To me, empathy is the ability to truly listen, understand, and connect with the experiences of others, even when they are different from your own. It is more than kindness—it is an intentional commitment to seeing people as whole beings with unique needs, challenges, and aspirations. Empathy has been a guiding force in my life and is at the heart of my passion for healthcare administration. My personal journey with empathy began while caring for my grandmother during her health struggles. Sitting beside her during appointments and helping her navigate the healthcare system showed me the fear, confusion, and frustration patients often feel. I saw how overwhelming it could be for families who lacked the resources or knowledge to advocate for themselves. That experience not only inspired my decision to pursue public health and health administration but also shaped my belief that healthcare must be rooted in compassion and understanding. I want to ensure that no patient or family feels overlooked or unheard. I have continued to practice empathy through my leadership and service. As President of the Lambda Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., I launched a new initiative that provides monthly service within the Gainesville community. These projects allow us to directly respond to the needs of our community in a consistent and meaningful way. This work has reinforced my belief that empathy is not passive—it requires action, responsiveness, and a willingness to serve. Additionally, through my role as a mentor with Take Stock in Children, I have worked with the same high school student for the past four years, guiding her through college applications, job searches, and personal challenges. This mentorship has taught me the importance of patience, listening, and meeting people where they are—skills that are vital in healthcare leadership. In the field of health administration, empathy is essential. Administrators are not only responsible for managing systems and policies but also for ensuring that patients and employees feel respected, valued, and heard. A hospital can have the best technology and resources, but without empathy, it cannot truly meet the needs of the people it serves. I intend to use my degree to build healthcare systems that prioritize equity, cultural competence, and patient-centered care. To ensure my efforts are guided by a human-centered lens, I will continue to ground my work in the lived experiences of those most affected by inequities. This means engaging directly with patients and staff, creating spaces for minority voices in decision-making, and designing systems that prioritize dignity and respect over efficiency alone. By leading with empathy, I can help create healthcare environments where care is not just delivered but felt, and where every individual—regardless of background—knows that their voice matters. Ultimately, empathy is both the foundation and the future of my career. It is what drives me to serve, to lead, and to create healthcare systems that heal not only bodies but communities.

I am pursuing a major in the STEM field because I intend to become a neurologist and eventually a pediatric neurological surgeon. The STEM field will facilitate my path to Medical School and help me attain my goal of becoming a Neurologist and a surgeon specializing in pediatric neurology. I have suffered from migraines for the past six years and I have been treated by several neurologists. During my discussions with all of my doctors, I shared with them my desire to become a medical doctor. All of them impressed upon me the need for further research in this area, and they encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a neurologist and a surgeon. One of my future goals is to open nationwide clinics that specialize in treating and hopefully curing migraines in children. I believe economic status is not an indicator of educational genius. There are many students with bright and promising futures due to extraordinary intelligence, who lack the funds necessary to pursue higher education. As a result of a lack of funds, students are forced to seek loans to help pay for college. These loans can be crippling. As a nation, we would only stand to benefit by funding post-secondary education for our future leaders and contributors. Failure to do so, will not only be a disservice to the future of our country, but it would be an impairment for aspiring professionals who want to give back to their communities in a meaningful way. I find myself in a similar predicament, lacking the funds necessary to attend college. Although my parents are considered “Middle Class”, our family has experienced several financial hardships over the last few years due to the pandemic and other life-changing events. My father’s profession was dependent on the cruise industry, and he is no longer employed with that company because the cruise industry shut down for over a year. Additionally, Before my grandmother’s passing earlier this year, my parents were tasked with contributing monetary assistance to help pay for my 95-year-old grandmother’s healthcare and home care, due to her failing health. Further, my brother is enrolled in college and my parents are responsible for a portion of his college expenses. Unfortunately, my parents cannot help with my college expenses and I need tuition assistance. Consequently, I need assistance with paying for my college and eventually medical school tuition, fees, and other related expenses. To achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Pursuing a degree in the STEM field will prepare me for medical school and serve as a stepping-stone to the next level in my educational journey. The Hyacinth Malcolm Memorial Scholarship would assist me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to continue my college journey. Thank you for your attention and consideration of my application for the Hyacinth Malcolm Memorial Scholarship.

Upon graduating from high school, I matriculated to the University of Florida where I am currently a freshman with a pre-med health sciences major. My goal is to become a neurologist and possibly a surgeon specializing in dementia. I am applying for the Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship to help cover the costs of attending college. I have many positive and inspirational role models in my life; however, my grandmother is the inspiration behind my decision to become a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was a young woman. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics like that of a seizure. Her eyes roll, her body falls limp, and she begins jerking, secretes fluid from her mouth, and at times she regurgitates her stomach contents. During these spells, she can remain unconscious for between 60 seconds and 5 minutes. No spell is ever the same, and there is no recognizable pattern to help us identify the onset of a spell. My grandmother is now 94 years old, and she continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia and other ailments causing her to require constant care. After personally witnessing my grandmother's first spell, I felt a deep passion to help her, which sparked my interest in the medical field. With every failed appointment and with all the unanswered questions I grew annoyed and confused, wondering why the medical professionals could not determine what was causing these symptoms. One of the main reasons I want to become a neurologist is to prevent families from experiencing the confusion and sense of helplessness my family endures to this day. Watching my grandmother’s condition deteriorate with dementia and having to provide care for her has encouraged me to excel in math and sciences since middle school. My ability to maintain top grades in these courses confirmed my path to the medical field where I plan to make meaningful contributions to society. My dream is to open nationwide clinics that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as the ones that plague my grandmother. My grandmother’s health began to decline as I entered high school. In addition to dementia, my grandmother also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and a leaky heart valve. She is unable to care for herself and requires round-the-clock care for feeding, changing her incontinence undergarments, baths, and making sure she takes the proper medications. Shortly after the Covid 19-Pandemic began, my family created a schedule where family members had to cover shifts taking care of my grandmother to provide 24-hour care for her. I was committed to caring for my grandmother; however, it became challenging to balance her care with school when virtual school began in the fall of 2020. I had to work harder than usual, studying, and asking for help outside of class time to maintain the grades I desired and needed to obtain my goal. Balancing my academics and my grandmother’s care in addition to my extracurricular activities was very difficult for me, but I pushed through, and I graduated in the top 3% of my 2022 graduating class! Although my family has been able to hire a nurse to assist with the care for my grandmother on weekdays, we are still tasked with caring for my grandmother from 4 pm until 8 am the next morning on weekdays and the entire weekend. I continue to help with the overnight shifts and weekend shifts providing care for my grandmother when I’m home visiting from college. I enjoy the time I spend with her, and it has taught me the importance of strength and determination during challenging times. I hope this small piece of my personal story demonstrates for you, my passion for mental health awareness, my commitment to assist with providing care for my grandmother, and my aspirations for becoming a neurologist. Pursuing a degree in the health science field will prepare me for medical school and provide a stepping stone to the next level of my educational journey. To achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist and a neurological surgeon, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Your scholarship would aid me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to continue my college education. Thank you for this opportunity and your consideration.

The STEM field is a passion of mine because I envision a future where I will make significant contributions in neurology. My ultimate goal is to become a neurologist specializing in neurological surgery. I’m currently attending the University of Florida pursuing a degree in Health Sciences, pre-med major, and from there, I will enroll in medical school. Consequently, I am applying for the Clifford T. Wofford STEM Scholarship to assist with the costs of attending college and medical school. I have many inspirational role models in my life; however, my grandmother is the main reason I’m pursuing post-secondary education to become a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was a young woman. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics similar to that of a seizure. She is now 94 years old, and continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia; and has never been given a clear answer on what these spells are or what causes them. After personally witnessing my grandmother's first spell, I felt a deep desire to help her, which sparked my interest in the medical field. I was young, but I remember feeling helpless. With every failed appointment and the unanswered questions, I grew annoyed and confused. Knowing that there’s a problem, but no solution, fueled my determination to become a neurologist. I intend to find a solution to aid families in avoiding the confusion and helplessness my family continues to endure. I know I will excel in the STEM field because I have performed well in math and sciences since middle school. In high school I have taken honors and AICE Cambridge courses. My ability to maintain top grades in these courses confirmed my path in life to the medical field, where I plan to make meaningful contributions. My dream is to open nationwide medical facilities that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as the ones that plague my grandmother. This small piece of my personal story demonstrates my passion for STEM and my aspirations for becoming a neurologist. Pursuing a degree in science will prepare me for medical school and serve as a stepping-stone to the next level in my educational journey. In order to achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Your scholarship would assist me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to attend college. Thank you for your attention and consideration of my application for the Black Students in STEM Scholarship.

A mentor is someone who is willing to share their wisdom with those seeking and willing to accept guidance. Through my mentorship, I hope to provide younger generations with the inspiration and confidence to pursue their dreams despite the obstacles and hardships they may face. Many young people are deterred from the paths they wish to follow because of other people’s opinions and their fear of failure. By sharing my own experiences with others, I hope to build their self-confidence and help them see that what they want for their life is what’s best for them. It is very offensive and demeaning to my character at times, knowing that my skin color, choice of apparel, and other factors of my outward appearance cause me to be seen as someone I'm not. However, over time, I have built my self-confidence, I know who I am, and other people's judgment and opinions no longer affect me. Through my mentorship, I hope to help others reach this level of self-confidence and self-growth. I don’t want others, especially young people growing up in this generation, to feel uncomfortable being who they are. My aspiration is to be an inspiration to others to pursue their dreams, regardless of the adversities they may face and the disapproval they may receive. That is the impact I hope to have through my mentorship of others.

When I was in second grade, my parents surprised me with my first pet dog. I was beyond elated. He is a beautiful American BullDog mixed with a Rottweiler with eye-catching golden brown fur and a stunningly white mane. I fell in love with my puppy at first sight, we named him Mustafa. Mustafa showed me why the saying “dog is man's best friend” is the truth. I instantly bonded with Mustafa on a very deep level. Though he was not deemed one, I felt like Mustafa was my emotional support dog. He was able to understand me in a way that I didn't know was possible. Mustafa is able to analyze my body language and support me in the way I need. Growing up in elementary school, I was very insecure about my weight. I would often come home with down spirits because of hurtful comments other students would make to me about my weight. The first thing I would do after school was go to my backyard, sit in the grass, and Mustafa would immediately run to me. He would recognize that I was feeling down and rest his head on my shoulder. I would wrap my arms around him and feel my heartbeat begin to calm. Mustafa was always, and still is always there for me. The relationship I have with my dog has saved me from falling into a depression that could have been caused by the treatment I experienced from my peers growing up. I was very shy and not comfortable expressing how those hurtful comments made me feel. Talking to someone about it and telling them how the fat comments offended me made me feel like I was proving all of the other kids right. It made me feel like I in fact was fat and ugly and that no one would ever like me. Rather than facing that, I looked to my dog for comfort. Though Mustafa could not actually respond to me, he always made me feel like he was listening which was a comforting feeling. My dog changed my life by supporting me when I felt isolated and alone.

Education is a top priority for me because I aspire to become a neurologist. My objective has always been to graduate at the top of my high school class and to achieve this goal, I had to maintain high grade point averages in all of my classes. This task became difficult once my 94-year-old grandmother’s health began to decline because my family was tasked with the responsibility of providing round the clock care. Shortly after the Covid 19-Pandemic began, my family created a schedule where family members had to cover shifts taking care of my grandmother to provide 24-hour care for her. I was committed to caring for my grandmother; however, it became challenging to balance her care with school when virtual school began in the fall of 2020. Many teachers were unfamiliar with virtual technology, making it difficult for students like myself to learn the material. I had to work harder than usual, studying, and asking for help outside of class time to maintain the grades I desired and required to obtain my goal. Balancing my academics and my grandmother’s care in addition to my extracurricular activities was very difficult for me, but I learned how to handle it. Eventually, we went back to the school full time, my family hired a nurse to assist with the care for my grandmother, and I am graduating summa cum laude in the top 3% of my senior high school class! From this experience, I learned the importance of strength and determination during challenging times. I persevered through the storm and now I'm on track to continue my goal of graduating at the top of my class, attend college, and then medical school. Education is the key component to achieving my ambition of becoming a neurologist.

I embody selflessness by helping others in need, even if I don’t know the person. An incident that occurred several weeks ago reminded me of my calling to always go above and beyond to help a person in need. One evening as I was exiting a shopping center heading home, I noticed an older gentleman lying on the sidewalk in a fetal position shaking. It appeared he was suffering from a seizure. I noticed other people passing by him looking at him but continuing on their way. I pulled my car over, exited the car, and walked over to see if the older gentleman was okay. As I approached him, I noticed that there was a white foaming substance coming from his mouth, his body was shaking all over, and his eyes were rolling back in his head. I immediately called 911 and reported this to the 911 operator. After describing what I observed for the 911 operator and providing our location, I began to speak to the gentleman to determine if he was coherent. He was not, and did not respond. I relayed this information to the 911 operator who told me that Fire Rescue was in route to our location. As I hung up with the 911 operator, another gentleman walked over and began to try to speak with the gentleman as well. We remained with the gentleman until Fire Rescue arrived. One of the Fire Rescue technicians asked me questions about what happened, and I told him what I observed. I stood there wondering if the gentleman was going to be okay. This experience reminded me of the concern I felt growing up watching my grandmother when she suffered from fainting spells, and it confirms my desire to help others in need of medical attention.

Upon graduating from high school, I plan to continue my studies at a reputable University with a pre-med major. My ultimate goal is to become a neurologist and possibly a surgeon specializing in dementia. I am applying for the Elevate Mental Health Awareness Scholarship to help cover the costs of attending college. I have many positive and inspirational role models in my life; however, my grandmother is the inspiration behind my decision to become a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was a young woman. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics similar to that of a seizure. Her eyes roll, her body falls limp, and she begins jerking, secretes fluid from her mouth, and at times she regurgitates her stomach contents. During these spells, she can remain unconscious between 60 seconds and 5 minutes. No spell is ever the same, and there is no recognizable pattern to help us identify the onset of a spell. My grandmother is now 94 years old, and she continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia and other ailments causing her to require constant care. After personally witnessing my grandmother's first spell, I felt a deep passion to help her, which sparked my interest in the medical field. With every failed appointment and with all the unanswered questions I grew annoyed and confused, wondering why the medical professionals could not determine what was causing these symptoms. One of the main reasons I want to become a neurologist is to prevent families from experiencing the confusion and sense of helplessness my family endures to this day. Watching my grandmother’s condition deteriorate with the dementia and having to provide care for her has encouraged me to excel in math and sciences since middle school. My ability to maintain top grades in these courses confirmed my path to medical field where I plan to make meaningful contributions to society. My dream is to open nationwide clinics that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as the ones that plague my grandmother. My goal has always been to graduate at the top of my high school class, and to achieve this goal, I had to maintain high A’s in all of my classes. This task became difficult when my grandmother’s health began to decline. In addition to dementia, my grandmother also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, and a leaky heart valve. She is unable to care for herself and requires round the clock care for feeding, changing her incontinence under garments, baths, and making sure she takes the proper medications. Shortly after the Covid 19-Pandemic began, my family created a schedule where family members had to cover shifts taking care of my grandmother to provide 24-hour care for her. I am committed to caring for my grandmother; however, it became challenging to balance her care with school when virtual school began in the fall of 2020. I had to work harder than usual, studying, and asking for help outside of class time to maintain the grades I desired and needed to obtain my goal. Balancing my academics and my grandmother’s care in addition to my extracurricular activities was very difficult for me, but I pushed through, and I am in the top 3% of my 2022 graduating class! Although my family has been able to hire a nurse to assist with the care for my grandmother on weekdays, we are still tasked with caring for my grandmother from 4pm until 8am the next morning on weekdays and the entire weekend. I continue to help with the overnight shifts and weekend shifts providing care for my grandmother. I enjoy the time I spend with her and it has taught me the importance of strength and determination during challenging times. I hope this small piece of my personal story demonstrates for you, my passion for mental health awareness, my commitment to assist with providing care for my grandmother, and my aspirations for becoming a neurologist. Pursuing a degree in science will prepare me for medical school and provide a stepping-stone to the next level of my educational journey. In order to achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist and a neurological surgeon, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Your scholarship would aid me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to attend college. Thank you for this opportunity and your consideration.

Recently, I attended a graduation celebration for a friend who is leaving for college. I arrived late, because I had to work. Upon entering the party, I immediately felt uneasy. I began to think, what could they possibly be looking at. I felt extremely vulnerable and rattled by the looks of disdain. Was it my outfit? I was wearing sneakers, jeans, a "Boyz in the Hood" long sleeve t-shirt, and a cap. Eventually, a close friend who attended this event shared the reason that individuals glared at me. He was told by his mom later that evening that her friends asked, "Why is your son spending so much time with that ghetto girl?" I was astonished by the remark. These naysayers had no idea that the young lady they spoke of was the Student Government Vice President, the National English Honors Society President, the African-Heritage Vice President, A Harvard Book Award Recipient, and a Cambridge Diploma candidate in the top 3% of her class with a weighted GPA of 4.875, to name a few. Although I've been misjudged before, this incident heightened my awareness to the reality of society’s constant misconception of black females. It is very offensive and demeaning, knowing that my skin color, choice in apparel, and hair caused me to be perceived as someone I'm not. Since the aforementioned day, I have raised my level of self-confidence. Hence, other people's perceptions and opinions no longer rattle me. Moreover, my appearance tells you nothing about who I am. The way I dress, wear my hair, and carry myself are all forms of expression that some people easily misconstrue. Consequently, judgement by others, are no longer a cause for concern. I now realize that people judge others based on outward appearances rather than the content of one’s character.

I improve the life of an elderly woman in our community named Stella Miller, by assisting with providing daily care for her. I have many positive and inspirational role models in my life; however, my 94-year-old grandmother is the elderly woman I provide care for; and my inspiration for becoming a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was her youth. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics similar to that of a seizure. During these spells, she can remain unconscious 60 seconds to 5 minutes. My grandmother is, and continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia and other ailments causing her to require constant care. One of the main reasons I want to become a neurologist is to prevent families from experiencing the confusion and sense of helplessness my family endures to this day. Watching my grandmother’s condition deteriorate and having to provide care for her has encouraged me to excel in math and sciences since middle school. My dream is to open nationwide clinics that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as those that plague my grandmother. My grandmother suffers from dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart issues. She is unable to care for herself and requires round the clock care for feeding, changing of her incontinence under garments, baths, and dispensing the proper medications. My family created a schedule where family members cover shifts caring for my grandmother 24-hours. A caregiver has been hired to assist with my grandmother’s care on weekdays, however, we provide care for her the remainder of the time. I help with the overnight and weekend shifts. Although it’s time consuming, I enjoy spending time with my grandmother. From this experience, I’ve learned the importance of strength and determination during challenging times.

I have suffered from migraines for the past six years and they are quite debilitating at times. Sometimes I have to lay down in a dark room with a cool towel on my forehead to get some relief. I have been treated by several neurologists and I tried various drug regimens. The latest treatment has helped, however, I still suffer from migraines from time to time. During my discussions with all of my doctors, I shared with them my desire to become a medical doctor. All of them impressed upon me the need for further research in this area, and they encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a neurologist and a surgeon. One of my future goals is to open nationwide clinics that specialize in treating and hopefully curing migraines in children. I am pursuing a major in Pre-Medicine because I’m interested in becoming a neurologist and possibly a pediatric neurological surgeon. I believe Pre-Medicine will aid in facilitating my path to Medical School. Additionally, this major will assist with attaining my goal of becoming a Neurologist and possibly a surgeon specializing in pediatric neurology.

Recently I attended a graduation party for a friend who will be leaving for college the next month. I was late because I had to work that day. When I arrived, I felt like Tupac, "All Eyez on Me". I began to ask myself what ‘why are they staring’. I was truly rattled by the negative looks and attention. One of my close friends also attended this event with his mom and later that night while they were home, his mom approached him saying that her friends were asking about me. Someone asked her "Why is your son spending so much time with that ghetto girl?" I was wearing red huarache's, black jeans, a "Boyz in the Hood" long sleeve t-shirt, and a rolled up red Sniper Gang ski mask. I personally saw nothing wrong with the outfit, I felt like it had my own little touch of swag, but to others I was "that ghetto girl." It opened my eyes to the reality of society’s constant misconception of black females. It is very offensive, demeaning, and a little scary. Consequently, I improved my self-confidence; people’s judgement and opinions no longer rattle me. A wise man once said, "My appearance tells you nothing about who I am" and I completely agree. How do I practice bravery and live boldly? I’m a starter on the girls’ Varsity Basketball team, Co-Captain of the Bowling team, and Captain of the Flag Football team. I am the President of the National English Honor Society, Vice President of the African Heritage club, Vice President of Student Government, and a member of Women of Tomorrow, Science Honor Society, and the National Honor Society. I will attend the University of Florida in the fall of 2022 with a pre-med major. I will continue to practice bravery.

The STEM field is a passion of mine because I envision a future where I will make significant contributions in neurology. My ultimate goal is to become a neurologist specializing in neurological surgery. After graduation, I will attend a reputable University pursuing a pre-med major, and from there, I will enroll in medical school. Consequently, I am applying for the Black Students in STEM Scholarship to assist with the costs of attending college and medical school. I have many inspirational role models in my life; however, my grandmother is the main reason I’m pursuing post-secondary education to become a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was a young woman. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics similar to that of a seizure. She is now 94 years old, and continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia; and has never been given a clear answer on what these spells are or what causes them. After personally witnessing my grandmother's first spell, I felt a deep desire to help her, which sparked my interest in the medical field. I was young, but I remember feeling helpless. With every failed appointment and the unanswered questions, I grew annoyed and confused. Knowing that there’s a problem, but no solution, fueled my determination to become a neurologist. I intend to find a solution to aid families in avoiding the confusion and helplessness my family continues to endure. I know I will excel in the STEM field because I have performed well in math and sciences since middle school. In high school I have taken honors and AICE Cambridge courses. My ability to maintain top grades in these courses confirmed my path in life to the medical field, where I plan to make meaningful contributions. My dream is to open nationwide medical facilities that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as the ones that plague my grandmother. This small piece of my personal story demonstrates my passion for STEM and my aspirations for becoming a neurologist. Pursuing a degree in science will prepare me for medical school and serve as a stepping-stone to the next level in my educational journey. In order to achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Your scholarship would assist me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to attend college. Thank you for your attention and consideration of my application for the Black Students in STEM Scholarship.

My goal has always been to graduate at the top of my high school class and to achieve this goal, I had to maintain high grade point averages in all of my classes. This task became difficult once my 94-year-old grandmother’s health began to decline because my family was tasked with the responsibility of providing round the clock care. Shortly after the Covid-19 Pandemic began, my family created a schedule where family members had to cover shifts taking care of my grandmother to provide 24-hour care for her. I was committed to caring for my grandmother; however, it became challenging to balance her care with school when virtual school began in the fall of 2020. Many teachers were unfamiliar with virtual technology, making it difficult for students like myself to learn the material. I had to work harder than usual, studying, and asking for help outside of class time to maintain the grades I desired and required to obtain my goal. Balancing my academics and my grandmother’s care in addition to my extracurricular activities was very difficult for me, but I learned how to handle it. Currently, we are back in the school full time, my family has been able to hire a nurse to assist with the care for my grandmother, and I am graduating summa cum laude in the top 5% of my senior high school class! From this experience, I learned the importance of strength and determination during challenging times. I persevered through the storm and now I'm on track to continue my goal of graduating at the top of my class.

The STEM field is a passion of mine because I envision a future where I will make significant contributions in neurology. My ultimate goal is to become a neurologist specializing in neurological surgery. After high school graduation, I will attend a reputable University pursuing a pre-med major. From there, I will enroll in medical school. Consequently, I am applying for the Clifford T. Wofford STEM Scholarship to assist with the costs of attending college and medical school. I have many inspirational role models in my life; however, my grandmother is the main reason I’m pursuing post-secondary education to become a Neurologist. My grandmother has experienced what she calls "spells" since she was a young woman. During these spells, she loses consciousness and displays characteristics similar to that of a seizure. She is now 94 years old, and continues to suffer from the spells as well as dementia; and has never been given a clear answer on what these spells are or what causes them. After personally witnessing my grandmother's first spell, I felt a deep desire to help her, which sparked my interest in the medical field. I was only 6 or 7 years old, but I remember feeling helpless. With every failed appointment and with all the unanswered questions I grew annoyed and confused, wondering why the medical professionals could not diagnose the cause of these symptoms. Knowing that there’s a problem, where there is no solution, fueled my determination to become a neurologist. It is my intention to find a solution that will aid families in avoiding the confusion and sense of helplessness my family endures to this day. I believe I am particularly suited for the STEM field because I have been able to excel in math and sciences since middle school. I took high school gifted math and science courses in middle school; and honors and AICE Cambridge courses in high school. My ability to maintain top grades in these courses confirmed for me that my path in life would lead to the medical field, where I plan to make meaningful contributions to the community. My dream is to open nationwide medical facilities that specialize in treating and hopefully curing neurological issues such as the ones that plague my grandmother. I hope this small piece of my personal story demonstrates for you, my passion for STEM and my aspirations for becoming a neurologist. Pursuing a degree in science will prepare me for medical school and serve as a stepping-stone to the next level in my educational journey. In order to achieve my goal of becoming a neurologist, I will require considerable funds to avoid the crushing debt that ensues from securing loans to pay for college and medical school. Although my parents are considered “Middle Class”, our family has experienced several financial hardships over the last year due to the pandemic. My father’s profession was dependent on the cruise industry and he is no longer employed by his main job because the cruise industry shut down for over a year. Additionally, my parents are tasked with contributing monetary assistance to help pay for my grandmother’s healthcare and home care. Further, my brother is enrolled in college and my parents are responsible for a portion of his college expenses. Unfortunately, my parents do not have the ability to help with my college expenses and I need tuition assistance. Your scholarship would assist me tremendously in securing the funds necessary to attend college. Thank you for your attention and consideration of my application for the Clifford T. Wofford STEM Scholarship.