In "Labour of Love," 16 year old Shirine Nehme reflects on her birth story and the impact of her Child Studies class, which sparked her interest in pursuing a medical career. She shares her mother's challenging experiences during childbirth in Griffith, highlighting systemic issues in rural healthcare, such as understaffing and long wait times. Nehme discusses the ongoing challenges for rural students aspiring to enter medical fields, including the competitive application process. She emphasizes the importance of community conversations to address these issues and advocates for continued support and reform in rural healthcare, aiming to become an OBGYN to help improve maternal care in her community. Born and raised in Griffith, Shirine has always loved the diverse and rich culture in the region. Shirine is a member of Griffith Youth Advisory Group, aiding in organising and volunteering at events and workshops targeted to local youth.Shirine is also passionate about spreading awareness on issues prevalent within the region. In 2022, she won the NSW Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award and represented the state in the national final. Her speech was about the inadequate treatment of mothers in regional hospitals.In 2024, Shirine was a semi-finalist in the Plain English Speaking Awards with her speech on Indigenous Men and Farmer’s Mental Health. She continues to talk about inequalities within rural Australia, advocating for her community on a range of issues, attending a NSW Youth Advisory Council event in Sydney this year.After completing her secondary school education, she plans on going to medical school and returning to serve in her regional community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx