An obstacle I have had to overcome in pursuing my bachelor's in pre-medical biology is comparison. In high school, things did not come easily to me, but I was able to break down information and apply it as required. I was used to making straight A's and was even ranked third in my class. It didn't occur to me that I wasn't prepared for the challenging switch in course load from high school to university. The classes I took in my first semester were extremely challenging, and I found myself wondering why it was all so hard. I took chemistry and biology in high school and have seen these concepts before. So why can't I get an A on an exam or an A in this class? I thought I knew how to study. I thought I knew how to take notes. I looked around at my peers and saw a few who excelled, who got grades better than I did, who truly understood the complex subjects. I compared myself to them very often and wondered why I couldn't be like them. They're getting so many opportunities in research and jobs. They're getting A's on exams and quizzes. They actually know how to study. These comparisons caused me to wonder if I was in the right field. Am I as good as my classmates? Do I have what it takes to get through the rest of my university career, through medical school, and through residency? I felt like I wasn't cut out to become a doctor. But one day, a medical school visited my university. They showed us a promo video, and in it, I hardly saw anyone who looked like me. I hardly saw any young Black women, which made me realize something important. This was my first year of university. It's an entirely different environment than what I'm used to. I learned that I had to grow into studying habits, note-taking methods, and learning strategies. Because if I give up now, then that's one less minority in a field that needs diversity and representation. I thought about the black children who struggle with their mental health due to childhood trauma and exposure to unhealthy environments. They need to see that someone who looks like them is in a position to help them. They need to see someone who looks like them, who is a doctor who truly cares for their well-being. I finally realized that I don't need to compare myself to anyone else. If I have the perseverance and conviction to get through my academic career, then I can make it through and set myself apart. It means that I am more than capable of becoming a Pediatric Psychiatrist. It means that I can be a Black doctor who cares to be the change and make a difference.

In the halls of my small private school comprised of mostly African-American students, I have seen a lot of hatred. Even though we are were the same ethnicity, people were picked on for their body weight, skin color, hairstyle, or the food they ate. This was even directed towards me one time, with the size of my forehead, my light skin, and thin twists. Because I have lighter skin than normal of a Black girl, I was not seen as black enough. I hated seeing my people putting each other down even though we had the same struggles historically. The moment I’d see this form of hatred, I’d call the person out and tell them that their hatred is not the way, and that we need to be together, not divided. I sat down and thought about where this form of hate comes from. It’s because of personal issues, like traumatic events, self-hatred, and not being satisfied with oneself. That’s when I realized that people truly need help and that their mental state has to be affected. I did research one summer before I started high school, looking up different paths a doctor can take. When I saw the possibility of a doctor who specializes in mental disorders, a lightbulb went off in my head. It was here where I figured out what I wanted to do. I dug deeper, looking at different specialties. First I wanted to do forensics and then organizational. Then I saw it: Pediatric Psychiatry. Not only would I be working with patients to better their mental health, my patients would be children. With everything I’d been through in my life, I knew that trauma as a child is a lot to carry. Naturally, I want to help kids reach the best point they can and know that there’s people that look like them who can help them. I also want them to know that there are people who went through some of the things they went through as well. It saddens my heart the hoops that families and children have to go through just to receive proper treatment. Many drugs carry heavy side effects that I believe children shouldn’t have to go through at an early age. With my experience in college, medical school, and residency, I intend to use wholesome methods without the use of medication unless absolutely necessary. I believe in combining the interests of children, into their treatment. I believe at taking things at a pace they’re comfortable with. Not only that, I plan to push for them to receive medication when they really need it. Children are the future, and if we do not give them the treatment they needed without making it overly complicated, then they may not live to see the future. As a distinguished doctor, I plan to collaborate with my colleagues on a project that pushes for adolescents to receive proper treatment as their mental health and struggles with bullying calls for it.