My first toy was a Doc McStuffins doctor’s bag set, complete with a stethoscope, bandages, and medicine for sick patients. I was raised with the notion that any healthcare career was completely accessible to ambitious girls like me. My flower of hope began to wilt after discovering the representation disparities in our medical workforce: three percent. That is the percentage of Black and African-American nurse anesthetists in the United States. As a first-generation Togolese-American, I am determined to achieve academic and career-based success to honor the sacrifices of my parents and our ancestors. Discovering the field’s vast underrepresentation of Black professionals in the field motivates me to pave a path of equity for people of color nationwide. College is the first step to achieving my career aspirations. My priorities include maintaining perfect grades and gaining valuable career experience by obtaining nursing certifications, actively working in the field of healthcare. I strongly believe that my past internship experience at Johns Hopkins honed my ability, as a student interested in nursing anesthesia, to engage with patients and realistic healthcare situations. Valuable hours at the hospital each week were spent gaining insight about post-anesthesia care, safety, and stable surgical conditions. I witnessed patients being completely soothed by a palm squeeze, informed answers to their questions, and the sound of a calm voice telling them all will be well. My mentor and other professionals demonstrate simple ways to calm down patients before surgeries, and I model those exact techniques today. I quickly realized that healthcare was so much bigger than treating patients. The daily lessons learned from my internship experience teach me to properly acknowledge and find solutions to inequities, especially through spreading awareness and raising resources. As a freshman studying Pre-Nursing Studies at University of Maryland College Park, I have already obtained over sixty college credits from dual-enrollment and Advanced Placement courses in high school. Having studied biology and anatomy and physiology, human biological sciences greatly interest me and solidify my interest in nursing. Working as a certified lifeguard and swim instructor and pharmacy technician have also facilitated my interest in working hands-on to help others, promoting health and well-being. After graduating with my Registered Nursing license, I envision myself as a compassionate nurse that utilizes critical thinking and extensive healthcare knowledge to intentionally advocate for her patients. Being a CRNA is the perfect mix of independent and hands-on care that I’ve been dreaming of since I was a toddler. The career provides a unique, rewarding ability to manage a patient’s involuntary functions, including breathing, as part of a collaborative surgical team. I envision myself as a compassionate nurse who intentionally advocates for her patients, serving them in every way possible. I will continue working in underserved areas, advocating for all of my patients and speaking out against injustices. My ultimate career goal is to help provide life-saving treatment to those in critical-need hospitals in a variety of locations, including hospitals in Togo. Receiving a scholarship award will greatly alleviate my family’s financial burden, allowing me to dedicate more time to serving my communities. My journey began with a little girl watching her parents fight for a successful career, and now it continues with a woman ready to fight for others.

The moment my mother fastened my gold lily earrings, my young ears began exploring a world guided by love and compassion. The woman who supported my college-age mother also modeled Christlike selflessness through her generosity toward a complete stranger. As a motherly figure in my childhood, my late grandmother gifted me more than a pair of earrings—she shaped my heart for service and my abilities as a caretaker. Each time my fingers graze my earrings, I am transported to Charlotte, South Carolina. My grandmother’s bayside window was my second home, where I sat on her lap reading treasured children’s novels and listening to stories rooted in faith and family. She deeply valued education, gifting us books, LEGOs, and other gifts that expanded our imaginations. By bringing our family together through simple moments of shared quality time and prayer, she taught me the importance of nurturing and caring for others. After her sudden diagnosis with breast cancer in early 2016, our frequent visits dwindled down to frequent video calls. Her aggressive course of treatment included chemotherapy and a mastectomy; unfortunately, the cancer metastasized, and she passed away later that year. Witnessing her strength, faith, and grace during left a permanent imprint on my life and strengthened my own Christian faith, reminding me that love endures even through loss. The perfect foundation for my lifelong learning journey was hands-on healthcare experience. Forever inspired by her resilience, I developed a deep commitment to reducing suffering and pain across those with chronic diseases and health issues, especially cancer. In 2019, I dedicated my advanced research to studying the effects of modified lymphocytes on glioblastomas. As I progressed through school, I discovered my passion for nursing anesthesia and neurosurgical research. I conducted observational research at my local hospital under the mentorship of an experienced CRNA, whose guidance solidified my career goals. Through oral presentations of my research, I examined health inequities and disparate post-operative outcomes in patients of color, some of which I witnessed firsthand during my clinical exposure. My grandmother also inspired me to found a Red Cross Club dedicated to protecting human lives against disease. During my 50 hours of service as a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with donors who share touching stories about loved ones lost to leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and other tragic illnesses. In my eyes, their stories emphasize the importance of donating to the less fortunate in any way possible; giving blood, time, and energy to a cause makes all the difference for people whose lives depend on others' generosity. Observing my grandmother’s battle with breast cancer transformed me from a student who admired the work of healthcare professionals to a servant leader committed to compassionate care. Like Shanique Gravely, whose faith and leadership left a lasting impact on those around her, I strive to live a life rooted in connection and purpose. My grandmother's gold earrings remain a testament to the resilient women in my life. As I pursue a future in nursing, I carry forward their legacy and ensure that patients can receive the same compassion that I generously receive.

The first thought coming to many minds after hearing the word "leadership" is control. Servant leadership strongly opposes that perspective, demonstrating that coordination and unity are necessary to achieve large goals. The most effective form of leadership drives change towards the betterment of one's community. I first learned about sickle cell disease through my cousin's early diagnosis, and all I wanted to do was relieve her struggles in any way possible. It was difficult for me to grasp her having to live with a chronic blood disorder that disproportionately afflicts African Americans like me. Raising awareness about this issue last September through my high school held deep personal significance for me with loved ones that suffered from the same illness. As President and Founder of my school’s Red Cross chapter, I was inspired by this vital cause to enact change in our school community. With the help of my executive board, we pioneered an educational Sickle Cell Awareness initiative, teaching about the disease itself as well as disparities in the Black community. Our club members created informative posters about the health issue to display in the hallways, spreading awareness that can start deeper conversations and change lives. I was proud to see our campaign educating hundreds of students school-wide, attracting more members to our club, and inspiring members to serve in their own lives. Our toolkit, including a trifold and dozens of posters, can now be used annually to bring attention to this health issue faced by hundreds of millions of people. My next community initiative is planning a fall school-wide blood drive in collaboration with interested clubs, including Pre-Medicine Club and Robotics Club. After founding the Red Cross Club, I had an unexpected influx of students willing to become a member, donate blood, and even run for executive board. Several people have been inquiring about a school blood drive, but I never imagined having over one hundred students, teachers, and administrative staff already sharing ideas and assistance. I am committed to making our dream a reality, knowing that precious donated blood will save dozens of lives. With a combined dedication to its success, I am confident that we can set a life-changing precedent in the years to come. By raising awareness with such a large initiative, we will encourage many students to be lifelong blood donors in support of the American Red Cross. My definition of community is a cohort of people united in their similarities, but also in differences. From observing my cousin's experience with her blood disorder, I was transformed from a girl who simply admired the work of healthcare professionals to a person in search of opportunities to give back. Evidently, the actions of any one person in a community can enact huge changes, bringing the group closer together in their interdependence. I aspire to make an even greater impact by pursuing my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing after high school graduation. I hope to exhibit the power of leadership as a Registered Nurse by addressing these healthcare disparities and working towards medical justice.

I first learned about sickle cell disease through my family member's diagnosis, and all I wanted to do was relieve her struggles in any way possible. Raising awareness about Sickle Cell Awareness Month last September held deep personal significance for me with loved ones that suffered from the same illness. As President and Founder of the Red Cross Club, I was inspired by this vital cause to enact change in our school community. Each member made an informative poster about the health issue to display in the hallways, spreading awareness that can start deeper conversations and change lives. During my 50 hours of service as a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador, I was privileged to speak with donors with touching stories about loved ones lost to leukemia, sickle cell anemia, and other tragic illnesses. In my eyes, their stories emphasize the importance of donating to the less fortunate in any way possible; giving blood, time, and energy to a cause makes all the difference for people whose lives depend on others' generosity. My understanding of diversity deepens through my involvement with cultural clubs, including my positions as Fundraising Chair of West African Student Union, Event Coordinator of African Student Association, and Black Student Union Community Service Chair. By fostering inclusion and rapport between the students at our school through our connection of the African Diaspora, biweekly meetings feel like home. Two years of planning led to our school's first International Night, in which hundreds of students and families came together to share food, music, and customs celebrating the richness of our community. International Night wasn't simply about raising hundreds of dollars for cultural clubs— we worked to build bridges between marginalized students for the first time in school history. Our club's efforts prompted more frequent discussions about highlighting the beauty in cultural differences. As the event's legacy continues, I am proud to be one of the main executive board members who advocated for its creation. Having accumulated almost 300 service hours, the most rewarding aspect of volunteering is seeing the work directly benefit those who need it most. Volunteering as a student aide with the community’s educational summer institute for school-aged kids fostered a positive learning environment in each class. One student at a time, I taught them basic arithmetic concepts and principles of the English language through one-on-one mentorship. By the end of each summer, I was delighted to see each cohort of kids score significantly better on their class post-assessments and demonstrate preparedness for the upcoming school year. Even more importantly, my role in empowering each student to reach their potential and be confident in their academic abilities will stay with me for the rest of my life. As an A student and consistent recipient of Principal's Honor Roll, my dedication to academics also highlights my work ethic and critical thinking ability. My involvement with research, including a presentation of my watershed conservation research at a county-wide convention, motivates me to go even further to study science-based topics. Based on the physical, scientific and chemical makeup of our local water sources, I spoke about solutions for our declining ecosystem health. With state executives and school board officials in attendance, my goal was to influence change in our community towards ecological preservation efforts for our watershed. I aspire to make an even greater impact on my community in the future by pursuing my passion for nursing in college, building on my high school experiences. My commitment to helping others will serve me not only during my career, but in my daily life giving back to other members of society.