Buttery, light, and crisp croissants are a fond memory I often reminisce about. At the perky age of 11, I zoomed to the airport for my first trip to Paris, France. While I explored the scenery with my uncle and cousins, a fiery passion was released within me. The desire to acquire an abundance of knowledge about this foreign wonder consumed me. From the people, their language, and their habits, to their food, entertainment, and tourist attractions, I wanted to learn everything.  Understanding people proved to be quite a dilemma. Despite growing up speaking French in my household, the French that people in France spoke was different from Cameroonian French. It was fascinating and frustrating; it’s the same language, why is it so hard to decipher? It all came down to the different dialects of the two regions. Being unable to communicate despite speaking the same language was an eye-opening experience, teaching me not to underestimate different cultures and inspiring me to learn more about this intriguing dialect.  Parisian food is delicious. The smell of freshly baked croissants in Paris still permanently permeates my nostrils. Food was eaten in smaller portions and on smaller plates compared to America, and every day without fail we ate an afternoon snack called “la goûter.” Any dessert or snack would be delectably consumed, leaving no crumbs. It was an interesting habit among many others I perceived during my time there.  People in France are polite in their greetings. It is customary to see someone begin a conversation with a “bonjour” or walk into a store and greet the clerk with a “bon après-midi.” Everyone acknowledged one another, and getting two or three kisses on opposing cheeks was common. I appreciate the respectful manner in which people present themselves, and I now always greet people wherever I go.  Strolling through a walkable city was extremely liberating. I was able to arrive at most destinations via public transportation. There were many parks, museums, and attractions, and I could travel to all of them with ease. My favorite part of my trip was visiting the local parks. The scenery was gorgeous, there was plenty of playing equipment, and I met many friendly families and had the opportunity to socialize with other kids my age. Those parks were so fun that I want to be able to construct similar infrastructure where I live and in places lacking third-party areas.  Visiting France was an eye-opening adventure. I learned more about different niches, new facets of language, food, extreme politeness, and culture. I have taken the knowledge I gained from my brief visit and used it to better myself and give myself a vision for the future. I want to visit more places in Europe and Asia and gain an understanding of their day-to-day nuances. Every culture does things differently, so I am going to take bits and pieces of each and improve myself so I can improve the world.

Relentless, remorseless agony. Pain trampled on every vibrant emotion I possess, leaving nothing but shattered hope in my battered soul. I lay in a hospital bed for 6 days during my last Sickle Cell pain crisis as I withstood the most excruciating pain of my life. Sickle Cell Disease is an anemia where typically circular red blood cells incorrectly form into sharp, crescent-shaped cells. As the blood wrestled through my veins, there was nothing I could do to shield myself from the mind-numbing pain.  Millions of people suffer through afflictions similar to what I was forced to endure. Dreadfully, with no certainty as to when or if their pain will conclude, I want to be able to prevent such unnecessary agony. I will gain so much knowledge that I will have the ability to cultivate new medical technology and treatments to combat certain illnesses patients may face. My ultimate goal is to improve myself so I can improve the world. By majoring in pre-med biomedical engineering to become a fierce surgeon, I will be able to help people in a way similar to how the doctors who cared for me in my 6 most harrowing days did. I want to continue my pursuit of knowledge for decades to come and continuously expand my repertoire of knowledge.  Surgeons are the most inspiring people I know. Through a dozen or more years of post-secondary education, they dedicate copious amounts of time to learning extensive information in their field and even more time honing their craft. It is quite honestly incredible and I am exhilarated to pursue the same career choice. I respect everyone in the healthcare industry; their work is far from easy and vital. The medical field has introduced countless innovations in the past millennia, progressing from passing away from lack of hygiene to being cured through cutting the human body open, rearranging the insides, and sewing someone back together. It is an incredible technology that I wish to evolve even further.  Although I was positive about my decision to be a surgeon, I did not have the slightest clue of what to major in. Knowing I would graduate early the next year, I asked my sophomore English teacher for insight into what I should choose as my major. He keenly told me that I would make a great electrical or biomedical engineer. Hearing about biomedical engineering ignited a bright flame within me. It combines my two favorite subjects, math and science, by creating important technology in the field I was eager to join. I immediately researched my newfound major with passion, thrilled to discover its presence in this world. Biomedical engineers have made the basics of medical equipment such as stethoscopes, prosthetics, and x-ray machines. They constantly improve the technology surgeons need to operate and innovate new tools and ideas to propel humanity into a new medical metamorphosis. Biomedical engineers and surgeons are phenomenal and I will combine my knowledge of the two to create greater technology.

My mom is not home frequently. Often, she is working a 12-hour shift as a nurse in a state different from where her home is. She is the sole provider of a house with 3 children, yet she cannot enjoy the home she painstakingly worked towards because she needs to acquire money for us—her kids.  No one ever pushed me to have good grades; I just saw my mom working hard and thought I should work hard too. I am a straight-A student, and my mom praises me for it. From a young age, my mom expressed that she wanted me to get a job in the medical field because I would always have job security. It was a fact primarily evident during COVID, when she worked even harder because nurses were very valuable at the time.  I always knew that I wanted to be a surgeon; my mom’s words just encouraged me even more. I really admire how surgeons dedicate more than a decade to mastering such an intricate, vital craft. The time and effort they put in to hone their skills is evident, and I want to be able to save patients in a similar manner. To develop new surgical techniques that can help another niche group of patients and to use the knowledge learned from my upcoming biomedical engineering degree to design more medical equipment that can aid people who are not healthy and strong. It is the only career path I can see myself in, and I want to do my best and succeed. I want to improve myself to improve the world.  I graduated early, at the age of 16, as a high school junior. It was, by no means, an easy feat. I had to balance studying for my junior and senior classes all while completing extracurriculars such as powerlifting, track and field, academic UIL, work, and student council. I spent dozens of hours volunteering at events with my student council, such as donating clothes to people who do not have many and donating animal toys to the local animal shelter. My favorite volunteering event was going to the Forney Fall Festival and taking pictures for 8 hours of families at a picture setup that included stacks of hay and pumpkins, both enormous and miniature. A large portion of the people who came to the photo booth were single moms trying to have a bonding moment with their kids. They were always really thankful when I offered to take a photo with them and their kids because they are usually the ones behind the camera and do not have many tangible memories of them as a family. It reminded me of my mom and how she was the same way.  Growing up with only a single mom who overworks herself every day has taught me to be independent, resilient, hard-working, and strong. I will work hard to become a surgeon, both for my future patients' sake and for my family. Scholarships will help take the burden off my mother as she tries to single-handedly pay for my college and allow me to acquire fewer loans. I am excited to embark on my upcoming journey to be a surgeon, and I thank you for your consideration.

The pain, like a relentless tempest, sweeps through the body, leaving no sanctuary untouched. It is a symphony of suffering, a melody of torment that plays out in the marrow of bones and the recesses of the soul. Like a storm, it ravages the body in pitter patters of red hot agony. Joints, once fluid, become battlegrounds where each step is a duel with pain. Breath becomes a fleeting wisp, a conquest over suffocating tendrils. The heart beats a rhythm of desperation, pumping life through a vessel besieged. Forever etched in my soul are the afflictions that arise during sickle cell crises. Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder, transforms normally pliant red blood cells into rigid, crescent-shaped structures. These abnormal cells hinder proper oxygen flow, causing acute pain crises and anemia. Its unpredictable nature leads to recurrent episodes of excruciating pain, impacting daily life and often necessitating medical intervention. Through medical advancements with CRISPR technology, more treatment options become available along with medications, like hydroxyurea, to lower the risk of pain crises and other ailments. I laid in a hospital bed for six days during my most recent pain crisis. It was an excruciating experience that fueled my drive and encouraged me to attempt the impossible. Surgeons are the most inspirational people I know. Through the knowledge they have spent decades acquiring, they perform life-saving operations to influence patient's lives for the better. Their hard work and dedication are admirable, and I aspire to be just like them. Growing up, I was surrounded by healthcare workers. From my mom, who is a travel nurse, to my uncle, who is a doctor, I constantly gazed at people in the medical field with twinkling eyes, desperately wanting to one day join their fascinating forces. Therefore, I studied hard in classes such as Anatomy and Physiology and Health Science to be as prepared as possible for my upcoming college years, where I will major in biomedical engineering. I am so eager to learn more about my passion, to the point that I became an early high school graduate. I am empathetic towards those who are experiencing pain. As I navigate through school and various social circles, I have become attuned to the silent struggles of those around me. Whether it was a classmate battling anxiety or a friend dealing with family issues, I found solace in offering a compassionate ear and a genuine understanding of their affliction. My classmate had to be hospitalized for five months because he broke his leg in a car crash. Being familiar with the loneliness of a hospital room, I did my best to alleviate distress by visiting, calling, and sending small gifts of items I had crocheted. Unfortunately, I cannot use this approach for every person who is suffering. I want to achieve a difference on a greater scale. My ambition is to prevent agony similar to the explosions of ache I felt due to Sickle Cell Disease. Through the art of surgery I will be to others what hydroxyurea is to me. Everyone deserves a chance to thrive and lead a dignified life; I want to have the opportunity to spark that hope. The fear of the unknown, which once paralyzed me, now fuels my determination; challenges are no longer obstacles but stepping stones to self discovery. I want to acquire as much knowledge as possible. I will complete secondary education and study to be an incredible surgeon so that becoming a superhero in the medical field, just like my mom and uncle, is within my grasp.

I aspire to become a self-sufficient biomedical engineer who can be of succor to millions with her innovative technology, all while being inclusive to everyone, perpetually acquiring unprecedented knowledge to amplify her personal growth, and being relied on by others to be at the forefront of a new era of medical metamorphosis.