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Nicholas Hood

2,535

Bold Points

Bio

From a young age, I’ve been fueled by curiosity. Before I could even read, my parents signed me up for a monthly science book subscription, and I would spend hours poring over images of planets, animals, and dinosaurs. Those early experiences lit a spark in me... a need to understand how the world works. That spark grew into a passion for science, and eventually, a calling to become a doctor. I’m currently pursuing a psychology degree at Ohio University, with plans to transition into pre-med and ultimately attend medical school. My goal is to become a physician who not only understands the science of the human body but also deeply values the human experience behind every patient. I bring with me a diverse academic background, a relentless work ethic, and a sincere desire to help others. I’m building my journey with intention... using every opportunity, whether academic, personal, or professional, to grow into the best version of myself. Alongside school, I’ve developed leadership, communication, and analytical skills through hands-on projects, startup planning, and community involvement. I believe in showing up prepared, staying curious, and giving back whenever I can. Medicine isn’t just a career path for me... it’s a lifelong commitment to learning, service, and compassion. With support from scholarships like those on Bold.org, I’ll continue to push forward, one step closer to the white coat I’ve dreamed of wearing since those first science books arrived in the mail.

Education

Ohio University-Lancaster Campus

Bachelor's degree program
2024 - 2028
  • Majors:
    • Psychology, General
  • Minors:
    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Biopsychology
    • Neurobiology and Neurosciences
    • Psychology, General
    • Research and Experimental Psychology
    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
    • Psychology, Other
    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
    • Human Biology
  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Medicine

    • Dream career goals:

      Neuropsychiatry

    • Account Specialist

      Discover Financial Services
      2023 – 20252 years
    • Owner Operator

      Epilogue: A Bookery & More LLC
      2021 – 20232 years
    • President - Board of Directors

      Fathom Arts Consortium
      2019 – 20256 years
    • Glazier - Journeyman

      Union 1275
      2016 – 20215 years

    Sports

    Crossfit

    Intramural
    2016 – 20193 years

    Arts

    • Fathom Arts Consortium

      Painting
      2019 – 2025

    Public services

    • Advocacy

      Fathom Arts Consortium — President - Board of Directors
      2019 – 2025

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Entrepreneurship

    Catrina Celestine Aquilino Memorial Scholarship
    I was raised to believe that where you start in life doesn’t define where you’ll end up, but it does shape how you choose to help others. As a first-generation college student and future physician, I carry with me a deep understanding of what it means to navigate systems not built with people like me in mind. And because of that, I’ve made it my mission to serve those who are too often overlooked or underserved by the healthcare system. I’m currently pursuing a degree in psychology at Ohio University with plans to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist. My interest in medicine started early, sparked by monthly science books my parents subscribed me to before I could even read. I would spend hours flipping through images of planets, animals, and the human body, captivated by the complexity of life and the power of healing. That early curiosity never left me, it just grew more focused as I learned how mental health, trauma, and access to care can profoundly shape a person’s life. But my path hasn’t been easy. I was diagnosed with ADD as a child and spent years struggling to find the right balance of medication, structure, and support. I often felt like my brain worked against me, racing ahead in some areas, stalling out in others. I’ve also had to navigate the financial realities of college largely on my own. Being first generation means there’s no family playbook for higher education. Everything I’ve achieved so far has been the result of perseverance, trial and error, and learning how to advocate for myself. Those challenges have become the foundation of my purpose. I plan to use my career in medicine to make healthcare more human, more empathetic, more accessible, and more inclusive. I want to work in underserved communities, particularly with children and adolescents, helping them manage mental health issues early and fully. I want to be the kind of doctor who doesn’t just treat symptoms, but understands the social, emotional, and cultural roots of a person’s pain. Like Catrina Celestine Aquilino, I believe justice and care should never depend on where someone was born or what circumstances they come from. I want to extend my reach across communities, crossing boundaries of class, race, and geography to bring compassionate care to those who need it most. In the future, I also hope to work on public health initiatives and policy reform, helping reshape systems that too often fail vulnerable populations. What stands out to me most about Catrina’s legacy is the way she cast her circle wide, learning from other cultures, listening to unheard voices, and offering her brilliance with generosity and humility. That’s the model I hope to follow in medicine. Not just to practice, but to serve. Not just to cure, but to connect. Receiving this scholarship would not only support my journey to medical school, but it would also connect me to a legacy of courage, compassion, and justice. It would remind me that no matter the obstacles I’ve faced, I have a responsibility to reach back, reach out, and help others find their way forward.
    Manny and Sylvia Weiner Medical Scholarship
    I wasn’t born into a family of doctors, but I carry the dreams of one. My grandmother was a candy striper who eventually became a phlebotomist, or as she proudly called herself, a “veena puncturist.” She was drawn to medicine, driven by compassion and curiosity, and if life had offered her more opportunities, I believe she would have become a physician. That dream, unrealized in her lifetime, lives on in me. I want to become a medical doctor because I believe healing is about more than diagnosing conditions, it’s about seeing people fully. From the time I was a child, flipping through monthly science books before I could even read, I was fascinated by the human body and mind. That early wonder transformed into a deep desire to understand people and help them through some of the hardest moments of their lives. Over time, my passion focused on psychiatry, where I hope to provide care to underserved communities often left behind by our healthcare system. But getting here hasn’t been easy. I’m a first-generation college student, and navigating higher education has meant facing challenges at every turn. I’ve had to figure out everything, from how to fill out financial aid forms to how to balance work and coursework, all on my own. The path to medicine is already demanding, but when you’re also carrying the weight of financial strain, every step forward feels like a fight. Preparing for medical school has been one of the most rewarding and difficult experiences of my life. Between tuition, textbooks, MCAT prep, and the looming cost of applications and travel, the financial barriers are real and ever-present. Still, I push forward because the end goal isn’t just a title, it’s a mission. I want to become the kind of doctor who brings care to communities where it’s often absent, especially when it comes to mental health. I want to be a consistent, trustworthy presence in the lives of people who feel invisible. The story of Emanuel “Manny” Weiner resonates deeply with me. Like my grandmother, he had the heart, intellect, and drive for medicine but was held back by financial constraints. I often think about how many brilliant, compassionate people are never given the chance to become the doctors they could be. That thought doesn’t discourage me, it motivates me. It reminds me that every scholarship, every ounce of support, matters. The challenges I’ve faced have shaped me into someone who will not just be a doctor, but a deeply empathetic one. I’ll walk into every exam room carrying not only my knowledge, but also the understanding of what it means to struggle, to be unseen, to have to fight for every opportunity. And I’ll use that understanding to listen more closely, to advocate more fiercely, and to serve with a level of care that goes beyond clinical treatment. This scholarship would not only lighten my financial burden, but it would also affirm the legacy I carry and help me turn generational limitations into lifelong impact.
    Nicholas Hood Student Profile | Bold.org