My name is Deja Dixon, and I am from Knightdale, North Carolina. I come from a working class family. My parents always stressed the importance of working hard and receiving a good education. We would have talks about financial debt, what it meant, and possible solutions. We also had talks about the benefits of education. My parents have always been lifelong learners and stressed the importance of a good education. Their commitment to education inspires me to pursue a doctorate degree. I remember excelling in class as early as primary school. I would always tell my friends that hard work would lead to acceptance in a great university. Of course, in elementary, most kids weren’t thinking that far ahead. However, this illustrates how long education has been of value to me. I graduated high school in the top ten percent of my class; ranked 16 out of 331 seniors. My unweighted grade point average was 3.82 and the weighted grade point average was 4.25. Upon much reflection, I am in much awe of my accomplishments. During high school, depression was a severe obstacle, with bad days outweighing the good. Halfway through junior year, Covid would ravage the world, forcing students to learn online. The reality of the pandemic prevented me from taking any standardized tests. I enrolled at Howard University in August 2021. Currently a senior, maintaining a grade point average of 3.49 and making the Dean’s list since my freshman year. Despite all the odds, I have persevered and will continue to do so until I am known as Dr. Deja Dixon. This scholarship will allow me to afford books, graduation fees, and application fees for graduate school. This scholarship would give me the opportunity to focus solely on my academics without having to balance a full-time job during my last semester at Howard. After graduation, Target has offered me a job as a generalist Human Resources Executive Team Lead. I value serving others just as much as I value my education. I often think about how much further I would be if my mental health struggles were identified earlier on. I know what it is to be resilient, yet I also know the power of having a support system. As a psychology major, I believe I can help foster a healthy work environment, combining my personal history and degree to create an effective support system for employees. This past summer I was an intern with Target’s Human Resources Executive Team Lead. We supported charities within the Knightdale community. There was also a community service event geared towards low-income neighborhoods, where Target provided toys and games for the children. Having the support of those around me made the difference between my quitting and me persevering. There is no doubt in my mind that when employees feel supported by their employers, that they will be more willing to stay with that company. The employees at Target valued recognition, whether it was verbal or with Target swag. I have a support system. I want to create that system for others, and I hope you will extend your support as well. Thank you.

My journey to Howard University was a long one. It was full of hard work, sweat, tears, self neglect and more. We know what it is to congratulate someone on reaching the mountains, yet we never know what it took to reach that destination. From the time that I was a little girl I knew that I wanted to be great. I wanted to attend a great school, obtain a great job, and live a great life. I believe most people can say they wouldn’t strive for anything less. Until you reach the mountaintops, you are unaware of how much more you have to accomplish. My acceptance into Howard University was my mountaintop. It was the destination that I had put years of work towards to reach. I believed that this was the hardest step for me. The rest of my story would be smooth sailing. I wasn’t prepared for what was to come. While I was home for winter break during my freshman year, I was sexually assaulted. This became a very dark place in my life. I decided to keep this information from my parents. I could figure this out on my own, I always did. I returned back to campus with this fresh wound in my heart and mind. I went through the semester and finished on the Dean’s list. Extremely depressed, I was able to put my all into that semester. I trusted that this would be my biggest obstacle as a student.That summer, I found out that I did not have enough money to stay at Howard. The pain and anguish that comes with knowing you are smart enough to get in but not rich enough to stay. I remember the defeat as if it were yesterday. I had worked so hard to reach the mountaintops, just to be thrown off. I became a remote student during my sophomore year. This cut down on costs while allowing me to stay enrolled at Howard. I ended up getting a full-time job and a part-time job to make ends meet. I finished my first semester successfully with As and Bs. Once again, I was proud of what I was able to accomplish. Three days after Christmas I would end up in the hospital for attempted suicide. Hiding my pain and the stress of that year had become too much for me. I was admitted to a mental hospital and was released the first week of January. God spared my life and for that I am determined to keep pushing forward. Upon my release, I went back into my routine of school and working. My family and friends continued to support and encourage me along my journey. Once again, I finished this semester successfully, ending on the Dean’s list once again. I am now entering my second semester of my junior year. Again, I am being met with obstacles. Over winter break, I applied for classes and obtained the remote courses I needed. However, upon later observation of my classes showed that over half of them were switched to in person. I was not given a heads up about the location of these courses changing. Classes start on January 8th, 2024 and I am faced with the option of being a homeless student, or taking a semester off. I have come this far and overcome so much to have to stop now. The money from this scholarship will allow me to find a place to live and graduate on time.

My journey to Howard University was a long one. It was full of hard work, sweat, tears, self-neglect and more. We know what it is to congratulate someone on reaching the mountains, yet we never know what it took to reach that destination. From the time that I was a little girl I knew that I wanted to be great. I wanted to attend a great school, obtain a great job, and live a great life. I believe most people can say they wouldn’t strive for anything less. Until you reach the mountaintops, you are unaware of how much more you have to accomplish. My acceptance into Howard University was my mountaintop. It was the destination that I had put years of work towards to reach. I believed that this was the hardest step for me. The rest of my story would be smooth sailing. I wasn’t prepared for what was to come. While I was home for winter break during my freshman year, I was sexually assaulted. This became a very dark place in my life. I decided to keep this information from my parents. I could figure this out on my own, I always did. I returned back to campus with this fresh wound in my heart and mind. I went through the semester and finished on the Dean’s list. Extremely depressed, I was able to put my all into that semester. I trusted that this would be my biggest obstacle as a student. That summer, I found out that I did not have enough money to stay at Howard. The pain and anguish that comes with knowing you are smart enough to get in but not rich enough to stay. I remember the defeat as if it were yesterday. I had worked so hard to reach the mountaintops, just to be thrown off. I had accomplished so much yet it continued to feel like so little. I gave myself three days to let the tears fall. After those three days I had to figure out my next steps. I became a remote student during my sophomore year. This cut down on costs while allowing me to stay enrolled at Howard. I ended up getting a full-time job and a part-time job to make ends meet. I finished my first semester successfully with As and Bs. Once again, I was proud of what I was able to accomplish. Three days after Christmas I would end up in the hospital for attempted suicide. Hiding my pain and the stress of that year had become too much for me. I was admitted to a mental hospital and was released the first week of January. Upon my release, I went back into my routine of school and working. Once again, I finished this semester successfully, ending on the Dean’s list once again. I am now entering my second semester of my junior year. Again, I am being met with obstacles. Over winter break, I applied for classes and obtained the remote courses I needed. However, upon later observation of my classes showed that over half of them were switched to in person. I was not given a heads up about the location of these courses changing. I am faced with the option of being a homeless student or taking a semester off. I have come this far and overcome so much to have to stop now. The money from this scholarship will allow me to find a place to live and graduate on time. As a future psychologist, I want to help young adults who are faced with continuous obstacles.

The concept and lifestyle that go with mental health have gained a strong importance in my life, following my struggles. During my sophomore year of high school, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Since my diagnosis, I have been working towards navigating through life in a way that is most beneficial to my well-being. I have learned that when it comes to mental health battles, knowing when to ask for help is the first step. I’ve learned that “help” comes in many different forms. There are times when you have to make decisions you may not want to make, to strengthen your mind. Since my diagnosis, I have had two hospitalizations to a mental hospital. Although the decision to self-admit was not an easy one, I realized that it was a step necessary to healing. We must prioritize what we need over what we may want at the moment. My hospitalizations were usually due to a build-up of stress and trauma that I wanted to “handle myself”. When speaking about mental illness, people often talk about not wanting to inconvenience others with their problems. I’ve learned that there exist resources for this exact reason. Receiving therapy and reaching out to others is not a sign of weakness. If anything, this is one of the biggest signs of strength. I have also learned that putting your mental health on the back burner does not make your troubles go away. All this does is postpone dealing with the problem, essentially allowing future stress to build upon what you have stored. During my stay in the hospital, I read a quote that was posted on the wall. The quote states, “ If you do not make time for your health, you will have to make time for your illness”. This is a quote that has since occupied my mind. I have become more diligent with facing obstacles head-on so they will not grow in size. My journey with improving my mental health has taught me lessons that can be applied to all aspects of my life. Although this journey can be difficult and exhausting, I have learned that beauty lies in pain. This seemed like such a cliche to hear when facing my hardest battles. Yet, I am now able to see the truth in this saying. If I could end this essay with advice to anyone dealing with mental health setbacks and illness, I would leave these three suggestions. Always remember that a bad day does not equate to a bad life. Self-care is not a privilege but a necessity. My last piece of advice would be to remember that no one has gotten to where they are without help. These are the pieces of advice that have kept me going. I recognize the importance of mental health and I hope that everyone who reads this will be able to see the importance as well.

Every great person has one thing in common. They received help along the way to greatness. Some may argue that receiving help is a form of weakness. However, it is our moments of need that build the most character. The legacy we leave behind is so much more than our name, or what we have built over time. I am honored to say that I come from a family that is known for their support in the community. This is a legacy, powerful beyond measure, that I intend to continue. I remember one of the first times I helped someone other than my family. I was only four years old, although the memory feels as fresh as yesterday. My mother and I had a tradition of going to Krispy Kreme on Wednesdays if my week had gone well. As a four-year-old, there were very few things I loved as much as a Krispy Kreme donut, fresh from the back. We pulled up to the front of the store and my mother gave me my dollar to purchase my donut. It’s only too bad that dollar donuts are a thing of the past now. As I was walking to the front door, I remember seeing a man sitting at a table in front of the window. I noticed that he had a sad look on his face. I wondered how someone could be so sad at such a happy place. Donuts were supposed to make everyone feel better. However, I also noticed that he didn’t have a donut. I looked at my mom and told her that I didn’t want a donut that day. Instead, I wanted to give the man my donut, so he wouldn’t be sad anymore. My mother agreed that it was a great idea, and I went to the counter and purchased the man a donut. I remember how happy he was. This didn’t surprise me since donuts always brought a smile to my face as well. The man thanked me for being so kind. On the way home, eating the donut that my mom purchased for me after gifting my own to the man, I noticed that a few tears dropped from her eyes. She told me that what I had done was a very selfless thing. I should be proud of helping others because that is the life God would want us to live. After that day, I realized the importance of helping others. I remember how warm I felt. I remember the smile on the man’s face. Over the years, I have continued to dedicate my time and support to people in need. Every year, my family and I adopt a child from the angel tree for Christmas. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do this, as I was once a child who did not have many presents under the tree. I’ve worked with community food drives, given to the homeless, and provided free tutoring to low-income children. I’m not sure how big my impact has been, but I know my service has left the world a little better than I found it. Mollie Marti once said, “Helping others is not only a responsibility of life, it is what gives meaning to life.” With every person that I have helped, I have felt more whole and human myself. There is nothing that builds humanity, compassion, love and legacy, like the ability to help those in need. May my life be full of helping others, for God knows that I was once one who needed help.

During this past year, my outlook on education has changed dramatically. As a senior in high school, I felt that it was most important to choose a college of high prestige. I believed that the more prestigious the school, the better off I would be and the better I would feel about myself. I held on to these beliefs well into my freshman year of undergrad. Despite the many hardships I had come across, I still believed that prestige outweighed all of it. At the end of the year, I was able to realize that it wasn’t the reputation of the school that defined me. I decided that my mental health was more important than the esteem of my school. I began to value the support system of the staff over reputation. This was something that was deeply missing from the university. My growth was sparked by the hardships I faced during that year. I realized that even though I was at a prestigious university, I was not happy. I had a great financial burden that was resulting in debt and my mental health was deteriorating faster than I could recover. The stress of it all was not worth a simple name. I learned that the name is not everything. If the school is not able to support its students in the way that they deserve to be supported, it is not the school for me. My enrollment at the university made me feel that without it, I would not be anything. I believed that if I transferred to a less known school, it would mark me as a failure or someone who was not the brightest. It wasn’t until I began to think about transferring, I began to feel free. Many choices go into choosing the college right for you. To make a better decision the second time around, my values had to change. I had to prioritize my mental health and the support system that I would be provided with. Oftentimes, we feel that who we are is because of what we are attached to. When I decided that who I am had nothing to do with the school I attended, I felt truly free. This self-discovery not only helped my mental health, but it is allowing me to widen my range of educational opportunities that will help me financially as well. I have learned that I am a smart, generous, amazing, black woman. I realized that to get accepted into that school, I had to have been smart and well-rounded. I did not simply become these things once I was a student. No matter what school I decide to transfer to, these things will remain true. I am who I am and that has nothing to do with where I am.

I am pursuing a trauma surgeon field of interest. A few years ago when my grandmother was in the hospital, I stepped out into the hall and saw an emergency surgery was about to take place. I remember being fascinated and having a rush of adrenaline at the sight of this. There aren’t many surgeons of color and this makes the field even more appealing. I look forward to seeing the calm that comes over my patients when they see that a sister of color will be taking care of them. I will commit myself to diversity within my choice of profession by building bonds with patients of color. Oftentimes there is a distrust and disconnect between medical staff and patients of color. I am ready to begin to change my perspective on what it means to interact with others and to put your life in the hands of a surgeon. I will be able to show minority youth that it is possible and needed for them to pursue medical fields. I plan to speak at minority schools and mentor other minority surgeon aspiring youth. My financial needs are paying for college. Student debt is something that holds many people of color back in life. I am a black woman who is pursuing a field dominated by white men. The color of my skin and my sex will be things that may work against me while pursuing this field. Minorities have mountains of obstacles stacked against them. This scholarship will assure that financial debt will not be another obstacle standing in my way. As a recipient of this scholarship, I will be able to focus on my studies wholeheartedly. Within the next ten years, there is a lot that I would like to accomplish. First, I want to graduate from medical school. After I graduate from medical school I want to create a Black Surgeon’s network. This network will be composed of black surgeons and aspiring surgeons. I want this network to be worldwide. Black students will have access to their mentors through this network. I would also like to start my scholarships for aspiring black surgeons. I want this network to be present at every HBCU in the country. There will be events hosted for the many perspectives that go into being a black surgeon. This will be a space where we can be honest about the obstacles that will come with this field. It will also be a space to speak on the impact that comes with this field. I want future surgeons to be inspired and prepared for the challenges and advantages that come with being a surgeon. We can change the stigma of distrust between doctors and the minority community, one black surgeon at a time.

I am pursuing a trauma surgeon field of interest. A few years ago, when my grandmother was in the hospital, I stepped out into the hall and saw an emergency surgery was about to take place. I remember being fascinated and having a rush of adrenaline at the sight of this. There aren’t many surgeons of color, and this makes the field even more appealing. I look forward to seeing the calm that comes over my patients when they see that a sister of color will be taking care of them. I will commit myself to diversity within my choice of profession by building bonds with patients of color. Oftentimes there is a distrust and disconnect between medical staff and patients of color. I am ready to begin to change the perspective on what it means to interact with and to put your life in the hands of a surgeon. I will be able to show minority youth that it is possible and needed for them to pursue medical fields. I plan to speak at minority schools and mentor other minority surgeon aspiring youth. My financial needs are paying for college. Student debt is something that holds many people of color back in life. I am a black woman who is pursuing a field dominated by white men. The color of my skin and my sex will be things that may work against me while pursuing this field. Minorities have mountains of obstacles stacked against them. This scholarship will assure that financial debt will not be another obstacle standing in my way. As a recipient of this scholarship, I will be able to focus on my studies wholeheartedly. Within the next ten years there is a lot that I would like to accomplish. First, I want to graduate from medical school. After I graduate from medical school, I want to create a Black Surgeon’s network. This network will be composed of black surgeons and aspiring surgeons. I want this network to be worldwide. Black students will have access to their own mentors through this network. I would also like to start my own scholarships for aspiring black surgeons. My obstacles with my financial circumstances encourage me to support other aspiring surgeons, so they won't have to endure the same setbacks alone. I want this network to be present at every HBCU in the country. There will be events hosted for the many perspectives that go into being a black surgeon. This will be a space where we can be honest about the obstacles that will come with this field. It will also be a space to speak on the impact that comes with this field. I want future surgeons to be inspired and prepared for challenges and advantages that come with being a surgeon. We can change the stigma of distrust between doctors and the minority community, one black surgeon at a time.

I am a sophomore at Howard University, majoring in Psychology. When I accepted my admission to Howard, I was welcomed with a decent number of scholarships. However, I have one permanently disabled parent and another who is working with Multiple Sclerosis. My mom’s diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis makes us unsure of how much longer she will be able to work. Not only have I had one decrease in my family contribution, but I am at risk of having another decrease. I have started the process of filling out a special circumstance appeal, since my fafsa does not reflect my actual financial status. This will hopefully increase the amount of money I will receive from the Pell grant. In order for me to pay off the money I owe to my school, I have obtained both a full time and a part time job, all while being a full-time student. I am trying to pick up as many hours as possible, without being at risk of my grades dropping. In my free time, I apply for scholarships that can assist me with financial relief. Unfortunately, since my debt is more than I can afford with my jobs, I have to consider transferring to a cheaper university. I have started the process of sending in transfer applications to other schools. Although Howard University is where I want to call home for my undergraduate years, I understand that I do not currently have the means to stay enrolled or to find housing. This semester, I decided it was best for me to stay home and be a remote student. This decision allowed me to save on housing, food and other expenses. Another option that I have is to apply for private loans. However, last year my parents were denied taking a loan out on my behalf. This leads me to believe that they will more than likely be denied, and I will be left to try to find a cosigner. Although my options are quite limited, I am making sure that I utilize all of my resources before I consider taking time off from school. This scholarship will erase all of my current debt and will give me a head start to get ahead of any further debt. I believe that I will be a great candidate for this scholarship because I am resilient, and I will continue to take advantage of every resource available. Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.

My name is Deja Dixon, and I am a current sophomore at Howard University, majoring in Psychology. I come from Knightdale, North Carolina. I am the only girl and I have three brothers. Growing up, I had a love for education and helping others. I began to read and write at the age of four years old. By the time I was in kindergarten, I was reading beginner chapter books. I have loved school since the beginning of my academic career. Both of my parents went to college and expressed how amazing it had been. This led me and my brothers to pursue the same route. I realized that I wanted to major in Psychology when I was just a sophomore in high school. This was the year that I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mental health is not an easy battle. However, it is one that so many of us try to fight alone. I didn’t want my mental illness to be something that held me back in life. I continued to do all I could to keep my grades up in school. Eventually, I graduated 16 out of 331 students, with a 3.82 unweighted gpa. Despite what I had endured mentally, I stayed resilient in hopes that things would improve. When I was accepted into Howard University, I decided that I wanted my story to inspire others that were dealing with mental disorders. In the face of adversity, greatness is born. With the right professional help and a support system, you can overcome any obstacle. I am a full-time student with two jobs, who just so happens to have PTSD. It is possible to still have a life even with mental illnesses. I plan to continue to show resilience throughout my college career. I want to become an advocate for those who feel that their mental illness has taken over their lives. I hope to become a light for those who have lost their way. I plan to become a holistic psychiatrist. I want to show my patients that drastic changes do not need to be made in order for them to live fulfilling lives. I want to provide them access to an array of options. Oftentimes, medication is pushed onto patients. I want to emphasize that although medication can be very helpful, it is not the only option. Coming from a low middle class family, I am aware of the financial barriers that prevent mental wellness. My hope is to help my community by opening low-income mental health facilities. A person’s wellness shouldn’t be determined by the amount of money in their pockets. Everyone needs adequate access to a support system. I can’t think of a better form of support than the open arms of a community. Together, we will be able to fight the stigmas around getting professional support. As a community we can show that it is okay to ask for help. I plan to expand these facilities to low-income communities around the United States. This is a battle that affects the individual but one that will be fought by the community. My legacy will be built on not what people can do for me, but what I can do for others. We all have a story, so why not use that story to uplift others. This is my story, and this is how I want to use it.

I want to see the world change in a way that we see each other as people and not what income bracket, we are in. I come from a middle class, hardworking family. My parents have worked so hard, yet they lack needs such as good health insurance. If we lived in a world where humanity meant more than income, everyone would have access to quality healthcare. We live in a world where there are countless people sleeping on the streets. If this world valued humanity over income, then everyone would have access to affordable housing. There wouldn’t be a need for people to sleep on back benches or sidewalks. I want to live in a world where we have the right to affordable higher education. I am a student that maintains great grades, yet my income level has put me at risk of staying in school. Depriving someone of a better future because they do not have the financial means is inhumane. All people deserve the opportunity to learn and improve despite their income. When we see each other as people, we allow everyone to make the decisions necessary for their lives. This includes the right to choose. We should be able to choose whether we are ready to be parents or not. The access to planned parenthood and clinics should not be a privilege of those with money, but a necessity for all. Having a child should not cost thousands of dollars. Adopting a child should not cost thousands of dollars either. It is only humane that people are allowed to build their family without ending up in debt. It is only humane that children are granted better lives with loving parents, without having to wait for someone who can afford to adopt them. This essay may seem focused on many aspects. The point behind all of this is to show how money is valued more than humanity. I want to show how a world run by money is a world that lacks humanity. It is true that money makes the world go round. However, it is also true that the things we put a price on, can be the option between life and death. It is not my argument that I want a world that exists without money. Yet, it is my argument that I long for a world that doesn’t allow money to fog our moral standards. I believe that everyone deserves to thrive in a world that is centered around their wellbeing and not their financial status. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness must be a guarantee for people of all walks of life. Norman Vincente Peale once said, “change your thoughts and you change your world”. Once we change what we value, we will achieve the greatest change of all. This is a world in which I want to live.

I plan to become a psychiatrist specializing in PTSD in adolescents. I was first introduced to psychology during my sophomore year of high school. I was able to take AP Psychology that year. I had an amazing teacher who would heighten my love for psychology. My own experiences with mental health also encouraged my passion. I understand the absurd lack of diversity within the mental health professions. This is a bigger dilemma than some would like to think. In 2018 I began seeing a psychologist. She almost immediately diagnosed me with depression, without the consideration of another diagnosis. When talking about what I faced as a black girl, I found myself having to educate her. There was never any understanding between us. We lived in two different worlds. After a while I stopped going to my sessions with her. A year later I was introduced to a new therapist. This therapist looked like me. Her initial approach was to learn about my past traumas. What had gotten me to this point? I began to talk about my life, and she understood. She understood the trauma that came with being black. This therapist diagnosed me with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I want to provide this comfort for my patients in the future. During my senior year of high school, I was able to take a college level psychology course at Wake Tech Community College. With access to more academic journals, I was able to read about the disparities of black people when it came to our mental health. What if we had more people in these fields that understood us? What if we had a community of professionals that understood there was a deeper aspect to what black people went through? If you don’t understand the world I live in, then how could you possibly help me navigate my way through it? My ability to reach and impact the youth will go beyond book knowledge. I understand the trauma that comes with being black, and that is not something that can be taught. I understand how it is to try to get a therapist to understand a world they have never stepped foot in. We need more mental health professionals that can say “I have taken a walk in your shoes”. I will reach the youth simply because I can relate to them. This is what our people need for the conversation of mental health to not only start but to continue. I have compassion for everyone who is overlooked. I believe that everyone should have access to the resources they need. Mental health does affect the rich. This is just another reason we need these resources for people of all incomes and backgrounds. My goal is to change the accessibility and stereotypes of mental health in the brown communities. I would like to create low-cost mental health facilities. The money from this scholarship will be the mental health investment that our community needs to thrive.

In January of 2021, I admitted myself to a mental hospital. During this process I really didn’t know what to expect. I was scared but also hopeful. I had been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2019 and I knew I needed help. I would probably say the hardest part of this was the ‘not knowing’. On my way to self-admit, I began to look up reviews on the hospital I would be at. I saw a ton of negative reviews. It also didn’t help that I had all of these stereotypes from the media of what a mental hospital looked like. Would I find myself contained in a room with foam walls? Would I have to wear a straitjacket? This only went on to heighten my anxiety. At the end of the day, I knew I couldn’t turn back. I knew it could potentially be bad, but it could also potentially be life changing. To this day, I am so glad the latter was true. I was admitted to the hospital for a total of seven days. During my time I met peers that would go on to impact my life. One of the biggest advantages of being there was being able to relate to others. I realized that I wasn’t alone in my mental health struggle. I started to understand that asking for help meant I was strong and not weak. I wasn’t in a place full of ‘crazy’ people. I was in a place full of peers that decided they needed to take a step towards healing. A lot of us realized that we had the answers to our situations and that we only needed a quiet place to reflect. Sometimes the world can be so loud that everything seems unbearable. I was able to find the calm and stillness that I had lacked on the outside. It would take a few chapters to speak on my experience hospitalized. Yet I feel it is more important to speak of the outcomes. During my last few days at the hospital, I made a crisis plan with the therapist. I realized I had spent most of my life running from the inevitable. I decided I was tired of running when I took the step to self-admit. My decision only solidified with the crisis plan. I was able to prepare for the things I could not prevent. Mental health is much more than a bad day. Mental health is about a lifestyle. In order for you to build relationships and a healthy future overall, your lifestyle must align with your wants. I had to learn how to take a break. Whether the break be from friends, family, school or even my own thoughts. I started to live my life as the author of my book. When life becomes too loud, I realize that I have the power to mute it. After my experience with mental health, I decided that I wanted to major in Psychology. I was able to receive the help that I needed and so desperately desired. This is a gift I want to give others that are struggling with their mental health. I understand what it means to struggle with a mental illness. My experiences will allow me to relate to my patients in ways they may have never been related to. I believe that my background will help build their resilience when it comes to seeking help. It is easy to tell someone to get help. Yet, it is another thing when you can explain how that help may look. As a future mental health professional, I will be able to provide the guidance that I wish I had been given. Mental health can be a losing battle when there is no one else in your corner. I am a living testimony that things do in fact get better.

I am pursuing a trauma surgeon field of interest. A few years ago when my grandmother was in the hospital, I stepped out into the hall and saw an emergency surgery was about to take place. I remember being fascinated and having a rush of adrenaline at the sight of this. There aren’t many surgeons of color and this makes the field even more appealing. I look forward to seeing the calm that comes over my patients when they see that a sister of color will be taking care of them. I will commit myself to diversity within my choice of profession by building bonds with patients of color. Oftentimes there is a distrust and disconnect between medical staff and patients of color. I am ready to begin to change the perspective on what it means to interact with and to put your life in the hands of a surgeon. I will be able to show minority youth that it is possible and needed for them to pursue medical fields. I plan to speak at minority schools and mentor other minority surgeon aspiring youth. My financial needs are paying for college. Student debt is something that holds many people of color back in life. I am a black woman who is pursuing a field dominated by white men. The color of my skin and my sex will be things that may work against me while pursuing this field. Minorities have mountains of obstacles stacked against them. This scholarship will assure that financial debt will not be another obstacle standing in my way. As a recipient of this scholarship I will be able to focus on my studies wholeheartedly. Within the next ten years there is a lot that I would like to accomplish. First, I want to graduate from medical school. After I graduate from medical school I want to create a Black Surgeon’s network. This network will be composed of black surgeons and aspiring surgeons. I want this network to be worldwide. Black students will have access to their own mentors through this network. I would also like to start my own scholarships for aspiring black surgeons. I want this network to be present at every HBCU in the country. There will be events hosted for the many perspectives that go into being a black surgeon. This will be a space where we can be honest about the obstacles that will come with this field. It will also be a space to speak on the impact that comes with this field. I want future surgeons to be inspired and prepared for challenges and advantages that come with being a surgeon. We can change the stigma of distrust between doctors and the minority community, one black surgeon at a time.

I am a college freshman at Howard University. I am majoring in Psychology on a premed track to become a psychiatrist or a surgeon. These are both fields that are underrepresented when it comes to people of color. I would love to provide a holistic approach to people of color. Oftentimes, people of color are put on medications they could do without. People of color are also more likely to be misdiagnosed with disorders such as ADD and ADHD. As a psychiatrist of color, I will be able to understand the need for accurate diagnoses and the deeper roots of these diagnoses. The minority community often has a negative connotation established with mental health. My goal is to reshape these preconceptions. If I take the route of the surgeon, I will make an impact as well for people of color. Black children are three times more likely to die a month after surgery. We need more minority surgeons to assure that patients of color are taken care of properly. Minorities are more likely to be dismissed at the hospitals. I want to help build the trust between doctors and people of color. This trust is crucial to the health of the minority community. I want my patients to know that they will have a doctor who will hear them, care for them, respect them and help them. As a psychiatrist or a surgeon, I will be building the bridge between physicians and minorities. In return this will improve the physical and mental health of these communities. Whichever path I choose the goal will be the same, to help people that are not represented. My goal is to give back to my community in every way possible. My future will also be overflowing with philanthropy work. I would like to start my own neighborhood for the homeless and youth who aged out of the foster care system. I would like to have a community of tiny homes that will be affordable for people of low incomes. I want to also have a nonprofit that is partnered with the neighborhood. I want this nonprofit to be in the center of the neighbor, so it will be easily accessible to the residents. This nonprofit will provide food, job fairs and other necessities needed to transition out of the low class. I also want to offer GED programs through the nonprofit, along with trade classes. Ever since I was a little girl, I had a special place in my heart for the homeless. It is our job as a people to take care of each other and not just ourselves. Capitalism is built on the failure of some so that others may succeed. I believe in a world where we lift each other up. There are enough resources to go around as long as we do not succumb to greed. This is a dream of mine that keeps me motivated. I understand that I am working to better not only myself but the world. Not only are you as good as the life you live but the legacy that survives.