Wilma King Means Scholarship

I am a college freshman at Howard University. I am majoring in Psychology on a premed track to become a psychiatrist or a surgeon. These are both fields that are underrepresented when it comes to people of color. I would love to provide a holistic approach to people of color. Oftentimes, people of color are put on medications they could do without. People of color are also more likely to be misdiagnosed with disorders such as ADD and ADHD. As a psychiatrist of color, I will be able to understand the need for accurate diagnoses and the deeper roots of these diagnoses. The minority community often has a negative connotation established with mental health. My goal is to reshape these preconceptions. If I take the route of the surgeon, I will make an impact as well for people of color. Black children are three times more likely to die a month after surgery. We need more minority surgeons to assure that patients of color are taken care of properly. Minorities are more likely to be dismissed at the hospitals. I want to help build the trust between doctors and people of color. This trust is crucial to the health of the minority community. I want my patients to know that they will have a doctor who will hear them, care for them, respect them and help them. As a psychiatrist or a surgeon, I will be building the bridge between physicians and minorities. In return this will improve the physical and mental health of these communities. Whichever path I choose the goal will be the same, to help people that are not represented. My goal is to give back to my community in every way possible. My future will also be overflowing with philanthropy work. I would like to start my own neighborhood for the homeless and youth who aged out of the foster care system. I would like to have a community of tiny homes that will be affordable for people of low incomes. I want to also have a nonprofit that is partnered with the neighborhood. I want this nonprofit to be in the center of the neighbor, so it will be easily accessible to the residents. This nonprofit will provide food, job fairs and other necessities needed to transition out of the low class. I also want to offer GED programs through the nonprofit, along with trade classes. Ever since I was a little girl, I had a special place in my heart for the homeless. It is our job as a people to take care of each other and not just ourselves. Capitalism is built on the failure of some so that others may succeed. I believe in a world where we lift each other up. There are enough resources to go around as long as we do not succumb to greed. This is a dream of mine that keeps me motivated. I understand that I am working to better not only myself but the world. Not only are you as good as the life you live but the legacy that survives.