Growing up I knew I was different; not different, in appearance, or speech. Simply different. What my body did was unseeable, and I couldn’t quite grasp why I coded amino acids differently. I had Sickle- Cell Anemia, and it changed the course of my life. I lived with unbearable pain, month-long hospital visits, and a tumultuous social life, until 2016 when I received a bone marrow transplant. My life has changed ever since, but one thing has stuck with me: power research. It ignited a fire within me that sought even more answers, I read books, and articles, keeping up with the latest news in research. Soon enough, I had an itch that needed to be scratched. I longed to make developments that changed lives, so I chose STEM. As a minority, pursuing a major in STEM seemed out of my reach. Growing up there was not a person that I knew in this field of study. Along with that, science was never a subject that was encouraged or praised around me. So, my initial inclination to the sciences was thought to be short-lived. But who would have known that it would be a subject I would excel in! Knowing how difficult it can be to pursue the sciences, I am used to being the only representation for someone who looks like me in a room. But that has never scared me. If anything, it showed me that I was in the right place and would soon be able to create a space that invites those without these opportunities. Likewise, I am applying for this scholarship because of the opportunities that align with this financial support. I recognize the significance of finances about pursuing higher education, as I currently work multiple jobs to attend university and support myself. With this scholarship, a financial burden would be lifted, and I could pursue career-focused opportunities that would benefit my efforts to attend medical school. For example, I am adamant about gaining a real-life understanding of medical ethics and research As a former Sickle Cell patient who benefitted from technological advancements within medicine, I aspire to use my understanding as a patient to further this field of study. Sickle cell research currently is focused on providing treatment options in the form of medications and gene therapy. However, I desire to find a long-term solution that is accessible to all. While simultaneously advocating for health equity among the disenfranchised groups diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. I cannot achieve this goal through my current jobs, which I have to do through necessity. I recognize that my goals are not easily attainable. Sickle Cell Disease is complex, and the understanding of how it manifests in the human body is not fully explored. Therefore, it is clear to me that I must spend time learning as much as I can about this field, to advance my knowledge of the state of research as it is. Having financial support for my education and medical school preparation materials would allow me the time to focus on this goal. I am passionate about making a difference in this world through medicine. I believe that every day is a day of possibility and knowing that at any point and time, our whole understanding of the world can change; like it did for me. Many diseases like the Sickle-Cell are a wonder of this world, waiting to be unlocked, and this possibility is the driving force behind my determination and eagerness to reach my goals.