Ever since I was little, my faith has been the lens through which I view the world. When I heard about Natalie Joy Poremski's life and legacy, I was very moved. Her legacy is a powerful reminder of the dignity of life, and her mother's strength is exemplary. As a Christian student entering my undergraduate studies on the pre-law track, I am honored to apply for this scholarship and to share how my faith and calling intersect to protect life. There have been several times when I have felt entirely overwhelmed and unequipped to handle the challenges life often presents. In a season of loneliness, fear, and other health-related concerns, it was Christ that anchored me. He did what I couldn't do for myself, and I learned to trust him even when I couldn't trace him. The verse that came to me in my season of hardship was Philippians 1:28 —“Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.” The verse didn't answer the question: "Why me? why my family?" But it reinforced the goodness of God, and that no season endures forever. I grew as a person, and my compassion deepened. During that challenging season, my faith wasn't weakened but refined. It drew me closer to God and made me want to be someone who champions truth, life, and love. Being pro-life isn't a position, it's a lifestyle based on faith where every life is valuable, hand-crafted in the image of God, and worthy of being loved. I try to live out this lifestyle in my words, actions, and relationships because faith isn't limited to Sunday morning. We are comanded to serve at all times and defend the defenseless. As a result, you can find me sporting my pro-life bracelet and having respectful conversations with peers, spreading the pro-life message without judgment. I aspire to become a healthcare attorney focusing on health policy so that one day, God willing, I can help enact more pro-life policies. Until that day, I try, as instructed, to spread the word of God in how I treat others so I can be a vessel of his love. My aspirations of becoming a healthcare attorney are deeply rooted in both my faith and belief in the sanctity of life. I’ve always gravitated to the intersection of healthcare and justice- both are sectors where the most vulnerable members of society often go unheard. I want to be a voice for those without one- whether it's an unborn child or someone who can't afford healthcare. My faith teaches that life has inherent dignity, and I want to use the legal system to uphold that truth. Life should be dignified from conception to death, and we can't risk losing morals to modern medicine. I want to make a difference where legal advocacy and moral responsibility intersect. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that honors the life of Natalie Joy Poremski. Her legacy reinforces that every life, regardless of duration, carries immeasurable worth. As I continue my education to become a medical attorney, I am committed to using my faith and my voice to defend life. I hope the Lord will use me to bring compassion and truth into places where they're needed most.

The loss of someone who has poured so much life into you leaves an indelible mark—it transforms you in ways both profound and lasting. When I came across this scholarship, I felt connected with the life of Kalia D. Davis. Her resilience, passion, and unwavering diligence deeply resonate with me, especially as a black woman striving to leave a meaningful impact. Kalia’s legacy—rooted in excellence, purpose, and a commitment to causes greater than herself—beautifully mirrors the kind of life I aspire to lead. Her accomplishments have inspired me and will inspire so many others to pursue our dreams through hard work. The challenges I’ve faced have not only tested me—they’ve imbued me with a deep, unwavering desire for excellence. Like Kalia, I have known the ache of profound loss. Losing my grandmother to terminal cancer was a pain unlike any I had ever felt—one that still echoes within me. Yet, even in her absence, her legacy continues to guide me. It compels me to live a life that reflects the warmth, strength, and light she poured into me. In so many ways, I see Kalia in my own journey. I share her devotion to excellence, and like her, I have walked a path shaped by resilience and a drive to grow, both academically and personally. I navigate the balance of school, family responsibilities, work, community involvement, and track and field. While also striving to be a light to those around me, just as Kalia was. Her joy, her laughter, her ability to uplift others—these are qualities I, too, take pride in sharing with my friends. I aspire to use my education as a tool to create a meaningful impact within my community and give back to the roots that shaped me. Kalia’s desire to serve through ROTC deeply moved me, as I, too, feel called to dedicate my life to serving others. The loss of my grandmother to terminal illness opened my eyes to the urgent need for compassionate, driven healthcare attorneys—advocates who will fight for accessible treatment for lower-income communities. I want to be that advocate. This scholarship would not only ease the financial weight of pursuing higher education, but it would also stand as a powerful symbol of unity, of people coming together to honor a legacy by uplifting future changemakers. I would be profoundly honored to receive a scholarship that bears the name of someone whose life reflected such purpose and passion. Kalia’s unwavering commitment to her community, her kindness, her discipline, and her brilliance are qualities I deeply admire—and strive to embody. Her life reminds us all that impact is measured by the light we bring into the lives of others. The Kalia D. Davis Memorial Scholarship would allow me to continue my journey not only with less financial strain but with renewed focus on living out the values Kalia exemplified: academic excellence, service beyond self, and steadfast devotion to community. At the heart of it, I am grateful for the opportunity to be inspired by Kalia’s life and to share a piece of my own. Her legacy is a beacon, one that guides and challenges us all to be better. If given the honor of receiving this scholarship, I would carry Kalia’s memory with me as both a light and a responsibility—to reflect her emulable spirit in all that I do. Thank you for your time and consideration.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants. From a young age, I observed the challenges associated with social mobility when starting from a disadvantaged position. It was not until the fourth grade that I understood the extensive impact of poverty, particularly concerning healthcare. My grandmother, who had immigrated from Jamaica and lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age sixty-two; she could not afford health insurance and as a result, she was unable to secure adequate healthcare and, ultimately, hospice care. Determined to better understand the intersection between healthcare and law, I applied and was accepted into a competitive two-week program at Yale University, Yale Young Global Scholars, under their Law, Politics, and Economics track. I was exposed to health public policy for the first time and I began to comprehend the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, from the influence of big Pharma to the ever-rising cost of medication. This newfound awareness inspired me to take action in my community, and I co-founded a project to improve hygienic care for patients in a local hospital. Through this initiative, I encountered the stark realities of hospital funding issues and their detrimental impact on patient care. These issues are exacerbated in lower-income communities, where hospital funding is limited, and patients often face higher out-of-pocket expenses. This contributes to medical debt, complications, and the skipping of treatments—leaving vulnerable communities disproportionately burdened by systemic flaws. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be elusive, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education is transformative and has the power to shape a future. If I were to received this scholarship, I would be one step closer to realizing my goal of becoming a healthcare attorney who levels the playing field for others.

My deepest condolences, and I pray the Lord comforts you and your family. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." I spent most of my upbringing in the Bible Belt, where a church was never more than five minutes away, and prayer was always just around the corner. Surrounded by a tight-knit Christian community, I never felt the weight of standing alone in my faith; there was always someone to lean on. A few months before my freshman year, I received the news that we would be moving to Upstate New York, and in an instant, I found myself in the wilderness. Apart from the usual challenges of moving to a new school, another obstacle gradually revealed itself. Upstate New York is known for many great things—like the Finger Lakes, vineyards, and the lesser half of Niagara Falls—but churches aren't exactly one of its highlights. Moreover, I began facing spiritual battles I had never encountered in the South. Round 1: Anxiety. I had heard of anxiety, but I had never experienced the overwhelming, paralyzing kind. Within my first week of school, I quickly realized that anxiety wasn’t just a common issue in the region—it was practically an epidemic, and I was starting to catch it. Speaking in class became a struggle, my heart would race for no apparent reason. I told myself to snap out of it, reasoning and rationalizing every day, but nothing worked. Eventually, I turned to the internet for answers and found hundreds of sermons on the spiritual authority we gained when Jesus rose again. "…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21) This passage reminded me that the power to overcome anxiety was already within me, through Christ. Round 2: Sickness. I had never been inside an ambulance, but by my sophomore year, I had watched one carry both of my parents to the hospital. With no extended family in New York and no church family to pray with me, I was left to rely solely on the Word of God and my faith. I learned what it meant to become a prayer warrior. "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18). I was forced to stand on my own faith, speaking peace and health over my household. By God's grace, my parents returned home fully healthy. My time in this wilderness has drawn me closer to God. When my community was taken away, I was reminded of who was at the heart of that community. Now I rest assured that, no matter what, God will guide me through every wilderness. He will direct my steps and use me to fulfill His will, which is always good.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, and from a young age, I witnessed the challenges that come with starting from a disadvantaged position and striving for social mobility. It wasn’t until the fourth grade that I truly understood the devastating impact of poverty, particularly in relation to healthcare. My grandmother, who had lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years after immigrating from Jamaica, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of sixty-two. She couldn’t afford health insurance, which left her unable to access the necessary medical and hospice care she so desperately needed. This heartbreaking experience opened my eyes to the suffocating nature of poverty and the flaws in the U.S. healthcare system, despite 21% of the federal budget being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid. Determined to better understand the intersection of healthcare and law, I was accepted into the competitive two-week Yale Young Global Scholars program, where I participated in the Law, Politics, and Economics track. For the first time, I was exposed to public health policy and began to comprehend the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, from the influence of big Pharma to the ever-rising cost of medication. This newfound awareness inspired me to take action in my community, and I co-founded a project aimed at improving hygiene care for patients in a local hospital. Through this initiative, I encountered the stark realities of hospital funding issues and their detrimental impact on patient care. These issues are exacerbated in lower-income communities, where hospital funding is limited, and patients often face higher out-of-pocket expenses. This contributes to medical debt, complications, and the skipping of treatments—leaving vulnerable communities disproportionately burdened by systemic flaws. These experiences have driven me to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney, advocating for those trapped in economic stagnation and working to ensure that no other family has to endure what mine did. I believe access to healthcare should never be a privilege, but a right, and I am committed to championing affordability and accessibility. In the future, I aspire to establish a practice focused on serving low-income families, offering affordable legal defense, and providing scholarships—like this one—to empower young people to break free from the cycle of poverty and achieve the economic mobility they deserve. Education is transformative; it has the power to shape a future. However, certain basic rights—such as education and healthcare—are not equally accessible to everyone. By receiving this scholarship, I will be one step closer to realizing my goal of becoming a healthcare attorney, leveling the playing field for others and enhancing an essential aspect of their lives. I aim to ensure that economic mobility is no longer a distant dream, but an attainable goal that can be achieved for generations to come.

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." I spent most of my upbringing in the Bible Belt, where a church was never more than five minutes away, and prayer was always just around the corner. Surrounded by a tight-knit Christian community, I never felt the weight of standing alone in my faith; there was always someone to lean on. A few months before my freshman year, I received the news that we would be moving to Upstate New York, and in an instant, I found myself in the wilderness. Apart from the usual challenges of moving during your freshman year of high school, another obstacle gradually revealed itself. Upstate New York is known for many great things—like the Finger Lakes, vineyards, and the lesser half of Niagara Falls—but churches aren't exactly one of its highlights. Moreover, I began facing spiritual battles I had never encountered in the South. Round 1: Anxiety. I had heard of anxiety, but I had never experienced the overwhelming, paralyzing kind. Within my first week of school, I quickly realized that anxiety wasn’t just a common issue in the region—it was practically an epidemic, and I was starting to catch it. Speaking in class became a struggle, my heart would race for no apparent reason. I told myself to snap out of it, reasoning and rationalizing every day, but nothing worked. Eventually, I turned to the internet for answers and found hundreds of sermons on the spiritual authority we gained when Jesus rose again. "…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21) This passage reminded me that the power I needed to overcome my anxiety was already within me, through Christ. Round 2: Sickness. I had never been inside an ambulance, but by my sophomore year, I had watched one carry both of my parents to the hospital. With no extended family in New York and no church family to pray with me, I was left to rely solely on the Word of God and my faith. I learned what it meant to become a prayer warrior. "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:18). I was forced to stand on my own faith, speaking peace and health over my household. By God's grace, my parents returned home fully healthy. My time in this wilderness has drawn me closer to God. When my community was taken away, I was reminded of who was at the heart of that community. I rest assured that in my future career, no matter the highs and lows, God will guide me through every wilderness. He will direct my steps and use me to fulfill His will, which is always good.

The pages were dog-eared, the cover ripped, and the tape barely held the bindings together; nevertheless, I couldn’t put it down. “I Lived on Butterfly Hill” by Marjorie Agosín started as my sixth-grade English project; it became my eighth-grade obsession. Entering high school was daunting, but I had a plan. I would attend the STEM Program I’d been accepted into and my hard work would finally pay off. Then my parents dropped the bombshell: We were moving from Northern Georgia to Upstate New York. In an instant, nothing was certain: no STEM program, no friends starting high school, and no way to prepare. One day, while packing, I rediscovered “I Lived on Butterfly Hill” and found solace in its pages. I couldn’t directly relate to the titular Celeste, a Chilean refugee in America, but I could relate to being thrust into a new environment and grappling with fear of the future. That summer, Celeste and I did everything together. While Celeste struggled to forge friendships, I faced challenges during my first week of track practice. In a way, we were navigating our new situations together, and before I knew it, we had both created a sense of community in our new homes. I had never been to Chile, and I would never meet Celeste, but the words on the page gave me both a companion and an escape. Writing is powerful because it never returns void; there is always an impact. In many ways, we can learn just as much from the world of words as we can from the physical world. Agosín’s words reassured me, but writing can evoke a wide range of emotions—guilt, fear, joy, and sadness. It can shatter paradigms and summon thoughts that would have never crossed the reader’s mind otherwise. Even when applying for scholarships, we rely on our words to build a bridge between us and the reader, our only tool is our words. I have a deep appreciation for creative writing, but I’ve also been profoundly moved by the power of writing in advocacy and the legal system. Throughout history, when the spoken word wasn’t enough, writing became the tool of change: The Declaration of Independence, used by our Founding Fathers to establish our nation; Letter from Birmingham Jail, used by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to fuel the civil rights movement from behind prison bars; and The Letter from Jamaica, used by Simón Bolívar to lead Latin America out of colonial rule. Writing, in these instances, didn’t just capture moments—it changed the course of history. Perhaps you’ve already guessed it, but I aspire to become an attorney—specifically, a medical attorney. While many may think of lawyers as courtroom warriors like Atticus Finch, I see lawyers as brief writers: those who use the written word to craft arguments that set new precedents and spark real change. I want to harness the power of writing to reform the healthcare system, making it more equitable and affordable. My goal is to use my undergraduate studies to sharpen my ability to influence hearts and minds through words, so I can help create pivotal turning points in the history of the medical system. The ability to write is the ability to unlock minds and discover new worlds, and for that reason, I will always cherish the written word and strive to hone this craft in everything I do.

My parents always said, 'She can remember every lyric, but not a single one is sung on key.' Unfortunately, they weren’t exaggerating. While I may lack any semblance of musical talent, much to the dismay of my friends and family, I am still an avid music enthusiast. The first genre to fill my ears was reggae. My parents, who had immigrated from Jamaica, carried a piece of their homeland with them. From the moment I could speak, I was belting out 'Three Little Birds' by Bob Marley. As I grew older, I began to grasp the depth and urgency of the lyrics. In another one of his songs: 'Redemption Song,' Marley sings, 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery/ None but ourselves can free our minds.' The song encapsulates the struggles Jamaica has faced—from colonization to modern-day corruption—while holding on to the unwavering hope for a brighter future. Music was the first way I connected with my roots, and throughout high school, I’ve continued to listen to reggae, always reminded that I am part of something much larger than myself—a culture rich with history, resilience, and boundless potential. My parents recognized that while I might not have been musically gifted in terms of vocals, I could still find a way to make music. So, at the age of six, I began learning to play instruments. What started as a simple hobby with the piano and guitar soon blossomed into a central part of my identity. I took immense pride in being able to create the music I had always loved. It not only brought me closer to the community but also deepened my connection to my church as I learned to play the hymns I had cried to for years. Playing instruments introduced me to a vibrant network of talented musicians with whom I could bond over complex chords and calloused fingers. Once again, music led me to something greater than myself, and I cherished every moment of it. Through playing, I learned discipline, patience, collaboration, and perseverance—qualities that I later applied to both my academics and social life throughout high school. During my freshman year of high school, I moved from Northern Georgia to Upstate New York—and that same year, I discovered pop music. I vividly remember hearing Olivia Rodrigo’s 'Drivers License' for the first time and instantly falling in love with it. Starting at a new school can be intimidating, especially when it’s hard to strike up a conversation, but having something in common makes it so much easier. Oftentimes, that common ground was a shared love of pop music. It became a bridge for me to connect with new people, and even now, my friends and I still jam to 'Drivers License' after school. Throughout high school, music has allowed me to be a part of something bigger than myself and taught me invaluable lessons. It has connected me to my culture, my faith, my peers, and a community of talented musicians. It has instilled in me discipline and resilience, both through the lyrics and through learning to create music. Music has enriched my high school experience and my life in ways I never expected—and for that, I’ll always remain a tone-deaf enthusiast.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants. From a young age, I observed the challenges associated with social mobility when starting from a disadvantaged position. It was not until the fourth grade that I understood the extensive impact of poverty, particularly concerning healthcare. My grandmother, who had immigrated from Jamaica and lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age sixty-two; she could not afford health insurance and as a result, she was unable to secure adequate healthcare and, ultimately, hospice care. This devastating experience showed me the suffocating nature of poverty and revealed that, despite 21% of the U.S. fiscal budget being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid, substantial shortcomings remain. Determined to better understand the intersection between healthcare and law, I applied and was accepted into a competitive two-week program at Yale University, Yale Young Global Scholars, under their Law, Politics, and Economics track. I was exposed to health public policy for the first time and I began to comprehend the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system, from the influence of big Pharma to the ever-rising cost of medication. This newfound awareness inspired me to take action in my community, and I co-founded a project to improve hygienic care for patients in a local hospital. Through this initiative, I encountered the stark realities of hospital funding issues and their detrimental impact on patient care. These issues are exacerbated in lower-income communities, where hospital funding is limited, and patients often face higher out-of-pocket expenses. This contributes to medical debt, complications, and the skipping of treatments—leaving vulnerable communities disproportionately burdened by systemic flaws. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be elusive, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education is transformative and has the power to shape a future. However, certain basic rights—such as education and healthcare—are not equally accessible to everyone. If I were to receive this scholarship, I would be one step closer to realizing my goal of becoming a healthcare attorney, leveling the playing field for others, and enhancing an essential aspect of their lives. I aim to ensure that economic mobility is no longer a distant dream but an attainable goal.

The population of the town I live in is 1.4% African American, yet I have seen about five school fights in high school, and somebody who looks like me has been in all of them. Whereas in my AP Physics C class, I am the only black student taking the course. I try to be the exception. When I walk into a classroom, I forget I’m the only one who looks like me; I have learned to be independent and focus my energy on my goals. Resilience has not been an option for me but a mandate; I have to defy what people expect of me based on my race and sex. Last year, when I applied to Yale Young Global Scholars under their Politics, Law, and Economics track, the chances of me getting into the program were 1 in 1000, but I’ve learned that just by daring to challenge the expectations others had of me, I’ve been beating the odds for 17 years. Being the only black student in the room has served as a source of motivation; it pushes me to work harder so that when my teachers or classmates think of black students, they won’t only think of fights but of capable individuals who can excel in any arena. Throughout high school, I have been honored to receive various awards recognizing my excellence as an African American. However, I have often noticed that the standards for these awards are set much lower compared to those for general honors like the National Honor Society. Society often doesn’t hold African American excellence to the same standard as it does for White or Asian excellence. As a result, there’s a constant pressure to work harder and prove that my achievements as an African American are just as valuable and remarkable as anyone else’s. To me, empowerment is about lifting others to a level they didn’t even know they could reach. I’ve been fortunate enough to have role models who empowered me to believe that just because society may set a lower bar for me, it doesn’t mean I can’t soar far above it. They showed me the power of challenging expectations and breaking through the mold. Now, through resilience, I strive to empower other African Americans in my community, especially my younger brother. I want them to see that we have the power to shatter stereotypes and thrive in places where we were never expected to succeed, or where we may not have believed we could. I want to empower others to see that their potential knows no bounds, and together, we can reach new heights.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants. From a young age, I observed the challenges associated with social mobility when starting from a disadvantaged position. It was not until the fourth grade that I understood the extensive impact of poverty, particularly concerning healthcare. My grandmother, who had immigrated from Jamaica and lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age sixty-two; she could not afford health insurance and as a result, she was unable to secure adequate healthcare and, ultimately, hospice care. This devastating experience showed me the suffocating nature of poverty and revealed that, despite 21% of the U.S. fiscal budget being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid, substantial shortcomings remain. In pursuing a better understanding of the healthcare system related to law, I applied and was accepted into a competitive two-week program at Yale University, Yale Young Global Scholars, under their Law, Politics, and Economics track. I was exposed to health public policy for the first time and at last, I began to understand the challenges facing the US healthcare system from big Pharma to the fluctuating prices of medication. Since that realization, I have tried to address issues within my community; in light of that, I am currently a co-founder of a project to provide more hygienic care to patients in a local hospital. This experience has further revealed hospital funding issues and the results on patients. This issue is only amplified within lower-income communities with significantly less hospital funding, moreover, the amount patients can afford out-of-pocket is also far less. This contributes to medical debt, medical complications, and the skipping of doses resulting in vulnerable communities being the most burdened by the flaws in the medical system. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be elusive, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education can make or break a future. Unfortunately, certain rights, such as education and healthcare, are not equally accessible to everyone. I would use this scholarship opportunity to help finance my aspiration to become a healthcare attorney who will help level the playing field for others and enhance a crucial aspect of their lives so that economic mobility isn’t a generational dream but an attainable goal that can be actualized.

The population of the town I live in is 1.4% African American, yet I have seen about five school fights in high school and somebody who looks like me has been in all of them. Whereas in my AP Physics C class, I am the only black student taking the course. I try to be the exception. When I walk into a classroom, I forget I’m the only one who looks like me; I have learned to be independent and focus my energy on my goals. Resilience has not been an option for me but a mandate; I have to defy what people expect of me based on my race and sex. Last year, when I applied to Yale Young Global Scholars under their Politics, Law, and Economics track, the chances of me getting into the program were 1 in 1000, but I’ve learned that just by daring to challenge the expectations others had of me, I’ve been beating the odds for 17 years. Being the only black student in the room has served as a source of motivation; it pushes me to work harder so that when my teachers or classmates think of black students, they won’t only think of fights but of capable individuals who can excel in any arena. Throughout high school, I have been honored to receive various awards recognizing my excellence as an African American. However, I have often noticed that the standards for these awards are set much lower compared to those for general honors like the National Honor Society. Society often doesn’t hold African American excellence to the same standard as it does for White or Asian excellence. As a result, there’s a constant pressure to work harder and prove that my achievements as an African American are just as valuable and remarkable as anyone else’s. Thankfully, I’ve had the privilege of having a few role models who taught me that just because society may set a lower bar for me, it doesn’t mean I can’t soar above it. I’ve learned to challenge expectations and break the mold. Through resilience, I aim to be a role model for other African Americans in my community, especially my younger brother. I want them to see that we can defy the stereotypes and succeed in areas where we were never expected to thrive. Even now, as I face the challenges of paying for college, I remain resilient knowing that my success will help pave the way for others to follow.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants. From a young age, I observed the challenges associated with social mobility when starting from a disadvantaged position. It was not until the fourth grade that I understood the extensive impact of poverty, particularly concerning healthcare. My grandmother, who had immigrated from Jamaica and lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age sixty-two; she could not afford health insurance and as a result, she was unable to secure adequate healthcare and, ultimately, hospice care. This devastating experience showed me the suffocating nature of poverty and revealed that, despite 21% of the U.S. fiscal budget being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid, substantial shortcomings remain. In pursuing a better understanding of the healthcare system related to law, I applied and was accepted into a competitive two-week program at Yale University, Yale Young Global Scholars, under their Law, Politics, and Economics track. I was exposed to health public policy for the first time and at last, I began to understand the challenges facing the US healthcare system from big Pharma to the fluctuating prices of medication. Since that realization, I have tried to address issues within my community; in light of that, I am currently a co-founder of a project to provide more hygienic care to patients in a local hospital. This experience has further revealed hospital funding issues and the results on patients. This issue is only amplified within lower-income communities with significantly less hospital funding, moreover, the amount patients can afford out-of-pocket is also far less. This contributes to medical debt, medical complications, and the skipping of doses resulting in vulnerable communities being the most burdened by the flaws in the medical system. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be elusive, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education can make or break a future. Unfortunately, certain rights, such as education and healthcare, are not equally accessible to everyone. I would use this scholarship opportunity to help finance my aspiration to become a healthcare attorney who will help level the playing field for others and enhance a crucial aspect of their lives so that economic mobility isn’t a generational dream but an attainable goal that can be actualized.

I am the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants. From a young age, I observed the challenges associated with social mobility when starting from a disadvantaged position. It was not until the fourth grade that I understood the extensive impact of poverty, particularly concerning healthcare. My grandmother, who had immigrated from Jamaica and lived and worked in the United States for nearly forty years, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at age sixty-two; she could not afford health insurance and as a result, she was unable to secure adequate healthcare and, ultimately, hospice care. This devastating experience showed me the suffocating nature of poverty and revealed that, despite 21% of the U.S. fiscal budget being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid, substantial shortcomings remain. In pursuing a better understanding of the healthcare system related to law, I applied and was accepted into a competitive two-week program at Yale University, Yale Young Global Scholars, under their Law, Politics, and Economics track. I was exposed to health public policy for the first time and at last, I began to understand the challenges facing the US healthcare system from big Pharma to the fluctuating prices of medication. Since that realization, I have tried to address issues within my community; I am currently a co-founder of a project to provide more hygienic care to patients in a local hospital. This experience has further revealed hospital funding issues and the results on patients. This issue is only amplified within lower-income communities with significantly less hospital funding, moreover the amount patients can afford out-of-pocket is also far less. This contributes to medical debt, medical complications, and the skipping of doses resulting in vulnerable communities being the most burdened by the flaws in the medical system. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be elusive, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education can make or break a future. Unfortunately, certain rights, such as education and healthcare, are not equally accessible to everyone. I would use this scholarship opportunity to help finance my aspiration to become a healthcare attorney who will help level the playing field for others and enhance a crucial aspect of their lives so that economic mobility isn’t a generational dream but an attainable goal that can be actualized.

As the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative powers of education and opportunity in facilitating economic and social mobility. That said, I have also seen how a lack of availability of opportunities can be used to discriminate against people. Lacking specific opportunities such as college education can bar access to lucrative careers and, more direly, restrict social mobility, impeding access to necessities such as adequate healthcare despite 16% of the national budget(~$48 billion) allocated to Medicare and Medicaid. From a young age, I was determined to pursue a career as a lawyer; I’d been arguing with my parents before I could even walk. Yet, it was the sobering loss of a close family member who, due to their social standing, was denied health insurance that truly awakened me to the crippling effects of poverty in all aspects of life. Since that realization, I have tried to address issues within my community; I am currently a co-founder of a project to provide more hygienic care to patients in a local hospital. This experience has further revealed hospital funding issues and the results on patients. This issue is only amplified within lower-income communities with significantly less hospital funding, and the amount patients can afford out-of-pocket is also far less. This pattern contributes to medical debt, complications, and skipping dosages. Vulnerable communities are the most burdened by the flaws in the medical system. After witnessing this within my family, I became curious about what could be done to help. As a result of that query, I found myself in several law-centered and public policy-centered classes throughout high school. For research-based courses, I delved into the history of our healthcare system, and I now know the root cause behind many of its flaws: underregulation, patent protection, research costs, and lobbying. This insight will follow me throughout college and into graduate school. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be strenuous, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Everyone should have an equal chance at success and to effect change, but unfortunately, certain rights, such as education and healthcare, are not equally accessible to everyone. I would use this scholarship opportunity to help finance my aspiration to become a healthcare attorney; I will use my opportunity of college education to help level the playing field for others and enhance a crucial aspect of their lives so that economic mobility isn’t a generational dream but an attainable goal that can be actualized.

As the proud daughter of two Jamaican immigrants, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative powers of education in facilitating economic and social mobility. That said, I have also seen how a lack of a college education can be used to discriminate against people. Lacking a college education often bars access to lucrative careers and, more direly, restricts social mobility, impeding access to necessities such as adequate healthcare despite 16% of the national budget(~$48 billion) being allocated to Medicare and Medicaid. From a young age, I was determined to pursue a career as a lawyer; I’d been arguing with my parents before I could even walk. Yet, it was the sobering loss of a close family member who, due to their social standing, was denied health insurance that truly awakened me to the crippling effects of poverty in all aspects of life. Since that realization, I have tried to address issues within my community; I am currently a co-founder of a project to provide more hygienic care to patients in a local hospital. This experience has further revealed hospital funding issues and the results on patients. This issue is only amplified within lower-income communities with significantly less hospital funding, and the amount patients can afford out-of-pocket is also far less. This contributes to medical debt, medical complications, and the skipping of dosages. Vulnerable communities are the most burdened by the flaws in the medical system. After witnessing this within my family, I became curious about what could be done to help. I am driven to pursue a career as a healthcare attorney to advocate for the members of our society trapped in economic stagnation to ensure that other families won’t have to endure what my family did. Access to healthcare should not be strenuous, and I will champion affordability and accessibility. Eventually, I aspire to establish a practice that will be targeted toward serving low-income families, providing affordable defense, and offering scholarships -such as this one- to empower more young people to break the cycle of poverty and attain the economic mobility they deserve. Education can make or break a future. Unfortunately, certain rights, such as education and healthcare, are not equally accessible to everyone. I would use this scholarship opportunity to help finance my aspiration to become a healthcare attorney who will help level the playing field for others and enhance a crucial aspect of their lives so that economic mobility isn’t a generational dream but an attainable goal that can be actualized.

Dear Herich family, Thank you for honoring Ryan Herich by enabling others to pursue the gift of higher education. I am familiar with loss, which is the source of my passion for political science. While I can't fully understand what your family has been through, I have also lost a family member who was dear to me. In 2017, I lost my late grandmother to cancer; she did not have medical insurance. As a result of not having insurance, my grandmother could not receive adequate hospice care despite having legally worked and lived in the United States for over 35 years after immigrating from Jamacia. Through my grandmother's experience, I witnessed the flaws in the healthcare system and became interested in what was being done to fix it. Like Ryan, I am drawn to politics and history; I thrive on a good debate. However, I have remained interested because I realize that politics facilitates change, and history provides a blueprint for learning from previous politics. Every politician goes in with a goal, a promise. Love or hate them; each politician has that change they promise to use the platform to make. Looking at recent politicians, Harris pledged to reproductive rights; Trump assured lower inflation; Biden vowed to restore the economy after COVID, and I would commit to amending the healthcare system. I watch CNN, FOX, and BBC in the evenings because I want to hear different perspectives, especially on healthcare. While most politicians share the same goal of helping their citizens afford to live, bipartisan lines separate them. However, I have also learned from history classes that essential changes are made rapidly when politicians come together in times of necessity. I was inspired by moments of unity, such as the formation of the Constitution, where federalists and antifederalists came together for the betterment of the nation, giving us our current Constitution with a bill of rights. Winston Churchill said, "It is a fine game -the game of politics- worth waiting for a good hand before really plunging." I believe Churchill was right. Politics, as we have seen, has the power to influence real change, but bipartisan relations have inhibited it from achieving its full potential. However, recent political trends have shown increasing dealignment and split-ticket voting. I believe this upcoming generation has a good hand that will allow the creation of essential change, and I want to be a part of it. I want to pursue political science to facilitate change in the healthcare system because I have hope for the future of politics and the generation that is inheriting it. Political trends show that we as a people are becoming more open-minded, a trait that is necessary in change-making. I want to be an agent of change for my generation, and this scholarship would help me pursue the education level required to achieve my goal. Thanks for your consideration. '

"I stumbled over all my words, I made it weird, I made it worse" from Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl by Olivia Rodrigo encapsulates a general consensus among my peers and me. During my junior year, I decided to take an elective class my school offered called law. It seemed like a good idea since I aspire to become a healthcare lawyer someday; however, I had no idea that in addition to learning about the legal system, I would have to give 13 presentations. For context, I was an anxious presenter; my stomach would knot days before, the week would be consumed by dread of an imminent presentation, I'd lose sleep thinking about presenting, and when I finally did present, my mouth would go dry, and I'd stumble through the presentation. Needless to say, I was terrified. I weighed the option of dropping the class; I had never dropped a class before, but presenting was my weakness. Ultimately, I decided to persevere; to become an attorney someday, I would have to master public speaking. I reasoned it was better to master it in a classroom of 14 students than in a lecture hall of 60. The first presentation was about an issue of your choosing; I chose Artificial Intelligence. I practiced my presentation a week in advance, and, to my family's annoyance, I constantly recited the memorized lines. I was terrified but prepared; I asked my teacher to look over my slides and felt about as confident as I could walking into class. When it was my turn to present, my legs got heavy, my heart began to pound, my stomach churned, and I delivered the worst presentation in human history. I stumbled over all of the words and forgot my well-rehearsed fun facts. I returned to my seat with my face hot; I couldn't believe I had forgotten everything. When the bell rang, I rushed out of class, eager to forget my presentation. However, in my scramble I heard a girl behind me talking about how terrible her presentation was. I had seen her presentation, and it seemed fine; I had been so nervous that I wasn't particularly critical of others. I didn't see anything wrong with her presentation. That was when I realized that we all thought we "stumbled over our words," and we all felt we made it weird or worse. We all feel awkward, and we can be overcritical of ourselves. This realization allowed me to give myself some grace for the rest of the presentations, and with time, I did improve. We all stumble over all our words; we made it weird, and we made it worse. In high school, we're all in the same boat; everyone feels like they messed up, and we hold a magnifying glass to our flaws when we need to give ourselves some grace.

An artificially intelligent robot got Saudi Arabian citizenship?! No way! That's what I said when I heard about Sophia. She gained Saudi Arabian citizenship in 2017. Sophia can see and recognize faces, interact, carry on a conversation, and learn. I didn't know what to think. A robotic citizen! My first thought was: this is awesome; my second was: this is terrifying. Artificial Intelligence is nothing like anything ever seen before, with unseen potential to change the world, for better or worse. Artificial intelligence, at its core, is a series of algorithms that deep learn and process in a way that mimics the human brain, giving AI the ability to learn and adapt. The ability to adapt is why whenever a student has a question for Chatgpt it has an intelligent response ready. The ability to learn is why my Instagram page seems perfectly curated to fit my current interests. The ability to learn is why it has the potential to reinvent medicine. The ability to learn is why AI could end world hunger. The ability to learn is why we'd be fooling ourselves into believing we fully understand how it works. The godfather of AI, Geoffrey Hinton, resigned as CEO of Google in May and warned of the dangers of his creation. The capacity to become more intelligent than humans and to become a weapon. Saying we can not afford to get it wrong. The technology will need regulation, we need to move slowly, but what if we can somehow get it right? Artificial intelligence is currently used in early disease detection and treatment, as someone who has lost family and friends to a terminal illness, this technology would be revolutionary, and medicine would never be the same. If we could make it affordable, millions of people would be saved. Imagine a generation that will never know the sting of losing someone to cancer. AI is also being used to detect wildfires in California, lives saved, money saved, and property saved. Frightening as AI may be, all new technologies come with their challenges. Although the risks are higher, so is the award. We must be patient, and regulate its uses, ensure it does not become a weapon against humanity, or for humanity to use against itself, but just imagine if we got it right.