I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was 13. I went on a church mission trip to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s and was sitting in the corner of the room. He was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but to think of Mr Joe. I called the facility and was able to get his name and they told me that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at young ages, his wife and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper which took away his house and his car. We were asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. In middle school, I had also sparked my passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I took part in a club where I formed tight bonds with many different people of all different abilities called Best Buddies. I continued this leadership position throughout my high school career was selected to serve as president. I served as a part of the Pennsylvania Student Advisory Board for Best Buddies which will helped me continue my efforts in advocacy. My goal is to educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. Both Best Buddies and working in the geriatric community has brought me to the career of becoming a Physician Assistant. By working as an PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and still continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was 13. I went on a church mission trip to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s and was sitting in the corner of the room. He was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but to think of Mr Joe. I called the facility and was able to get his name and they told me that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at young ages, his wife and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper which took away his house and his car. We were asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. In middle school, I had also sparked my passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I took part in a club where I formed tight bonds with many different people of all different abilities called Best Buddies. I continued this leadership position throughout my high school career was selected to serve as president. I served as a part of the Pennsylvania Student Advisory Board for Best Buddies which will helped me continue my efforts in advocacy. My goal is to educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. Both Best Buddies and working in the geriatric community has brought me to the career of becoming a Physician Assistant. By working as an PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and still continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was 13. I went on a church mission trip to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s and was sitting in the corner of the room. He was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but to think of Mr Joe. I called the facility and was able to get his name and they told me that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at young ages, his wife and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper which took away his house and his car. We were asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. In middle school, I had also sparked my passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I took part in a club where I formed tight bonds with many different people of all different abilities called Best Buddies. I continued this leadership position throughout my high school career was selected to serve as president. I served as a part of the Pennsylvania Student Advisory Board for Best Buddies which will helped me continue my efforts in advocacy. My goal is to educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. Both Best Buddies and working in the geriatric community has brought me to the career of becoming a Physician Assistant. By working as an PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and still continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

My passion for helping those in the geriatrics community and those with disabilities forms the drive that keeps pushing me towards my end goal of helping these people long term by becoming a Physician Assistant. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. I have taken jobs at an assisted living facility and a hospital to stay close to where I grow best. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their past lives that further my own knowledge. I hear about how some fought World War II, how they experienced the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. I served as the president of our chapter in my high school and educated my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have met incredible people of all abilities who have shown me kindness in the face of adversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. In college, I have continued to serve these groups by participating in special olympics, and by taking a job as a caregiver in an assisted living facility in the memory care unit. I want to study medicine to serve these people by ensuring that they are getting the best care possible. It is important that these people have a voice because oftentimes they can be silenced by society but their health is just as important as mine or yours. I know that I was placed on this Earth to serve these people within the healthcare field. By staying involved with these groups of people, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. I will be applying to Physician Assistant programs across the country after I finish my bachelor's degree in Health Sciences. I am ambitious, hard-working, and driven which will help me succeed in this rigorous program. Spending time with these individuals helps grow my passion stronger and stronger each day. By working as a PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

I have struggled with anxiety for quite some time now. It has affected my time going to school, work, and overall my day to day life. After the pandemic, my anxiety worsened like many others. Therapy did not seem to help and I tried many different efforts to help myself through this time without being on medication which was a personal choice I made. One thing that does improve my mental health is volunteering. It relieves stress and anxiety when I can volunteer my time with acts of service and donating goods to organizations that work with those in need of assistance around my community. I started volunteering and donating at a very young age. Working with organizations that serve people with diverse backgrounds allows me to see life in a different perspective by seeing all walks of life. My volunteer efforts have helped many people who are in need of assistance, including those who are underrepresented, and those who are experiencing homelessness and poverty. One of my favorite ways to help my community is by participating in Best Buddies. My main goal is to provide inclusion for those with special needs and encourage friendships inside of my school. I have been involved with Best Buddies for six years and this is currently my third year being chosen to be a peer buddy. Best Buddies has helped me find my passion for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I will continue to advocate for inclusion for all abilities. I have made the best relationships with my buddies and I stay in contact with all of them to this day. Our families have become very close and I would consider them family myself. These are friendships that you cannot find anywhere else and I could not be more grateful to be involved and find my passion through this organization. Another one of my favorite ways to volunteer is by working with Community Youth and Women Alliances (CYWA). This past summer, I had rediscovered the organization from past volunteer days with my church and I decided to return. My volunteer efforts include taking donated food from Wegmans, Giant, Walmart, Wawa and more and making boxes of goods to be distributed to families in need. There were people who would bike a long distance to get this food, and I also helped people walk back to their houses and carry the heavy boxes for them. There is a big stigma attached to those who live in poverty and by volunteering at CYWA, that helped broaden my perspective on how you can help provide that extra support needed in order to get people back on their feet again. I have met some incredible, hard working people during this experience and I was very fortunate to come in contact with those who would tell me about their lives and how different it is from mine. CYWA also houses women and children who are struggling with drug abuse or cannot afford housing. They help these women get back on their feet by providing therapies and job outlets. I am involved with so many other organizations throughout my community and I believe that by staying involved really makes a difference. By having extra time on my hands, I choose to use it to help others improve their daily lives. This has become my passion and it has not only helped those around me but it has helped me grow exponentially as who I am as a person. It has improved my mental health and I will continue to push forward through hard times by volunteering.

My passion for helping those in the geriatrics community and those with disabilities forms the drive that keeps pushing me towards my end goal of helping these people long term by becoming a Physician Assistant. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. I have taken jobs at an assisted living facility and a hospital to stay close to where I grow best. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their past lives that further my own knowledge. I hear about how some fought World War II, how they experienced the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. I served as the president of our chapter in my high school and educated my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have met incredible people of all abilities who have shown me kindness in the face of adversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. In college, I have continued to serve these groups by participating in special olympics, and by taking a job as a caregiver in an assisted living facility in the memory care unit. I want to study medicine to serve these people by ensuring that they are getting the best care possible. It is important that these people have a voice because oftentimes they can be silenced by society but their health is just as important as mine or yours. I know that I was placed on this Earth to serve these people within the healthcare field. By staying involved with these groups of people, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. I will be applying to Physician Assistant programs across the country after I finish my bachelors degree in Health Sciences. I am ambitious, hard-working, and driven which will help me succeed in this rigorous program. Spending time with these individuals helps grow my passion stronger and stronger each day. By working as a PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

My passion for helping those in the geriatrics community and those with disabilities forms the drive that keeps pushing me towards my end goal of helping these people long term by becoming a Physician Assistant. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. I have taken jobs at an assisted living facility and a hospital to stay close to where I grow best. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their past lives that further my own knowledge. I hear about how some fought World War II, how they experienced the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. I served as the president of our chapter in my high school and educated my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have met incredible people of all abilities who have shown me kindness in the face of adversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. In college, I have continued to serve these groups by participating in special olympics, and by taking a job as a caregiver in an assisted living facility in the memory care unit. I want to study medicine to serve these people by ensuring that they are getting the best care possible. It is important that these people have a voice because oftentimes they can be silenced by society but their health is just as important as mine or yours. I know that I was placed on this Earth to serve these people within the healthcare field. By staying involved with these groups of people, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. I will be applying to Physician Assistant programs across the country after I finish my bachelors degree in Health Sciences. I am ambitious, hard-working, and driven which will help me succeed in this rigorous program. Spending time with these individuals helps grow my passion stronger and stronger each day. By working as a PA, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

My passion for helping those in the geriatrics community and those with disabilities forms the drive that keeps pushing me towards my end goal of helping these people long term by becoming a Physician Assistant. Every second I spend with these people, my passion continues to grow exponentially. I have taken jobs at an assisted living facility and a hospital to stay close to where I grow best. By working with geriatrics, I have gotten the chance to hear stories from their past lives that further my own knowledge. I hear about how some fought World War II, how they experienced the Great Depression, and how they grew up in a society much different from ours today. They have also blessed me with great life advice that will help me excel in the future. I also have been heavily involved with the Special Olympics and Best Buddies. I served as the president of our chapter in my high school and educated my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have met incredible people of all abilities who have shown me kindness in the face of adversity. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. In college, I have continued to serve these groups by participating in special olympics, and by taking a job as a caregiver in an assisted living facility in the memory care unit. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my Philadelphia community, such as geriatrics and those with special needs. My passion is to allow these people to live their lives with dignity by giving them a voice. I use most of my free time to volunteer and advocate for those who are silenced by society. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was in sixth grade. I went on a church mission trip in 2016 to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s and was sitting in the corner of the room. He was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but to think of Mr Joe. I called the facility and was able to get his name and they told me that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II, and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at young ages, his wife, and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper that took away his house and his car. My family was asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in December 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. I have now taken a job as a caregiver in the memory care unit at an assisted living facility to serve these individuals who are often underrepresented. By staying involved with the geriatric community, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. My hopes in the future are to continue working with geriatrics and help them succeed in their day-to-day lives. My goal is to get into a Physician Assistant program to help serve my community through medicine. I am ambitious, hard-working, and driven which will help me succeed in this rigorous program. Spending time with these individuals helps grow my passion stronger and stronger each day. By working as a Physician Assistant, I will be able to share my passion with others, bring the quality care these individuals deserve, and still continue to advocate for those who are underrepresented. I know that I was made to pursue a career as a PA to stay close to the groups of people I love the most.

I am an advocate for underrepresented individuals in my community, such as geriatrics and those with special needs. My passion for advocating for individuals with special needs and those who represent the geriatrics community began when I was in sixth grade. I went on a church mission trip in 2016 to an assisted living facility and met a man named Joe. Joe was in his 90s was friendly and we began a brief conversation. Unfortunately, I had to follow my group but I could tell he wanted to continue our conversation. The neglected facility smelled of human waste, the elevator alarms were screeching, and residents were yelling out for help from each room down the narrow hallways. It was really sad to see such a happy man living in conditions like these. After I left, I couldn't help but think of Mr Joe. I called the facility and was able to get his name and they told me that we could come back at any time. After this day, my life was changed forever. I visited Mr. Joe for three consecutive years; each weekend spending time listening to stories about his early life in Philadelphia, his time serving in the army in World War II, and the struggles that came with life. He lost his children at a young age, his wife, and all family members except a nephew. After his wife passed away, people came to his house and asked him to sign a paper that took away his house and his car. My family was asked to be on his emergency contact list. Sadly, Mr. Joe passed away in December 2019 at the age of 96. He left such an impact on my life and I will forever be thankful that I got the chance to form a relationship with him. During the sixth grade, I also sparked my passion for working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I took part in Best Buddies and have fallen in love with the organization ever since. I formed tight bonds with many different people of all different abilities and was selected to be a peer buddy in 8th grade. In my junior year, I became the treasurer of my school’s chapter and then was selected for president my senior year. I was also part of the Pennsylvania Student Advisory Board for Best Buddies which will help me continue my efforts in advocacy. My goal is to educate my peers on inclusion, equity, and diversity. There is a stigma that those with disabilities cannot contribute to our society, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I have learned that diversity creates a stronger community and it helps me broaden my perspectives. By staying involved with these groups, I am focused and driven to pursue a life that continues to advocate for these underrepresented groups of people by educating my peers and the population at large so that they, too, can see the amazing people I see. Both Best Buddies and working in the geriatrics community have brought me to a career as a physician assistant. This is a very competitive field but I believe that with my community service, strong academics, and my passion for helping those in need, I can go far with this career. This scholarship will help me pay off the many years of schooling needed to pursue my goal of improving people’s lives as a PA. I know that I was made to take part in this healthcare profession to serve those in need and give them a voice.