Food, water, clothing, sleep, and shelter are our five basic needs. But in my personal list of necessities, one thing precedes all: Jesus. Although I’ve grown up in the church, I didn’t have a real faith of my own until I started seeking Him during personal difficulties. Before I knew Christ, I seriously struggled with my self-confidence, anxiety, depression, and I was in a severely bad state of mind. In desperation, I cried out to my Abba, my Heavenly Father. Within the past three years, I began spending precious time with God through reading the Bible and prayer. Since then, I’ve healed and learned abundant truths about God and who I am through Him. The world bases the value of women on our beauty, appeal, relationships, and money. Yet, from my personal experience, I know that none of those things bring lasting satisfaction or fulfillment. The only thing that does is my relationship with Jesus Christ. He tells me that I am beautiful, clothed in strength and dignity, and that I’m somebody loved enough to die for. Knowing this doesn’t mean that I haven’t still endured other challenges in my life, because those are promised. However, I can have joy in every circumstance because I have a trustworthy friend by my side through everything; Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20 that “I am with you always, even to the end of age.” My unshakeable faith is based on His goodness that has been evident in my life story. Without my faith, my educational journey would be impossible. It is not something I can separate from myself because I want it to overflow in every area of my life. Jesus calls us “the light of the world” and I am committed to letting my light shine. This fall, I will be attending Baylor University as a neuroscience major on the pre-medical track. My lifelong dream is to become a doctor and I truly feel led to make a difference in the medical field. In my future, I will be in a unique position of treating people through science while being an individual who believes in God. My goal is to excel as a medical professional while being a person full of love, compassion, and kindness, modeling the way Christ treats all of us. I expect to encounter trials along the way, but I will continue to repeat one of my favorite passages to myself: Psalm 46. With God on my side, I know that I will never give up. All in all, because of God’s love for me, I willingly choose to serve Him and be an example of His tender love to the people around me. I strive to become more and more like Jesus each day. I am not perfect by any means, but His power is made perfect in my weakness. As I step into this new chapter of my life, my freshman year of college, I will continue to do two simple things: love God and love others, using the situations and gifts that my God has given me.

“Are you black, are you white, aren’t we all the same inside?” These song lyrics reflect the fact that, regardless of race, humans don’t have significant genetic differences. However, despite our biological similarities, there is no denying the existence of racial disparities in healthcare. Multiple statistics highlight the increased likelihood of maternal mortality in Black women, higher rates of death from heart disease in Black people, and the prevalence of financial barriers in accessing healthcare. So if we are “all the same,” why is one group facing these struggles? Well, the sad history of this country means that racism and discrimination have long cast aside the needs of minorities. While blatant examples of racism in healthcare can be traced back to the 1800s, subtler mistreatments still exist today. A survey as recent as 2016 displayed white medical students' belief that “black people have thicker skin than white people.” Biases like this are the reason why African-Americans are undertreated for pain relative to white Americans. Knowing this, many Black people are distrusting of the healthcare system and delay seeking needed care, which only worsens their health outcomes. Having said that, the trend of health inequities in African-Americans can be halted. The most effective solution to this problem is increasing the racial diversity of healthcare providers. KFF’s ‘2023 Racism, Discrimination, and Health Survey’ showed that African-Americans report higher positive medical interactions when they share a racial/ethnic background with their provider. Culturally competent healthcare is necessary to ensure a future where all patients are treated as equals. More Black healthcare workers is a crucial step in achieving that future. In addition to the existing research, my personal experiences validate this truth. Last summer, I participated in the Horizons in Medicine Program through Boonshoft School of Medicine. During this experience, I was able to spend a month shadowing a Black ophthalmologist running a laser and vision center in my local downtown area. Because of the practice’s location, the majority of patients are Black and/or low-income. For the first time, I saw a physician take time to explain medical issues and thoroughly answer the concerns of patients. I witnessed the use of coupons and free samples to aid with the increasingly high cost of healthcare. Most importantly, I will never forget a conversation I had with a patient where she encouraged me in my studies because she wants to see more Black females in healthcare. My lifelong career goal is to become an outstanding medical doctor who provides culturally competent care. As an African-American woman, increasing the 4% of Black physicians starts with me, and I’m certain my background will help reduce the countless disparities of those who look like me. I believe it is crucial to increase racial diversity in healthcare because it leads to better patient outcomes, fosters trust, and ensures that all communities receive equitable care. As I begin my pre-medical studies, I am excited about the opportunity to bring about vital changes to our healthcare system. I hope you consider me a good candidate for this scholarship

My name is Adebola, and my family hails from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria. Our values revolve around respect, diligence, honesty, and education. My parents paved the way for me through their sacrifices, immigrating us to this land of opportunity. As the first-born daughter in a Nigerian family, I was raised with a strong sense of these values, which have profoundly shaped who I am today. I regard my cultural heritage as my greatest blessing and I hold immense pride in my roots. Living as an immigrant, my family and I have encountered numerous challenges. A significant hurdle for me was social integration as a pre-teen in a small town where few people looked like me or spoke with the same accent. The simple act of taking attendance, where my name was constantly mispronounced, became a source of dread. Gradually, I changed crucial aspects of my identity to fit in. Fast forward to the present, I try not to shame my younger self for the time wasted trying to “fix” something that was never broken. I’ve fully embraced my dual identity and found an African community here in the U.S. Along the way, I’ve also enjoyed positives; advanced placement classes and extracurriculars allowed me to excel academically and make friends. I am grateful for all my experiences, good or bad. Through my journey, I’ve learnt the depths of my strength. Besides the challenges my peers face, I’ve endured high familial expectations, discrimination, and relocations. Despite these hardships, I’ve never given up and have used my experiences as a catalyst for growth. I am proud of myself and how far I’ve come! With respect to Nigeria, I know various beneficial changes are needed. Stories from my relatives still residing there highlight issues like kidnapping, unreliable electricity, and economic instability. Nigerians have immense potential, and if basic needs were improved, many people like me would be able to flourish. Since being in America, I’ve learned how to vigorously pursue my goals: nothing is being handed to me. I’ve learned the power of asking, sending emails, and putting in hard work. Here, what you get out is directly related to what you put in. I am a dedicated individual, and through continued perseverance, I know that nothing is too far out of reach for me. This fall, I start my freshman year, planning to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Creative Writing while taking all required pre-medical classes. My career goal is to become a medical doctor and being in the US gave me the access I needed to explore my lifelong interest. After being able to volunteer in a hospital, study alongside medical students, and shadow medical professionals, I am certain this is the path for me. I love people and I want to support them both emotionally and medically. As I embark on my higher education journey, I face the daunting cost, which I am funding by myself. Receiving the Rose Ifebigh Memorial Scholarship would be more than just needed financial aid; it would be an affirmation of the great capability of people of my cultural background. Thank you for your consideration.

“Ran ti omo eni ti iwo se,” “remember the child of whom you are.” These words, repeated by parent to child, reflect the basis of who I am today. My family hails from the Yoruba tribe in Southwest Nigeria, and our values revolve around respect, diligence, honesty, community service, and education. I’ve watched my parents pave the way for me through their hard work and sacrifice to immigrate us to this land of opportunity. As the first-born daughter in a Nigerian family, I was raised with a strong sense of these values, which has allowed me to shine as a leader and excel academically. I regard my cultural heritage as my greatest blessing, shaping who I am today, and I hold great pride in where I come from. Since moving to America five years ago, I have refused to be satisfied with the ‘average’ and strived for the best in all I do, no matter the circumstance. This grit mentality has allowed me to graduate high school with a 4.3 GPA despite taking rigorous courses, working, and moving states. Throughout high school, I’ve served my community through multiple volunteer experiences. As a STEP Force volunteer at Mayo Clinic Health Systems, I transported patients, materials, and lab specimens. Because I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and am now pursuing a career in it, I used this as an opportunity to experience a hospital environment. What I cherish most from this experience are the conversations with patients, where I provided a listening ear and encouragement through their trials. Apart from Yoruba, my native tongue, I’ve studied the Spanish language and culture. After being accepted into the Spanish Honor Society, I participated in a service project with the international non-profit ‘Footprints with Hope.’ During this fundraiser, I contributed through advertisement and participation in local restaurant takeovers, selling raffle tickets, and donating myself. This project raised thousands of dollars for women in Colombia, focusing on teaching single mothers and abuse survivors skills to gain financial stability. During my busy senior year, I freely helped first-generation Latino immigrant elementary students at ‘El Puente Dayton’ with math, reading, and writing. I also volunteered my lunch once a week to assist a Spanish-speaking third-grader who struggled with learning disabilities. Over consistent weeks, I gladly watched his confidence and abilities develop, and I said goodbye to a flourishing child where I had once met a shy, unsure one. Aside from all of this, I was an active member of the Black Cultural Alliance and plan to join my college’s African Student Association this fall. I’ve come a long way from Nigeria, and being the first in my family to begin undergraduate education in America makes me an example to my younger loved ones. My plan is to major in science-focused psychology and minor in Spanish and creative writing while taking all required pre-medical classes. Outside of the classroom, I have researched extracurricular activities related to healthcare, Spanish, and African-Americans, where I will continue to volunteer in my new community. As I embark on my higher education journey, I face the debilitating costs of college, medical school, and student loans. Receiving the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship would be more than just needed financial aid; it would be an affirmation of the great potential of people of my cultural background. If selected, this scholarship opportunity would be an investment in an individual who is determined to be successful while remaining helpful and humble. Thank you for your consideration.

Climate change, mental health, social justice, poverty. The list of global issues could go on forever. Yet, there is something they all share: the lack of aid society provides each other with the rise of individualism. In this day and age, most people’s primary focus is on themselves, their lives, and their money. We don’t even realize how often we act as if we are the center of the world, of supreme importance. I’ve noticed that the value seen in communities and the sentiment of the ‘common good’ has been on a decline. People feel uncomfortable asking for or giving out help, because “me, me, me” is the status-quo. I believe the essentialness of being willing to provide a helping hand or show kindness to each other has easily gotten lost behind the problems we all face. Ironically, putting your fellow human above personal gain is the first step in solving the list of issues. For this reason, the one change I would make to our world would be to drastically increase the kindness shown through being of service to one another. In our “natural default setting” none of us can be blamed for our individualistic tendencies; we are just trying to get by and live our best lives. However, we still have a social responsibility to consider and help each other that is often ignored. I believe that we are called to actively participate in our communities, whether that is by racial group, our interests, or simply our locations because we are stronger together. None of us were made to live this life alone which is why we need one another. It has been said that the average person will spend one-third of their life in the workplace; the time poured into our careers can be more than just a paycheck if we can spend it helping people. In the day to day moments, I always try my best to show up for my family members, friends, and strangers alike. In addition, I’ve volunteered throughout my high school career in multiple areas of my interest. As I begin college, I am going to seek out new volunteer, community service, and leadership positions because my heart was built for this. My education is just the beginning step of many in a life where I strive to leave an impact that outlasts me. Overall, it is not too big of an ask for us to be kind and give back. I challenge everybody, including myself, to see how we can actively use our gifts and talents in the assistance of others. I’ve learned that life is richer and more fulfilling when I’ve been a part of something much bigger than me. A seemingly small act of service compounds over the time until great changes are achieved. I hope we all can be catalysts for the change we want to see so our world becomes a better place.

The adversities I’ve overcome in my life all stemmed from my personal background of being an immigrant in the United States. My parents have constantly moved to provide my family with better circumstances. It did not come easy and I’ve seen the power of hard-work and sacrifice through them. However, this meant a childhood and life where I always found myself trying to adjust to a new environment. I cannot stress the true loneliness and isolations I have deeply felt in many periods of my life because we didn’t live in one place. Though I am not a first-generation student because my parents obtained degrees in Nigeria, being the firstborn child in my family to start my undergraduate education in America is a big step for us. I’ve had to walk through the confusing college admissions process and the delays of this year’s FAFSA with my parents unable to provide me help because they don’t have prior experience with the US education system. Despite all I have gone through, I am extremely resilient and my grit mindset never allows me to give up on my goals! This experience only makes me value my upcoming education even more. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to study something I love here. Stereotypically, immigrants often pursue careers as lawyers, engineers and doctors. I happen to fit this stereotype because I want to become a medical doctor, not just because of the drive to succeed though that factors in, but because I truly have a love for the applied science that is medicine and I am passionate about using it to help my fellow human beings. My struggles led me to finding psychology, which I plan to major in pre-med, and what I have learnt thus far helped me overcome. Being on the patient side of the American healthcare system for checkups, sports injuries , and more has opened my eyes to the flaws in the system that I want to address. I don’t want to view patients as money: they are real people that I have the privilege of serving. Without growing up in an immigrant household, I cannot confidently say I would have the same strong morals and values that I will carry with me on my journey to achieve my dreams. Despite the trials, I am grateful for my life experiences because they’ve led me to where I am today and I am excited to see where I go from here.

I am the firstborn daughter of a Nigerian immigrant household. My dad grew up in poverty with seven family members living in one tiny room. He self-funded his studies and served in the Nigerian army for ten years. Though my parents have been to college, it was in Nigeria where the system of education vastly differs from here. Being the first person in my family to go to college in America, has been a challenge as it is very expensive and my parents can only afford to pay a small portion so I have had to take out loans. Watching my parents work extremely hard to move our family here, is a strong motivation to pursue my education. I am grateful because they’ve provided me with opportunities they never had and I want to take advantage of it, not let it go to waste. My hardships are minute in comparison to where they have come from and I strive to make myself and them proud. In my education, I plan to attend medical school after college and become a doctor because I love the applied science of it. My other interests range from a love for reading, writing, Spanish, and service and I will incorporate them into my education through minors and/or my extracurricular activities. I thank my parents for all they have taught me and the values of love, hard-work and kindness they instilled with me. The person they raised me to be is someone who will use my qualities to always help the people around me. I do not want financial burden to deter me from achieving my dreams and this scholarship would be an immense help on my journey. Thank you.

The dictionary definition of empowerment is recognizing ourselves and walking in the power and autonomy we have to achieve our goals. However, I believe that empowerment is best experienced by having a community and leadership examples around us. I am a first-born daughter in an immigrant family who has been blessed enough to have multiple examples of strong female leadership before me. They have inspired me, as I step into an age where I am now the inspiration for those younger than me. My grandmother lived in Nigeria and she raised five successful children who from one generation to the next have all immigrated to America. My mother is one of those children and she has sacrificed everything for me. I’ve had a female manager at work who constantly checks in on me, female small group leaders and countless others who have poured into me. They are all educated leaders who have empowered me to boldly follow in their footsteps. Despite multiple of my own personal challenges, I have never felt that there is anything I cannot achieve because of the confidence that they have instilled in me. And after all, if God is for me, who can be against me? This has had an immeasurable impact on my life. Empowerment involves the passing down of wisdom and knowledge. Stories and proverbs passed down to me have taught me which way to go, along with God’s guiding hand in my life. Growing up constantly moving in order to improve my family’s life, gave me a birds eye view of the power of hard work, causing me to have a lot of intrinsic motivation. My family, friends, teachers, managers and more have all shown me loving kindness throughout my life and empowered me to become who I am today. Their examples, consistent words of encouragement and helping hands have allowed me to achieve academic and extracurricular success. In addition, my relationship with God is my greatest source of empowerment. Through reading the Bible for myself, I’ve discovered my value as someone Jesus loved enough to die for. He is always with me and I can do all things through His strength. I am eternally grateful. Finally, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a leader at school, at home for my siblings and cousins and in any arena I step into. The same way I’ve been nurtured is how I hope to positively impact all the younger women placed into my life. In a world that tears down the looks and abilities of women, I hope to pass on the confidence and wisdom I have gained while being an embodiment of the love of God to everyone. Thank you.

All my life, I’ve been a reader and books have been my companion. I believe that language is a powerful tool to communicate universal truths. It’s hard for me to pick one book because I want everyone to read a long list of my favorite books. But if I had to choose just one, I would have everyone read, “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace (DFW). Originally a commencement speech, I first read this book in my AP Literature class and again this past year in AP Language. The words of this book are ones I actually find myself reflecting on often in my everyday life. In the book, the author acknowledges our natural tendency to view our everyday experiences through a “lens of self” but advocates that we have a real choice to think of things differently, with a critical awareness of those around us, and argues that when we do, we will experience true freedom: where you can stay afloat despite the things you can’t control. It’s a quick read that uses anecdotes such as waiting in line at the grocery store after a long day at work or getting cut off by a car in traffic, where in our “natural default setting” we automatically focus on ourselves. DFW offers the perspective that in a liberal education that teaches you TO think, it is even more important to have an awareness of our choice on HOW we think. “You get to consciously decide what has meaning… have to choose to not think that everything is about you.” It ends with discussing what to “worship”. Religious or not, everybody worships something, whether it be money, looks, achievements etc. The book talks about how none of those things bring lasting satisfaction even though our world pushes us to chase them. It also teaches us that “true freedom” is the choice we have to care about people, to be aware and present in our lives. The freedom that allows all of us to persevere despite the challenges of a boring day-to-day existence. The themes of this book are profound and whenever I feel myself complaining about a scenario, I immediately think back to these words and they challenge me to change my thought patterns. It is a book that applies to everyone and pushes us all on our perception, which is what makes it a must read for everybody.

I am Adebola Adenote, an incoming freshman at Baylor University with the goal of going to medical school post-grad. I’ve had the unique experience of moving multiple times; I was born in Nigeria, moved to England, then to Wisconsin, and most recently Ohio in my junior year of high school. I will be moving to Texas to pursue my higher education. I love reading, writing, science, and people. I have a passion for loving people and helping them which is why I aspire to be a doctor. If I could do anything with my life, I would show people that they are loved and important and that they have a purpose. I know I will accomplish this in my career. I have many motivations in my life, the first being my parents, to whom I owe everything. They modeled the importance of hard work through their immigration to America and the sacrifices made for me and my family. They’ve shown me that education breaks down barriers and that nothing is impossible. Another motivation of mine is young children. Even though I am technically a “young child” myself, being an oldest sibling and volunteering with kids has motivated me to leave something positive behind for the younger generation. I am an example and truly strive to be the change that I want to see in our world. STEM excites me because of how broad and deep a discipline it is. It encompasses so many fields and majors that can all be interconnected. There is something for everyone. Specifically for me, I love biology and chemistry and how they relate to the human body in medicine. The understanding and knowledge that we currently have access to is unbelievable. Just thinking about what we have yet to learn in science is exciting because I can imagine a future where cures for certain diseases or the technology to prevent medical conditions exist, all to improve the quality of life of humanity. Ideally, I will be a part of making that happen. STEM is so creative in the problems it solves that our world simply couldn’t run without it. As both a woman and a black individual, I cannot wait to contribute to the population of diverse female STEM professionals and provide representation that inspires others in the same way that I have been inspired. I believe I will positively impact the world, through a STEM career because my life experiences have shaped me to be an resilient individual who never gives up. I know that STEM careers can be challenging but I have the grit to see it through and a heart that deeply wants my career to change people’s lives for the better. The greatest challenge I’ve had to overcome stemmed from my family moving in 2022, the summer before my junior year of high school. Although I had moved continents before, this experience was different. My completely online freshman year due to COVID and then having to leave behind newly formed friendships, left me feeling extremely isolated and alone. During my first semester at a high school significantly bigger than my old one, I cried almost every day. I wished so badly for my old living situation to the point where I almost missed the subsequent personal growth and development. Looking back now, I’ve had an incredible senior year that taught me how to adapt to new situations, a lesson I will carry with me forever. The only way I got through my period of isolation was by making myself extremely uncomfortable. I used to consider myself introverted or socially anxious, not anymore. Although it may seem obvious, putting myself out there and being vulnerable enabled me to connect with my teachers and make my best friends. Joining track and field (despite having no previous athletic experience), Spanish Honor Society, Black Student Union and overall getting involved in my community have been the only way I turned my situation around. It took courage to enter spaces where I didn’t know anyone but not only do I no longer feel alone, I feel blessed to have been part of things so much bigger than myself. The clubs and organizations I’ve been a part of at Centerville have taught me about myself in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The interests I pursued there are ones I will only continue in my undergraduate education. I get to enjoy myself while making a difference which is an amazing opportunity. In conversations with my peers, I’ve heard the backgrounds of others who have also moved which showed me that I am not the first person to go through any challenge. No man is an island and the lessons I’ve learned because of moving have set me up for success wherever my life takes me.