My decision to pursue a career as a mental health physician is shaped profoundly by my own experiences with depression and anxiety. For years, those struggles felt isolating, especially because conversations about mental health weren’t common in my home or community. As a first-generation college student and now the first in my family to pursue medical school, I often felt pressure to succeed without showing vulnerability. The expectation to be strong and self-reliant made it difficult to admit when I needed help, and for a long time, I carried that weight alone. When I finally reached out for support, it was life-changing. Being met with compassion instead of judgment showed me how powerful it is to be heard and validated during a moment of crisis. That realization drove me to volunteer at a suicide prevention hotline for three years. I hoped to offer others the same empathy I once needed. The experience was humbling and intense. I spoke with individuals who felt hopeless, misunderstood, or utterly alone. I learned to listen without rushing, to respect silence, and to honor the courage it takes just to make the call. Each conversation reinforced how thin the line can be between despair and survival, and how accessible, compassionate support can make all the difference. It also opened my eyes to the systemic barriers that prevent so many from receiving care before they reach a breaking point. Those three years were pivotal. They helped me recognize that I didn’t simply want to respond during crises but rather help to prevent them. That purpose is what led me to pursue medical school and psychiatry. I want to become a provider who expands accessibility for underserved communities, communities like the one I grew up in, where mental health support was scarce, stigmatized, or prohibitively expensive. If I could change one major aspect of today’s mental health system, it would be to ensure universal access to affordable care, integrated within community and primary care settings. Financial status, insurance type, or zip code should never determine whether someone receives help. Teletherapy offers promising progress by reducing transportation, geographic, and scheduling barriers. Yet challenges remain, particularly for those without reliable internet, private space, or technological familiarity. To truly serve diverse populations, we must invest in digital access, multilingual platforms, and hybrid models that combine virtual and in-person support. Ultimately, my lived experiences, my time at the hotline, and my journey as a first-generation student fuel my commitment to becoming a psychiatrist who leads with empathy and works toward a system where mental healthcare is accessible, equitable, and grounded in dignity for all.

My name is Alexandria, and I’m a first-year medical student, non-traditional, and fiercely passionate about the raw power of self-expression, whether it’s through dissecting human anatomy or screaming along to Ghost and System of a Down at full volume after a long study session. I’m originally from Texas, a first-generation student, and someone who has never taken a linear path in life. I’ve worked in public health, survived imposter syndrome, and now I’m on the long, grueling journey to becoming a physician, driven by both compassion and a bit of stubborn rebellion against the odds. Heavy Metal has carried me through the nights I didn’t think I’d make it through grad school while working toward my Master of Public Health (MPH), and what continues to remind me I still have fight left in me after every academic setback. When I didn’t feel heard, metal gave me a voice. When I didn’t feel strong, metal lent me its rage and rhythm. There’s something beautiful about channeling darkness into something so defiant and bold, and I carry that same spirit into my future career in psychiatry. I want to help others confront their pain, make sense of their chaos, and turn it into power. Academically, I aim to graduate with my MD and pursue a psychiatry residency, eventually opening a clinic that provides trauma-informed mental healthcare to marginalized communities. Professionally, I want to fuse medicine with advocacy and art, building mental health programs that truly resonate, especially with young people who often feel alienated by the traditional healthcare system. I dream of combining neuroscience with creative therapy and outreach, whether that’s through music, narrative, or alternative spaces of healing. But none of this comes cheap. As a Caribbean medical student attending school abroad, my educational costs are higher and more complicated than the average U.S. student. I am currently funding my education through federal loans, small scholarships, and personal savings, but the financial strain is very real. Unlike U.S.-based students, I’m not eligible for many forms of financial aid or grants due to my international schooling. I’ve had to be resourceful, working part-time gigs remotely, budgeting aggressively, and applying for every relevant scholarship I can find. Receiving this award would not only relieve some of the financial burden, it would also be an honor to be recognized by a community that values passion, persistence, and being unapologetically real. I plan to continue paying for my education through a mix of student loans, side gigs in marketing and writing, and (hopefully) additional scholarships like this one. Every bit of help counts. My ultimate goal isn’t just to “make it through,” it’s to come out the other side as a better doctor, advocate, and human being who brings a little bit of that "metal grit" into every life I touch. Thank you for considering my application.

As a current non-traditional and first-generation medical student at St. George’s University, my vision is to serve my community with compassionate cross-cultural skills to close health disparities. As an aspiring bilingual psychiatrist, I strive to utilize my passion for public health and mental health to foster a future of accessible, quality mental healthcare and to strive toward a future where mental health is no longer stigmatized. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Houston in 2016, I worked in the education sector at an underserved preschool as an educator. This professional experience, as well as my work as a medical assistant at a psychiatry clinic, made my passion for empowering vulnerable populations with educational skills and quality healthcare more pronounced. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, I went on to pursue my Master's of Public Health at UTHealth Houston Science Center with a concentration in Health Promotion and Health Education and graduated cum laude in 2022. Upon completion, I matriculated into the Baylor College of Medicine’s Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program, where I earned a graduate certificate in Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity. During my year in the program, I served as class president and worked to enhance the learning experience for my peers through creating educational activities and mentorship programs. Unique cultural experiences that have also been vital to my growth outside the classroom were my years learning Spanish as a second language with the Gilman Scholarship in Costa Rica, where I studied Spanish at Universidad Nacional for an academic year. In 2023-2024, after completing my post-baccalaureate program, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to serve as a cultural ambassador in Colombia at Universidad Tecnológica Y Pedagógica de Colombia. These opportunities enabled me to explore my “Latinidad” (Latin Identity) and grow as a global student and leader while bettering my ability to provide compassionate cross-cultural care as a future physician. As an applicant for the Dr. Michael Paglia Scholarship, I intend to utilize this scholarship to help fund my Fall 2025 tuition. As a student with limited financial means, I have funded my undergraduate and two graduate programs with federal loans, and the cost of my medical education can be daunting, especially with current congressional considerations to cut the Federal Grad PLUS Loan program, which makes me especially vulnerable as a current recipient. Every bit of scholarship funding helps me fulfill my dream of becoming a psychiatrist to work toward the greater good. Thank you for considering my application.

As a current non-traditional and first-generation medical student at St. George’s University, my vision is to serve my community with compassionate cross-cultural skills to close health disparities. As an aspiring bilingual psychiatrist, I strive to utilize my passion for public health and mental health to foster a future of accessible, quality mental healthcare and to strive toward a future where mental health is no longer stigmatized. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Houston in 2016, I worked in the education sector at an underserved preschool as an educator. This professional experience, as well as my work as a medical assistant at a psychiatry clinic, made my passion for empowering vulnerable populations with educational skills and quality healthcare more pronounced. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, I went on to pursue my Master's of Public Health at UTHealth Houston Science Center with a concentration in Health Promotion and Health Education and graduated cum laude in 2022. Upon completion, I matriculated into the Baylor College of Medicine’s Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program, where I earned a graduate certificate in Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity. During my year in the program, I served as class president and worked to enhance the learning experience for my peers through creating educational activities and mentorship programs. Unique cultural experiences that have also been vital to my growth outside the classroom were my years learning Spanish as a second language with the Gilman Scholarship in Costa Rica, where I studied Spanish at Universidad Nacional for an academic year. In 2023-2024, after completing my post-baccalaureate program, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to serve as a cultural ambassador in Colombia at Universidad Tecnológica Y Pedagógica de Colombia. These opportunities enabled me to explore my “Latinidad” (Latin Identity) and grow as a global student and leader while bettering my ability to provide compassionate cross-cultural care as a future physician. As an applicant for the Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship, I intend to utilize this scholarship to help fund my Fall 2025 tuition. I have funded my undergraduate and two graduate programs with federal loans, and the cost of my medical education can be daunting, especially with current congressional considerations to cut the Federal Grad PLUS Loan program, which makes me especially vulnerable as a current recipient. Every bit of scholarship funding helps me fulfill my dream of becoming a psychiatrist to work toward the greater good. Thank you for considering my application.

As a current non-traditional and first-generation medical student at St. George’s University, my vision is to serve my community with compassionate cross-cultural skills to close health disparities. As an aspiring bilingual psychiatrist, I strive to utilize my passion for public health and mental health to foster a future of accessible, quality mental healthcare and to strive toward a future where mental health is no longer stigmatized. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Houston in 2016, I worked in the education sector at an underserved preschool as an educator. This professional experience, as well as my work as a medical assistant at a psychiatry clinic, made my passion for empowering vulnerable populations with educational skills and quality healthcare more pronounced. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, I went on to pursue my Master's of Public Health at UTHealth Houston Science Center with a concentration in Health Promotion and Health Education and graduated cum laude in 2022. Upon completion, I matriculated into the Baylor College of Medicine’s Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program, where I earned a graduate certificate in Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity. During my year in the program, I served as class president and worked to enhance the learning experience for my peers through creating educational activities and mentorship programs. Unique cultural experiences that have also been vital to my growth outside the classroom were my years learning Spanish as a second language with the Gilman Scholarship in Costa Rica, where I studied Spanish at Universidad Nacional for an academic year. In 2023-2024, after completing my post-baccalaureate program, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to serve as a cultural ambassador in Colombia at Universidad Tecnológica Y Pedagógica de Colombia. These opportunities enabled me to explore my “Latinidad” (Latin Identity) and grow as a global student and leader while bettering my ability to provide compassionate cross-cultural care as a future physician. As an applicant for the Viaje de Esperanza Scholarship, I intend to utilize this scholarship to help fund my Fall 2025 tuition. I have funded my undergraduate and two graduate programs with federal loans, and the cost of my medical education can be daunting, especially with current congressional considerations to cut the Federal Grad PLUS Loan program, which makes me especially vulnerable as a current recipient. Every bit of scholarship funding helps me fulfill my dream of becoming a psychiatrist to work toward the greater good. Thank you for considering my application.

As a current non-traditional and first-generation medical student at St. George’s University, my vision is to serve my community with compassionate cross-cultural skills to close health disparities. As an aspiring bilingual psychiatrist, I strive to utilize my passion for public health and mental health to foster a future of accessible, quality mental healthcare and to strive toward a future where mental health is no longer stigmatized. After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Houston in 2016, I worked in the education sector at an underserved preschool as an educator. This professional experience, as well as my work as a medical assistant at a psychiatry clinic, made my passion for empowering vulnerable populations with educational skills and quality healthcare more pronounced. In 2020, in the midst of the COVID Pandemic, I went on to pursue my Master's of Public Health at UTHealth Houston Science Center with a concentration in Health Promotion and Health Education and graduated cum laude in 2022. Upon completion, I matriculated into the Baylor College of Medicine’s Pre-Medical Post-Baccalaureate program, where I earned a graduate certificate in Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity. During my year in the program, I served as class president and worked to enhance the learning experience for my peers through creating educational activities and mentorship programs. Unique cultural experiences that have also been vital to my growth outside the classroom were my years learning Spanish as a second language with the Gilman Scholarship in Costa Rica, where I studied Spanish at Universidad Nacional for an academic year. In 2023-2024, after completing my post-baccalaureate program, I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to serve as a cultural ambassador in Colombia at Universidad Tecnológica Y Pedagógica de Colombia. These opportunities enabled me to explore my “Latinidad” (Latin Identity) and grow as a global student and leader while bettering my ability to provide compassionate cross-cultural care as a future physician. As an applicant for the TRAM Panacea Scholarship, I intend to utilize this scholarship to help fund my Fall 2025 tuition. I have funded my undergraduate and two graduate programs with federal loans, and the cost of my medical education can be daunting, especially with current congressional considerations to cut the Federal Grad PLUS Loan program, which makes me especially vulnerable as a current recipient. Every bit of scholarship funding helps me fulfill my dream of becoming a psychiatrist to work toward the greater good. Thank you for considering my application.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, it would be E.B. White's Charlotte's Web. I first read this beloved novel in third grade and later returned to its pages as an adult living abroad. During my 2015-2016 college study abroad experience in Costa Rica, I was learning Spanish as a second language and looked to reading familiar childhood literature to better my fluency. One of the first books I read with my host mother was Charlotte's Web. During my experience rereading the novel alongside her, I gained cherished memories of bonding over my favorite book through laughing with her at Templeton's ridiculousness and becoming emotional when Charlotte's offspring all (but one) flew away. Revisiting the book as an adult in my early twenties made me consider the sense of compassion and values of friendship the story cultivates. For this reason, during my second cultural exchange as a 2023-2024 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Colombia, I decided to read this with my cultural book club. To foster a cross-cultural understanding, I selected books that illustrated the values of empathy and companionship as I believe they are core to leading a fulfilling life. Like my Costa Rican host mother from nearly nine years ago, my Colombian students (who are learning English) became encaptured by the charming narrative. For both its meaningful story of overcoming adversity through friendship as well as the fond memories it has created for me, Charlotte's Web will always be a favorite book of mine.

My own personal struggles with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder shaped my passion for cultivating compassionate and accessible mental healthcare for the underserved populations of my community. As a first-generation college and graduate student (and future medical student), my experiences as a minority with an underserved upbringing influenced my educational journey. I first learned of my disorders at 19 years old during my first year of college when my symptoms made my studies seem nearly impossible. With university health insurance, I was able to see a psychiatrist and a therapist for the first time. Both mental healthcare professionals were key to my successful recovery. In 2012, I used my lived experiences to bring a sense of hope to others for three years as an anonymous crisis hotline call counselor. I value giving back to my community in a meaningful way, and while I have done many volunteer projects throughout my life, the work I have done for Crisis Intervention of Houston from 2012 through 2015 has been the most rewarding. Bringing a sense of empathy to the crisis hotline enabled me to empower others to find a sense of hope which was deeply purposeful for me. During these three years, I discovered my calling for medicine and made the bold decision to pursue a career as a bilingual psychiatrist who can cater to families who, much like my own, do not have the financial means to see a mental health professional. Eleven years later, I am still on a mission to realize this dream. Upon graduating from the University of Houston in 2011 with a BA in Psychology, I returned to school to complete my 2 years of pre-medical coursework. From 2020 to 2023, I completed two graduate programs: a Master's of Public Health program at UTHealth Houston Science Center and a Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Sciences and Health Equity from Baylor College of Medicine. Upon completing my current 2023-2024 Fulbright Fellowship in Colombia, I will matriculate into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Master's of Biomedical Science program which guarantees me entry into the 2025 Fall medical school cohort contingent upon achieving a 3.45 GPA. With the support of the ADHD Advisor's Mental Health Advocate scholarship, I hope to spend this upcoming academic year focused on achieving the GPA requirement so that I may finally start working toward my lifelong dream of becoming a psychiatrist.

My own personal struggles with major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder shaped my passion for cultivating compassionate and accessible mental healthcare for the underserved populations of my community. As a first-generation college and graduate student (and future medical student), my experiences as a minority with an underserved upbringing influenced my educational journey. I first learned of my disorders at 19 years old during my first year of college when my symptoms made my studies seem nearly impossible. With university health insurance, I was able to see a psychiatrist and a therapist for the first time. Both mental healthcare professionals were my guiding beacon of hope and supported me throughout my mental health journey. After a successful recovery, I used my lived experiences to bring a sense of hope to others for three years as an anonymous crisis hotline call counselor. I value giving back to my community in a meaningful way, and while I have done many volunteer projects throughout my life, the work I have done for Crisis Intervention of Houston from 2012 through 2015 has been the most impactful to my life. Bringing a sense of empathy to the crisis hotline enabled me to empower others to find a sense of hope which was deeply purposeful for me. During these three years, I discovered my calling for medicine and made the bold decision to pursue a career as a bilingual psychiatrist who can cater to families who, much like my own, do not have the financial means to see a mental health professional. Eleven years later, I am still on a mission to realize this dream. Upon graduating from the University of Houston in 2011 with a BA in Psychology, I returned to school to complete my 2 years of pre-medical coursework. In 2019, I gained invaluable work experience as a medical assistant at a psychiatry clinic which helped me grow personally and professionally, and then matriculated into a Master's of Public Health program at UTHealth Houston Science Center. Upon graduating with my MPH, I matriculated into the 2022-2023 Pre-Medical Post-Bacclaureate Graduate Certificate Program at Baylor College of Medicine. I am currently completing a 2023-2024 Fulbright Fellowship in Colombia and will return to the United States to complete my second master's degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine with a concentration in Biomedical Sciences. Upon completion of this degree, I am guaranteed entry into the medical college for the Fall of 2025 should I achieve a 3.45 GPA. With the support of the Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship, I hope to spend this upcoming academic year focused on achieving the GPA requirement so that I may finally start working toward my lifelong dream of becoming a psychiatrist. Thank you for considering my application.