In 2011 I was getting ready for school and began to feel funny. My mom said I began to cry and quickly fell backwards on the tile floor in the kitchen. As my mother reached to hold and console me, I began seizing and convulsing with no prior history. Ever since the second grade, I have had impact seizures that happen when I have a hard impact on my body. I’ve been to many specialists, and I feel like I’ve taken a million tests, but they don’t know the cause neuralgically. Doctors told me that I wouldn’t be able to play with other kids or do things like everybody else. I became very embarrassed of my condition; I didn’t want anybody to know about it. I was already the youngest person in class; I didn’t want to become known for something else. I worked harder to make sure I wouldn’t slip in my grades because of my time out of school. I didn’t want people to look at me differently and try to deter me from my goals. Having experienced several seizures and the abundance of medical attention I’ve received along the way, my passion for healthcare was born. As a result, I want all the patients I will meet to learn their issues or illness don’t define them. When I begin to provide care for patients, I will share with them how to navigate life proactively with medical knowledge. I learned early that every step I take and every decision I make impacts my future, so I plan my steps strategically. During my 9th grade meeting with my school counselor, I began mapping out my graduation plan and the classes I would need. She impressed upon me the need to take rigorous classes to compete on a more level playing field with students across the globe. I chose the challenging classes and activities because I knew the choices benefit me in the long run. I attended the Morehouse College STEAM Medical camp to further my knowledge about STEAM jobs and different areas in healthcare. The Morehouse experience piqued my interest in nursing and all the possibilities the field had to offer. After 9th grade, I attended Rockdale Career Academy and joined the healthcare pathway to continue my knowledge of the vastness of the medical field. In my classes, I have experienced the healthcare field in-depth and explored what I will be learning in college and on the job. My homework not only involved writing assignments but volunteering assignments at various healthcare facilities. I volunteered at walk-in clinics and rehabilitation/therapy clinics which allowed me to assist in on-demand situations. Receiving a rigorous healthcare education and having hands-on experiences have played a big part in preparing me for my future in nursing. While involved in my studies in college and volunteerism, I will begin another aspect of my service in the community by sharing knowledge with those who don’t understand the medical field. I will educate men and women about the difference in using the emergency room for emergencies instead of for things that should be cared for by a primary doctor or clinic. I also want to help alter the health disparity that has plagued so many for so long. I will use my knowledge and resources gained in school to make a difference in the world.

Life is like a roller coaster with highs, lows, twists, and turns. I’ve encountered my share of roller coaster-like moments where life was so uncertain. My birth was uncertain because my mother was placed on bed rest for three months. Then during my birthing process, I was stuck in my mother’s wound but I instinctively I pushed my way through. Pursuing heart means chasing after something or someone with purpose, passion, compassion, and tenacity regardless of what may come. No matter the obstacles I may encounter, I will relentlessly pursue and do what I long for because I love it. Like Darnellia Russell, the girl in the movie who endured major obstacles but still followed her heart and remained committed to herself and her team because she loved the game. Her team returned the love and commitment by showing her unwavering love during her issues and supported her with open arms. I’ve always pursued heart by helping other people in need like, helping friends who needed help understanding homework, feeding the homeless, assisting with food drives and helping to raise funds for liver transplant recipients. I strive to pour into my community like the example set for me by my parents at a young age. To that point, I have pursued ways to help my community not only during the pandemic now but for years to come by focusing on young children. Impacting children is so important to me because one day they will lead the world. Planting a seed in them is so powerful because they will carry it through life as they blossom. During the pandemic I realized young children were missing principal years of learning in the school setting. Children learn the most in early education because the brain is a super sponge during these years as they learn fundamental lessons that will build their educational foundation. As a result of the pandemic, children didn’t get this opportunity. I wanted the children to continue pursuing heart in learning because education is critical. While pursuing heart for my love of helping others, I created my community service project to help fill the gap for young children. “Little Ones Reading Club with Carrington” was founded July 1, 2020, for children ages 1-5. Every other Thursday, I have a Zoom call to read to the children in my family, neighborhood, and a small daycare. I also engage them in number, shape, color and animal recognition and nursery rhyme reciting. To continue pursuing my goals, I plan to work as a nurse in hospitals or small practices after I graduate to give back. This scholarship will not only help me, but it will benefit the patients I will servicing after having received a quality education. I will be able to provide patients with the quality care they deserve. Not only do I want to help patients, I also want to educate how they can better their health. As a young African American, I desire to make a difference in the healthcare field and my community. The disparity of black and brown communities having access to healthcare has been a rising problem. According to the CDC, “People from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by lack of access to quality health care, health insurance, and/or linguistically and culturally responsive health care.” I am excited about educating my community about this and providing as much access to healthcare to help eliminate the obstacles to better health. I will pursue this dream until my work is done.