At the age of nine, I was introduced to Enyi, the newest member of my best friend’s family. She was a precious bundle of joy, warmly welcomed into a loving home that had eagerly anticipated her arrival for nine long months. Shortly after her birth, the family was notified that little Enyi had Trisomy 13, a rare genetic condition that would significantly limit her lifespan. At such a young age, all I could do was comfort my best friend as she worried about her little sister. I was there for her when little Enyi was at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), every time an ambulance arrived at their home, and ultimately when little Enyi’s life was cut short at the age of two. I had never felt so powerless. Being so young and desperately feeling the need to help, I always asked my mom and best friend’s parents if there was something I could do. Their answer was always the same, “Sit there patiently and play with Tracy.” Although I loved playing with Tracy and I wanted to do my best to comfort her, I was overwhelmed with curiosity about what was happening to little Enyi. What exactly is Trisomy 13? What was the purpose of the 13th chromosome? Why does she have an extra copy? What does that even mean? Questions flooded my mind but at the time, I was too young to grasp the complex literature available online. Little Enyi inspired me to pursue a biotechnology degree to further understand DNA and chromosomal mutations. My current institution has provided me the opportunity to follow this passion, offering a biotechnology program rich with opportunities that have expanded my knowledge of chromosomal disorders. I have had the pleasure of learning from incredible professors who have taught me subjects ranging from chemistry to research writing to the sociocultural issues faced by the Chicana population. Little Enyi has also inspired to pursue a a Ph.D. in genetics and an MD to become a physician scientist. I will forever be grateful for the doctors who fought hard to keep Little Enyi alive and to better her quality of life. I'd like to make the same difference in the lives of others, not only as a physician, but as a researcher who has dedicated their career to preventing these devastating chromosomal mutations from happening again. I hope to honor her by keeping her in mind whenever I feel like quitting, when things get tough, and when I accomplish my goals. With the support of this scholarship, I intend to engage in opportunities such as summer research, clinical experience, and leadership positions at student organizations on campus to best prepare me for my goal of becoming a physician scientist at a research university.

As I continue down my path of education, it has never been clearer that I want to pursue a career in the biomedical field. I’d like to pursue both my M.D. and my Ph.D. to become a physician scientist. Although it is true that I can become a physician scientist with only an M.D., I feel that the experience of pursuing a Ph.D. will provide me with the experience, knowledge, and skill that many physicians lack. The mind of a researcher is not one that can be easily attained by solely a medical degree. There are so many problems to solve when it comes to the human body and it would be a disservice if I didn’t understand how to problem-solve. If it takes a Ph.D. to solve these problems, so be it. I decided to pursue a career in biomedical research and teaching because of two experiences–being a research assistant at a psychology lab and being a Supplemental Instruction Leader. I never really understood what it was like to be a researcher. I thought my days would be filled with looking at data, helping input data into excel spreadsheets, and only being in the lab to do work. I was so very wrong. Instead, I helped collect the data we use, was able to collaborate with other research assistants to create posters for conferences, and built a connection with the Principal Investigator of the lab. As I stood explaining the background of the research poster I had worked so hard on to peers, professors, and judges, I fell more and more in love with research. I felt a feeling of passion for the subjects I was learning. My time as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for Chemistry has also shaped my career goals. There comes a time in every semester when students lose their motivation to actually show interest in the material. Nevertheless, I always attempt to make the material fun and exciting. One day, we were having a pretty simple day filled with me running back and forth to answer questions from my students days before their third midterm. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a student with her jaw dropped as I explained molecular, total ionic, and net ionic equations. She reminded me of WHY I kept my job despite my busy schedule. Despite my heritage being seen as a setback or flaw when pursuing a career in medical research, I believe that being Latinx has only made me stronger as a student. A value that is incredibly important to my Mexican heritage, especially for immigrants or children of immigrants, is that getting your education is one of the things you MUST do. My entire life has been built on the sacrifices of my family members. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and ensured I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I wouldn't be in the same financial position they raised me in. Growing up in a household where my parents worked until their knees gave out and their fingers bled, I stayed motivated thinking of giving my parents a better life. In moments where I thought of quitting, I reminded myself of these sacrifices they made to give me the privilege to worry about grades and internships rather than where my next meal will come from. This scholarship would help me focus more on my education and would allow me to take advantage of educational opportunities offered at my campus rather than finding a third job to pay my tuition. Thank you.

My Hispanic background has affected the way I view my education. Despite my heritage being seen as a setback or flaw when pursuing a career in medical research, I believe that being Latinx has only made me stronger as a student. A value that is incredibly important to my Mexican heritage, especially for immigrants or children of immigrants, is that getting your education is one of the things you MUST do. My entire life has been built on the sacrifices of my family members. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and ensured I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I wouldn't be in the same financial position they raised me in. Growing up in a household where my parents worked until their knees gave out and their fingers bled, I stayed motivated thinking of giving my parents a better life. In moments where I thought of quitting, I reminded myself of these sacrifices they made to give me the privilege to worry about grades and internships rather than where my next meal will come from. My education is important to me because it is the key to giving my parents and myself a better future. I’m lucky enough to have a dream career that is achievable through degrees and mental strain rather than the physical strain my parents endured to get me here. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved learning. I love obtaining knowledge I didn’t have before and applying what I learn in class to my everyday life. Learning is addicting and I never plan on stopping. Pursuing a career in medical research means dedicating your life to learning and pushing the boundaries of science. In the 1940s, we still believed lobotomy to be a great neurological advancement. Now, we have stereotactic radiosurgery to preserve as much healthy tissue when attacking a brain tumor. Just 5 years ago, we didn’t know how to use mRNA to help our body fight diseases like COVID-19. We didn’t understand the structure of DNA until 1953. 70 years later, we’re editing DNA. Science never stops evolving and therefore, you never stop learning. By continuing to learn, you have to answer some of the biggest questions in medicine and science. I want to answer those questions and ask more. I want to know and understand the human body like the back of my hand. I want to research the nervous system to understand the way the brain works and why. I want to have an impact on STEM through research and impacting medicine one patient at a time, giving a mother her son back, a friend their friend back, and a husband his wife back. With constant advancements in medical research, we continue to find ways to make it easier to save lives, improve our standards of living, and thrive under less than ideal conditions. I want to use the gift of consciousness and advancement to find safer ways to edit DNA, ensure the lowest margin of error, find better ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders, and ensure that a traumatic brain injury doesn’t automatically mean putting your life on halt because of one moment in your life. I hope to make the most impossible task possible. I will give my life to pushing the boundaries of science and being the best physician possible. With the help of this scholarship, I can continue to focus on gaining experience to one day achieve my goals rather than finding a third job to pay my tuition. Thank you for your consideration.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved learning. I love obtaining knowledge I didn’t have before and applying what I learn in class to my everyday life. Learning is addicting and I never plan on stopping. Pursuing a career in medical research means dedicating your life to learning, pushing the boundaries of science, and making a positive impact on the lives of many. I want to answer medicine's biggest questions and ask more. I want to know and understand the human body like the back of my hand. I want to research the nervous system to understand the way the brain works and why. I want to have an impact on STEM through research and impact medicine one patient at a time, giving a mother her son back, a friend their friend back, and a husband his wife back. I’m currently going into my third year as a student at California State University, Northridge majoring in biotechnology with and minoring in chemistry. With this degree, I learn more about the advancements made to technology in the fields of biology and medicine. I hope to take the knowledge I gain from this degree to an MD and PhD program. In the summer of 2024, I received the exciting opportunity to be a research assistant for the Culture, Health, and Development (CHD) Lab under Dr. Yolanda Vasquez-Salgado. In the CHD Lab, our research focuses on investigating cultural mismatch–a misalignment between home and academic cultures, and cultural wealth–strengths students bring from their families and communities back home, and its effects on the mental and physical health of Latinx students during their transition to college. As an integral member of the team, I have engaged in a variety of methods that range from guiding participants in collecting salivary samples to assessing cortisol and other biomarkers of health as well as surveying and interviewing participants about their first-time college experiences. More recently, I have collaborated with peers to create and present a research poster at CSUNposium and UCLA PURC titled “Anxiety, Internal Dysfunction, and Sleep Quality: A Mediation Model”. This experience has motivated me to pursue my own independent research project in the upcoming academic year for submission to local and national conferences. Along with my scholarly obligations, I volunteer as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Cuddler at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. The most heartbreaking cases where I am needed most are for patients we call “drug babies” – infants born addicted to narcotics due to their birth mother’s substance abuse during pregnancy. My role is to soothe them when they experience symptoms of withdrawal. This has been one of my most meaningful experiences as I’ve comforted countless babies, watching as they get better every week. The thought of helping a patient the same way as the health professionals who fight death everyday makes me excited to become a physician. With constant advancements in medical research, we continue to find ways to make it easier to save lives, improve our standards of living, and thrive under less than ideal conditions. I want to use the gift of consciousness and advancement to find safer ways to edit DNA, ensure the lowest margin of error, find better ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders, and ensure that a traumatic brain injury doesn’t automatically mean putting your life on halt. I hope to make the most impossible task possible. I will give my life to pushing the boundaries of science and being the best physician possible.

I am student at California State University, Northridge majoring in biotechnology and minoring in chemistry. I’ve been told I’m a grandmother stuck in the body of a teenager. I like to stay home, crochet, knit, bake, read, and drink too much coffee. Gilmore Girls, The Rookie, and FRIENDS are on my laptop and TV whenever I have free time. I have enjoyed participating in research and volunteering at the hospital. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I love to shop and I’ll never say no to trying out a new restaurant. My biggest motivation has always been my family. Maria Guadalupe Gabriela Cazares and Ramon Alberto Miranda Rodriguez were 17 when they uprooted their lives and immigrated to the US. Their time spent running, being caught, and trusting those they were afraid of would pay off in the form of a life filled with loving memories, two kids, and five guinea pigs. Maria and Ramon are now the people I proudly call Mom and Dad. My background has changed the way I viewed the world since I was very young. Coming from this background means to constantly live in fear when government officials make promises to rid the country of every hard working immigrant, claiming they are criminals and using terms far more vulgar than I wish to write. I and many others did not have the privilege to view the world as a kind place that wanted us to succeed. Instead, it was a world where those who looked like me would always be questioned about where they came from, where they were born, and if I had the valid documentation to prove it. To come from a Hispanic background in a time like this forces a child to view the world as a scary place working against them. However, we persevere. In the face of adversity and fear, we wave our background proudly and try not to let the fear show. Coming from a Hispanic background means you hide your fears, are proud of where you're from, and work hard to ensure that the sacrifices made for you were done for a reason. Prove to the world that despite being systematically forced into a system of oppression, inopportunity, and discouragement, you achieve the same if not more than they can. Despite my heritage being seen as a setback or flaw when pursuing a career in medical research, I see being Hispanic as a strength in my education. A value that is incredibly important to my Mexican heritage, especially for immigrants or children of immigrants, is that getting your education is one of the things you MUST do. My entire life has been built on the sacrifices of my family members. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and ensured I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I wouldn't be in the same financial position they raised me in. Growing up in a household where my parents worked until their knees gave out and their fingers bled, I stayed motivated thinking of giving my parents a better life. In moments where I thought of quitting, I reminded myself of these sacrifices they made to give me the privilege to worry about grades and internships rather than where my next meal will come from. This scholarship would help me focus more on my education and would allow me to take advantage of educational opportunities offered at my campus rather than finding a third job to pay my tuition. Thank you for your consideration.

I am a California State University, Northridge biotechnology student with a minor in chemistry. I’ve been told I’m a grandmother stuck in the body of a teenager. I like to stay home and crochet, knit, bake, read, and drink too much coffee. Gilmore Girls, The Rookie, and FRIENDS are on my TV whenever I have free time. I have enjoyed participating in research and volunteering at hospitals. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family. I love to shop and I’ll never say no to trying out a new restaurant. My biggest motivation has always been my family. Growing up, my brother and I were consistently reminded of the importance of an education. My mom never graduated high school and my dad dropped out of middle school to help his family with the bills. Without diplomas or degrees, they were limited in what jobs they could get in a country where the bachelor’s degree was the new high school diploma. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and made sure I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I wouldn't be in the same financial position they raised me in. Growing up in a household where my parents worked until their knees gave out and their fingers bled, I stayed motivated thinking of giving my parents a better life. To one day retire them and pay them back for all of their sacrifices. In moments where I thought of quitting or failing, I reminded myself of these sacrifices they have made to give me the privilege to worry about grades and internships rather than where my next meal will come from. After taking many classes, volunteering, and researching, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot imagine a life where I am not a physician scientist. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved learning. I love obtaining knowledge I didn’t have before and applying what I learn in class to my everyday life. Learning is addicting and I never plan on stopping. Pursuing a career in medical research means dedicating your life to learning and pushing the boundaries of science. There isn’t a day I don’t look forward to learning more about how science has evolved. In the 1940s, we still believed lobotomy to be a great neurological advancement. Now, we have stereotactic radiosurgery to preserve as much healthy tissue when attacking a brain tumor. Just 5 years ago, we didn’t know how to use mRNA to help our body fight diseases like COVID-19. We didn’t understand the structure of DNA until 1953. 70 years later, we’re editing DNA. Science never stops evolving and therefore, you never stop learning. By continuing to learn, you have to answer some of the biggest questions in medicine and science. I want to answer those questions and ask more. I want to know and understand the human body like the back of my hand. I want to research the nervous system to understand the way the brain works and why. I want to have an impact on STEM through research and impacting medicine one patient at a time. I hope to give a mother her son back, a friend their friend back, and a husband his wife back. I hope to make the most impossible task possible. I will give my life to pushing the boundaries of science and being the best physician possible. With STEM, I truly believe we could answer some of the most daunting questions we are faced with today to improve our standard of living–whether it be through science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics. This past semester, I struggled more than I expected to. I was taking the hardest classes I had ever taken, committing up to 13 hours a day to the lab, grading assignments for my students who emailed me a million times a day with questions regarding nomenclature, study tips, and grades, and volunteering at the hospital every Saturday by comforting babies who were just as confused about the world we live in as I am. In April, I received the news that I would be losing my job due to budget cuts, the program I had fought hard to get into had been canceled due to federal cuts, and my grades were the worst they had ever been. Not only had I lost the free time I had to process what was happening but I lost the motivation to keep pushing forward. Reaching the end of the semester, I realized the hard way that I needed to ask for help. I needed to tell my manager that I had to step away from the lab for a bit, set a boundary with my students, and study harder than I ever have. Although my efforts proved to be successful for most of my transcript, I stumbled and fell hard for some of my grades. All I can do now is continue to move forward, learn from my mistakes, and try harder next time. I will continue to get back up to pursue my dreams of becoming a physician scientist despite all of the hurdles that were thrown my way.

The goal I am building towards is attaining my M.D. and my Ph.D. in neuroscience to become a physician scientist. To achieve this goal, I have taken part in the following. I earned the opportunity of being a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader for Chemistry 100, where I help students succeed in their Chemistry 100 courses by providing resources and extra practice on challenging topics. My first time as an SI Leader, I worked with Dr. Graff, who taught me valuable strategies on identifying how much a student was struggling and how to best support them. I have had the pleasure of assisting dozens of students in passing their Chemistry classes and directing students to resources on campus such as counseling or police services. In the summer of 2024, I received the opportunity to be a research assistant for the Culture, Health, and Development (CHD) Lab under Dr. Yolanda Vasquez-Salgado. In the CHD Lab, our research focuses on investigating cultural mismatch–a misalignment between home and academic cultures, and cultural wealth–strengths students bring from their families and communities back home, and its effects on the mental and physical health of Latinx students during their transition to college. As an integral member of the team, I have engaged in a variety of tasks that range from guiding participants in collecting salivary samples to assessing cortisol and other biomarkers of health as well as surveying and interviewing participants about their first-time college experiences. Along with my other scholarly obligations, I volunteer as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Cuddler at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. The cases where I am needed most are for patients we call “drug babies”--infants born addicted to narcotics due to their birth mother’s substance abuse during pregnancy. My role is to soothe them when they experience symptoms of withdrawal. This has been one of my most meaningful experiences as I’ve comforted countless babies, watching as they get better every week. The thought of helping a patient the same way as the health professionals who fight death everyday makes me excited to become a physician. I want to be an advocate for those who come from historically excluded groups. I will be a voice that represents those who are not heard in research. I can offer the point of view that is often overlooked and neglected. With my skill set, experiences, and values, I can offer the mind of a strong hard-worker, a patient person who will not become frustrated after hundreds of failed ideas, and the experience of someone who has been excluded and can reach out a hand for those who feel overlooked. I will do everything in my power to contribute what I can to biomedical research.

I was never the kind of person to love a subject so much that I needed more of it. History could be boring, English made my hand hurt, and even though I loved math, it didn’t always come easy. This all changed when I signed up for physiology, a class I had no knowledge of. I walked in on the first day to see diagrams of the human body on the walls, the tables so strategically placed that they fit into a tiny room, and lab stations set up with all kinds of tools that I would use later on in the year. I knew at that very moment that this was going to be the best class ever. Learning about every single system of the body was so cool to me. The three layers of the skin, diagnosing six patients for every single unit, the heart and all of its valves, and all of the different glands that contributed to my mood. However, the guy who sat next to me always commented on how my eyes lit up anytime we spoke about one organ in the body–the brain. I always had a deep fascination with the brain and how it worked. The human brain is one of life’s biggest mysteries, neuroscientists still do not fully understand how and why it is so complex. The human brain can do all of these things at the same time, telling your eyes to follow the words you’re reading, hearing these words, and then comprehending them, all in a matter of seconds. All while you’re reading, it’s commanding your lungs to breathe until you take control of them, it tells your fingers to follow the words on the page you’re reading this from, telling your foot to tap or swing as you read, telling your heart to pump, telling your spinal cord it’s time to straighten your back, and working to adjust the temperature in your body if it’s too hot or too cold. My brain was deeply in love with itself. I was so deeply intrigued by the brain that I dedicated the wall behind my desk to the brain and everything it did, I bought books to further understand interesting topics like neuroplasticity, and I tried finding any opportunity to learn more. I have a brain that will forever crave learning more about itself and a decorated wall to prove it. As I continue to learn more about biotechnology and its effects, I’ve realized that I want to be the person using the technology for the greater good. I want to use biotechnology to find ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, to study and further understand neuroplasticity, and to get better imaging techniques of the human brain. I want to use the best technology on my patients to make the impossible possible. To pursue this interest, I have earned the role of a research assistant at the Culture, Health, and Development Lab at my current institution. I’ve become a volunteer at a hospital near my home in the neurology unit and the NICU. I want to go to medical school and complete my residency in neurology or neurosurgery to learn the inner workings of the brain like the back of my hand. I will stop at nothing to answer the questions asked by neuroscientists all over the world. I hope to use my degree to further research on the brain, to further understand life's greatest mystery, and to repair it when it is broken. I will stop at nothing until my dream is accomplished.

I was never the kind of person to love a subject so much that I needed more of it. History could be boring, English hurt my hand, and even though I loved math, it wasn’t a subject I saw myself pursuing. This all changed when I signed up for AP Biology. Due to the pandemic, I had to take this class online and I was unable to perform the lab I found the most intriguing–the gel electrophoresis lab. The purpose of this is to separate charged molecules in DNA, RNA, and proteins to match them up with another piece of DNA. This biological advancement is the reason we were able to find criminals such as Colin Pitchfork who murdered two 15-year-old girls. Seeing biotechnology like gel electrophoresis was fascinating. I needed to learn more about it. I want to use biotechnology to find ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, to study and further understand neuroplasticity, and to get better imaging techniques of the human brain. Currently, I am a research assistant at my university's Culture, Health, and Development lab. This lab focuses on the effects of the transition to college on first-generation Hispanic/Latino college students to get access to better resources, making the transition easier. I’m also currently saving up money to get my emergency medical technician certification to gain some experience in the medical field. I volunteer in the NICU on Saturdays and it’s the best part of my day. On top of my chaotic week, I work as a Supplemental Instruction Leader at my university, helping students understand the most complicated topics in their chemistry classes. With these experiences, I have gained invaluable leadership experience and taken steps toward becoming the most competitive version of myself. Being a woman in a competitive field like medicine can be tough. There will always be someone in the room who underestimates you because of your background. Despite my heritage and gender being seen as a setback or flaw, I believe that being a Hispanic woman has only made me stronger as a pre-med. A value that is incredibly important to my Mexican heritage is that getting your education is one of the things you MUST do. Most of the members of my family came to this country with nothing but the clothes on their back. Most of my aunts never went to school, my mom never got to graduate high school, and my dad dropped out of school when he was 13 to help his family with the bills. Without diplomas and degrees, they were limited in what jobs they could get in a country where a bachelor’s degree was the new high school diploma. Due to their experiences, my entire family drilled into me the importance of my education. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and made sure I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I could have my own money one day. My culture, gender, and background have made me realize the value of education and appreciate college more than some of my peers. I want to be the woman little girls can look up to and realize that their dreams can become reality. This scholarship would help me focus more on my education and would allow me to take advantage of educational opportunities offered at my campus rather than finding a second job to pay my tuition.

For all of my life, my father has had a myriad of heart problems. My childhood memories are filled with hospital visits and fears of what was happening to my father. His heart problems only got worse when I grew older. The day before my AP English Language Exam I planned on showering to have a good night's sleep to prepare for the exam. My plans were forgotten when I saw my dad and he said, “I’m driving to the hospital. I think I’m having a heart attack”. I screamed at him that it wasn’t a good idea and blocked the door. He collapsed clutching his chest and I screamed for my mom. I called 911. When the paramedics and my parents were out of the house, I took a shower, went to bed, and thought about what would have happened if I had taken that shower earlier. Every time this happened, I had to go to school the next day. Every time I was distraught, worried, and afraid. Never did I let it affect my academic performance. My father wouldn’t want me to worry and fear. He’d want me to give my all to my studies. He wanted me to ignore everything else happening around me and just focus on the exam I was taking, the assignment I completing, and the presentation I was giving. He’d laugh at me if I was using him as an excuse to not get my work done. So, I persevere. In the end, I passed the AP English Language Exam and received college credit. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved learning. Learning is addicting and I never plan on stopping. Pursuing a career in the life sciences means dedicating your life to learning and pushing the boundaries of science. Science is always changing. In 1990, we didn’t know the human genome, the code to life. Just 5 years ago, we didn’t know how to use mRNA to help our body fight diseases like COVID-19. We didn’t understand the structure of DNA until 1953. 70 years later, we’re editing DNA. Science never stops evolving and therefore, you never stop learning. I want to answer life science's biggest questions. If someone manages to answer all of the questions, I want to ask more questions. I want to research the nervous system to understand the way the brain works and why. I want to research ways we can utilize the mRNA vaccine to cure genetic disorders and cancer. I am a know-it-all and I want to know it all. I truly believe that this is my life’s purpose. Two weeks ago, I was notified that I was no longer receiving the grant I was told would pay for my four years in college, and had to figure out how to pay for my tuition in a month. I was distraught and I panicked. I’ve started to fill out job applications to pile on top of the one I already have and have filled my computer tabs with dozens of scholarship opportunities. I have dreams of being a physician and to achieve this, I need to earn high grades, participate in research, volunteer, and work. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus on my extracurriculars to achieve these dreams rather than spending my time concerned about how I’ll be paying tuition and loans. If I am given this scholarship, I promise you will not regret it. I will spend the rest of my life proving that I am deserving of this scholarship.

I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents and the first in my family to graduate from high school, and college. Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of having a good education. Whenever I asked for a toy and they knew they couldn't afford it, they turned it into a lesson. “We don’t have the money for that. But, one day, you’ll go to college, get a good education, and you can buy all of the dolls you want!” Although my parents have worked their way up financially, they aren’t making enough money to pay for my tuition. I understood from my junior year of high school that I was on my own to pay for my education. I filled out my financial aid applications, read the 1040s and W-2 forms, and applied for scholarships myself. I was finally given a grant that was enough to cover my tuition, fees, and books. Two weeks ago, I was notified that I no longer qualified for the grant and had to figure out how to pay for my tuition in a month. I was distraught and I panicked. I’ve started to fill out job applications to pile on top of the one I already have and have filled my computer tabs with dozens of scholarship opportunities. I have dreams of being a physician and to achieve this, I need to earn high grades, participate in research, volunteer, and work. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to focus on my extracurriculars to achieve these dreams rather than spending my time concerned about how I’ll be paying tuition and loans. If I receive this scholarship, I plan on paying it forward by dedicating my life to helping and saving lives. I don’t take my dream of being a physician lightly. As a physician, I plan to give my patients the best care I can. I plan on conducting research on Alzheimer’s and finding a way to cure neurodegenerative diseases. I plan on finding a way to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to low-income communities from the inside. I plan on becoming a member of “Doctors Without Borders” charity to treat patients who don’t have access to healthcare. I plan to prove that I truly deserve this scholarship by doing my best to get good grades, volunteering at hospitals to help physicians with their work, and giving my all to being a research assistant at the Culture, Health, and Development Lab at my university. I will be the best Supplemental Instruction Leader for my students and help them understand every chemistry concept they throw my way. Once I have achieved my dreams and done the work, I plan on donating to give students more scholarships. I will work for the rest of my life to pay this scholarship forward. When I was 16, my father had a heart attack the day before a big exam. I was the person to call 911, translate everything to the paramedics, and clean up the mess left behind. We had these moments a lot due to how many heart problems my dad has had. Every single time, I’ve had to go back to school the next day. Despite my constant worries and images of my dad in the hospital flashing through my mind, I have persevered. On the day of the big exam, I still managed to get a high enough score for college credit. I never let my problems get in the way of my academic success. If I am given this scholarship, I promise you will not regret it.

I was never the kind of person to love a subject so much that I needed more of it. History could be boring, English hurt my hand, and even though I loved math, it wasn’t a subject I saw myself pursuing. This all changed when I signed up for AP Biology. Due to the pandemic, I had to take this class online and I was unable to perform the lab I found the most intriguing–gel electrophoresis. The purpose of this is to separate charged molecules in DNA, RNA, and proteins to match them up with another piece of DNA. This biological advancement is the reason we were able to find criminals such as Colin Pitchfork who murdered two 15-year-old girls. Seeing technology mix with biology to create biotechnology like gel electrophoresis was fascinating. I needed to learn more about it. As I continue to learn more about biotechnology and its effects, I’ve realized that I want to be the person using the technology for the greater good. I want to use biotechnology to find ways to treat neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, to study and further understand neuroplasticity, and to get better imaging techniques of the human brain. To pursue this interest, I want to become a research assistant at the neuroscience lab at my current university. This lab focuses on how technology (virtual reality and augmented reality) impacts our visual systems. I want to go to medical school and complete my residency in neurology or neurosurgery to learn the inner workings of the brain like the back of my hand. I will stop at nothing to answer the questions asked by neuroscientists all over the world. Being Hispanic in a competitive field like medicine can be tough. There will always be someone in the room who underestimates you because of your background. Despite my heritage being seen as a setback or flaw, I believe that being Hispanic has only made me stronger as a pre-med. A value that is incredibly important to my Mexican heritage, especially for immigrants or children of immigrants, is that getting your education is one of the things you MUST do. Many members of my family are immigrants. They came to this country with nothing but the clothes on their back. Most of my aunts never went to school, my mom never got to graduate high school, and my dad dropped out of school when he was 13 to help his family with the bills. Without diplomas and degrees, they were limited in what jobs they could get in a country where a bachelor’s degree was the new high school diploma. Due to their experiences, my entire family drilled into me the importance of my education. They ignored the machismo taught to them by their fathers and made sure I understood that I needed to have a career I loved so I could have my own money one day. My culture and my background have made me realize the value of education and have made me appreciate college more than some of my peers. This scholarship would help me focus more on my education and would allow me to take advantage of educational opportunities offered at my campus rather than finding a second job to pay my tuition.