My great grandmother was denied proper medical support while in labor because of the color of her skin. She was forced to have a natural, unmedicated birth. This story was never a secret in our family, in fact, it has been a story passed down each generation since. This story, however was not one that she told once we reached a certain age. This story is one of the first stories I remember her telling me. Black Americans, and people of color alike, don’t get a chance to develop their own stories before learning lessons from our families. I had to learn from young age that I may not be provided proper medical support because of my skin color, and the large majority will never have to hear stories like that at young ages. Racism may seem like ancient history, but my grandma is only in her late 50’s. For hundreds of years, African Americans have been fighting for equal rights, and opportunity. However, there are still many people who suffer due to lack of basic needs, denied because of our skin color. Ever since I first heard my great grandmothers story, I have wanted to join the healthcare field to make my own impact. As I grew older, and had time to learn more about healthcare, I decided I wanted to be a pharmacist. Furthermore, I decided that I was to pursue higher education at a historical black university. After working on my grades, and extra activities such as my hospital internship, and my sports such as football, and wrestling, it was time to choose a college. I applied to Savannah State University, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Morris Brown University. While I got accepted into all 4, me and my family decided that the school that best fits our financial situation is Savannah State University. If I am considered for this scholarship, and receive it, I will use it to fund my higher education, and get into a good pharmacy school. I will then become a pharmacist in an area where mostly minorities live, so I will be helping people like me. This way I can make sure people in my community don’t have to settle for less than they deserve like my great grandmother had to. Receiving this scholarship, and Working my way up to a high position in a hospital I choose to work at after pharmacy school will only further my influence, and impact on the minority community in my area.

Throughout my wrestling journey, I have found myself in the role of the underdog more times than I can count. One instance that stands out occurred during my sophomore year of high school, when I had to compete against the reigning state champion. The odds were overwhelmingly against me, and many of my peers, as well as spectators, didn’t expect much from me in that match. Yet, this was a moment that tested my character and my love for the sport. I wasn’t the most physically intimidating wrestler, nor did I have years of experience on my side. My opponent, on the other hand, was not only a senior but also someone who had dominated the state scene for years. As I prepared for the match, I understood that I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. This realization became my driving force. Embracing my underdog status began with shifting my mindset. Instead of seeing my opponent’s strengths as impossible obstacles, I viewed them as opportunities to learn and challenge myself. I dedicated extra hours to studying his techniques, watching his matches, and identifying any weaknesses, no matter how minor they might be. I knew that preparation would be my biggest ally. The day of the match, the atmosphere in the gym was tense. Everyone’s eyes were on us, expecting a quick match with a predictable outcome. But I had made peace with my underdog role. As the match began, I reminded myself that being underestimated could be my greatest weapon. I focused on maintaining my composure and sticking to my strategy: tire him out. I was agile and had worked hard on my endurance. The first round was tough; his experience showed in every move, and he scored points early on. But I didn’t let the score or the crowd’s reaction dictate my performance. Instead, I stayed patient, waiting for the moment when his confidence might slip. In the second round, I noticed his pace slowing. This was my chance. I executed a series of quick moves, scoring a reversal and then a near fall. The crowd, initially quiet, started to buzz with excitement. They hadn’t expected the underdog to put up such a fight. By the third round, the momentum had shifted. Although I didn’t win the match, I came closer than anyone had imagined, losing by just a few points. For me, that match was a victory in itself. I had proven that being an underdog didn’t mean I was out of the fight. It meant I had the chance to surprise, to push limits, and to grow. This experience fueled my passion for wrestling even more. It taught me that the role of the underdog isn’t a disadvantage but a unique position where you can redefine expectations, both your own and others’. I carried that lesson through the rest of my wrestling career, using each match, no matter the odds, as a platform to test my limits and improve. Embracing the underdog role helped me develop resilience, adaptability, and an unshakable belief in my ability to achieve my goals, regardless of what others might predict.

Plato’s Republic, Book VII, also known as the Allegory of the Cave: “Behold! human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and necks chained so that they cannot move, and can only see before them, being prevented by the chains from turning round their heads. Above and behind them a fire is blazing at a distance, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the way, like the screen which marionette players have in front of them, over which they show the puppets.” Watching the results from the 2024 election, and how willfully misinformed people were, reading this text reminded me of that concept. The concept that if you were raised a certain way, or grew up a certain way, then it would be much more difficult to break free from those “chains.” In the Republic, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave gives us a powerful metaphor for the human condition when it comes to knowledge, reality, and enlightenment. In this passage, Plato tells us of prisoners who have lived chained in an underground cave since childhood. They cannot turn their heads, or see anything other than shadows of objects cast by the fire behind them . My thesis is that Plato uses this allegory to illustrate the philosopher’s journey from ignorance to knowledge, the power of education, and the challenges that come with breaking free from common beliefs. The scene described represents ignorance, where the prisoners are chained not just physically but intellectually, only able to see the shadows of objects cast by a fire behind them. These shadows represent the warped reality that the prisoners believe true, because it is all they have ever known. Plato’s point here is that most people live in a state of “ignorance,” mistaking what they see for reality. The prisoners’ inability to turn their heads symbolizes the human condition of where beliefs are shaped by limited experiences and assumptions that were never questioned. The chains binding the prisoners serve as a metaphor for the constraints imposed by society, education, and culture, which often discourage questioning and critical thinking. Plato suggests that true knowledge requires breaking free from these chains. Breaking free from these chains would not only be a physical or intellectual act but a philosophical or spiritual awakening. The allegory emphasizes that the path to enlightenment is difficult and requires an active struggle against comfort and conformity. The fire and the shadows further elaborate on the nature of perception and illusion. The fire is not the only source of light, just as the shadows are not the ultimate reality. Instead, the fire represents a false source of knowledge, similar to the limited and imperfect understanding humans often rely upon. The shadows cast on the wall are false representations of the truth, just as opinions and often times, appearances can be misleading. Plato uses this imagery to argue that most people are content with these illusions, not realizing that there is more to it than their immediate perceptions. The “raised way” and “low wall” are crucial elements in the allegory, suggesting the presence of people such as the at the time rulers or educators in society who manipulate the prisoners’ perceptions. The wall acts like a barrier between the truth and the prisoners, much like the way societal structures or authorities might control or restrict access to knowledge. This manipulation can be seen as a critique of the rulers or educators. Plato opposed the teaching of knowledge without truth. Ultimately, the journey out of the cave represents the philosopher’s ascent to the realm of true knowledge and the Forms, where one encounters the truth of reality. The philosopher, who has escaped the cave, sees the world as it truly is, illuminated by the sun, which symbolizes truth and knowledge. However, Plato is aware of the difficulty of this journey. He acknowledges that returning to the cave to enlighten others is fraught with challenges, as those still chained may resist or even attack the one who seeks to free them. This reflects the tension between ignorance and enlightenment and the resistance that new ideas often face in society. In conclusion, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is a profound exploration of the journey from ignorance to knowledge, the power of education, and the resistance that truth often encounters. It challenges us to examine our own perceptions, question the reality presented to us, and strive for a deeper understanding of the world. Through this allegory, Plato invites us to consider the limitations of our knowledge and the potential of philosophical inquiry, urging us to seek the light of truth beyond the shadows of illusion.