"Jessica I am incredibly proud of you. You are going to achieve incredible things in this field." My program director stated this when I decided to drop my dual degree in Biomedical Sciences and American Sign Language and Interpreting to only ASLI. Pursuing only ASLI changed the trajectory of my career. Since the eighth grade, I have been piecing the puzzles of the future: 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦, 𝘔𝘊𝘈𝘛, 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭; 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦, 𝘔𝘊𝘈𝘛, 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. While becoming a physician would have the epitome of greatness to others, becoming an ASL-English Interpreter is what the Lord was calling me to do. From my active class participation, organizing different social events, and even attending a Deaf church, my program director saw my potential to become an ASL-English interpreter. Additionally, each sign I produced reminded me of the privilege to be alongside the Deaf community and to facilitate communication between the Deaf and hearing world. She never hesitated to refer me to different language mentors, professional development courses, and organizations to increase my knowledge. As I began investing more time into these resources, she was in my corner and ready to support me. When I decided to pursue one degree, she was even more present. She pushed me to join programs I thought my skill set was not up to par with. For instance, there was a program in May 2023 called The Randleman Progam Summer Intensive for Interpreters of Color. Given the shortage of BIPOC interpreters in the field, the program aimed to cultivate a cohort of interpreters and discuss, in-depth, the interpreting process and ethical decision-making. The program was highly selective by selecting 16 individuals from the entire United States. My program director took me step-by-step through the application process, edited my resume, and wrote my letter of recommendation. I am proud to say I completed the summer intensive program in June 2023. But, most importantly, she continuously brought me back to my "why." At the time, my "why" for ASLI was not concrete; but my "why" for medicine was disappointing. Becoming a physician would have made me succumb to familial pressures and the desire for status. If I continued on that path, I would have become a physician who would have struggled with prioritizing the needs of my patients and colleagues. The Lord used my program director to reveal my superficial desires and to change them to better serve the Deaf and hearing world. By becoming an interpreter, I am committing myself to doing my best to accommodate the needs of my consumers and to continue my journey of skill and professional development. Thank you for your consideration.

Stereotype threat, a term coined by psychologists Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson, is a “situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of conforming to stereotypes about their social group”. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, I have had many experiences that fall under this definition. My mother would often tell me in Twi, our native language, “your spirit is Ghanaian but if you do not learn to think and speak like an American, they’ll always think you’re lesser than them.” So I did just that. In school, I would work incredibly hard to assimilate because I knew that my ability to acculturate was valued more than my intelligence. I feared speaking in African American Vernacular English because I didn’t want to appear intellectually inferior. I also avoided speaking out on controversial issues, for fear of being stereotyped as aggressive. It was exhausting keeping up with the facade. When I eventually decided to pursue a degree in medicine, I was met with disbelief and discouragement from people who should have encouraged me. I just didn’t understand. If I didn’t excel in academics and my professional life, I was seen as inferior; but if I excelled and showed my confidence I was seen as arrogant--or as someone who needed to“be more realistic.” No matter what I did, I felt like I couldn’t win. After much contemplation, I have risen above such toxicity. Now I advocate for every immigrant and first-generation student to never shrink their confidence or qualifications at the expense of other people’s feelings. Because when we shrink ourselves, we would not be giving true representation on how excellence is shown in people of all different backgrounds. By studying medicine and Deaf Culture, I have grown my understanding of how to properly serve other communities who may be English learners and to challenge myself to confront--and correct-- my subconscience biases. In my professional career, I hope to provide and advocate for quality health care to every person with or without disabilities, across all socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. To this day, I don’t blame my mother for her former views. Like me, she has grown and has lost the fear of being stereotyped by others. As I continue to grow in my identity, the stereotype threat has also lost its hold on me; and as I continue this journey, I am hopeful for the greatness that will follow.

The Savior Complex, a term coined by author and historian Teju Cole, is a term used to describe how people of privilege consider themselves amazing helpers to people in need and help for the wrong reasons; the term also discusses how some explore other cultures for the wrong reasons. Although many desire to grow their appreciation of different cultures, sometimes, they ignore the underlying problems of said cultures and fail to understand the true importance of cultural immersion. Scenarios would include going abroad because “it will make you look good” or because you “can make great change.” Although “wanting to make a great change” is not inherently bad, we must think about our unconscious biases-- and how to change them when necessary. I was guilty of wanting to immerse myself in another culture for the wrong reasons. Being Ghanaian- American, I thought I was immune from thinking this way about different cultures. Since high school, I’ve always wanted to visit Israel. The country is one of the oldest living civilizations in history. From the Bible, Christian Crusades, to the Ottoman Empire, walking through the streets would be walking through detailed and vulnerable history. Also, my university provides extensive study abroad programs that allow students to learn about the health education and legal structures in countries including Israel, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, and others. Seeing how accessible these programs are shows that my goals of studying abroad are tangible. I thought going would make me be seen as “enlightened” or “culturally aware;” I wanted to prove that I can be open-minded and accept a culture that I’m not familiar with. After much self-reflection, I realized how selfish and inconsiderate I was for taking cultural immersion for granted. Like any other country, going to Israel would be a privilege. Traveling there would broaden my appreciation of history and would remind me of how ancient civilizations have an impact on our worldviews and domestic cultures. When the question, “why do you have a passion for cultural immersion?” arises, our “why” must derive from true humility and a desire to learn about the culture. Cultural immersion will always be a gift; our world has better united itself by exchanging our values, beliefs, language, etc. If all of us take the time to acknowledge cultural immersion's true value, our future generation will want to learn and embrace the cultures of their peers. As time progresses, I hope the Savior Complex loses its power and that we become better citizens of the world.

Mae Jemison is the epitome of multipotentiality. Jemison not only was the first Black woman to enter space, but she also became a physician, chemical engineer, trained dancer, Peace Corps volunteer, became fluent in 4 languages, and founded two technology companies. She is a phenomenal example of how people are very capable of excelling in their various passions. Through her, I became confident in myself and, now, do not underestimate my abilities.

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13. In this chapter, God explained to Israel that, although they were from the most unlikely place, He would always be with them, especially to trump over their enemies. For most of my life, I never fully understood the weight of that promise. It’s easy to thank God in the moments of peace, but He challenged me to follow through with faith and to give thanks regardless of my moments of turmoil. I used to always question why God would allow pain and frustration to people He loves. I knew He is good and is capable of stopping it all, but why didn’t He? For example, at my current church, I am the Organizing Secretary of a ministry named Ladies of Virtue. The ministry’s goal is to instill passion, growth, and perseverance in girls aged 12-19 while assisting them with academia, career selections, and evangelism. During our sessions, I get the privilege of seeing all of the girls’ progress, and how they use their skills to better their communities. However, seeing the excellence in my girls would make me think about other students who do not have access to these resources-- students from non-traditional backgrounds who lack support and don't follow through with their goals, perpetuating the cycle of stagnation. After much prayer and reflection, I realized that God puts people in certain positions to help others in need. Although this world is consumed by turmoil and chaos, the Holy Spirit works through people to help others; God helps just as much as he did with the Israelites, but in a different way. Whether a person’s gift is giving, teaching, healing, etc, all of these gifts are meant to be used to serve others. I am so blessed to have the privilege to lead my girls because I have a passion for bettering interpersonal relationships and academic growth. Through my experiences, I now see how I can advocate for --and learn from-- them and other groups. Currently, I’m double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and American Sign Language. Upon graduation, I aim to become a board-certified internal medicine doctor who also possesses an ASL Interpreting Certification so that I may converse with my deaf patients. I have the privilege of learning about the sociology of how people treat others with disabilities, and how we all can identify and correct our potential biases towards people with disabilities. I am proud to say that, now, I do not view deafness--or any other disability-- as a hindrance, but rather a way of life that requires different accommodations. I hope to start a program within the American Medical Association that will better equip medical professionals to better care for their patients with disabilities during their residency and nursing programs. I am excited for the success of my academic and professional journey because I have a God who will lead me there. My journey will involve difficulties and doubt, but I shall remember that He will always grip my right hand and lead me to victory.

Political activist Marianne Williamson wrote in her book, A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” These words hold much significance to me. As I go through life, I think of this question: what holds most of us back? What is it that stops you, me, and others from living to their fullest potential? Fear. Fear binds us. At some point, we all have a fear of the unknown-- fear of being judged and fear of failure. When people let fear take control, it leads to complacency, which then enables institutionalized oppression. I felt as though failure hung over my head as soon as I entered elementary school. From the media and through personal interactions, I believed success was not reserved for people like me-- a daughter of parents who were English learners, had only a middle school education, and cleaned for a living. I was jealous of people who could map out their lives because they had blueprints of their parents' lives to guide them. Little did I know not having a set map was my blessing. This quote helped me overcome the mental enslavement of fear. Because I’m the first person in my family to attend college, I’m not enslaved by the fear of meeting the expectations of other people’s view of success. Rather, I have the freedom to build and maintain expectations for myself. The quote also reassured me to never shrink my confidence or qualifications at the expense of people’s feelings. If I shrink myself, I wouldn’t be giving a true representation of how excellence is shown in people of all different backgrounds. As I continue this journey, I hope my presence will liberate others to do the same.

I have attached the video below. The website didn't allow me to submit the application unless I wrote a few words up here. Thank you!

Thirty years ago, political activist Marianne Williamson wrote in her book, A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” These words hold much significance to me. As I go through life, I think of this question: what holds most of us back? What is it that stops you, me, and others from living to their fullest potential? Fear. Fear binds us. At some point in our lives, we have a fear of the unknown-- fear of being judged and fear of failure. When people let fear take control, it leads to complacency, which then enables institutionalized oppression. The result is an utter breakdown into despair, I was in that cycle of despair. Being a first-generation Ghanaian- American, I felt as though failure hung over my head as soon as I entered elementary school. Because of influences from the media and through personal interactions, I believed success was not reserved for people like me-- a daughter of parents who were English learners, had only a middle school education, and cleaned for a living. I was jealous of people who could easily map out their lives because they had blueprints of their parents' lives to guide them. Little did I know that not having a set map was my blessing. This quote helped me overcome the mental enslavement of fear. Because I am the first person in my family to attend college, I am not enslaved by the fear of meeting the expectations of other people’s view of success. Rather, I have the freedom to build and maintain expectations for myself. The quote also reassured me to never shrink my confidence or qualifications at the expense of other people’s feelings. If I shrink myself, I wouldn’t be giving true representation of how excellence is shown in people of all different backgrounds. Overcoming fear is a lifelong process, and although I may not win every battle, the war will eventually be won. I am proud to come from sacrificial and tenacious parents who humbled themselves every day to provide an opportunity for me to create generational education and wealth. In spaces where I don’t see myself represented, I am ready to become my own representation. As I continue this journey, I hope my presence will liberate others to do the same. Thank you.

“Some people only ask others to do something. I believe that, why should I wait for someone else? Why don’t I take a step and move forward?” These words were spoken by Malala Yousafai, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize; she earned this award by advocating for the right of girls to receive an education in Pakistan while fighting against the Taliban. As early as 11 years old, she understood the importance of sacrifice and advocacy towards underserved people. Malala Yousafai is a phenomenal example of serving people in any space necessary. Her tenacious character instilled a great passion within me to educate and provide quality health care to, especially, underrepresented and underserved people. COVID-19 has devastated the world. While everyone should be getting equal access to medical care, unfortunately, that isn’t the case. According to the CDC and National Academies, specifically, Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans have increasingly higher mortality rates than their White counterparts. Both organizations stated that barriers to wealth accumulation, their physical environments, and unconscious biases among healthcare workers are some of the main reasons for the disproportionate data. It’s even more devastating to think about how other minority groups ( such as non- English speakers and people with disabilities ) do not have as much data to show their need for support; therefore, they are getting care that is disproportionate to their counterparts. Being a first-generation Ghanaian- American, I understand what it’s like for medical professionals to mistreat my parents and grandparents due to their lack of English. During high school, doctors would always look past my parents and direct their attention to me- a minor who lacked complete comprehension of medicine. I saw a noticeable difference in the way they would speak and treat other patients versus how they would treat us, the patients they labeled as an “inconvenience.” This would make hospital visits intimidating and unpredictable. I refuse to view myself or other people as an “inconvenience” for needing extra help. With studying Biomedical Sciences and American Sign Language, I have been privileged to not only learn about our current healthcare system but the sociology behind how Americans treat underrepresented groups. Now, I am proud to say that I do not view deafness, or any other disability, as a hindrance but rather a way of life that simply needs different accommodations. I want to emphasize my care to underrepresented groups because there needs to be an end to the cyclical behavior of looking past the underserved. Like Ms. Yousafzai, I will not wait for someone else’s advocacy, when I will have the ability to use my future knowledge and resources to provide equal service to everyone. Whether I am serving People of Color; people with disabilities; non- English speakers; etc, I will do my part to better our overall Healthcare System. Our American Healthcare System can improve, one white coat at a time.

“We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the negro population and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to more of their rebellious members.” This quote was found in a letter written to Dr. C.J. Gamble, the founder of Pathfinder International, in 1939. The writer argued that hiring a Black physician would lead Black people to let their guard down and take birth control. That writer was Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. Unfortunately, Sanger's plan to negatively affect the Black race succeeded. A study released by Protecting Black Life and Guttmacher Institute concluded that 79% of Planned Parenthood’s surgical abortion facilities are within walking distance of African American and/or Hispanic communities and that Black women are 5 times more likely to get an abortion than White women. These studies coincide with the eugenicist agenda to concentrate population control facilities within specific communities. Although Planned Parenthood is not promoting racist ideologies, in my opinion, its foundation has disproportionately affected minority communities because of racist ideologies. After much self-reflection, I’m no longer consumed with bitterness about the foundations of certain U.S. institutions. Although they can be extremely devastating, it’s not healthy for a person to selectively focus on facts they cannot change. Rather, I have chosen to focus my attention on how to use history as a cautionary tale to move forward with justice and advocacy. When a human being is born, they are born with beauty and purpose. As they grow, their cultural and spiritual identities shape them, they require a 9-month process. Although a person may not have their sense of identity in the womb- they should be given the right to grow into it. Abortions do not provide that opportunity. U.S. laws have advocated for the unborn with the passage of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004. This act states, “whoever engages in conduct that ... causes the death of, or bodily injury to, a child, who is in utero at the time the conduct takes place, is guilty of a separate offense under this section.” This act also details “utero” as any stage of development. This law recognizes that, even in the womb, an unborn life is still a life. I’m advocating for better education to women of color about different options besides abortions. I want women to know that both they and their unborn children matter. When abortions are facilitated, they prevent a would-be child to grow and potentially contribute to society, and this process hurts the growth of my community. I’m also advocating for federal funding of clinics that help women with unplanned pregnancies and aid in the reversal of abortions. Indeed, if Planned Parenthood can receive annual funding for terminating pregnancies, there should also be federal funding for clinics whose missions are to continue them. The topic of abortion will never subside in the U.S. The reality is there will always be women and men with opposing views, who may never change their stance. But, I hope this essay has provided a fair, non-judgmental stance on my opinion about abortions and they affect our society.

After experiencing prolonged chest pain, a young woman decided to go to the hospital. While interacting with the doctor, both parties had difficulty communicating verbally. After trying hand-written forms of communication, the doctor stopped engaging and called in nurses to set up the IVs and other tests. Fearful and distraught about not knowing what was happening, the woman attempted many times to express how she felt to no avail. The woman was deaf. (For medical purposes, the term “deaf” will be used to describe Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing people.) Unfortunately, deaf people have struggled for decades with receiving equal access to medical care. Many hospitals across the U.S. do not provide the necessary resources to communicate with their deaf patients, leaving deaf people in a constant state of fear when receiving treatment. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act states that patients have the right to language access in healthcare and qualification standards to translators/interpreters; the act also writes about the limitations on using minors and family members as translators. This law follows the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. However, ADA was written with equivocal language such as “should”; ADA also writes, “[A] hospital need not provide communication aids or services if doing so would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods or services offered or would result in an undue burden.” Health care providers have taken advantage of this by not providing the correct access to deaf people and other non- English speakers. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, I have firsthand experience of seeing this injustice play out in real-time. To this day, I find myself in situations translating medical information to my parents and grandparents. When I was in high school, many medical professionals would look beyond my parents as soon as they realized they had an accent or weren't very fluent with English and direct their attention to me- a minor who lacked complete comprehension of medicine. This would make hospital visits intimidating and unpredictable. In college, I’m double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and American Sign Language. Upon graduation, I aim to become a board-certified internal medicine doctor who also possesses an ASL Interpreting Certification to converse with my deaf patients. Currently, I have the privilege of learning about the sociology of how people treat others with disabilities, U.S. legislation that manages the independence and/or dependence of people with disabilities, and how I have subconsciously perpetuated ableism and other forms of discrimination (and how I can stop it.) I am proud to say that, now, I do not view deafness as a “hindrance”, but rather a way of life that requires different accommodations. As I continue my academic journey, I will use my knowledge and experiences to provide equal medical care to deaf people, non- English speakers, people with disabilities, and every person in between. I hope soon, I can contribute to the advocacy of language access, as doing so will better the overall quality of our American Healthcare System.

Stereotype threat, a term coined by psychologists Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson, is a “situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of conforming to stereotypes about their social group”. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, I’ve had many experiences that fall under this definition. My mother would often tell me in Twi, our native language, “your spirit is Ghanaian but if you don’t learn to think and speak like an American, they’ll always think you’re lesser than them.” So I did just that. In school, I would work incredibly hard to assimilate because I knew that my ability to acculturate was valued more than my intelligence. I feared speaking in African American Vernacular English because I didn’t want to appear intellectually inferior. I also avoided speaking out on controversial issues, in fear of being stereotyped as aggressive. It was exhausting keeping up with the facade. When I eventually decided to pursue a degree in medicine, I was met with disbelief and discouragement from people who should have encouraged me. I just didn’t understand. If I didn’t excel in academics and in my professional life, I was seen as inferior; but if I excelled and showed my confidence I was seen as arrogant--or as someone who needed to “be more realistic”. No matter what I did, I felt like I couldn’t win. After much contemplation, I have risen above such toxicity. Now I advocate for every black woman I encounter--especially black girls--and encourage them not to rest their worth into the hands of people who don’t care. When we encourage and support one another, the stereotype threat loses its power. Currently, I’m double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and American Sign Language. After university, I intend on becoming a board-certified doctor who also possesses an ASL Interpreting license to communicate with my deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. Black women are disproportionately disregarded by doctors regarding the seriousness of their symptoms, and how much care they need during surgery and labor. According to the CDC and the National Disability Institute, these two factors have contributed to the high mortality rate of black women compared to that of other racial groups. Likewise, when the statistics include black women with disabilities, the data is even more disproportionate. To further activism in the medical field, I will take my time to explain to my patients their rights and how to report a medical provider when they feel mistreated. I have made it my goal to provide and advocate for access to quality health care for all black women with or without disabilities, across socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds. To this day, I don’t blame my mother for her former views. Like me, she has grown and has lost the fear of being stereotyped by others. As I continue to grow in my identity, the stereotype threat has also lost its hold on me; and as I continue this journey, I am hopeful for the greatness that will follow.