mentors to intern with for a week. At this time, I was trying to decided between a career in veterinary medicine or human medicine. So, I chose to spend a week at a local veterinary clinic, and the other with a pediatrician at Cabell Huntington Hospital. I enjoyed my first week quite a bit, but it was nothing compared to my second week at the hospital. I found myself to be more interested in the aspects of human medicine, even though I was only able to spend a short amount of time there. Ever since then, I have been researching different career options in the medical field and have decided to pursue a career as a Fertility Specialist. Although I now have a fairly specific goal in mind, it never would have started without my love of science. I was always one of those students who enjoyed science, which is the main reason I am excited be STEM Scholar.

Biology is a subject that I both enjoy and excel in, so I chose it as a major. Also, I feel the classes I need for a bachelors degree in Biology have the potential to help me in medical school. In addition to that, a Biology major gives me options to improve my application if I am not accepted the first time I apply. I can do research and get a masters degree while I wait for another chance at medical school. Along with my Biology major, I will work towards a Business minor because I do plan on owning my own business in the future and having some experience in the field should help. Throughout my time here at Ohio State, I will participate in undergraduate research and take on an internship where I will gain important connections, which will prove to be vital in the future. I, then, will be qualified to reach my goals and aspirations of going to medical school with the later intent of becoming a Fertility Specialist.