Some of my most meaningful achievements have come from serving in the community. I have seen the joy come over kids as we handed them book bags, or winter coats. I’ve watched senior citizens go from helpless to hopeful as we spread holiday cheer. Participating in these types of events has helped me see firsthand what life is like for many people in my community who aren’t fortunate to have access to bare necessities. Some people are overlooked for reasons beyond their control like their race or economic background. My career goal is to go into Public Health. I would like to be able to establish clinics within the community for those less fortunate to have access to basic needs and healthcare. We can provide education to help them make better decisions that will prevent illness and the need for costly medical expenses, and treat them for minor cases at minimal cost. I want to help shape the minds and bodies of kids so they are healthier in their adult years. I believe that starting healthy habits early can have a lasting impact on a person's life. I have seen many kids in my community struggle with health issues like obesity, that could have been prevented with better education. This has inspired me to want to be part of the solution. I want to work with children to teach them about nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness. By helping kids develop healthy habits early on, I hope to reduce the number of people being diagnosed with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease in the future. I am eager, to begin my journey in college. I have chosen to pursue a degree in Biology and begin a career in health science because I want to help put an end to the racist, discrimination, and misrepresentation in Healthcare. I am particularly passionate about addressing health disparities in the Black community. As a Black female, I understand the unique challenges we face when it comes to healthcare. There is often a lack of representation and understanding in the medical field. Most professionals today are trained to treat illness that are prevalent in the White community and they are being trained primarily at White institutions using White bodies. Our genetic makeup is vastly different which calls for more studies to be conducted using Black subjects. Due to the lack of representation in the field, far too many Blacks are dying which has created a public health crisis. Bottom line is our culture is just not studied enough to receive adequate care. I hope to bring more diversity to the field and provide culturally competent care to my patients. In conclusion, we need to put an end to the misrepresentation of Blacks in STEM and specifically Health Sciences. The racism and discrimination that exist within the field are a detriment to the future of our health. As a Black female, I hope to inspire more females to join the healthcare field and address health disparities in our community. Representation matters, and I believe that seeing someone who looks like them in a healthcare role can inspire young girls to follow their dreams like it did for me. With hard work and dedication, I believe I can make a positive impact and help create a healthier future for all. Thank you for considering my application.

Black Lives Matter! I am eager, to begin my journey in college to join the fight. I have chosen to pursue a degree in Biology with a concentration in Pre-Med, because I want to help put an end to the racist, discrimination, and misrepresentation in Healthcare. We need more Blacks in the field of healthcare so our people will feel more comfortable seeking medical care. Too often we show up at doctors offices and hospitals in dire need, only to be met with healthcare professionals who give minimal attention to our ailments and send us home still suffering. Our elders don't trust the system and they are becoming more dependent on medicine due to simple illnesses going undiagnosed for too long. I am particularly passionate about addressing health disparities in the Black community. As a Black female, I understand the unique challenges we face when it comes to healthcare. There is often a lack of representation and understanding in the medical field. Most healthcare professionals today are trained to treat illnesses that are prevalent in the White community and they are being trained primarily at White institutions using White bodies. Our genetic makeup is vastly different which calls for more studies to be conducted using Black subjects to effectively get to the root cause of the issue. Due to the lack of representation in the field, far too many Blacks are dying unnecessarily which has created a public health crisis. The maternal mortality rates of Black women versus White women is sickening. Bottom line is our culture is just not studied enough to receive adequate care. I hope to bring more diversity to the field and provide culturally appropriate care to my patients. In conclusion, we need to put an end to the misrepresentation of Blacks in STEM and specifically in the area of Health Sciences. The racism and discrimination that exists within the field are a detriment to the future of our health. As a Black female, I hope to inspire more females to join the healthcare field and address health disparities in our community. Representation matters, and I believe that seeing someone who looks like them in a healthcare role can inspire young girls to follow their dreams like it did for me. With hard work and dedication, I believe I can make a positive impact and help create a healthier future for all. Thank you for considering my application.

Have you ever met anyone who needed emergency, life-saving surgery on their 3rd birthday? Well here I am, my name is Brianna Clark. As a child I was very inquisitive, which was relatively harmless until I stumbled upon a shiny object on my 3rd Birthday. I swallowed a watch battery and had to have an emergency endoscopy. Amongst other childhood illnesses, I have turned my experiences into helping others. My sickly childhood inspired me to pursue a degree in healthcare because I want to help shape the minds and bodies of kids so they are healthier in their adult years. I believe that starting healthy habits early can have a lasting impact. As a female in the field, I hope to inspire more Black females to join healthcare and make a difference in their communities. As I have matriculated through school, I have seen many people in my community struggle with health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease that could have been prevented with better education and access to care. This has inspired me to want to be part of the solution. I want to work with children to teach them about nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness. By helping kids develop healthy habits early on, I hope to reduce the number chronic disease diagnosis in the future. I recently graduated from Tri-Cities High School with a distinguished diploma and 3.8 GPA, I maintained honor roll status throughout high school while working multiple part-time jobs. I am in the top 10% of my class and as a result of my demonstrated excellence in academics, campus involvement, and community engagement I was selected by the faculty as a Senior of Distinction. This shows my dedication and ability to manage my time effectively. In addition to my academic achievements, I have participated in extracurricular activities such as Varsity Cheer and Varsity Dance (Captain), where our competition team won a State Title. These experiences have taught me how to balance the demands of school and extracurriculars alike. I am also a member of the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, as well as a 4.0 Dual Enrollment student. Being part of these organizations has helped me develop leadership skills and a strong work ethic. As a magnet ambassador I have over 1,500 hours of volunteer and community service hours. I served as the coordinator for community outreach for the dance program as well as team lead for the community service organization that I’ve been a part of since 7th grade, this shows my commitment to helping others. While my exact path in the healthcare field is not yet determined, I will continue my studies at Alabama A&M University in the Fall. I am particularly passionate about addressing the health disparities in the Black community. As a Black female, I understand the unique challenges we face when it comes to healthcare. There is often a lack of representation and understanding in the medical field, I hope to bring more diversity to the field and provide culturally appropriate care to my patients. I am excited to learn from experienced professionals and gain the skills I need to make a positive impact. I also plan to get involved in student organizations and community service projects that focus on health and wellness. By working with others who share my passion, I hope to make a difference both on campus and in the surrounding community. As a young female in healthcare, I want to be a role model for other Black females. I hope to show them that they too can pursue careers in this field and make a difference. Representation matters, and I believe that seeing someone who looks like them in a healthcare role can inspire young girls to follow their dreams like it did for me. Going to college has always been one of my dreams, and I’m aware that my career path will take me beyond and undergraduate degree. Unfortunately, the price tag that comes with that dream is daunting and has created significant financial burdens for several of my peers. I do not want that to be my story, so I am putting in the work to change the narrative. Knowing that dreams are attainable if you put in the effort has propelled me to seek additional funding to see that dream through. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. It will assist me in completing my degree without the fear of a mountain of debt looming at the end of my undergrad studies and allow me to pursue my passion for helping others, through a career in healthcare. I am determined to make a positive impact in my community and serve as a role model for other young Black women who aspire to achieve their dreams. In conclusion, being the recipient of this scholarship would be an honor, and not only will it support my pursuit of higher education but also reinforce my mission to inspire others to follow their dreams and passions. I want to help kids develop healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. With hard work and dedication, I believe I can make a positive impact and help create a healthier future for all. Thank you for considering my application.

The scariest moment in my life occurred on my 3rd birthday, I had to have an emergency Endoscopy to remove a battery that I swallowed. At the time, I did not understand the severity of the situation, but as I got older, I began to understand just how scary that situation must have been for my parents. My Pediatrician was never more than a phone call away when sickness occurred. This is just one of the reasons I want to go into healthcare, I want to join the profession that saved my life. I also want to help shape the minds and bodies of kids so they are healthier in their adult years. I believe that starting healthy habits early can have a lasting impact on a person's life. As a female in the field, I hope to inspire more Black females to join healthcare and make a difference in their communities. I have seen many kids in my community struggle with health issues like obesity, and diabetes that could have been prevented with better education. This has inspired me to want to be part of the solution. I want to work with children to teach them about nutrition, exercise, and overall wellness. By helping kids develop healthy habits early on, I hope to reduce the number of people being diagnosed with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease in the future. I am excited to learn from experienced professionals and gain the skills I need to make a positive impact. By working with others who share my passion, I hope to make a difference both on campus and in the surrounding community. As a young female in healthcare, I want to be a role model for other Black females. I hope to show them that they too can pursue careers in this field and make a difference. Representation matters, and I believe that seeing someone who looks like them in a healthcare role can inspire young girls to follow their dreams like it did for me. In conclusion, I hope to inspire more females to join the healthcare field and address health disparities in our community. Receiving this scholarship, will help me pursue my passion for helping others. I am determined to make a positive impact in my community and serve as a role model for other young Black women who aspire to achieve their dreams.

Going to college has always been one of my dreams. Unfortunately, the price tag that comes with that dream is daunting and has created financial burdens for several of my peers. I do not want that to be my story, so I am putting in the work to change the narrative. Learning that dreams are attainable if you put in the effort has propelled me to seek additional funding to see that dream through. I should be awarded the Bright Lights Scholarship because I am a hardworking and deserving student looking to pursue higher education. My plan is to major in a field related to healthcare, law, or psychology. I am considering colleges like Howard University, Florida A & M University, and Spelman College, where I can explore majors like Nursing, Pre-Med, or Criminal Justice. With a 3.7 GPA, I have maintained honor roll status while working multiple part-time jobs throughout high school. This shows my dedication and ability to manage my time effectively. In addition to my academic achievements, I have participated in extracurricular activities such as Varsity Cheer and Varsity Dance, where our competition team won a State Title. These experiences have taught me how to balance the demands of school and extracurriculars. I am also a member of The National Beta Club and the National Honor Society of Dance Arts, as well as a Dual Enrollment student. Being part of these organizations has helped me develop leadership skills and a strong work ethic. Moreover, I am a member of the Senior Council and an ambassador for my school's dance magnet program. I have over 1,500 hours of volunteer and community service through school and organizations, which shows my commitment to helping others. This scholarship will help me reach my ultimate goal of securing a degree in higher education without going into massive debt. By receiving the Bright Lights Scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my studies and less on financial stress. It will allow me to pursue my passion for helping others, whether through a career in healthcare or law. I am determined to make a positive impact in my community and serve as a role model for other young Black women who aspire to achieve their dreams. In conclusion, this scholarship will not only ease the financial burden of college but also empower me to continue my journey of academic excellence and community service. I am ready to work hard and make the most of the opportunities that come my way. Thank you for considering my application for the Bright Lights Scholarship.