I am majoring in chemistry in hopes of being accepted into medical school to become an anesthesiologist. My biggest fear is not reaching my full potential. There have been countless obstacles in my life that have made me question my capabilities. From catching others' glances when they see the only black girl in the debate club to facing subtle racism from strangers who assume I play a sport, and that is the only reason I was offered financial aid and not seeing enough people like me in the classroom. Over and over, I would build my dreams back up, only for negative thoughts and crude comments to bring them back down again. As time passed, I realized that nobody has the power to tear down my aspirations but me, and I have no intention of stopping myself from becoming who I want to be, and who I want to be is a doctor. Anesthesiology offers physicians unique opportunities to develop advanced expertise in pharmacology, work with patients when they're at their most vulnerable, and develop pain management plans. While learning about science and math is necessary for the profession, I enjoy learning about it. Numbers and investigative skills are strong suits for me in the field of science. I plan to positively impact the world by becoming a doctor. Being a doctor would allow me to alleviate others' pain and suffering by providing them with health care and medical treatment. It will be my pleasure to be a source of happiness for countless people and their families in my role as a doctor. My happiest moment is when I give happiness to others. A physician is ideal for someone who enjoys solving problems, being surrounded by stories of humanity, and wondering about data. I am good at synthesizing information into higher-order ideas, putting theory into practice, identifying narratives, helping others figure out their unique stories, and solving problems. I am deeply committed to justice and fairness, emotionally and socially. The values instilled in me by my faith and family have primarily driven my decision to become an anesthesiologist. This scholarship will help support me financially, so I can focus on succeeding in the classroom. Being the youngest of four kids, raised by a single father, I require financial contributions to help me continue my studies. There are times when I worry about how I will pay for a class that I need credit for to graduate. By applying to this scholarship, I hope to further my success and gather enough resources to support my career as a physician. And if I earn this scholarship, I'll know I am one step closer to my dreams. I can do everything I strive for with determination and a good head on my shoulders. To become a doctor, I will use the money to continue my studies. I will be able to tear down people's assumptions about me. I will show them who I am and do it with a smile.

My name is DeMya Hunter. I am 19 years old and have a keen interest in the Department of Chemistry. The opportunity to learn from my teacher, who was passionate about the subject, acquired my fascination. I am majoring in chemistry in hopes of being accepted into medical school to become an anesthesiologist. It is suited for pre-medical students and allows me to branch out to biomedicine. As a minority student who has struggled to find balance and, at times, has felt secluded while attending a predominantly white college, I find connecting with those who have some of the same goals as me refreshing, and it helps me to continue to be the upstander person I am. I am currently a part of the Woman in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering program at Florida State University. I find it amazing to be a part of an area where women who are underrepresented. I am well educated on the fundamentals of teamwork and communicating with others about complex topics. The most complementary activity I participate in is volunteering in the community. I help set up public events, tutor kids when their parents work, and serve food to those struggling financially. Other than my education, in my free time, I read books, mainly mystery and fantasy. It goes with my ambition to find answers to problems and my belief that anything can be accomplished if you have the willpower to work for it. My dad has shown me that a girl or a woman has the power to do anything that they put their mind to. His words of encouragement never failed to get me back on my feet when I struggled with school, goals, or life. Over the years, I have learned from my siblings that hard work pays off. Being a part of the community and seeing how people live keeps me humble and grateful for my advantages. I also learned how to be independent and work hard for others who need a little push to get where they need to go. The most encouraging factor is that someone else always wants to give back. I plan to keep volunteering well into college, whether volunteering at school, a local library, a hospital, etc. and ask another woman of color to join me to help build our community. Wherever I go, I know someone is going through life's obstacles and needs to experience others' kindness. I have learned to channel my sympathy and concern into action.

I love the fact that math can be a mystery I get to unravel. An equation reminds me of a labyrinth. Several uniform routes, some designed to distract, others to misdirect. However, there is only one path that leads you to the other side, to the answer. I love that math has tricks up its sleeve, and hidden shortcuts. When I was younger I reached a dead end memorizing my nine times table. My teacher had a trick up her sleeve. She told me to hold out my hands and turn them palm-facing up. She asked me what two times nine equaled, and I didn’t know the answer. I was told to count to my second finger and once I reached my destination put that finger down. What I was left with baffled me. I have one finger on the left, my pinky, and eight fingers on the right, respectively. 1 and 8. Once I put them together I got 18. I was very grateful to learn that trick and it made me wonder what other maneuvers I could learn about. Math is black and white. There is always a correct answer. I appreciate the fact that it isn’t a moving target and my pencil isn’t a dart that has to hit the bullseye. It takes patience and determination to solve the riddle. Once you learn the pattern of an equation there is no stopping the unraveling of the solution. Last semester, in my physics class I learned how to detect patterns in my data graphs. I had to assess what those patterns meant and how they influenced my experiment result. Numbers are not limited to the lab. Numbers are all around us. Without calculations, man-made technology wouldn’t be what it is today. Rocket calculations, architectural engineering of buildings, navigation, the stock market, gas prices, cooking recipes, etc. Mathematics is a way of life. Math is the foundation of learning and without that foundation, our systems could crumble. I especially have a great fondness for algebra because you get to solve problems with one or more unknown variables. My ability to grasp abstract concepts stimulates my brain. My mind can be chaotic, but algebra helps me organize my thoughts. When I participated in the annual ‘Brain Bowl’ with my national honor society in middle school. I learned to coordinate my thinking and settle my resolve. Thank you, math for existing.

I love the fact that math can be a mystery I get to unravel. An equation reminds me of a labyrinth. Several uniform routes, some designed to distract, others to misdirect. However, there is only one path that leads you to the other side, to the answer. I love that math has tricks up its sleeve, and hidden shortcuts. When I was younger I reached a dead end memorizing my nine times table. My teacher had a trick up her sleeve. She told me to hold out my hands and turn them palm-facing up. She asked me what two times nine equaled, and I didn’t know the answer. I was told to count to my second finger and once I reached my destination put that finger down. What I was left with baffled me. I have one finger on the left, my pinky, and eight fingers on the right, respectively. 1 and 8. Once I put them together I got 18. I was very grateful to learn that trick and it made me wonder what other maneuvers I could learn about. Math is black and white. There is always a correct answer. I appreciate the fact that it isn’t a moving target and my pencil isn’t a dart that has to hit the bullseye. It takes patience and determination to solve the riddle. Once you learn the pattern of an equation there is no stopping the unraveling of the solution. Last semester, in my physics class I learned how to detect patterns in my data graphs. I had to assess what those patterns meant and how they influenced my experiment result. Numbers are not limited to the lab. Numbers are all around us. Without calculations, man-made technology wouldn’t be what it is today. Rocket calculations, architectural engineering of buildings, navigation, the stock market, gas prices, cooking recipes, etc. Mathematics is a way of life. Math is the foundation of learning and without that foundation, our systems could crumble. I especially have a great fondness for algebra because you get to solve problems with one or more unknown variables. My ability to grasp abstract concepts stimulates my brain. My mind can be chaotic, but algebra helps me organize my thoughts. When I participated in the annual ‘Brain Bowl’ with my national honor society in middle school. I learned to coordinate my thinking and settle my resolve. Thank you, math for existing.

I love the fact that math can be a mystery I get to unravel. An equation reminds me of a labyrinth. Several uniform routes, some designed to distract, others to misdirect. However, there is only one path that leads you to the other side, to the answer.  I love that math has tricks up its sleeve, and hidden shortcuts. When I was younger I reached a dead end memorizing my nine times table. My teacher had a trick up her sleeve. She told me to hold out my hands and turn them palm-facing up. She asked me what two times nine equaled, and I didn’t know the answer. I was told to count to my second finger and once I reached my destination put that finger down. What I was left with baffled me. I have one finger on the left, my pinky, and eight fingers on the right, respectively. 1 and 8. Once I put them together I got 18. I was very grateful to learn that trick and it made me wonder what other maneuvers I could learn about.   Math is black and white. There is always a correct answer. I appreciate the fact that it isn’t a moving target and my pencil isn’t a dart that has to hit the bullseye. It takes patience and determination to solve the riddle. Once you learn the pattern of an equation there is no stopping the unraveling of the solution. Last semester, in my physics class I learned how to detect patterns in my data graphs. I had to assess what those patterns meant and how they influenced my experiment result. Numbers are not limited to the lab.  Numbers are all around us. Without calculations, man-made technology wouldn’t be what it is today. Rocket calculations, architectural engineering of buildings, navigation, the stock market, gas prices, cooking recipes, etc. Mathematics is a way of life. Math is the foundation of learning and without that foundation, our systems could crumble.  I especially have a great fondness for algebra because you get to solve problems with one or more unknown variables. My ability to grasp abstract concepts stimulates my brain. My mind can be chaotic, but algebra helps me organize my thoughts. When I participated in the annual ‘Brain Bowl’ with my national honor society in middle school. I learned to coordinate my thinking and settle my resolve. Thank you, math for existing.

My future self will learn how to love herself more.

If I could have everyone in the world read just one book, it would be the Bible. I know that the Bible is a controversial topic of discussion. Not everyone is willing to read it because of preconceived notions. Taking that into account, I will not discuss why others should read it. Instead, I will discuss why I read it and how it saved my life and softened my heart.  When I was in high school I had zero intention of learning about God because I didn’t believe he existed. When I finally believed he existed, the first thing I did was blame him for all the terrible things that happened to me. I blamed him for my parent's divorce. I resented him for my aunt's suicide, I blamed him for my depression. It was not until I spent more time with my grandmother who believes in Jesus Christ that I wanted to know more. I thought ‘Well if she says he is good and loves me, maybe I should hear him out,’ so I started to read God's word. At first, all I felt was confusion and lack of understanding. However, I reminded myself that the Bible characters are not just characters, but people. People like me have made mistakes, gone through terrible shortcomings, and felt without purpose just like I did. Saul persecuted Christians and then changed his ways to become one of the most influential apostles, Peter denied Jesus three times but repented for his sins and was forgiven, and Moses was a murderer and fugitive and with God's help led the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt.  I included their stories because I could relate to them in some way. I felt like I was a shunned outcast. I used to feel as though no one understood me. Reading the Bible helps me understand who I am not. I am not helpless. I am worth saving. The more I read the more my understanding changes. I believe that if others delve into the Bible it will change them for the better as well. I ask those who read not to just skim the words but to read them with an open mind and heart.

My biggest fear is not reaching my full potential. There have been countless obstacles in my life that have made me question my capabilities. From catching others' glances when they see the only black girl in the debate club to facing subtle racism from strangers who assume I play a sport and that is the only reason I was offered financial aid and not seeing enough people like me in the classroom, Picture a young DeMya Hunter who couldn’t wait to become an anesthesiologist. Who wished to take away people's pain and ensure they heal from their wounds. A little girl who wanted to protect the people she shared the world with, to a striving young woman who has found her purpose in the world. A woman who majors in Chemistry and joins organizations filled with people with the same goals. A woman who is dedicated to working to get to where she wants to be. However, that little girl with big dreams has been crushed several times by those who didn’t believe she could do it. The people who smile fakely when I share with them about my big plans for the future. They are the people who tell me to have a backup plan and the people who tell me they can’t picture me as a doctor That young black girl sitting in her STEM classroom not seeing other people of color. She felt like an imposter, waiting for someone to tell her she didn’t belong there. That she couldn't do a good job. She felt like an undiscovered treasure, waiting for the spotlight in the dark. Waiting to be found. She became isolated and lost, so when others told her she had no chance, she believed them. By crumbling her dreams and aspirations, she taught herself to be simple and bleak instead of hopeful. Over and over, she would build her dreams back up, only for negative thoughts and crude comments to bring them back down again. If only she could see how accomplished she was. If only she knew that all those hardships made her stronger. She is more than capable of accomplishing her dreams of getting exemplary grades, winning that scholarship, getting accepted into medical school, and becoming an anesthesiologist like she has always wanted. Every day, I prove that little girl wrong. I no longer sit in darkness, waiting for the spotlight. I cast my own spotlight and shout my dreams from the rooftops. I study hard to get high grades; I search and scour for scholarships to finance my education; I study for the medical entrance exam; and I leap over the obstacles and negative thoughts that try to get in my way. And if I earn this scholarship, I’ll know I am one step closer to my dreams. That I can do all the things I strive for with determination and a good head on my shoulders. To become a doctor, I will use the money to continue my studies. Every day, I tear down people's assumptions about me. I show them who I am, and I do it with a smile on my face.

My biggest fear is not reaching my full potential. There have been countless obstacles in my life that have made me question my capabilities. From catching others' glances when they see the only black girl in the debate club to facing subtle racism from strangers who assume I play a sport and that is the only reason I was offered financial aid and not seeing enough people like me in the classroom, Picture a young DeMya Hunter who couldn’t wait to become an anesthesiologist. Who wished to take away people's pain and ensure they heal from their wounds. A little girl who wanted to protect the people she shared the world with, to a striving young woman who has found her purpose in the world. A woman who majors in Chemistry and joins organizations filled with people with the same goals. A woman who is dedicated to working to get to where she wants to be. However, that little girl with big dreams has been crushed several times by those who didn’t believe she could do it. The people who smile fakely when I share with them about my big plans for the future. They are the people who tell me to have a backup plan and the people who tell me they can’t picture me as a doctor That young black girl sitting in her STEM classroom not seeing other people of color. She felt like an imposter, waiting for someone to tell her she didn’t belong there. That she couldn't do a good job. She felt like an undiscovered treasure, waiting for the spotlight in the dark. Waiting to be found. She became isolated and lost, so when others told her she had no chance, she believed them. By crumbling her dreams and aspirations, she taught herself to be simple and bleak instead of hopeful. Over and over, she would build her dreams back up, only for negative thoughts and crude comments to bring them back down again. If only she could see how accomplished she was. If only she knew that all those hardships made her stronger. She is more than capable of accomplishing her dreams of getting exemplary grades, winning that scholarship, getting accepted into medical school, and becoming an anesthesiologist like she has always wanted. Every day, I prove that little girl wrong. I no longer sit in darkness, waiting for the spotlight. I cast my spotlight and shout my dreams from the rooftops. I study hard to get high grades; I search and scour for scholarships to finance my education; I study for the medical entrance exam; and I leap over the obstacles and negative thoughts that try to get in my way. And if I earn this scholarship, I’ll know I am one step closer to my dreams. That I can do all the things I strive for with determination and a good head on my shoulders. To become a doctor, I will use the money to continue my studies. Every day, I tear down people's assumptions about me. I show them who I am, and I do it with a smile on my face.