As an aspiring undergraduate student with a deep passion for STEM, I have dealt with a few challenges in my educational and personal journey. Some of those have been cultural issues and financial difficulties. With the support of my family, values instilled in me, and perseverance to become someone great, I was able to overcome the problems I faced. My academic achievements, hands-on experience, and long-term goals demonstrate both my commitment to this field and my potential to make a meaningful impact in the field. Throughout high school, I consistently challenged myself with advanced coursework in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. I earned top grades while also participating in various activities such as volunteering programs and Student Government Association. As one of three black girls in the Student Government Association club, I stood out like a sore thumb in a set of healthy fingers. In some instances where we were treated slightly different than others, I motivated myself to speak up during meetings/events. I was taught to always have confidence and boldness to share my opinions about things, especially in situations where you need to be an example for others . This experiences not only strengthened my social skills but also taught me the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and problem-solving—core values in STEM fields. Secondly, I have faced financial obstacles such as providing assistance to my people back home(West Africa, Sierra Leone). One way I contributed to my community and showed kindness was being there when needed whether personal or monetary support. There were times when I couldn't get hold of fiscal cash to send back home then I remembered giving can be done in other ways. In some occasions where things are required back home for kids at orphanages, I donated my outgrown clothes and shoes to be sent back home for the kids to use. I see this as a way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others. This experience taught me the importance of responsibility and helping others whenever you find yourself in a position to help. It always finds a way to come back to you sooner or later. I also got valuable life lessons good work habits, commitment and hard work. I am driven by a desire to use this principle to solve real-world problems. Additionally, it fostered leadership and dedication abilities in me, essential qualities for effective service provision. Through group projects, extracurricular activities, and campus organizations, students like myself learn to work collaboratively towards common goals, navigate diverse perspectives, and inspire positive change. These events have shaped my viewpoint and set standards on how life should be lived. In summary, I have a strong moral foundation, through my experiences and hurdles, it showed resilience and passion with aligns with my determination to become a successful Pharmacologist. I am excited to continue my journey in STEM and contribute to the advancement of knowledge, equity, and innovation. My passion to create, build, and design inventions and innovations will impact the future of our communities.

The program I intend to pursue(Chemistry) will help me achieve my personal and professional goal in various ways. A chemistry degree is a crucial step toward achieving my dreams. At its core, chemistry allows me to understand the building blocks of the world around me from the medicines that save lives to the materials that power clean energy. During my high school years I partook of activities that supported my passion, they were; participating in many chemical lab projects and creating programs that shaped my leadership skills. My goal is to harness this knowledge to contribute to innovations in environmental sustainability and public health, particularly in underserved communities.    I aspire to serve as a community pharmacist, especially in underserved or rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. I want to be more than someone who dispenses medication. I want to be a trusted health advisor who helps patients manage chronic conditions, understand prescriptions, and navigate the healthcare system. Only 6 - 8% of U.S Chemistry majors are Black women and I intend to be a great representation of that community. My chemistry background will allow me to provide accurate, science-based guidance to support better health outcomes.  I am passionate about science, leadership, and innovation. I plan to use my chemistry background to create outreach programs which will make science for students in low-income or rural areas. Too often, talented young people are discouraged from pursuing STEM due to a lack of access or representation. I want to change that by mentoring students, hosting science workshops, and developing culturally relevant teaching materials that will encourage curiosity and confidence. With this ideology, I aim to inspire the next generation with great love for science and medicine thereby increasing the odds in my field. Beyond the pharmacy counter, I also want to give back through outreach by hosting workshops on managing medications, educating young people about health careers, and mentoring students from similar backgrounds. I want to show them that they, too, can turn personal struggle into purpose just like a young lady like myself achieved. Through combining scientific expertise with community engagement, I aim to create a lasting impact—not just through the work I do in labs or policy rooms, but through the lives I touch by making science more accessible, inclusive, and empowering. In the long run, I also hope to advocate for more inclusive and culturally competent care within the pharmaceutical industry. Representation and trust matter in healthcare, and I want to be part of building a system that listens to and respects every community. Lastly, I want to use my education with the help of this scholarship  to uplift others, contribute to public health, and create a lasting impact in both my community and the broader healthcare field.

The spirit of giving is a mindset that one must have, paired with discipline that has to be cultivated and practiced in order to be cultivated in an individual’s lifestyle. There are a few flawed perspectives on giving back, where one must have great and valued riches in order to make a difference. Resources are valued treasures that can be offered to the community as a form of acts of service. There are various resources one can contribute to the community; donations, time, energy, dedication, money etc. Giving is a commitment mentality that one must harness in order to volunteer cheerfully and make a difference.   There are various ways that I have advanced the spirit of giving in my community through teaching others the life lessons and peculiar perspective that I have gained. Some places where they were founded/cultivated was through high school and the volunteer work that I did in my society. I participated in a volunteer service in the local church for over 6 months, Winners Chapel International Maryland. During my time, I served others by assisting with handing out donations(food, clothes, shoes, etc) They were called outreaches, I used this as a means to give and serve to the needs of others. This was where I understood that everyone is capable of rendering services and giving back to others no matter how little you have. For instance, there was a lady who came to the church when we had a big donation outreach, she was there to collect some food and clothes. After she had already secured her package she saw we had a huge crowd with a small number of volunteers, she offered to assist us with handing out the packages to others. I observed how humble she was to give her time and make sure everyone else got their items. This experience stuck with me and gave me a valuable lesson; every individual has the power to make a difference no matter your current circumstance. This lady sacrificed her time to help out and share packages to others that caused a great effect in the procedure of that outreach. It was my first ever volunteer position and my experience there was great and fulfilling, I acquired new friends, new skills, and life lessons that I will hold dear unto me. On a particular day, we had a clothing drive that took place at the parking lot of the church, the organizers requested that those who can, donate some items to give out to those in need. I had outgrown a few dresses, blouses, jeans, and shoes, I decided to be a blessing to others and share all the outfits I longer use or need. I gathered a few of my clothes and my family’s and we gave it all to the clothing drive. The appreciation and gratitude on the faces of people that we handed it out to made my heart full. I truly felt happy and delighted with my decision to not only assist with presenting the items to people but actively donate something to others.  These are a few takeaways that I got from my experience at the volunteer program, it made me build up some skills like teamwork, hard work, communication, dedication etc. Lastly, my frame of mind towards giving was shaped through the activities and observations during my time at that location. This has made me encourage the spirit of giving and teach others the importance of contributing to society. I intend to make a positive impact on the world by using these skills to start a NGO for the homeless.

Some of my future goals in life are career growth and humanitarian impact in my society. I believe that I am inquisitive, investigative, and I question things/situations a lot of times which makes me perfect as a Research Scientist. I am of the opinion that most people misconstrue the field of STEM, and they think that only people with a certain IQ level are accepted in anything related to Science, Technology, Engineering, or even Mathematics which is absolutely not true. Chemistry makes me want to teach and impact others with what I have learned. The career path that I have chosen is to be a Chemist/Research Scientist and I would do this by pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry. I am currently a student in Montgomery College getting an Associate Degree in Chemistry who will transfer to University of Maryland. The reason that this major stood out to is the challenge that it comes with, the passion I have for this field(STEM) and the potential is has to really make a difference through the health aspect in a lot of lives. I also have plans for sustained community involvement after college which will be setting up Nonprofit Organizations that its core goal will be taking in kids that are out of home and providing for their needs(clothes, shelter, food, etc). This was a decision that was made after my volunteer community service work of 100 hours to my local church in high school.

My name is Glory Gabriel and I come from a small country called Sierra Leone which is located in West Africa. I grew up in the capital city called Freetown for the first 13 years of my life but I currently live in Maryland, USA. My ethnicity is Black, cultural heritage is African, and my traditions and customs are derived from my home country Sierra Leone. The culture of the Sierra Leone people are dance, storytelling, music, food, festivities, and much more. Masquerade festivals and multiple secret societal ignition of both girls/boys are widely practiced during auspicious times of the year. Some basic core foundations of my family I am originated are respect for elders, obedience, family, politeness and love for one another. A very common family tradition that I always look forward to back home is when all the children gather together and the elders(grandparents) tell us scary stories which always include life lessons at the end. All these has shaped my beliefs about the world and my perspective in life which has impacted my choices so far. One way I actively contribute to my family and community is being there when needed whether personal or general. On some occasions where things are required back home for kids at orphanages, I help out by donating my outgrown clothes and shoes to be sent back home for the kids to use. I see this as a way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others, especially from my hometown. Also I participated in a service of 100 hours of dedication and volunteer work to a church in my community in the US. I made the time from my busy schedule of school and extracurricular activities to go to a local church nearby and volunteer for my community. This experience taught me the importance of teamwork, and helping others whenever you find yourself in a position to help, it always finds a way to come back to you sooner or later. I also got valuable life lessons(good work habits, gratitude, and never giving up on a project/task) that I will hold very dear to me and will surely utilize in the future. My future plans for sustained community involvement after college will be setting up Nonprofit Organizations that its core goal will be taking in kids that are out of home and providing for their needs(clothes, shelter, food, etc). I intend to establish NGOs that will support and sustain orphanages and churches to help out those in need, activities like fundraising to supply consistent financial revenue into this organization. Many make plans and intentions but never pursue them. That is my career aspirations for the future. I desire to actually put this plan in motion and make it happen due to my love and beliefs of my family which is giving back to the community.

My name is Glory Gabriel and I come from a small country called Sierra Leone which is located in West Africa. I grew up in the capital city called Freetown for the first 13 years of my life but I currently live in Maryland, USA. My ethnicity is Black, cultural heritage is African, and my traditions and customs are derived from my home country Sierra Leone. The culture of the Sierra Leone people are dance, storytelling, music, food, festivities, and much more. Masquerade festivals and multiple secret societal ignition of both girls/boys are widely practiced during auspicious times of the year. Some basic core foundations of the community I am originated from are respect for elders, obedience, family, politeness and love for one another. A very common family tradition that I always look forward to back home is when all the children gather together and the elders(grandparents) tell us scary stories which always include life lessons at the end. One way I actively contribute to my family and community is being there when needed whether personal or general. On some occasions where things are required back home for kids at orphanages, I help out by donating my outgrown clothes and shoes to be sent back home for the kids to use. I see this as a way to give back and make a difference in the lives of others, especially from my hometown. Also I participated in a service of 100 hours of dedication and volunteer work to a church in my community in the US. I made the time from my busy schedule of school and extracurricular activities to go to a local church nearby and volunteer for my community. This experience taught me the importance of teamwork, and helping others whenever you find yourself in a position to help, it always finds a way to come back to you sooner or later. I also got valuable life lessons(good work habits, gratitude, and never giving up on a project/task) that I will hold very dear to me and will surely utilize in the future. My plans for sustained community involvement after college will be setting up Nonprofit Organizations that its core goal will be taking in kids that are out of home and providing for their needs(clothes, shelter, food, etc). I intend to establish NGOs that will support and sustain orphanages and churches to help out those in need, activities like fundraising to supply consistent financial revenue into this organization. Many make plans and intentions but never pursue them. I desire to actually put this plan in motion and make it happen due to my love for family and giving back to the community.

My name is Glory Gabriel and I am incoming Montgomery College, MD freshman. I am a talented high school graduate who is seeking to get a Bachelors' Degree in Chemistry however due to financial reasoning I will first get an Associate Degree in Chemistry at Montgomery College then transfer to University of Maryland and get my bachelors degree. I am a detailed-oriented and organized individual with good qualities that makes me a unique scholar, some skills are; innovative, investigative, efficient and my ability to think critically. Another potential that I possess is my competence in planning out my activities/schoolwork in a well calculated and organized manner. Some extracurricular activities that I partook in my high school are; Student Government Association and the Yearbook Club. I participated in a service of 100 hours of dedication and volunteer work to a church in my community. I made the time from my busy schedule of school and extracurricular activities to go to a local church nearby and volunteer for my community. This experience taught me the importance of teamwork, and helping others whenever you find yourself in a position to help, it always find a way to come back to you sooner or later. I also got valuable life lessons(good work habits, gratitude, and never giving up on a project/task) that I will hold very dear to me and will surely utilize in the future. My chemistry teacher in tenth grade gave a scenario that if a young student entered the classroom, what would you say to that person if the person's worst subject/course was anything related to the STEM field? I then raised my hand, I started by saying, “Quite a number of people hate or dislike STEM in general for various reasons, some may find the whole department boring or not as exciting at all in comparison to other courses or departments like Arts, Music, Drama, and so many more. People think that anything in Science, Technology, Engineering, more importantly, Mathematics is way too complicated, or has way too much information, and some may even say that why should I bother to be inquisitive, investigate, or question things and situations when I have all the answers that I need at my fingertips, for example the internet. I believe that most people misconstrue the field of STEM, and they think that only people with a certain IQ level are accepted in anything related to Science, Technology, Engineering, or even Mathematics which is absolutely not true. I would then convince that person in the scenario to challenge themselves to something new and out of their comfort space. Bring up interesting topics that can get them intrigue to know more. This experience made me realize my love for Chemistry. I will use this experience to contribute to the community and make an impact in lives.

The program I intend to pursue(Chemistry) will help me achieve my personal and professional goal in various ways. A chemistry degree is a crucial step toward achieving my dreams. At its core, chemistry allows me to understand the building blocks of the world around me from the medicines that save lives to the materials that power clean energy. During my high school years I partook of activities that supported my passion, they were; participating in many chemical lab projects and creating programs that shaped my leadership skills. My goal is to harness this knowledge to contribute to innovations in environmental sustainability and public health, particularly in underserved communities. I aspire to serve as a community pharmacist, especially in underserved or rural areas where access to healthcare is limited. I want to be more than someone who dispenses medication. I want to be a trusted health advisor who helps patients manage chronic conditions, understand their prescriptions, and navigate the healthcare system. My chemistry background will allow me to provide accurate, science-based guidance to support better health outcomes. I am passionate about science, leadership, and innovation. I plan to use my chemistry background to create outreach programs which will make science for students in low-income or rural areas. Too often, talented young people are discouraged from pursuing STEM due to a lack of access or representation. I want to change that by mentoring students, hosting science workshops, and developing culturally relevant teaching materials that inspire curiosity and confidence. Beyond the pharmacy counter, I also want to give back through outreach by hosting workshops on managing medications, educating young people about health careers, and mentoring students from similar backgrounds. I want to show them that they, too, can turn personal struggle into purpose just like a young lady like myself achieved. Through combining scientific expertise with community engagement, I aim to create a lasting impact—not just through the work I do in labs or policy rooms, but through the lives I touch by making science more accessible, inclusive, and empowering. In the long run, I also hope to advocate for more inclusive and culturally competent care within the pharmaceutical industry. Representation and trust matter in healthcare, and I want to be part of building a system that listens to and respects every community. Lastly, I want to use my education with the help of this scholarship to uplift others, contribute to public health, and create a lasting impact in both my community and the broader healthcare field.