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The mind-body connection has drawn more interest in recent decades in terms of added research and theories surrounding it, as well as increased debate on the significance of the connection altogether. However, I argue the true significance of the mind-body connection lies less so in the connection itself, but more in the mechanism which joins our physical and mental worlds even tighter which is our perception of our mental and physical freedoms. The freedom to choose a life for ourselves, and the freedom to authentically live out that life, are, as I will reveal, what often drives communication within us, and what ultimately contributes to positive and negative physical manifestations.
            Through this project it is my hope to make a meaningful contribution to the two fields I value most, medicine and writing, one that seeks to push forward more diverse ways of thinking about mental and physical experiences. Drawing from current literature of both theoretical and personal nature I will uncover what I feel is a missing causation in the complex mind-body connection through the blended lens of writing and healthcare. As we move towards the future of not only healthcare, but the future of existential thinking it is all the more relevant to strive to understand what connects our lived experiences.

"Flores of Mexico: My Pá’s Recipes from Home to Heart" shares authentic Mexican recipes while also humanizing the stories that make the recipes much more than just carefully crafted concoctions. Ramon Flores, known to me as Dad, is known as the cook of the family. He was born in a small rancho in Jalisco, Mexico. Here, he learned to cook from my late grandmother. Ramon helped in the kitchen as much as he could before he immigrated to the United States at the age of 17. This food memoir shares recipes, and stories that illustrate his journey from childhood to adulthood, from Mexico to the United States. Now, my Pá is many years wiser, yet cooking remains at the top of his most loved skills and treasured hobbies. As his daughter, I reap the benefits of having a dad that is talented in the kitchen. I know that his journey to lay roots in this country has not always been easy. Through interviews, spending time in the kitchen with my Dad, and personal experiences, "Flores of Mexico: My Pá’s Recipes from Home to Heart" I hope to share his stories with the world.

Beyond the Page: Stories that Speak Across Time and Experience interrogates the traditional, didactic role of fiction, proposing that storytelling is not merely a tool for delivering moral lessons. Rather, the project emphasizes that fiction’s true power lies in its ability to provoke intellectual and ethical reflection, inviting readers to form their own conclusions instead of presenting fixed moral outcomes. By analyzing texts such as the Bible, Native American Coyote stories, Gabriel García Márquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” and Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants,” this work explores how fiction creates symbolic spaces that encourage introspection and deeper inquiry. These narratives, rich with ambiguity, prompt readers to seek their own interpretations and consider the complexities of human experience. Fiction’s capacity to inspire reflection extends from classic works to contemporary storytelling. In my own creative works, “Lily of the River” and “Weight of Silence”, I examine how modern fiction grapples with philosophical and ethical questions. “Lily of the River” explores themes of redemption and human resilience through a mythic lens, while “Weight of Silence” examines justice, silence, and ambiguity. Both narratives engage with storytelling traditions that emphasize symbolic depth and open-ended interpretation, encouraging readers to move beyond passive consumption and actively engage with the text. Ultimately, this project asserts that fiction’s role is not merely entertainment but a catalyst for critical thought, empathy, and self-reflection, urging readers to connect with stories that extend far beyond the page.

In a world where the voices of the oppressed have been historically and presently silenced, writing has become a form of self-expression and an act of resistance. However, growing up, I rarely encountered literature that reflected my own identity or experiences in a society that I actively wanted to resist. I thought about producing my own creative pieces and wrote poetry, short stories, journals that touched on this topic, but it wasn’t until I critically examined my own life that I truly understood the power of blending creative writing with critical thinking to upend society. This fusion not only strengthened my storytelling, but also deepened my connection to my own identity. It pushed me to engage more critically with my work, allowing me to address and critique the systemic issues that shape our society and underrepresented individuals that reside in it. By combining creativity with critical thought, I was able to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the complexities marginalized communities face. The merging of these two fields created a space where I could speak about my personal experience when analyzing the world around me, believing the boundaries between creativity and critical thinking should be everlastingly flowing together, constantly interacting. This dynamic interplay can result in more impactful literature that highlights the stories of marginalized communities. Through this process, I hope to inspire others to use both creative writing and critical thinking interchangeably as tools to empower their voices and reclaim agency in their writing.

The underrepresentation of black male teachers in American classrooms—less than two percent nationwide—is both a systemic and internal issue. Economic inequity compounds this problem, as black workers consistently earn significantly less than their white counterparts, even with equivalent education levels. These economic inequalities lead to black families putting less emphasis on education and allowing societal stereotypes to determine their children’s career paths in hopes for financial stability. Frantz Fanon’s analysis in Black Skin, White Mask highlights the psychological damage inflicted by colonial education, fostering an inferiority complex rooted in language and cultural assimilation. The complex transforms into a belief that academic success equates to “whiteness,” discouraging black males from education and their communities. 
I use my personal narrative to show how pursuing economic survival over genuine passion and self-love creates a delusional perception of self. I bring Erich Fromm’s critique of American society in The Art of Loving to show how American capitalism commodifies its citizens. I use W. Timothy Gallwey’s theory of having two selves in his book The Inner Game of Tennis to give a practical solution to overcoming internal battles through self-trust and intuitive action. I suggest the solution for the lack of black male educators requires more than structural solutions. Ultimately, systemic reform combined with emotional and psychological healing is essential to empowering more black men to see education as a space not just for survival, but as a site of personal and communal flourishing.

The modern romance novel has undergone a significant shift, with broad patterns within the genre, or tropes, becoming the primary force shaping both the writing and structure of these books. Once incidental elements of storytelling, these patterned images are now obligatory to the framework of a love story, with social media amplifying their role in marketing. Publishers and authors use tropes—such as enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and the one-bed scenario—as key selling points, but this emphasis on recognizability and conventions does more than influence the advertising of a single book; it actively transforms the way modern romance stories are written. 
Rather than emerging naturally from character dynamics or thematic exploration, tropes now often dictate a novel’s very foundation. Contemporary authors such as Ali Hazelwood, Elsie Silver, and Emily Henry construct stories with the expectation that these familiar conventions will be central, ensuring their appeal in an increasingly trope-driven market. As a result, romance narratives frequently prioritize structural predictability over organic relationship development, shaping how love itself is imagined within the genre. This shift has sparked a recent discourse: while some argue that the heightened awareness of tropes allows for playful reinvention, others contend that it flattens emotional depth, making stories more about the framework than the romance itself. Ultimately, this transformation has redefined not only how romance is sold, but also how it unfolds on the page, reshaping the creative landscape of the genre as a whole.