Surviving domestic violence and subsequently being diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) did not just disrupt my life, it completely altered its trajectory. Growing up, I was exposed to substance abuse in my household, and I worked a job starting at age sixteen just to build stability. Back then, I didn’t know my worth, and I never thought I would find a way out of McComb, Mississippi. The trauma shattered my fundamental understanding of safety, altered how I navigate relationships, and forced me to rebuild my future from the ground up. Yet, standing here today as a senior in college, looking back at the court battles, the psychological wreckage, and the moments I barely survived, I know that my story is a testament to faith, endurance, and an undeniable drive to reclaim my life. For a long time, the trauma was compounded by the deep betrayal of the person who should have protected me most. My mother was my worst enemy in those moments, actively encouraging me to return to danger. At just eighteen years old, when I was vulnerable and desperate for support, she told me to go back to him and get beat. Rather than offering a safe refuge, her words reinforced the abuse and pushed me deeper into the trap. Trapped in the psychological web of trauma bonding, manipulation, and fear, I constantly questioned my own choices. Unraveling that self-blame was one of the hardest parts of my healing journey, requiring me to recognize that returning was not a sign of weakness, but a reflection of how deeply abuse and family betrayal distort a person’s sense of self-worth. In the midst of that chaos, the University of Mississippi truly saved my life. Coming to Ole Miss gave me something I had never experienced before: absolute stability. For the first time, I had a safe space to sleep, a consistent structure, and an environment where I could focus on my growth instead of pure survival. That foundation made it possible to step away from the abuse for good. Surviving the physical and emotional danger was nothing short of miraculous, and if it were not for God, I would not have made it out, let alone alive. Faith became my anchor, giving me the strength to face the grueling road ahead. Leaving the abusive situation, however, was only the beginning of the battle. I had to fight for justice in the court system while simultaneously maintaining my education. Sitting in courtroom chairs, forced to recount my trauma and fight for my protection while carrying the weight of a fresh PTSD diagnosis, was the hardest challenge of my life. Walking out of legal proceedings only to step directly back into the lecture hall required an incredible level of discipline and strength. The hyper vigilance and emotional exhaustion of PTSD followed me into every classroom, turning everyday academic pressures into monumental hurdles. Yet, I refused to let the trauma dictate my future. Navigating that court battle while staying in school forced me to cultivate an indestructible resilience. Today, as a senior in college, my goals, relationships, and worldview are fundamentally transformed. I no longer measure success by superficial standards; I measure it by peace, self-determination, and purpose. My relationships are built on fierce boundaries and genuine trust. Earning this scholarship will directly support the final step of my undergraduate journey, honoring the sacrifice it took to get here and fueling my determination to turn a journey of survival into a life of lasting impact.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. The first time I saw the need for equity in medicine happened after experiencing tragedy in my family. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. That moment of hurt taught me to fight for my community and inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My goal is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. Chemical engineering will set the basis for helping fulfill my dream. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. The first time I saw the need for equity in medicine happened after experiencing tragedy in my family. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. That moment of hurt taught me to fight for my community and inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My goal is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. Chemical engineering will set the basis for helping fulfill my dream of equity in medicine. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. The first time I saw the need for equity in medicine happened after experiencing tragedy in my family. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. That moment of hurt taught me to fight for my community and inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My goal is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. Chemical engineering will set the basis for helping fulfill my dream. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. Their deaths inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. Their deaths inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. Their deaths inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. Their deaths inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for engineering started small and is expanding. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in engineering drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school to pursue my passion project, chemical engineering. Engineering allows me to think out of the box and innovate new technologies. Chemical engineering will not only let me fulfill my dream but is the combination of my skills in healthcare and construction. Chemical engineering is the opportunity to do good by using my talents. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the engineering field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson, and Madam C.J. Walker are black people who changed the world by thinking outside of the box. Like these revolutionists, I dare to dream. My name is Bailey Bonds. I am a senior at McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. Outgoing, determined, and fearless are three words my peers and mentors would use to describe me. Like the small city I live in, my passion for medicine started small and is expanding. Inequity in the medical field is an issue that is close to my heart. My aunts and grandmother passed from ovarian cancer before they were sixty. Their deaths inspired me to stop the cycle of death in black communities. When differentiated from other racial groups, black people are hit harder by diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Frequently, clinical trials lack diversity. Participants do not represent minorities or people of color. As a result, some medicines may work for the majority and not work as efficiently for people of color. This lack of diversity early on creates a ripple effect on the health of minority communities. My dream is to own a pharmaceutical company. My company will specialize in manufacturing drugs and alternative medicine for people of color. My slogan, Quality, not quantity, embodies my company's standards and values. Affordability and quality products are the two features the world needs. I want to see people from all walks of life able to live fruitful and fulfilling lives. Imagine if Walmart, Walgreens, and local pharmacies carried medication catered to black communities in every nook and cranny of the world. The lives of many black people can be preserved and even extended. To reach my career goals, I plan to go to undergraduate school for chemical engineering. After undergraduate school, I will continue my education in a dual degree program, MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program). My field of study for my Ph.D. will be pharmacology, and my field of study for my MD will be oncology. Changing the world starts with someone willing to think outside the box and break the mold. I am the one who will transform the world by revolutionizing the medical field. I will fight for the people of color that are disadvantaged. The level of normalcy does not have to be disease, and the cycle will break. Health and happiness are more than a dream; they are the future.

An African-American girl living in a rural area of Mississippi with big dreams. A girl that does not come from a two-parent home or an affluent family. A girl that shoots for the stars despite her circumstances. That girl is me. My name is Bailey Bonds. I attend McComb High School in McComb, Mississippi. I am a seventeen-year-old go-getter, who takes risks, and values leadership. I help facilitate our school's blood drive, serve as the president of Beta Club, and assistant secretary of Mt. Nebo CME church. What do you want to be when you grow up? I was asked this question at three, but I did not grasp it until later. My cousin, Jan's harmless question was the spark of my career aspirations. My earliest memories are operating on my dolls, inventing concoctions of different things around the house, and researching various medical careers. By five, I knew my future career would be rooted in STEM. In my freshman year, I had the opportunity to pursue Health Science, a two-year class at the Business & Technology Center. Although Health Science is not typically open to ninth graders, I advocated on my behalf. This life-changing opportunity allowed me to study how science, technology, and mathematics intertwine into medicine. I loved it. After completing the second year of Health Science, I was certified in CPR and Healthcare and Clinical Sevices. Health science exposed me to pharmaceutical science. Being a pharmaceutical scientist, I will cultivate new medications. I know I want to pursue this career because it is a melting pot of my interests. However, I felt lost in the moment. At the end of my sophomore year, two new opportunities surfaced. The first opportunity was to take another two-year program. I took a step out of my comfort zone by choosing Construction Technology. Construction Technology allows me to explore the technological and engineering principles surrounding construction. The second opportunity was to take chemistry. My school reserves Chemistry solely for seniors. However, I advocated for the reason I deserved a spot. Chemistry was the closest I could get to my desired career plan. I was adamant about exploring my interests now rather than later. My decision to pursue these courses transformed my life. In Construction Technology, I created a box, three-teared shelf, and sawhorse. My efforts throughout the year resulted in my first-year NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) certification. Construction opened the door to creating things that were once figments of my imagination using technology, engineering, and mathematics. Analogous to Construction, Chemistry took me on a journey to explore the infinitude of science. Chemistry was a class reserved for seniors. However, I advocated once again for the reason I deserved a spot. I learned that Chemical engineering provided direct alignment to pharmaceutical science. The diverse STEM opportunities I had in high school show me that making the best of your resources is quintessential. If Jan never asked me that question, I would not have had the curiosity to discover my career aspirations. When I graduate in 2023, I plan to major in chemical engineering and become a pharmaceutical scientist. I will succeed with focus and determination. As Marie Curie once said, "We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves."