Education has always represented more than personal achievement to me. It is a responsibility to use the knowledge, opportunities, and resources I acquire to improve the lives of others. As a first-generation aspiring attorney and senior political science major at Tuskegee University, I plan to continue my education by pursuing a dual Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Through these disciplines, I hope to bridge the gap between healthcare, law, and public policy while advocating for women and communities whose voices are too often overlooked. My commitment to this work began long before I considered law school. In 2020, I founded The Girl Flo, a menstrual equity organization dedicated to addressing period poverty through education, advocacy, and access to menstrual health resources. What began as a passion for helping girls and women has developed into a larger understanding of the systemic barriers that prevent individuals from receiving equitable healthcare. Through community initiatives, educational programming, and the establishment of Tiger's Comfort Corner, a campus-based menstrual product resource at Tuskegee University, I have witnessed how something as fundamental as access to menstrual products can affect a person's dignity, education, and overall well-being. These experiences have taught me that providing resources is only one part of creating lasting change. While community service addresses immediate needs, sustainable solutions require examining the policies, institutions, and laws that allow health disparities to persist. This realization inspired my decision to pursue both law and public health. Through my Juris Doctor, I intend to concentrate on health law, reproductive justice, and public policy. I want to understand how legislation, healthcare regulations, and legal advocacy influence access to quality care, particularly for women in underserved communities. My Master of Public Health will complement this legal education by strengthening my understanding of epidemiology, health disparities, community health, and evidence-based policy development. Together, these degrees will equip me to approach healthcare inequities from both a legal and population-health perspective. My academic and leadership experiences at Tuskegee University have further reinforced this commitment. Through my public health internship experiences with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Tuskegee bioethics program, I gained a deeper appreciation for the relationship between medical ethics, historical injustices, and public trust. As a student leader and community advocate, I have also learned that meaningful leadership requires resilience, accountability, and the willingness to challenge systems that need improvement. My long-term vision is to establish a women's center for women's health and justice, an integrated space where women can access healthcare services, legal assistance, educational resources, and advocacy under one roof. I envision a center that not only responds to immediate needs but also empowers women to understand their rights and advocate for their health. Attending an HBCU has taught me that education carries a legacy of service, perseverance, and collective advancement. I intend to honor that legacy by continuing my education and using my degrees to create opportunities for others. The financial demands of graduate education are significant, but my commitment to this mission remains unwavering. I am pursuing higher education not simply to become an attorney or public health professional, but to become a leader capable of transforming the systems that shape women's lives. My education will be the foundation, but the communities I serve will always be the purpose.

For me, attending college has never been simply about earning a degree. It represents opportunity, empowerment, and the responsibility to create a future greater than the limitations society may place on me. As an African American woman, I recognize that access to higher education was not always a guaranteed right for those who came before me. Generations of Black women fought to enter classrooms, pursue professional careers, and have their voices heard in spaces where they were historically excluded. Their sacrifices remind me that my education is not merely a personal accomplishment, but an opportunity to continue a legacy of perseverance and progress. Attending Tuskegee University, a historically Black university rooted in excellence, leadership, and service, has transformed my understanding of what higher education can make possible. Through scholarships, internships, leadership positions, and professional development opportunities, I have gained experiences that once seemed beyond my reach. From participating in public health research to engaging with professionals in law and public policy, my undergraduate experience has introduced me to opportunities that have strengthened my confidence and expanded my ambitions. More importantly, Tuskegee has surrounded me with professors, mentors, and peers who have encouraged me to recognize my potential and pursue excellence. My college journey has also taught me that success is not defined by where someone begins, but by their determination to grow. Early in my undergraduate career, I faced academic challenges that tested my confidence. Rather than allowing those setbacks to define my future, I committed myself to improving my academic performance. Through discipline, consistency, and perseverance, I raised my cumulative grade point average to approximately 3.7 and earned recognition for academic excellence. This transformation reinforced my belief that education is not only about acquiring knowledge, but also about developing the resilience to overcome adversity. As an African American woman, I understand the importance of representation in higher education and professional spaces. Every Black woman who earns a degree, enters an underrepresented profession, or assumes a leadership position challenges the limitations historically placed on our potential. I want young Black girls to see women who look like them succeeding in law, healthcare, government, and public policy and know that their aspirations are attainable. My ultimate goal is to earn both a Juris Doctor and a Master of Public Health, combining legal advocacy with public health policy to advance women's health equity. I aspire to become an attorney who challenges systemic barriers affecting underserved communities, particularly African American women. Eventually, I hope to establish a Women's Center for Women's Health and Justice that provides accessible healthcare, legal assistance, and educational resources. As I approach graduation, I recognize that Tuskegee University has given me more than an education. It has provided me with the knowledge, confidence, and foundation to turn my ambitions into meaningful action. To me, earning a college degree means honoring the sacrifices of those who came before me while creating opportunities for those who will come after me. I am not pursuing higher education simply to change my own life. I am pursuing it to expand what is possible for future generations of African American women.

Improving my community begins with recognizing the challenges that often go unnoticed and taking meaningful action to address them. As a senior at Tuskegee University, I believe that creating change does not always require extraordinary resources, but rather compassion, leadership, and a willingness to serve others. This belief has shaped my commitment to addressing period poverty through my leadership with the Tuskegee Menstrual Closet, an initiative dedicated to providing menstrual health products and essential resources to students in need. Period poverty is an often-overlooked issue that affects the health, dignity, and educational experiences of women and girls. For college students already navigating tuition, housing, food insecurity, and other financial responsibilities, access to menstrual products should not become another barrier to academic success. Yet, for many students, these essential products can create an additional financial burden. I believe no student should have to choose between purchasing basic necessities and meeting their educational needs. Through my involvement with the Tigers Comfort Corner, I have worked to increase access to menstrual health resources while promoting awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding menstruation. This experience has shown me that community improvement begins with listening to the needs of others and developing sustainable solutions that preserve dignity and empower individuals. It has also reinforced my understanding that advocacy is most impactful when it moves beyond conversations and creates tangible opportunities for change. If given the opportunity to further improve my community, I would expand the reach and sustainability of the Tuskegee Menstrual Closet by strengthening partnerships with businesses, healthcare organizations, alumni, and community leaders. These relationships would help secure consistent donations of menstrual products, financial contributions, and educational resources. I would also work to establish outreach initiatives that extend beyond campus, particularly to young girls and women in surrounding underserved communities who may face similar challenges accessing menstrual health necessities. Beyond providing products, I envision creating opportunities for menstrual health education, community engagement, and advocacy that encourage open conversations about women's health. By combining direct assistance with education, the Tuskegee Menstrual Closet could become a lasting resource that supports both students and the broader community. This mission is deeply personal because I believe meaningful leadership is measured not simply by individual accomplishments, but by the opportunities we create for others. As an aspiring attorney interested in women's health, reproductive justice, and public policy, I recognize that the challenges women experience in their everyday lives are often connected to larger systemic inequalities. My work with the Tuskegee Menstrual Closet represents an early step toward the advocacy I hope to pursue throughout my legal career. Henry Walker Sr.'s legacy of perseverance, courage, and selfless service reflects the values I strive to demonstrate through my own leadership. His story is a reminder that our circumstances do not define the impact we can have on future generations. Improving my community is important to me because every woman deserves dignity, access to essential resources, and the opportunity to pursue her goals without unnecessary barriers. Through service, advocacy, and sustainable community partnerships, I hope to build solutions that continue empowering others long after my time at Tuskegee University.

I believe excellence is not defined solely by academic achievements, leadership titles, or recognition. Instead, excellence is demonstrated through the commitment to serve others, the willingness to take initiative, and the determination to make a meaningful difference even when no one is watching. As a senior Political Science major at Tuskegee University, I strive to exemplify these principles through my academic journey, campus leadership, and dedication to improving the lives of women and girls in my community. My commitment to service began long before I arrived at Tuskegee University. In 2019, I founded The Girl Flo, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to promoting menstrual equity, education, and access to essential hygiene products. Through this work, I recognized that something as natural as menstruation could become a barrier to dignity, confidence, and educational opportunities when individuals lacked necessary resources. Rather than simply acknowledging this problem, I became determined to address it. From organizing community initiatives to advocating for menstrual health awareness, I have remained committed to creating spaces where young women and girls feel supported, educated, and empowered. In March of 2025, I recognized another opportunity to serve. I founded Tiger's Comfort Corner, a campus menstrual hygiene pantry designed to provide students with access to essential personal care products. What began as an idea to address student needs developed into an initiative requiring organization, collaboration, and consistent dedication. As the director, I coordinate volunteers, oversee operations, and work to ensure that students can access resources without embarrassment or financial barriers. This responsibility has taught me that service is not limited to organizing successful events. It also means showing up consistently, maintaining resources, and fulfilling responsibilities that may never receive public recognition. I also demonstrate excellence through my academic perseverance. During my first year of college, my cumulative GPA fell to a 2.7 following challenges in a mathematics course. Rather than allowing that setback to determine my future, I retook the course, strengthened my study habits, and committed myself to academic improvement. Today, I have raised my cumulative GPA to a 3.7 while balancing organizational leadership, community service, and preparation for law school. This journey has taught me that excellence requires discipline, accountability, and the courage to improve. Beyond my nonprofit initiatives, I serve on Tuskegee University's University Hearing and Appeals Board, where I participate in a process centered on fairness, accountability, and student advocacy. This responsibility reinforces my belief that leadership should be rooted in integrity and a willingness to stand for others. As an aspiring health law attorney, I plan to continue my commitment to service by advocating for policies that improve healthcare access and protect the rights of women, particularly those in underserved communities. My goal is not simply to earn a law degree, but to use my education to create lasting institutional change. Harriett Russell Carr's legacy reminds me that a life of excellence is ultimately measured by the lives we touch. I hope to honor that same spirit by continuing to serve with compassion, lead with purpose, and recognize that even the smallest acts of service can create meaningful change.

On November 10, 2024, what should have been a weekend filled with celebration and school pride at Tuskegee University turned into tragedy. During our annual Homecoming weekend, a shooting occurred on campus, leaving several individuals injured, one person dead, and me with a leg injury. As a student, it was heartbreaking to see a place I considered home become the center of a national conversation about gun violence. In the days that followed, I began reflecting on how quickly a moment of celebration could become a life-altering experience. The shooting also challenged my sense of security. College campuses are supposed to be places where students can pursue their dreams, build lifelong relationships, and create memories without fearing for their safety. Yet, in a matter of moments, an environment filled with joy and excitement became one marked by grief and uncertainty. Months later, I had the opportunity to use my voice through Students Demand Action during Alabama Advocacy Day. Before meeting with legislators to discuss gun safety legislation, I delivered public testimony about the shooting at my university and its impact on our campus community. Standing before an audience, I was not simply discussing a public policy issue. I was sharing an experience that had personally affected me and the place I called home. Although I had experience speaking publicly through various leadership and advocacy opportunities, this moment felt different. I was discussing something deeply personal, and I understood that sharing my experience required a different level of vulnerability. Rather than allowing the emotions surrounding that day to silence me, I chose to transform them into a message that could encourage awareness and action. This moment changed my understanding of advocacy. It is one thing to speak about gun violence through statistics and policy discussions, but it is another to explain its impact through lived experience. As I shared my story, I recognized the responsibility that comes with using my voice. I was speaking not only from my perspective but also bringing attention to the concerns of students who deserve to feel safe in their educational environments. Following my testimony, I joined fellow advocates in visiting legislators' offices to discuss gun safety measures. This experience reinforced that meaningful advocacy requires more than identifying a problem. It demands the courage to communicate difficult experiences, engage with decision-makers, and participate in conversations that can influence public policy. I also began to understand the importance of ensuring that those directly affected by public policy decisions have opportunities to contribute to the conversations surrounding them. Through this experience, I learned that confidence is not necessarily the absence of fear or discomfort. Rather, it is the willingness to speak even when the subject is difficult. I also learned that effective communication requires authenticity. My story did not need to be exaggerated to communicate the seriousness of gun violence. The experience itself carried meaning. As an aspiring attorney, I hope to continue using my voice to bridge the gap between the experiences of everyday people and the policies that shape their lives. I aspire to advocate for communities whose concerns are too often overlooked and help advance policies that promote safety, opportunity, and equity. The tragedy at Tuskegee University reminded me how quickly a community can be changed by violence. Alabama Advocacy Day taught me that my voice can be part of the effort to create change. I cannot rewrite what happened that night, but I can use my voice to help shape what happens next.

I believe that making an impact on the world begins with recognizing the needs of others and having the compassion to do something about them. Throughout my life, I have learned that service is not simply about giving what you have, but about using your voice, resources, and opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. This belief has shaped my journey as a nonprofit founder, student leader, and advocate for health equity. My commitment to service became deeply personal during my freshman year of high school in Tallahassee, Florida. One afternoon, I witnessed a classmate preparing to leave school early because she lacked access to menstrual products. What appeared to be a small inconvenience revealed a much larger issue: students were missing valuable instructional time because they could not access basic necessities. I recognized that her experience was not unique and that countless young people faced similar barriers in silence. This experience inspired me to establish The Girl Flo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing menstrual equity through education, advocacy, and access to essential hygiene products. Through this organization, I have helped distribute more than 50,000 menstrual products, organized community donation drives, and worked to bring greater awareness to period poverty. However, my work has extended beyond addressing immediate needs. I have also engaged with state lawmakers to advocate for policies that would expand access to menstrual products in public schools. When I arrived at Tuskegee University, I recognized that the need for menstrual equity did not end with high school graduation. College students also experience financial barriers that can affect their health, dignity, and academic success. In response, I established Tiger's Comfort Corner, a campus resource initiative designed to provide students with free menstrual products. Working alongside university administrators and community partners, I sought to create a sustainable resource that would continue serving students beyond my time at the university. These experiences have taught me that compassion requires more than recognizing someone's circumstances. It requires a willingness to take action, even when solutions are not immediate or easy. They have also strengthened my understanding that meaningful service involves listening to communities, identifying systemic barriers, and empowering others to advocate for themselves. As I prepare to pursue a Juris Doctor degree, I intend to build upon this foundation by becoming an attorney focused on health law and public policy. My goal is to help shape legislation that addresses health disparities, protects access to essential healthcare services, and advances equitable opportunities for underserved communities. I envision a career in which I can combine legal advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and public service to influence policies that improve lives across generations. I do not measure impact solely by the number of people served, but by whether the work creates lasting opportunities for those who come afterward. Through my continued education and commitment to service, I hope to help build a world where access to basic healthcare necessities is not determined by someone's financial circumstances or background. I want my legacy to reflect a simple principle the opportunities we receive become even more meaningful when we use them to create opportunities for others.

As a senior at Tuskegee University, I am approaching one of the most significant milestones of my educational journey earning my bachelor's degree in spring 2027 and preparing to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney. My academic goal is to attend law school and earn my Juris Doctor, with a focus on women's health, reproductive justice, and public policy. I aspire to use my legal education to advocate for underserved communities, address systemic inequalities, and advance policies that protect women's rights and access to essential resources. Throughout my undergraduate experience, I have remained committed to academic excellence, leadership, and community service. Through my leadership with the Tuskegee Menstrual Closet, a campus initiative dedicated to combating period poverty and increasing access to menstrual health resources, I have witnessed how financial barriers can affect students' well-being and educational experiences. This work has strengthened my passion for advocacy and reinforced my commitment to pursuing a legal career that creates meaningful change for women and underserved communities. However, as I complete my senior year, I am navigating unexpected financial challenges that have placed additional pressure on my educational journey. Due to the housing crisis at Tuskegee University, I was unable to secure on-campus housing and have been required to live off campus. Consequently, I have assumed additional housing and living expenses while balancing my coursework, leadership responsibilities, and preparations for law school. Although these circumstances have presented challenges, I remain determined to finish my undergraduate education and take the necessary steps toward my professional aspirations. In addition to completing my degree, I am preparing to retake the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) to strengthen my law school applications. This process requires financial resources for examination fees, preparation materials, and application expenses. With the added financial responsibility of off-campus housing, managing these costs has become increasingly difficult. Receiving this scholarship would provide meaningful financial assistance as I work toward completing my final year of undergraduate studies. The funds would help alleviate my housing and educational expenses, allowing me to allocate more of my personal resources toward LSAT registration, preparation materials, and law school applications. This support would also reduce financial stress and allow me to remain focused on maintaining strong academic performance as I approach graduation. As I prepare to transition from undergraduate studies to law school, this scholarship would help bridge the financial gap between where I am today and where I aspire to be. More than financial assistance, it would be an investment in my education, my future as an attorney, and my commitment to creating opportunities for women and communities who deserve to have their voices heard.

My commitment to women’s health began with a classmate leaving school early because she did not have access to the period products she needed. I remember realizing how something as routine as menstruation could interrupt a student’s education simply because the support she needed was unavailable. With that experience eventually inspired me to found The Girl Flo, an organization advancing menstrual equity through access, education, advocacy, and research. In college, I expanded that work by establishing Tiger’s Comfort Corner, a menstrual product closet at Tuskegee University. What began as an effort to improve access has taught me something much broader menstrual equity cannot stop at putting products in bathrooms. It must also include whether people understand their menstrual health, whether providers recognize their concerns, and whether healthcare systems are designed to respond. The broader understanding shapes Cupcakes & Conversations, The Girl Flo’s menstrual health education series. Through these conversations, I provide menstrual health education that addresses topics including PMDD and helps participants understand that severe premenstrual symptoms should not automatically be dismissed as “just PMS.” Creating spaces where people can learn the language surrounding their menstrual health is important to me because recognition can begin long before someone enters a doctor’s office. My work educating others about menstrual health has also made me interested in what happens after a patient seeks care. Someone may have access to healthcare and still lack access to informed care. When patients spend years searching for explanations or find themselves educating the professionals they sought for help, the problem is larger than individual awareness. It becomes a systems issue. As a political science student preparing to pursue legal and policy training with a focus on health law, I want to help change those systems. One concrete area I hope to explore is how standardized premenstrual symptom screening and education can become a more routine part of healthcare. Healthcare systems could incorporate questions about cyclical changes in mood, functioning, and existing mental health symptoms into appropriate screenings and clinical conversations, helping providers identify when further evaluation for conditions such as PMDD or PME may be warranted. I also want to expand The Girl Flo’s role in this work. Through partnerships with healthcare professionals, I envision strengthening our PMDD and PME education, developing accessible symptom-tracking resources, and connecting menstrual health education with pathways to appropriate professional care. My goal is not for community organizations to diagnose these conditions, but for people to recognize concerning patterns, document their experiences, and feel equipped to advocate for themselves. After receiving my legal and policy training, I aspire to establish a Health & Justice Center addressing the intersection of healthcare access, law, policy, and health equity. I envision combining legal advocacy, community education, policy research, and partnerships with healthcare professionals, with menstrual and reproductive health as an important part of that mission. My work began by asking why menstruation should ever force a student out of a classroom. Today, I am also asking why someone should spend years trying to make healthcare systems recognize what they experience every month. From Cupcakes & Conversations and The Girl Flo to my future work in health law and policy, I want to help move PMDD and PME from the margins of healthcare toward routine recognition, informed care, and meaningful support.

My turning point did not happen in a single moment. It happened when I realized that the challenges I faced were not barriers meant to stop me, but opportunities to create solutions for others. I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and from an early age, I learned the value of service, leadership, and perseverance. Throughout my life, I have often found myself in spaces where resources were limited, yet the needs of my community were great. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve problems, I became determined to be part of the solution. One of the experiences that shaped me most was founding The Girl Flo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to menstrual equity and education. What began as a desire to support girls facing period poverty grew into a mission to ensure that young women have access to the products, resources, and conversations they deserve. Through this work, I learned that leadership is not about titles. It is about listening, showing up, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. That lesson followed me to college. As a student at Tuskegee University, I continued looking for ways to serve. After recognizing the need for accessible menstrual products on campus, I founded Tigers Comfort Corner, a resource designed to help students access essential hygiene products without stigma or financial burden. Seeing students benefit from something I helped create reinforced my belief that meaningful change often begins with addressing everyday challenges that are frequently overlooked. Education has always been central to my journey. As a first-generation aspiring attorney, I understand the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities. Maintaining a strong academic record while balancing leadership roles, service commitments, internships, and campus involvement has required discipline and resilience. There have been moments when financial concerns, academic pressures, and personal responsibilities felt overwhelming. Yet each challenge strengthened my determination to continue pursuing my goals. My experiences have inspired my career aspirations in health law and public policy. I want to become an attorney who advocates for equitable healthcare access and helps shape policies that improve outcomes for underserved communities. I have seen how systems can impact people's lives, and I want to be part of building solutions that make those systems more effective, accessible, and just. Most importantly, my journey has taught me the importance of paying opportunities forward. Every mentor, educator, and leader who invested in me helped make my success possible. Their support motivates me to do the same for others. Whether through community service, advocacy, mentorship, or future legal work, I hope to create pathways for those coming behind me. The future I am building is rooted in service. My goal is not simply to achieve personal success, but to use my education and experiences to leave my community stronger than I found it. If my story has a turning point, it is realizing that leadership is not defined by where you start. It is defined by how you use your experiences to uplift others and create lasting impact. That is the legacy I hope to build.

I was meant to be a doctor. I will focus on my patient’s .Especially my African-American patients. I will stay dedicated. I will become a doctor. I have a big dream with big drives. I am Amaya J. Waymon, a goal-oriented, motivated, amazing sophomore at the James S Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida. The reason I’m a true go-getter is because I know I want more for myself and I want my future to be the best that it can be. I have to make the village and the support system proud. I’ve always been a hard worker so without a doubt that’s why I have to reach all of my dreams and not let anyone deprive me from them. The woman who I admire in the STEM field is the late Dr.Patricia Bath. She’s an African-American ophthalmologist, inventor, humanitarian.The first black doctor to land a medical patent, which she received in 1988 for laserphaco probe.Dr.Bath was an amazing African-American doctor and she inspires me so much. From all the way in the 17th and 18th centuries from now so much has been given to the African–American community that’s why it’s so important for us to use the resources and not just let them pass by. I admire Dr.Bath’s drive, dedication, and sacrifices. She didn’t give up and I won’t either .She’s passed me the torch and now I have to run with and continue to uphold the name of African-American women in STEM. I hope to achieve so much in the field of STEM .I want to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in biology on the track of becoming a neonatologist. As I’m obtaining that degree I would like to minor in chemistry and do additional research pertaining to diet and heart health. As well as focusing on biochemistry health and diseases. My desire to receive the scholarship is not superficial. I don’t just want to have the name or add it to my resume, but I truly understand the mission of this scholarship and purpose. It’s important to have women in the field of STEM. It’s even more significant to have women of color in the field of STEM. With all that said, I know that this scholarship would help me meet my dreams, and purpose. It’s my biggest dream to become a doctor, but not just a doctor but an African-American one that will make a difference for society. By awarding me the Amplify Women in STEM Scholarship I will be able to save money for college and honor the scholarship.