My name is Hailey Bearden, and I am pursuing a master's degree in biomedical sciences, intending to become a physician. While my academic journey has been shaped by a love of science and research, the foundation of who I am was built long before college - in the home of my grandparents, who became the stable, loving figures I depended on throughout my life. Being raised by my grandparents taught me lessons that many people do not learn until much later in life. They stepped up when my parents had completely abandoned me. They provided me with security, guidance, and unconditional support despite facing their own health challenges. As they have grown older, our relationship has gradually shifted. The people who had cared for me became the ones I cared for. I manage their appointments, assist with daily needs, and support them through their declining health. It has taught me patience, responsibility, and compassion in ways no classroom could ever teach. Watching my grandparents age also opened my eyes to the realities of healthcare. I witnessed how difficult it is for older adults to navigate the complex medical system, afford supplies, and advocate for themselves to be respected. Those experiences sparked my desire to pursue medicine. I want to become the kind of physician who not only treats disease, but also understands the family members standing beside the patient, often carrying the responsibilities of being a caregiver. My upbringing also taught me resilience. Like many students raised by guardians, I learned that success is not usually the result of perfect circumstances. It comes from perseverance, adaptability, and a willingness to keep moving forward despite setbacks. Throughout college, I balanced demanding science coursework with research experiences, volunteer service with individuals with disabilities, caregiving responsibilities at home, and being a guardian of my now-late cousin Clayton, who was battling AML. Each challenge strengthened my commitment to serving others. My experiences have inspired me to pursue a career where I can make a meaningful difference in patients' lives. I hope to combine compassionate clinical care with research that improves treatments and health outcomes for underserved populations. I believe that every patient deserves to feel heard, respected, and cared for regardless of their background or circumstances. The values my grandparents instilled in me continue to guide every decision I make. They taught me that kindness is measured through actions, that hard work creates opportunities, that caring for others is one of life's greatest purposes, and to keep God first. Their sacrifices allowed me to pursue higher education, and I intend to honor them by dedicating my career to improving the lives of others. Being raised by my grandparents did more than shape my childhood - it shaped my character, purpose, and future. As I continue my education, I carry their lessons with me every day. My goal is not only to become a physician but also to provide the same sense of compassion, stability, and hope to my future patients that my grandparents provided me. Their influence has made me who I am, and it will continue to guide the impact I hope to make through my career.

My name is Hailey Bearden, and I am a Biology graduate with a concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology who is pursuing a career in medicine. Throughout my life, I have witnessed how serious illness can affect not only patients but entire families. One experience that deeply impacted me was watching my Uncle Billy battle sepsis, a condition that ultimately revealed an even more devastating diagnosis. For approximately three months, my uncle struggled with sepsis. During that time, our family experienced constant uncertainty as doctors worked to determine why his condition was not improving. We watched him endure repeated hospitalizations, treatments, and complications while hoping that he would recover. Sepsis is often described as the body's overwhelming response to infection, but for families, it is much more than a medical definition. It is fear, helplessness, and the emotional strain of watching someone you love fight for their life. Eventually, physicians discovered that the underlying cause of my uncle's illness was liver cancer. What had begun as a battle against sepsis became a fight against an aggressive disease that had already taken a tremendous toll on his body. Despite his strength and determination, he passed away. Losing him was heartbreaking, and it left a lasting impact on me and my family. This experience taught me how complex and challenging medical conditions can be. It also showed me the importance of early diagnosis, compassionate care, and clear communication between healthcare providers, patients, and families. During my uncle's illness, there were many moments when we felt overwhelmed by uncertainty. I learned firsthand how much families rely on healthcare professionals not only for treatment but also for guidance, reassurance, and understanding during difficult times. My uncle's experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career in healthcare. As a pre-medical student, I have dedicated myself to understanding the science behind disease while also developing the empathy necessary to care for patients and their loved ones. Through my volunteer work with individuals with disabilities and my experiences as a caregiver within my own family, I have learned the value of patience, service, and compassion. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to becoming a physician who treats the whole person, not just the diagnosis. Although my uncle's life was cut short, his memory continues to inspire me. His battle with sepsis and cancer reminded me how precious life is and how important quality healthcare can be. I hope to honor his legacy by dedicating my life to helping patients navigate some of their most difficult moments. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue my education and move closer to my goal of becoming a physician who makes a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

I chose to pursue education in a STEAM field because I have been fascinated by the science behind life, health, and disease. Understanding how the human body functions at the cellular and molecular levels inspired me to dedicate my education and future career to helping others. After earning my bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, I decided to continue my education through a Master's in Biomedical Sciences as I work toward my long-term goal of becoming a physician in oncology. My passion for science has been deeply personal, especially with my own family. In February, I lost my cousin, Clayton, to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), which was devastating to my entire family. It showed me the devastating impact disease can have on patients and their loved ones, but also how important trained medical professionals, researchers, and scientific advancements are in giving families hope during difficult times. That experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career where I can contribute to improving patient outcomes through healthcare and lifelong learning. As a Native American and white woman in STEM, I recognize the importance of representation and opportunity in scientific and medical fields. Diverse perspectives are essential for innovation and problem-solving. It ensures that healthcare will serve all communities effectively. My educational journey has reinforced my belief that science is most meaningful when it is used to improve people's lives, especially those who might face barriers and limited healthcare access. My commitment to helping others is beyond academics. Through more than 330 hours of volunteer work with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I learned the importance of empathy, patience, and service. These experiences taught me that healthcare is not only treating disease but understanding and respecting the unique needs of each individual. They strengthened my desire to pursue a profession where I can advocate for vulnerable populations and provide compassion in times of need. This scholarship would help me continue pursuing my educational goals while reducing the financial burden associated with graduate school. As I prepare for advanced studies and future professional training, the financial support would allow me to focus more on my education, research, and service opportunities. More importantly, it would represent an investment in my ability to create meaningful change through medicine and science. In the future, I hope to make a difference by providing compassionate care and scientific knowledge. Through clinical practice, medical research, or community involvement, I want ot contribute to improving the lives of individuals facing serious illness and health challenges. I hope to serve as a healthcare professional and role model for other you woemn, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM. Kayla Nicole Moke is remembered for her vision, determination, and desire to make a positive impact on the world. I share those values with her in my educational journey today. Through hard work, continued learning, service, and dedication, I hope to honor her by using my STEM education to improve lives and create opportunities for others. I want to do this all while honoring her and her family to my greatest extent possible.

Thank you!

My life trajectory has been defined by a relentless need to understand the "why" behind the "what." As a child, I was not around other children often, being an only child, and I was not content to just play with toys. I was more interested in taking apart mechanical items in the garage with my grandfather. This initiated a lot of curiosity, and that eventually matured into a passion for STEM. That passion led me to earn a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, and continues to motivate me as I prepare to begin a Master's in Biomedical Sciences. My ultimate goal is to become a physician and use science to improve the lives of patients, families, and whole communities. My passion for STEM became deeply personal after witnessing the impact of serious illness in my own family. When I was young, my aunt Tina, both of my grandmothers, and my grandfather all experienced their own battles with cancer and came out successfully. However, in February 2026, I lost my cousin Clayton to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. It showed me how devastating the effects of disease are and the importance of medical innovation. It inspired me to learn more about the biological mechanisms behind cancer and strengthened my commitment to a future in healthcare. I realized every breakthrough in medicine begins with a question: beginning with curiosity and individuals willing to dedicate themselves to solving difficult problems can, in turn, make research available to make discoveries. As a woman in STEM, I have recognized that progress has been made toward gender equality; however, barriers are still in place. Women continue to be underrepresented in many medical and scientific leadership roles, particularly in technology, specialized medicine, and research fields. Throughout my education, I learned the importance of confidence, perseverance, a nd believing in myself and that my voice belongs in scientific discussions. Continuing my education and pursuing a career in medicine gives me the ability to contribute to a future where young women see STEM as a place where they are welcomed, valued, and encouraged to lead and participate. My experience outside of the classroom has shaped my perspective. With more than 330 hours of volunteer work with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I learned that science is most meaningful when it is used to help serve people. STEM is not only about technology, research, and data, but about improving quality of life. Whether through patient care, research, or community service, I want to work to have a lasting, direct impact on others. In the future, I hope to make a difference by combining scientific knowledge with compassionate healthcare. I am interested in oncology because of the family's experience with cancer, and I hope to contribute to advancements that improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients. I want to be a compassionate provider, driven to provide the best outcome possible. I also want to serve as a mentor and role model for young women who are interested in science by are unsure if they truly belong in the field. Representation matters, and seeing women succeed in STEM helps inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals. I also hope, with my Native American background, I can encourage other women like me to be involved in healthcare and help the people who need it the most. STEM has allowed me to pursue challenges, obtain knowledge, and work toward a career that can positively impact countless lives. As a woman in STEM, I hope to contribute not only through scientific achievements but through helping others.

To me, selflessness means choosing to invest your time, energy, and compassion in others without expecting anything in return. It is easy to help people when it is convenient, but true selflessness requires a commitment to serving others even when life is challenging. Throughout my academic and personal journey, I have tried to embody this principle through volunteer service, advocacy, and my commitment to pursuing a career dedicated to helping others. One of the most meaningful examples of selflessness in my life has been my volunteer work at the Conway Human Development Center, where I accumulated more than 330 hours serving individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. During my time there, I assisted residents with activities, participated in recreational programs, and built relationships with people whose needs are often overlooked by society. While I initially hoped to make a positive impact on their lives, I quickly realized that they were teaching me just as much as I was helping them. They taught me patience, empathy, resilience, and the importance of treating every person with dignity and respect. One experience that stands out involved spending time with residents who simply wanted someone to listen to them and engage with them as individuals. What may have seemed like a small act—playing games, having conversations, or participating in activities together—often made a meaningful difference in their day. Those moments reinforced my belief that helping others does not always require grand gestures. Sometimes the most important thing you can offer is your presence and genuine care. My commitment to helping others has also influenced my career goals. After earning my bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, I decided to continue my education by pursuing a Master's in Biomedical Sciences. My ultimate goal is to become a physician. This path requires years of education and training, but I believe it is one of the most meaningful ways I can serve others throughout my life. My experiences volunteering and witnessing the impact of serious illness within my own family strengthened my desire to care for people during some of the most difficult moments they will ever face. Selflessness also requires perseverance. Over the past several years, I have faced personal and financial challenges that could have easily derailed my educational goals. Despite these obstacles, I remained committed to my studies, my volunteer work, and my vision of a future dedicated to service. I learned that helping others does not stop simply because life becomes difficult. In fact, difficult experiences often increase our ability to empathize with those around us. I believe Michael Rudometkin's legacy reflects the idea that life is about more than personal achievement. It is about relationships, compassion, and making a positive impact on others. Whether through volunteer service, my future career in medicine, or everyday acts of kindness, I strive to live by those values. Selflessness is not a single action but a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of others, and it is a commitment I intend to carry with me throughout my career and beyond.

To most, mental health is the absence of illness. To a student in the rigors of a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences, mental health is the very foundation of academic and professional success. It is the clarity needed to master complex cellular pathways and the emotional stability required to serve others during their weakest moments. To me, mental health is personal. It is the fuel for the resilience I have had to cultivate while navigating the most challenging year of my life. Mental health became a central pillar of my identity this past summer when I was disowned by my parents. Suddenly, the people who were supposed to be my primary support system were gone, leaving me to navigate the financial and emotional weight of my graduate education in isolation. The strain was not merely financial; it was a profound psychological challenge to my sense of self and security. I realized then that a student’s success is not just about their intelligence or their GPA—it is about their access to a compassionate community and the mental strength to persevere when that community is stripped away. Because of this experience, I advocate for mental health by leading with radical empathy in my volunteer work. I have dedicated over 330 hours to working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this community, mental health advocacy often means being a voice for those who are frequently misunderstood or ignored. It means recognizing that every individual, regardless of their cognitive or physical ability, deserves to be treated with dignity and patience. By fostering an environment of inclusivity, I work to reduce the stigma that often surrounds both mental health and disability, ensuring that those I serve feel seen, valued, and mentally supported. Furthermore, my interest in oncology—born from watching my cousin Clayton’s battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia—has taught me that you cannot treat a body while ignoring the mind. Advocacy in the medical community means fighting for a holistic approach to care. I advocate for the idea that mental health support is not a "luxury" for patients or students; it is a clinical necessity. As I continue my path toward becoming a healthcare professional, I am determined to change the narrative around mental health. I want to prove that experiencing a mental health crisis or a loss of support does not make a student "broken"—it makes them resilient. I share my story of continuing my education despite family instability to encourage other students to realize that their struggles do not define their potential. By being open about the hurdles I have overcome, I strive to promote a culture of understanding where students feel empowered to seek help without shame. Mental health is important to me because it is the grit that allows us to turn our deepest hardships into our greatest impacts.

Impact is often born from the intersection of personal loss and professional purpose. My vision for the future was forged in the clinical reality of a hospital room and the microscopic details of a research lab. I witnessed the devastating toll of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) through my cousin Clayton. Watching his battle defined my “why” and led me to complete my bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. Now, as I begin my Master’s in Biomedical Sciences followed by a doctorate in osteopathic medicine, I am determined to use my education to bridge the gap between complex oncology research and the human beings who depend on it for survival. My commitment to giving back is rooted in over 330 volunteer hours working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. These hours taught me that the most effective healthcare providers are those who lead with empathy and patience—values that Sloane Stephens’ grandparents, Doc and Glo, championed. Whether I am studying molecular pathways or assisting a patient, I am driven by the belief that every person deserves a safe space to be seen and supported. I intend to pursue a medical career as a knowledgeable professional who advocates for those often overlooked by society. However, the change I am determined to create has also been tested by recent, significant personal challenges. This past summer, my path grew significantly steeper when I was disowned by my parents. This transition brought immediate financial instability and the loss of the safety net I once relied on. In the face of this upheaval, I was presented with a choice: to let the weight of my circumstances derail my goals, or to lean into the resilience that my medical aspirations require. I chose to stay in motion. Continuing my graduate education while navigating the loss of family support has required a level of boldness and self-belief I didn't know I possessed. It has turned my academic pursuit into a mission of necessity. This experience has given me a unique perspective on the “Need” mentioned in this scholarship; I understand firsthand that many patients and students carry invisible burdens that can hinder their progress. My vision for a better future includes becoming a physician who not only fights disease in the lab but also fights for patients who lack the social or financial resources to navigate their diagnoses. The people who inspire me most are those like Clayton, who showed me what it means to be a warrior, and leaders like Sloane Stephens, who demonstrate that success is hollow unless it is used to uplift others. I am determined to show that resilience is not just about surviving—it is about thriving in honor of those we have lost and the communities we intend to serve. With the support of the Doc & Glo Scholarship, I will carry forward my education in Biomedical Sciences with the confidence and care required to shape a more compassionate and scientifically advanced future for us all.

My inspiration to pursue a career in pediatric medicine comes from witnessing the profound impact that serious illness has not only on patients, but also on their families. While disease affects the individual receiving treatment, it also touches parents, siblings, cousins, and entire support networks. Seeing this firsthand shaped my desire to pursue a career dedicated to improving the lives of children and families facing some of their most difficult moments. One of the most influential experiences in my life was losing my 18-year-old cousin, Clayton, to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Watching someone I loved battle cancer exposed me to the emotional, physical, and financial challenges that accompany a serious diagnosis. Although I was not one of his healthcare providers, but one of his guardians, I saw how important medical professionals were throughout his journey. The physicians, nurses, and specialists who cared for him provided more than treatment; they offered hope, guidance, and compassion during an incredibly difficult time. That experience sparked my interest in medicine and deepened my appreciation for healthcare professionals who dedicate their lives to caring for patients with cancer. I became increasingly interested in understanding the biology of disease and the science behind treatments that can extend and improve lives. This curiosity ultimately led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, and I am now preparing to begin a Master's in Biomedical Sciences as I continue working toward a career in medicine. My desire to work with children also stems from my experiences serving vulnerable populations. Through more than 330 hours of volunteer work with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I learned the importance of patience, empathy, and individualized care. Every person has unique needs, fears, and strengths, and I discovered that building trust and meaningful relationships is just as important as providing technical expertise. These lessons are especially relevant in pediatric medicine, where caring for a child often means caring for an entire family. What draws me to pediatric medicine is the opportunity to make a difference at a critical point in a child's life. Children facing serious illnesses often demonstrate remarkable resilience, courage, and optimism. At the same time, their families rely heavily on healthcare professionals for support and reassurance. I hope to become the type of physician who not only provides excellent medical care but also helps families navigate uncertainty with compassion and understanding. As I continue my education, I am particularly interested in oncology and cancer research because of the impact cancer has had on my own family. Advances in pediatric cancer treatment have transformed countless lives, yet there is still much work to be done. I hope to contribute to those advances through both patient care and lifelong learning. The story of Noah and the healthcare professionals who helped him highlights the lasting influence that compassionate medical providers can have on a child and their family. Their example reflects the kind of physician I aspire to become—someone who combines scientific knowledge with empathy, provides hope during difficult times, and helps children live fuller, healthier lives despite the challenges they face.

When people think about sustainability, they often picture renewable energy, recycling programs, or environmental policy. While these efforts are important, sustainability should also be a priority in healthcare and biomedical science. As someone who recently earned a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and is preparing to pursue a Master's in Biomedical Sciences, I have come to understand that human health and environmental health are deeply connected. A sustainable healthcare system not only protects the environment but also improves the long-term well-being of patients and communities. Sustainability is particularly important in healthcare because the industry consumes vast amounts of resources. Hospitals operate around the clock, requiring significant energy, water, and medical supplies. Many medical products are designed for single use, generating large amounts of waste. While patient safety must always remain the top priority, healthcare professionals and researchers have a responsibility to identify ways to reduce unnecessary waste and improve efficiency without compromising care. Environmental sustainability also directly affects public health. Air pollution, extreme weather events, and environmental contamination contribute to numerous health problems, including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. As a future healthcare professional, I recognize that preventing disease requires addressing not only biological factors but also environmental conditions that influence health outcomes. Sustainable practices can improve both the health of individuals and the health of entire communities. My interest in medicine is deeply personal. After losing my cousin Clayton to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), I became increasingly interested in understanding disease and improving patient care. That experience strengthened my desire to pursue a career dedicated to helping others through healthcare. As I continue my education, I hope to contribute to research that advances treatment options while also promoting responsible use of resources within healthcare systems. In the future, I hope to help reduce environmental impact through both clinical practice and scientific research. As a physician, I plan to advocate for evidence-based practices that minimize waste while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. This may include supporting more efficient supply management, reducing unnecessary testing and procedures, and encouraging healthcare organizations to adopt sustainable operational practices. As someone with a strong background in biomedical science, I am also interested in research that develops more efficient medical technologies, diagnostic tools, and treatment methods. I believe the next generation of healthcare professionals must recognize that caring for patients and caring for the environment are not separate responsibilities. A healthier planet supports healthier communities, and sustainable healthcare practices help ensure that resources remain available for future generations. Through my education, research interests, and future career in medicine, I hope to contribute to a healthcare system that is both innovative and environmentally responsible. Sustainability should be a priority in every profession, but in healthcare, the stakes are especially high. By combining scientific advancement with environmental responsibility, we can create a future that improves both human health and the health of our planet.

I do not believe I deserve this scholarship because I am more talented or more important than the other students applying. I believe I deserve consideration because I have consistently turned challenges into motivation and have remained committed to using my education to serve others. I recently earned my bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology and am preparing to begin a Master's in Biomedical Sciences. My ultimate goal is to become a physician and improve access to healthcare for patients who often face barriers to receiving quality medical care. Every academic decision I have made has been guided by that goal. What gives me an advantage is not a single achievement, but a combination of persistence, service, and purpose. Throughout my education, I have pursued a demanding scientific curriculum while remaining actively involved in my community. One of the experiences that has had the greatest impact on me was volunteering more than 330 hours with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Through this work, I learned patience, empathy, and the importance of advocating for people whose needs are often overlooked. These lessons reinforced my desire to pursue a career in healthcare and continue serving vulnerable populations. Another advantage I bring is resilience. The path to a career in medicine is long, expensive, and highly competitive. There have been moments when financial concerns and personal obstacles could have discouraged me from continuing my education. Instead, those challenges strengthened my determination. Completing my degree and continuing on to graduate school required discipline, careful planning, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when the path was uncertain. I am also committed to lifelong learning. In addition to my coursework, I have participated in scientific research and sought opportunities to expand my understanding of biology and human health. My curiosity and passion for science have motivated me to continue my education beyond my bachelor's degree because I recognize that improving healthcare requires both knowledge and dedication. Most importantly, I have a clear vision for how I will use my education. My goal is not simply to earn degrees or achieve personal success. I want to use my training to improve the lives of others through compassionate, evidence-based medical care. The investment made in my education will extend far beyond me and ultimately benefit the patients and communities I serve throughout my career. This scholarship would help reduce the financial burden of graduate education and allow me to focus more fully on preparing for a future in medicine. I have worked hard to reach this point, and I remain committed to making a meaningful impact through service, healthcare, and lifelong learning. For those reasons, I believe I am a strong candidate for this scholarship.

Joe Gilroy lived by the motto, "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan." That philosophy resonates deeply with me because I have learned that meaningful goals require more than ambition—they require a roadmap. My long-term goal is to become a physician who serves underserved communities while combining clinical care with a strong foundation in biomedical science. Having completed my bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology, I am now preparing to pursue a Master's in Biomedical Sciences as the next step toward medical school and a career in medicine. My plan is divided into three phases: academic preparation, medical school admission, and physician training. The first phase is my master's degree program. While I have already developed a strong scientific foundation through my undergraduate studies, I want to further strengthen my academic credentials and deepen my understanding of human disease. During the next year, I will complete advanced biomedical science coursework while continuing to seek research and clinical opportunities. My goal is to maintain a strong graduate GPA, develop stronger study strategies, and demonstrate my ability to succeed in a rigorous medical-science curriculum. The second phase is medical school admission. During my master's program, I will continue preparing for the MCAT and strengthen all aspects of my application. I already have meaningful service experience, including more than 330 volunteer hours working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. I plan to continue building clinical exposure and community service experiences that align with my goal of serving vulnerable populations. My timeline is to apply to medical schools after completing my master's degree, using my graduate coursework and experiences to present the strongest application possible. The third phase is physician training. After medical school, I will complete residency training and ultimately practice medicine in a field where I can make a significant impact on patients' lives. Whether I pursue primary care or a specialty such as oncology, my focus will remain on improving patient outcomes and increasing access to quality healthcare. I hope to serve communities that often face barriers to receiving medical care and to become a physician who combines scientific knowledge with compassion. Achieving these goals requires careful financial planning. Graduate education, MCAT preparation, application fees, interview expenses, and medical school tuition represent high costs. My anticipated budget includes tuition and educational expenses during my master's program, MCAT preparation materials and exam fees, medical school application fees, travel expenses for interviews if necessary, and ongoing living expenses. Scholarships play an essential role in helping me reduce educational debt and focus on academic success rather than financial obstacles. I have also considered alternative paths and contingency plans. If my initial medical school application cycle is unsuccessful, I will continue gaining clinical and research experience while strengthening any areas of my application that need improvement. My master's degree will provide valuable scientific training that can support careers in biomedical research, healthcare administration, biotechnology, or related healthcare professions. While my primary goal remains becoming a physician, I understand the importance of flexibility and preparation for multiple paths to success. The path ahead is challenging, but it is also clearly defined. Every stage of my plan has a purpose, timeline, and measurable objective. Like Joe Gilroy, I believe that success comes from creating a plan and committing to it every day. Through continued education, service, and determination, I am working toward a career that will allow me to improve lives through medicine while honoring the values of hard work, preparation, and perseverance.

My "awkward" thing is that I am the person who gets excited about things most people find oddly specific. While many of my friends spend their free time watching shows or scrolling through social media, I can easily spend hours researching family history, reading old documents, or diving into obscure scientific topics just because I'm curious. As a former Cell and Molecular Biology student on the pre-med track, and now pursuing my Master's in Biomedical Sciences, I am already surrounded by subjects that some people consider difficult or intimidating. I genuinely enjoy learning about genetics, anatomy, and disease processes. What makes me stand out, however, is that my curiosity does not stop there. I have always loved learning about the stories behind people and events. At one point, I became fascinated with tracing my family's history and learning about relatives who lived through major historical events, including World War II. Most people my age probably would not consider digging through records and historical documents an exciting way to spend an afternoon, but I do. Growing up, I sometimes felt awkward because I was interested in things that did not always fit with what other people were talking about. While some students could effortlessly discuss sports, celebrities, or the latest trends, I was often the person asking questions about how something worked, why it happened, or what its history was. Looking back, I realize that what once felt awkward was actually one of my greatest strengths. My curiosity has helped shape both my academic success and my future goals. It is one of the reasons I chose to pursue medicine. Great physicians are lifelong learners. They ask questions, investigate problems, and never stop searching for answers that can improve a patient's life. The same curiosity that leads me to spend hours learning about genetics or researching historical records is the curiosity that motivates me to understand diseases and discover ways to help people. This trait has also influenced my involvement outside the classroom. Through volunteering with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, I learned the importance of understanding each person's unique story. Curiosity is not just about facts and information; it is also about people. Being genuinely interested in others has helped me build meaningful relationships and become a more compassionate person. If there is one lesson I have learned, it is that being different is not something to hide. The qualities that make us feel awkward growing up often become the qualities that help us succeed later in life. My tendency to become fascinated by unusual topics, ask endless questions, and pursue knowledge wherever it leads may not be the most common hobby, but it has shaped who I am. It has made me a better student, a better volunteer, and, I hope, a future physician who never stops learning. So while some people may remember being teased for being tall, left-handed, or uncoordinated in sports, my "awkward" thing is simple: I am unapologetically curious. And I would not change that about myself for anything.

Throughout my educational journey, I have learned that success is not determined solely by the opportunities a person is given, but by their determination to create opportunities when none seem available. As a student with a degree in Cell and Molecular Biology on the pre-medical track, and now working towards my Masters Degree in Biomedical Sciences and then my Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine, I have dedicated myself to academic excellence, service to others, and the pursuit of a career in medicine. Despite financial challenges and personal obstacles, I have remained committed to my goal of becoming a physician who serves patients with compassion and empathy. For these reasons, I believe I would be a strong candidate for this scholarship. My academic journey has required perseverance and discipline. As a biology student, I have completed rigorous coursework in subjects such as genetics, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics. These courses have challenged me to develop critical thinking skills and a strong scientific foundation. In addition to my classroom studies, I have participated in research experiences, including discovering a new Bacteriophage and expanding research on the NUP98 gene in AML patients, which introduced me to the process of scientific discovery. Through research, I learned how to analyze data, solve complex problems, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge. These experiences strengthened my desire to pursue a career in medicine, where science and service intersect every day. Beyond academics, I have devoted significant time to serving others. One of the most meaningful experiences of my life has been volunteering at the Conway Human Development Center, where I accumulated more than 330 hours working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. During my time there, I assisted residents with daily activities, participated in recreational programs, and built relationships with people whose resilience and positivity inspired me. This experience taught me the importance of patience, communication, and treating every individual with dignity and respect. It also reinforced my desire to work in healthcare, where I can advocate for vulnerable populations and help improve their quality of life. My commitment to medicine stems from a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. Whether I ultimately become an oncologist or a primary care physician, I hope to provide compassionate care while addressing the unique needs of each patient. I am particularly interested in serving underserved communities and helping individuals who face barriers to accessing healthcare. My volunteer experiences and academic training have shown me how important it is to combine scientific knowledge with empathy, and I hope to embody those values throughout my career. While I am proud of my accomplishments, my path has not been without challenges. Financing higher education has been one of the greatest obstacles I have faced. The cost of tuition, textbooks, fees, and other educational expenses continues to rise, placing significant pressure on students and their families. As I prepare for the next stage of my education, including professional school applications and related expenses, financial concerns remain a constant consideration. Like many students, I have had to balance academic responsibilities with financial realities, carefully managing limited resources while continuing to pursue my goals. These challenges have strengthened my determination rather than diminished it. While in college, my parents removed themselves from my life, leaving me alone and responsible for my financial situation. I have had the opportunity to work in AI to help me with my financial and educational goals, and I have managed to persevere without the people who got upset at me for standing up for human rights. They have taught me resilience, resourcefulness, and gratitude for every opportunity I receive. Instead of allowing financial limitations to define my future, I have focused on building a strong academic record, serving my community, and preparing myself for a career dedicated to helping others. Each challenge I have overcome has reinforced my belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for creating positive change. Receiving this scholarship would help reduce the financial burden associated with my education and allow me to focus more fully on my academic and professional development. More importantly, it would represent an investment in someone who is committed to using their education to serve others. I plan to dedicate my career to improving the lives of patients, supporting vulnerable populations, and contributing positively to my community. As I continue my educational journey, I carry with me the lessons I have learned through academic challenges, volunteer service, and personal perseverance. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had, and I remain motivated to achieve my goals despite the obstacles I face. With hard work, determination, and the support of scholarships such as this one, I will continue striving toward a future in which I can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. For these reasons, I respectfully ask for your consideration for this scholarship.

The legacy of a caregiver is not measured merely by the clinical tasks they perform, but by the lives they uplift and the voices they empower. Annie Pringle embodied this truth as a teacher, a leader, and a lactation consultant. Her life was a testament to the fact that when we support one another through the complexities of breast health—whether that involves the journey of breastfeeding or the terrifying landscape of a cancer diagnosis—we create a community of resilience. As I pursue my Masters Degree in Biomedical Science, I am driven by the same conviction that defined Annie’s life: that education is the most potent tool we have to dismantle the barriers to equitable healthcare. To me, breast health education is important because it represents the transition from vulnerability to agency. For many individuals, the medical world is a labyrinth of intimidating terminology and systemic hurdles. When an individual lacks access to knowledgeable professionals, they are often left to navigate their concerns in a vacuum of fear. This is particularly true in the realm of breast health, where cultural taboos, body image concerns, and historical medical trauma often prevent people from seeking the care they need. By prioritizing education, we shift the power dynamic. We provide patients with the vocabulary to describe their symptoms, the confidence to advocate for their own screenings, and the peace of mind that comes from understanding their own bodies. One of the most significant barriers to breast health is the disparity in access to specialized education. We see this in rural areas where imaging technology is scarce, and in urban centers where systemic socioeconomic factors prevent early detection. However, the barrier is not always physical; often, it is a lack of inclusive education. As a student of both Native American and Caucasian backgrounds, I am acutely aware that breast concerns do not affect only one demographic. The scholarship’s focus on the LGBTQ+ and nonbinary/two-spirit communities resonates deeply with my professional goals. For too long, "women’s health" has been a term that inadvertently erases the experiences of trans men, nonbinary individuals, and gender-diverse people who also require breast and chest health services. Education is the key to fixing this. When we educate healthcare providers on gender-affirming care, and when we provide gender-diverse patients with health literature that reflects their identities, we save lives. My ambition is to be a provider who ensures that no one—regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation—feels like an outsider in a clinical setting. Breast health education must be a bridge, not a gate, and it must be wide enough for everyone to cross. In my future career, I plan to use my education to continue on and become a doctor, specializing in oncology. I want to be the knowledgeable professional that the scholarship description identifies as a "needed resource." I want to ensure that a person’s ZIP code or identity never dictates their ability to receive a life-saving mammogram or professional breastfeeding support. Annie Pringle’s legacy is a call to action. It is a reminder that while our bodies may be fragile, the support we give one another is unbreakable. Receiving this scholarship would not only alleviate the financial burden of my studies but would also serve as a commitment to the community I intend to serve. It would be an honor to carry forward the torch of education, passion, and advocacy that Annie held so high. Breast health education is important to me because I believe that knowledge is the ultimate form of care. By educating the individual, we empower the community; and by empowering the community, we ensure that legacies of support like Annie’s never truly fade.

Calculus is one of the most difficult mathematical courses I have ever taken. In algebra and geometry, there are static objects and linear relationships, but calculus introduces dynamic systems and the element of motion. For anyone pursuing a career or degree in the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field, calculus is not just a difficult class to pass and forget, but it is the fundamental base required to predict and manipulate the physical world. Its high importance lies in the ability to provide solutions to a complex, real-world problem through derivatives and integrals. In the fields of Physics and Engineering, calculus is indispensable because almost every physical law used is expressed in terms of the rate of change. The relationship between acceleration, velocity, and position is defined with derivatives. This is then translated into how to build a bridge and how to make it efficient and maintain an optimal, reliable structure. This optimization relies on calculus to determine the maximum efficiency for a minimum cost. Without finding this information, engineers would not be able to design cost-effective and safe structures. In Computer Science and Technology, calculus is the basis of what data modeling and algorithms run on; it is the track to the future. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence are built upon multivariable calculus, and in turn, their efficiency is making these new developments a peak in modern society. Additionally, in video game development, calculus is used for the visible outputs of the game for light and shadow simulation as well as character movements. In Science and Mathematics, calculus is also vital. In biology, differential equations are used to model population growth rates or infectious disease spreading in a community. In chemistry, calculus is used for determining rates of chemical reactions and can help establish decay rates of radioactive isotopes. For mathematics, calculus provides an important gateway to a higher-level abstract way of thinking and is a prerequisite for most advanced mathematical theory. It bridges a gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications so that sciences may move beyond simple observations to make more precise, quantitative predictions on the universe and how it works. Calculus is the backdrop upon which science becomes applicable. Ultimately, the importance of calculus in STEM is beyond the formulas and derivatives themselves, but it is the backbone of allowing its counterparts to be interpreted and predicted. It fosters an analytical mindset. It teaches students how to break down massive problems into smaller parts to understand the whole and put them together. Calculus is the original puzzle to help see a clearer image. This level of logical rigor has enabled humanity to develop life-saving medicine and imaging technology, send humans to the moon, and create social media for global communication. Calculus is a universal language of progression and change, and without it, the modern era's rapid technological and scientific progress would end or perhaps never exist.

From the moment I first held my newborn cousin Clayton in my arms when I was 3 years old, I felt a surge of awe at the complexity of human life. Today, as a Christian, pro-life, pre-medical student, I strive each day to honor that gift. I do it in the way I treat others and in the career I am building to defend the vulnerable among us. Despite no longer having my little cousin due to his battle with cancer, life is still a gift, no matter how long you have it. My faith shapes my daily routine, and each morning I begin with a prayer and a small devotional. It ranges from day to do but it helps me see God's image in every person and creation of His that I encounter. I have had many friends have children since graduating from high school, and one of them, I witnessed the creation of the Lord, and she changed her mind on terminating the pregnancy. I listened to her fears, shared what resources I had access to, and helped her through the process as a single mother. I witness firsthand how there are resources for these women and their children, and how compassionate and grounded in Christ's love that people can be, and turn despair into hope. My commitment to life-affirming care has influenced my academic and career goals. Studying biomedical science at ACHE, I am fascinated by the earliest days of human development - especially how a single neural tube folds to form the spinal cord and brain. Learning about many tragic conditions, I am driven to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and make a path into pediatric oncology. For children who suffer from cancer, as my little cousin with autism did, I have a desire to help sustain life alongside my ideas of sustaining God's creation. This holistic approach - rooted in osteopathic principles and Christ's command to "bind up the brokenhearted" in Isaiah 61:1 - solidified my resolve to become a physician who protects life at every turn. Beyond the clinic, I plan to leverage my D.O. training to advocate for policies that safeguard individuals with special needs. My uncle Mikey had severe autism and ultimately passed away at the age of 50 from a seizure, but he lived a full life of happiness. From riding ATVs and having fun outside to eating whatever he pleased, he was happy, despite being nonverbal. Clayton, my cousin who passed in February 2026 from AML, was also on the Autism Spectrum. He made such a large impact on the special needs community in Frisco, Texas, that he is still being honored in various ways today. He was a member of the Miracle League of Frisco, Keeper of the Game, and Kawaniis Halos, to name a few of his activities, and he, along with my aunt Tina, brought a lot of people to those communities to volunteer and participate. Each person, no matter their conditions, is a miracle of God. Natalie Joy Poremski's parents chose hope over fear by carrying her to term. Their witness reminds me that even the shortest life shines with divine purpose. My faith has been tested and, in turn, strengthened with prayer. Through compassionate medicine, community advocacy, and policy engagement, I will honor Natalie's legacy - and protect all stages of life with both scientific excellence and unwavering love because God is the source of all love.

When we think of "building," we often envision skyscrapers or bridges. Building is more than that; it also includes what sustains health and community connections. As an incoming Biomedical Sciences student, I have a further goal than earning a degree, but to build a "Holistic Oncology Support Network" after I continue at my school and earn my Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine. This "build: is a commitment to integrating biomedical research with the whole person osteopathic care model to ensure cancer treatment is compassionate and the most clinically advanced. My ambition is to bridge the gap between the bedside and complex laboratory research sciences. By beginning in Biomedical Science, I am building a strong scientific foundation that is crucial to understanding cancer at a molecular level. My ultimate goal is to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and an oncologist stems from the drive to treat the whole person, not only the diagnosis. I want to build a practice where the patient's mental and physical health and their environment are treated equally to the urgency with which the tumor is being treated. In rural areas like where I am from, cancer treatment can be fragmented. I hope to build a fluid model of care that brings oncology services to underserved populations so that their zip code does not impact their survival rate. The transition from a rigorous undergraduate biology pre-med honors program to medical school and eventually residency in oncology requires a long-term commitment to excellence. My preparation at ACHE is a stone in the foundation and helps train me to have the same long-term commitment to my patients. I believe that physicians should be a pillar in the community to build trust with their community through preventative care and education. I am not studying only for exams, but building the expertise required to guide families through their difficult moments. The impact of this work will be dear to me, especially after losing my cousin Clayton in February 2026 to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. For me, this career offers fulfillment of lifelong learning and the privilege of service. I want to impact the healthcare infrastructure to be more resilient by building a practice focused on early detection and holistic recovery. Doing this would increase cancer survival rates and could improve survivors' quality of life. This scholarship would provide the financial support necessary to focus entirely on the rigorous "build" ahead of me. With this education, I would build a future where cancer care is not an isolated, terrifying journey but a community-supported path towards holistic healing.

The hum and beeps of a heart monitor are often perceived as a cold, clinical sound; however, to me, it represents the human spirit and life-saving technology intertwining. My healthcare journey began in the waiting rooms of clinics and hospitals, watching my late grandmother navigate a complex medical system and enduring the same complexities myself simultaneously. Seeing a profound difference between her care and mine and how a single empathetic provider can make a difference in our lives sparked a realization: healthcare is not merely giving diagnoses and treatment to patients, but a series of human connections that need deep-seated advocacy and scientific rigor. I have chosen to pursue a degree in healthcare because I am driven by the ideology that quality medical care should be available to all individuals and should not be considered a luxury. My ambition is to become an oncologist who specializes in community wellness. I want to be on the front lines, interpreting medical jargon and treatments into empowerment for patients. The "drive" mentioned in the scholarship criteria is, for me, the relentless pursuit of health equality. My cousin Clayton passed away in February 2026 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia and had a plethora of fantastic medical professionals on his team. I witnessed how diligently they worked to give him the greatest chance of survival, and I want to be able to do the same for my future patients. I am committed to understanding the social determinants of health, such as housing, nutrition, and education, not just treating symptoms. My cousin had autism, and that impacted his treatment significantly, but the medical professionals on his team navigated this professionally with a personal touch in his care. As a woman entering this field, I recognize that I am propelled forward by the pioneers who fought for a seat at the table. While women have a majority in the healthcare workforce, we remain underrepresented in executive leadership and specialized roles. I am determined to positively impact and challenge the status quo. I believe women bring a unique perspective to healthcare, often while caring for a holistic approach to patient care and a collaborative leadership style. My goal is to be a positive influence on the next generation of female clinicians, ensuring past barriers never resurface. Furthermore, I aim to be an advocate for women's health, especially in an area that has historically suffered from research gaps and patient concern dismissals. By integrating clinical excellence with a female lens, I hope every patient I have feels heard, respected, and seen, no matter their gender, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. Whether it is through implementing more inclusive hospital policies or providing one-on-one patient education, my impact will be measured by the trust I build in my community and beyond. Receiving this scholarship would alleviate the financial burden of my education, allowing me to focus entirely on my path to becoming a physician and on community outreach initiatives. I am ready to embrace the challenges of this demanding field, armed with the ambition to lead and the compassion to serve others. I am not pursuing a career in healthcare for the prestigious title; I am committing to a lifetime of making the world a healthier, more equitable place - one respected patient at a time.

A national and global health issue I feel strongly about is mental health. While there has been increased awareness in recent years about mental health, there are challenges that continue to affect millions of people and remain one of the most overlooked healthcare concerns worldwide. Anxiety, depression, stress disorders, and other mental illness issues impact people of all backgrounds, communities, ages, and ethnicities. Mental health not only impacts emotional well-being, but also relationships, academic performance, physical health, and even overall quality of life. These mental health issues are often invisible and misunderstood, and many do not reach out for help because of the stigma surrounding these conditions. Mental health affects people at every stage of their lives. Adults experience workplace and financial stress, students face academic pressures, and all individuals face loneliness, grief, and sometimes trauma. These experiences all impact people’s mental health, and while those concerns are common, people often are silent about their ongoing mental health issues because they fear the judgment from others who do not experience life the same way they do. The stigma is harmful because it discourages people from reaching out for support, and treatment support is shut out. Some individuals and communities still view mental health as a sign of weakness and not legitimate healthcare. I care about mental health because every person deserves access to care for not only their physical bodies but also their emotional well-being. I believe healthcare should treat the entire individual, not just the physical ailments of the body. Mental health conditions can impact overall health, including chronic disease, sleep irregularities, relationships, and even life expectancy. Ignoring these issues can create lasting consequences for everyone, from individuals to full nations. Another reason for my passion for mental health advocacy is the growing demand for mental healthcare services and the need to remove the barriers that individuals face when seeking treatment. Affordable healthcare remains difficult for many people, especially in underserved communities or areas with limited healthcare resources. Financial limitations and long wait times are only two of the plethora of reasons why accessing mental healthcare can be extremely challenging. Awareness has improved, but ensuring the support is accessible to all is still needed. As an individual pursuing a healthcare career, I hope to contribute to a culture that promotes compassion and understanding surrounding mental health. Medical professionals play a critical role in recognizing emotional concerns, patient advocacy, and creating safe environments that make individuals comfortable with sharing their experiences. Simple actions of listening without judgement, showing empathy, and treating others with dignity and respect have a meaningful and lasting impact. Mental health is a global issue because it impacts individuals regardless of socioeconomic status, culture, age, or gender. Addressing it requires both medical treatment and education, as well as advocacy and a willingness to remove the stigma. I believe improving mental healthcare means improving lives, and I hope to be a part of a system that values emotional and physical health equally. I hope to work toward ensuring that each person receives the support, care, respect, and attention that they deserve.

One of the most meaningful relationships in my life was with my grandfather, who I call Papaw. Papaw retired from the Arkansas Highway Department when I was born to help take care of me and raise me while my mother worked. He is a man of few words, but that ultimately that taught me how important listening is in daily life. His presence and listening was how he showed he cared and that was more powerful that words. He built things around the house with detail, patience, and perfection. He always checked about five times before cutting a board, which ultimately gave me the attention to detail that I have now and use to be maticulus in my labs and science courses. Not only do I use these skills when making something or treating something myself, but I also use these values to conenct with others and build meaningful relationships. I approach sensitive conversations in the same manner he did when putting wire in the homes he helped build: with respect for the strengths, vulnerability, changing status, and malleability. My relationship with Papaw has always been strong. When I refused to sleep in a crib, I would sleep on his chest. When I had a loose tooth, I hated the blood that would rush out after and I would let nobody touch it but him. Trust is something that builds over time especially when someone maintains faithful to you and does not decieve you. I learned that this consistency and quiet reliablility my Papaw had for me is the way I need to approach all meaningful relationships. I have done that ever since and not necessarily give grand gestures that are sporatic. Often depth lives in what is unsaid. When my mother was mad at me and hit me, I could always run up the road to him and he would have me stay the night with him and my grandmother. I was able to open up to him about my mother, especially recently, about the abuse I took from my mother and some from my father, and he was able to open up to me about losing his only son as well as his grandson, my only cousin. Some connections take patience. Over the years it changed from him taking care of me to me taking care of him. He had a heart attack about 3.5 years ago and has never fully recovered. Periodically while in college I was a caregiver to them, but this last year since my mother decided to be on no contact terms with me and her parents, most of the responsibility has been on my shoulders. We have been able to be very vulnerable with each other, from me helping him when he has a heart issue to me crying over losing my mom to her selfishness. I learned to sit in silence with my issues because I lack true friends that I can talk to about issues that I face, but sometimes having someone to sit in the silence with you matters the most, even if words are not exchanged. In many ways, Papaw was my first less on how to hold space for someone without crowding or fixing them, but just being a grounded and consistent presence for them. That is the greatest gift I have obtained in life, and understanding that humble, daily attention can connect you with someone else's soul.

Leadership is something that comes naturally to some and is imposed on others. During my time at Conway Junior High School, I was somewhat pushed into a leadership position in the CJHS Spanish Club by my new friend, who now goes by the name Joey. He knew that I was welcoming to him during his transition within the first week I had met him, so he thought I would be welcoming to other cultures and that my Spanish was proficient enough to aid in running the club. This was also only a month after being in the Conway school district. After he nominated me for president - somewhat unexpectedly - it was a unanimous vote for me to take the position. I was ecstatic. Throughout my first year at the junior high, I quickly picked up leadership ideas and brought out ways I think to the forefront of our efforts to increase enrollment in our club and interaction. The ideas I already had within me were encouraged by my advisors, and I found myself to be a natural leader. The second year, I had tripled engagement and enrollment in the organization, and welcomed both US citizens and those with visas and other means of being in the United States, and became a welcoming face for all of them. Further, at the end of the term, before I went to Conway High School, I created a 2-year rotating plan for the Spanish club so there would be biweekly activities planned. Additionally, with an advisor also moving to the high school with me, I started a new Spanish club there and immediately began work on a 3-year plan because the high school is for grades 10-12. I was elected each year as president, and I grew the club so large that we could not fit in the large classroom. While in high school, I was also vice president of Beta Club and Key Club and served on the boards of around 8 other organizations. In college, I was the secretary of SACNAS at Baylor, whose mission is to encourage people from diverse backgrounds to get involved in STEM and build a connected network of support. I also began a study review group and led it for the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core 2026 cohort, where we would gather before exams, and I would lead everyone through all of the materials we covered before the exams. This usually was about 60-100 different texts. My participation in leadership, while it has taken a significant amount of my time to the point I have at times had no moments to myself, has been completely worth all my efforts. Regardless if I benefit from it in the future or not, I would not change a thing. I learned that leadership has to be accompanied by empathy and kindness. It also has to be taught to others. Whenever I could, I would teach others how to lead in small roles and give them bigger responsibilities as time passed. I believe a leader is not on top, but on the bottom, pushing everyone else to be the best person they can be.

Cancer has been deeply intertwined in my life, with the majority of my family having had cancer in some form, ranging from breast cancer to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Both of my grandmothers and my aunt Tina have had breast cancer, and they were all successful in being able to ring the bell after their treatments had cured their cancer. Despite these miracles, the most impactful experience with cancer that I have had with cancer was with my cousin Clayton Iburg's battle. Clayton was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April 2025 after he had slid into a base while playing baseball, and the wound would not heal. He battled for 10 months and was determined that he would be healed. He had autism spectrum disorder, so his initial diagnosis shortly after his 18th birthday was difficult for him to understand. I was blessed to have received partial guardianship of him a few weeks before his diagnosis, in addition to his parents, because I was able to make a positive impact on his care and was able to see him when I could throughout his treatments. He began at Plano Children's Hospital, and after they could no longer treat him, he was sent to MD Anderson to attempt to heal him there with more advanced methods. Countless nurses and physicians worked closely with Clayton and were able to successfully lower his AML counts from 89% of his blood to approximately 12%; however, this was not the entire fight. Clayton had a mutation in his NUP98 gene, which was mutated to become abnormal and then copied. This made the treatment extremely difficult for Clayton because the strength of these chemotherapy medications was extremely strong. Ultimately, with no white blood cells and hence no immune system, there were many other battles he was going through simultaneously. After an extreme aspergillus infection had settled and was determined to stay in Clayton's body, he got very weak. It was determined that there was no more hope for Clayton to live. Clayton was med flighted back to Plano Children's Hospital after he was told he was returning to finish his treatment and ringing his bell. I was with him in his last days, and he had me promise him that I would find a cure for AML and be a "nice doctor to kids." I intend to keep this promise for him. He was able to wish me a happy 22nd birthday on February 16, 2026, and he went to be with the Lord three days later. He was a very loved young man, and I could not have been more proud to be his cousin. With around 500 individuals attending both the visitation and the funeral, it was astounding. Cancer impacts a lot of individuals, as I could see from the large turnout; cancer that one person has impacts a lot of lives. He was my best friend and only cousin; nothing could replace that. He said he would protect me from my abusive parents even on his last day. Nothing can replace that, but I will try to make it possible for fewer individuals to feel the pain that I do because of AML.

I am pursuing a career in the medical field with a strong passion for oncology. I am passionate about two specific cancers, especially acute myeloid leukemia and breast cancer. With my academic background in Cell and Molecular Biology, I have developed an immensely deep foundation in genetics, disease pathology, and cellular biology, which has led me towards research that directly impacts and translates to patient care. I chose to focus on breast cancer for my future studies because of its widespread impact and the continued need for more personalized treatments that could save lives. There have been undeniable advances in cancer research; however, breast cancer is still one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, especially in women. Many patients face treatment resistance, recurrence, and care inaccessibility. There are immense gaps that must be bridged with research that is focused on improving survival, reducing recurrence, and enhancing the quality of life of these patients during and after treatment. My aunt Tina, my maternal grandmother Denice, and my paternal grandmother Velda all battled breast cancer. Denice had a rare form of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. It was a tough battle, yet she came out successfully from treatment. Velda had invasive ductal carcinoma at age 75, and fought and was successful in her battle. Tina had triple-negative breast cancer, which was caught late in stage 4. She lost all of her hair while her 2-year-old son Clayton, was getting diagnosed with autism. She fought for approximately 3 years and was successful. While these women and their stories are a driving factor in why I want to study breast cancer, my additional interest in acute myeloid leukemia is because in 2025, my cousin Clayton was diagnosed with AML, with the NUP98 gene copy abnormal mutation. I began research soon after his diagnosis, and I saw a daunting possible outcome of this being a battle he could not overcome physically. February 19, 2026, that daunting realization I had months before came true and broke our entire family's hearts. I believe AML and Breast Cancer both impact many individuals; however, due to my familial experience, I am extremely motivated to aid in a cure for both, but especially breast cancer. Regular check-ups for Denice are important, and I take her to them now as her primary care provider. Until my grandmother, Velda, passed away in 2020 at 99 years old, I also helped take her to her yearly oncologist appointment due to the fear she had held on her entire life because of the threat that cancer once had over her. My goal in research is to contribute to the development of personalized and targeted therapies and early detection that can aid patients in the future to have better care and understanding of the processes that we will conduct to make their lives as full as possible. I am interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive tumor growth, cancer resistance, and management, as this knowledge can inform more effective interventions in the future. Ultimately, I hope to bridge the gap between clinical practice as a physician and laboratory research to use scientific discovery to improve patient outcomes.

Being a medical doctor was encouraged by my parents starting at a young age with a pretend doctor kit that came with what I termed "pepper shots" and even a blood pressure cuff. While this was an exposure that would later contribute to my love for medicine according to my mother, but what ultimately contributed to my passion for medicine was personal and familial experiences with medicine. At the age of 3, I experienced what is known as serum sickness. After needing to take penicillin for another sickness that I had, I became paralyzed from the waist down, with my skin covered in rashes and bumps, and difficulty breathing. It was a difficult experience and was my first true memory. After about a week with the medication was eradicated from my body, I was able to walk again. This occurred two additional times to me while in 4th grade and in 8th grade, both from different medications. Additionally, in 4th grade, I was diagnosed with severe migraine headaches. With migraines which for me could last between an hour and 14 days, school became more difficult that it is for most. While I would be inside studying, friends would often be having fun without me, because I was always attempting to get my school work done while I felt relatively well. This has continued throughout my education and continues in my course work today in college. More recently, my cousin, Clayton, who has austism, was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia. Prior to this discovery, I was already interested in the oncology realm of medicine. I had been praying for a sign that my passion would be what I should pursue and this news quickly hit afterwards. While I pray that he gets well, I also know that this is a crucial type of medicine to practice. Right now, I am living on the patient and family side of the oncology life, however, in the future I hope to be the individual that is saving lives and encouraging those with cancer to continue fighting. I want to be the individual who aids those in living with the diagnosis of cancer. When I was in high school, my AP Biology teacher was always supportive of me becoming a doctor and even told me that if she had cancer, she would want me to be the doctor who treated her. I have thought about this since she said this, and I want to be able to bring that comfort to each person I treat.

I am a Cell and Molecular Biology student on the Pre-Medical track and in the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core Honors College. While at Baylor, I have grown extremely in my faith and my relationship with God. While being at my Baptist university as an undergraduate, despite experiencing struggles in my mental health and even physical health at times, I was always able to turn to someone to help encourage me to live a faith-centered life. Due to my desire to be in a faith-centered school, this also meant that I was required to attend a private university, which comes with a large demand for financial payments. With this scholarship, I would be able to contribute more to my degree with less worry about how I will pay for it. I will be able to continue my focus on studying and God simultaneously, with some of the financial burden removed. After my undergraduate education, I am planning on continuing my education at a faith-centered medical school. While I am keeping my options open due to them being limited in my home state of Arkansas, I would enjoy enriching my life further with other Christian individuals in my life, especially if they were to be my instructors and mentors, as well as friends. Post-medical school, I am going to attend residency, also hopefully within an environment filled with a Christian atmosphere. I plan on continuing to express my faith in my work as a physician in a faith-based hospital or clinic. While I am not capable of predicting the future and I do not have complete control over my future endeavors, I can pray for God's guidance, peace, and knowledge through this process. I would use this scholarship in an effort to complete my degree and continue my walk in faith and education simultaneously.

Make sure to get your school supplies early, stay up on homework, and go to sleep early! Early is best! Insta: @bearden_hailey

As a daughter of a veteran, my life has been shaped by the fact that my dad served in the Army for over 21 years. Despite my dad already being retired from his position in the military by the time I was old enough to begin forming memories, the stories, friends, and places we go are impacted by his service, so sometimes it feels like he is still in the service. With his continual upkeep of a flat top hair style, it feels like he could go into his uniform at ant given time if he was to get called up. Throughout my entire childhood, my dad would take me down to Camp Robinson while he wanted to catch up with all of his friends and get his hair cut. I would stay in Jim's Barber Shoppe for hours listening to all of the military men talk and tell stories, some of them being active duty and others being retired like my father. I would hear stories from when they went to Honduras and Nicaragua when they had their battles and conflicts. I heard of stories from Iraq and Afghanistan and how they would try to save the innocent children and women from dying from the devastation. All of these detailed stories always had some sort of outcome to these men having some sort of medical issue. From needing therapy to hearing aids to prosthetic limbs, each and every one of these people have sacrificed their health for our country. Ever since then, along with other personal and family reasons, I decided I wanted to have a career in the medical field. I wanted to be able to do my part in order for people who sacrificed everything feel better and to be able to live the most normal of a life possible post deployment. I have in recent years realized that any sort of medical professional aids the veteran community and I have made it my own mission to make sure veterans and current serving military personnel receive adequate treatment when they go to a primary practitioner, urgent care, specialty clinics, or the hospital. As a future doctor in the United States, I believe that since our country is built upon the work of many people, especially our veteran and serving community, that they should be treated as everyone else is when seeking care and that their care should be a priority, unlike it is today.

During my time in high school, I was blessed to be able to lead multiple, large community service based organizations and clubs with high student involvement. In each of these clubs, there would be some individual club work where only Key Club would work on certain events and long term commitments and Beta Club and National Honor Society would do the same, however on some large scale community involvement activities, these three clubs as well as others would unite to make a bigger difference. As Vice President of Key Club and Beta Club and Historian of National Honor Society, the union of these clubs was done with more ease than it would typically be. One of the long term involvement activities that all three clubs participated in was Certain's Little Free Pantry. This pantry was created by one of our art teachers, Mrs. Certain, in order to help students in need of food for after school or for the weekend. I was one of the schedule keepers for who was working what days as well as working in it myself after school. Volunteers typically stocked pantry shelves, broke down boxes and put them in the recycling, picked up food from our box at Kroger, and helped students get food when they came. Over my three years at Conway High School, I recorded more than 200 different students helping with this project with over 3,000 hours coming from this service project alone in three years, which is breathtaking. Students were able to help other students get food for them and their family when they were in need, and hopefully this helps develop a more generous society. Another long term involvement that these organizations had was with the Faulkner/Van Buren County Library. Members of our clubs would sign up a few days in advance to secure a spot to do one of most people’s favorite activities. At the library, some students would read to children with special needs while others would sit with them so they could play with them because some kids with special needs like to have multiple activities occurring simultaneously. Whenever I was able to read to these children, they would all have the largest smiles on their faces because of how excited they were to hear and see their favorite story read to them and their friends. Starting this program was difficult for my friend Kierra and I, and I am thankful that she will be able to continue it while I go out of state for college. When playing with these children, sometimes they would just want to lay their head against your shoulder, other times a tonka truck would run over your foot, and sometimes you would play Barbie with them. The way that each child had special needs which united them, but had such different personalities was so great to show to other members of these school organizations. I started this program because I had an Uncle with autism that passed away recently in June of 2022, and 2 cousins with autism. I wanted to show people that these children are important, as well as show people the spectrum of special needs. Volunteering with these people has impacted me because I can see how helping these people impact not only the individual, but the families so that they can live with a little more hope and peace, which makes me feel like I can change some people's problems that they face.

Growing up in a Christian family, God has always played a significant part in my life. From praying during storms around my house to praying about grades and even praying about my own health. God has helped me through many different situations I have been put through, from gaining and losing friends to allowing me to see myself in a more positive lens than before. Multiple times as child, I had episodes of Serum Sickness, which ultimately led me to be temporarily paralyzed on three different occasions for times ranging from six to twelve days. These occasions made me ultimately have utter respect for anyone in the healthcare system and God as well because of God using the healthcare workers to help me through these rough times. Throughout all of my time where my walking was no more, I was able to continue to keep my faith strong in Christ. I prayed every day, multiple times a day, ranging from short thirty-second prayers to prayers that would last hours. So many tears were shed by me during this time. I cried out to Jesus for the pain of the rashes and my joints to go away. My arms would constantly pop with the allergic reaction to medications going on inside my body. If I would move, I would pop on the upper half of my body, but no matter how hard I would try, I could not move my lower half. All three occasions, after varying amount of time, I would be able to walk again. The prayers I prayed and the prayers my doctors prayed over me are the reason why I was able to be functional again. God played a huge role in me being able to be mobile again multiple times in my life. After all of these trips to the doctors at Children's Hospital, I decided that I, too, wanted to become a doctor and help people I need. I believe that with my faith, I will be able to ask God for guidance throughout my career to be able to best serve patients of mine with whatever medical issue that they face. I believe Christ has set me on this path in order to repay what people have done for me to other people. I believe with the power that I have been given by Jesus, I will let him work through me to be the best doctor I can be and hopefully influence others to get closer to God and follow this career path.

Science has always been around the entire world, and every single discovery that has been found up until now has shaped this world and the universe around it to be the way it is. What ultimately led to many inventions which help society today was the development of electricity. Before electricity, running water inside the home, cooking without fire, large, unnatural light inside the home, and so much more was unfathomable simply because the barrier of having no electricity. When electricity was first introduced to homes, the items like ovens and running water came in the homes, allowing for much easier lives for everyone, especially the women who had traditional roles at the time with cooking and cleaning for the house. Along with making life easier, electricity has made people live longer with the aid of items in healthcare as well as simple things like air condition and heat so people do not get sick from unbearable temperatures.

Forward On, a poem by Hailey Bearden "Push, Push" says the doctor to a mother To them, this baby is just another Finally the baby is out And all the mother does is pout The ugliest pug faced baby lay on her chest When the rest of the family comes in, it takes their breath A giggle here, a giggle there Everyone laughed, not giving a care The baby turned into a toddler And on their third birthday, requested a peach cobbler Something that only old people request But to them is was the best Some of the young child's deep wrinkles became not as deep And some of the bruises they had faded so they didn't look beat The voice became a little less scratchy And the clothes became a little more matchy For the child's 7th birthday, they asked for a pecan pie Well the parents sure thought that was a lie They told the child's grandparents, they got shy "Well didn't you know, that child is never going to die" "What do you mean?!" exclaimed the mother The mother looked over at the the child's brother "Him too?" asked the father "No, he's too much of a bother" "Didn't you realize they age backward?" "No, I thought forward..." The old lady giggled and shook "No they are matured, that's why they can cook" They ate the birthday pie And they came more alive More agility and movement So much improvement Now they are much younger physically For them this is a reality They feel like they are 60 Soon they will feel 50 To have such a young body But a mature mind to embody Something nobody else would understand But now without a cane they can stand On their 16th birthday, they ask for a Key Lime Pie Everyone of all ages liked that pie, not going to lie The creamy texture is like the moisturizer they used All while growing up, but now youth has moved 25th birthday, they ask for cupcakes Easy for sharing, no more cutting things they make Now feeling 45, they seem fine But the midlife crisis is a crime A car and a coffee machine All a person needs Go where the road leads, But they always have to pee Many years later The physical body is no longer like an alligator Smooth as a teen Wanting everything to be seen "I don't understand why, but I am now younger than ever before" Their grandmother nodded to them, knowing the story's core "You're like me, dear, you are eternally here" "Why did I have to live backward then? It made me have fear" "Lovely, how sweet you are! You lived backward to know the strife of others so you can bring them near and young you can appear"

STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is a powerful one and it impacts everyone's life, every single day, during every single second of their lives. For me specifically, the science division of STEM has impacted me deeply since I was a child, leading me to develop a love for something that continues to astonish me day by day. When I was three years old, my parents took me to the doctor's office because of a sinus infection and I was prescribed Penicillin and Amoxicillin so I could get better. Little did anyone know that I was actually extremely allergic to both of those medicines. The next day I could not move. From the waist down, my body was stone still, aching with pain, covered in swarming rashes, hives, and sores. The pain was agonizing and this entire event became my first memory of my entire life. For about half a day long, I cried in anguish, scratched at myself like I was covered in fleas, all while not understanding why I could not walk. Later, my parents rushed me to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where for hours upon hours, the doctors also did not understand what was happening. After multiple guesses, blood tests, scans of my body and its extremities, one doctor pulled out a big faded red book that was so thick, I thought it was a giant book back then. In the book were all medical conditions that they have ever studied in Medical School, and it just so happened that I had one of the rarest of them all. Serum Sickness, a medical condition in which when someone takes a medicine that they are allergic to, they become extremely ill to where their body begins to self paralyze. It begins in the muscles of the body, creeps into the joints and bones, and slowly makes it harder for the patient to move. In the worst cases, it makes it harder to breathe, slows heart rate and digestion, and causes pain to become more intense. I had one of the terrible cases where I had all of the symptoms. While at the hospital, they gave me more medications to counteract the ones I am allergic to, and throughout it, they did not truly know if it would work or not. That night they sent me home, still unable to walk. They did not know if I would ever bounce back to my normal toddler self who loved to run around the yard and jump on the trampoline. They said that the feeling I had was equivalent to the pain a 90 year old with severe arthritis has when they try to be active. That extreme pain lasted for a week, and after many prayers, I was able to walk again. This has happened two other times since. Once in 4th grade, and again in 8th grade, but these two times I understood what was happening. Due to this extreme condition I have, I want to be able to help other people who find themselves in an unknown predicament like I was. The fear of the unknown is real, and it is terrifying when the unknown is in your body. My goal is to become a doctor and help people going through their roughest times in their life so that they can come out of it and then help change other people’s lives for the better.

A healthy lifestyle is something that should be important to everyone, but healthy living is something that is one of my priorities in life. From what I eat, what I do, and how I think, healthy living is what causes someone to have success in what they need or want to do. If one is not healthy, then they will not be able to feel well enough to accomplish numerous activities they need to do for daily life, causing them to fall behind and feel worse, making the cycle continue and spiral until they are no longer able to have a healthy life. Each day, I wake up, and get myself clean and ready for the day. With this, I both make my mental health and physical health better. Following this, I do a small session of morning yoga to stimulate my body and I eat a breakfast of protein or fruit usually. To start my day out healthy, I feel much better about the rest of the day than when I used to not do this routine. A healthy lifestyle builds your life and body for success, and without it, people live a dull, sad, achy life.

During my time in high school, I was blessed to be able to lead multiple, large community service based organizations and clubs with high student involvement. In each of these clubs, there would be some individual club work where only Key Club would work on certain events and long term commitments and Beta Club and National Honor Society would do the same, however on some large scale community involvement activities, these three clubs as well as others would unite to make a bigger difference. As Vice President of Key Club and Beta Club and Historian of National Honor Society, the union of these clubs was done with more ease than it would typically be. One of the long term involvement activities that all three clubs participated in was Certain's Little Free Pantry. This pantry was created by one of our art teachers, Mrs. Certain, in order to help students in need of food for after school or for the weekend. I was one of the schedule keepers for who was working what days as well as working in it myself after school. Volunteers typically stocked pantry shelves, broke down boxes and put them in the recycling, picked up food from our box at Kroger, and helped students get food when they came. Over my three years at Conway High School, I recorded more than 200 different students helping with this project with over 3,000 hours coming from this service project alone in three years, which is breathtaking. Students were able to help other students get food for them and their family when they were in need, and hopefully this helps develop a more generous society. Another long term involvement that these organizations had was with the Faulkner/Van Buren County Library. Members of our clubs would sign up a few days in advance to secure a spot to do one of most people’s favorite activities. At the library, some students would read to children with special needs while others would sit with them so they could play with them because some kids with special needs like to have multiple activities occurring simultaneously. Whenever I was able to read to these children, they would all have the largest smiles on their faces because of how excited they were to hear and see their favorite story read to them and their friends. Starting this program was difficult for my friend Kierra and I, and I am thankful that she will be able to continue it while I go out of state for college. When playing with these children, sometimes they would just want to lay their head against your shoulder, other times a tonka truck would run over your foot, and sometimes you would play Barbie with them. The way that each child had special needs which united them, but had such different personalities was so great to show to other members of these school organizations. I started this program because I had an Uncle with autism that passed away recently in June of 2022, and 2 cousins with autism. I wanted to show people that these children are important, as well as show people the spectrum of special needs. Volunteering with these people has impacted me because I can see how helping these people impact not only the individual, but the families so that they can live with a little more hope and peace, which makes me feel like I can change some people's problems that they face.

Dogs are known as man's best friend, but they are more than a best friend, they become a part of the family as soon as they are brought into the house. The owner's house is now the dog's house too, and there is no debate about it. While they are physically living in your house, they also live in your heart too. I love dogs because they never judge you, they always give you so much unconditional love no matter what, and they are all so cute and adorable. I did have a very special dog named Velvet that impacted my life in such a positive way, I do not even comprehend how some people do not like dogs. About ten and a half years ago, I went to an animal shelter with my parents, and while looking at the group of Chihuahua Terrier puppies, I saw a little girl not barking when the rest of the puppies were. She also had a tag already on her because someone had claimed her, however I was happy to find out they never came back for her. I was able to take her home that day and on the drive home, we became best friends. For the next ten years we did everything together. While she was still a puppy, I could fit her in my own eight year old hand. She was so tiny and lovable, she was everything I could have ever wanted in a dog. As she grew up I did too. When I developed migraines at 10, she would always lay beside me when I did not feel good. My family would always say that she was "taking it away" and transferring the migraine to herself because she would often start pawing her own head as if it hurt. Whenever I would have a stomach ache, she would lay on my stomach to make me feel better. The deep connection I had with her went beyond her being just a dog, she was almost like my child and my sister at the same time. I would take care of her like she was my child, she would then take up for me and bark at anyone who was being rude or mean to me. Whenever I needed anything and she didn't want to do it, I would simply offer peanut butter on an apple and she would comply. Velvet and I shared so many good memories together, from long walks to practicing music for choir with her howling along, I will never forget her. Two weeks before Christmas of 2021, she passed away, leaving paw prints all over my mind and heart. Without her, I would have never experienced the love a dog can give, and without that, I would not be the dog lover I am today.

Dogs are known as man's best friend, but they are more than a best friend, they become a part of the family as soon as they are brought into the house. The owner's house is now the dog's house too, and there is no debate about it. While they are physically living in your house, they also live in your heart too. I love dogs because they never judge you, they always give you so much unconditional love no matter what, and they are all so cute and adorable. I did have a very special dog named Velvet that impacted my life in such a positive way, I do not even comprehend how some people do not like dogs. About ten and a half years ago, I went to an animal shelter with my parents, and while looking at the group of Chihuahua Terrier puppies, I saw a little girl not barking when the rest of the puppies were. She also had a tag already on her because someone had claimed her, however I was happy to find out they never came back for her. I was able to take her home that day and on the drive home, we became best friends. For the next ten years we did everything together. While she was still a puppy, I could fit her in my own eight year old hand. She was so tiny and lovable, she was everything I could have ever wanted in a dog. As she grew up I did too. When I developed migraines at 10, she would always lay beside me when I did not feel good. My family would always say that she was "taking it away" and transferring the migraine to herself because she would often start pawing her own head as if it hurt. Whenever I would have a stomach ache, she would lay on my stomach to make me feel better. The deep connection I had with her went beyond her being just a dog, she was almost like my child and my sister at the same time. I would take care of her like she was my child, she would then take up for me and bark at anyone who was being rude or mean to me. Whenever I needed anything and she didn't want to do it, I would simply offer peanut butter on an apple and she would comply. Velvet and I shared so many good memories together, from long walks to practicing music for choir with her howling along, I will never forget her. Two weeks before Christmas of 2021, she passed away, leaving paw prints all over my mind and heart. Without her, I would have never experienced the love a dog can give, and without that, I would not be the dog lover I am today. I love pets because I believe that they change who you are for the better. Each pet teaches people how to take care of something besides themself. It helps grow maturity in people like no other activity can do.

Dogs are known as man's best friend, but they are more than a best friend, they become a part of the family as soon as they are brought into the house. The owner's house is now the dog's house too, and there is no debate about it. While they are physically living in your house, they also live in your heart too. I love dogs because they never judge you, they always give you so much unconditional love no matter what, and they are all so cute and adorable. I did have a very special dog named Velvet that impacted my life in such a positive way, I do not even comprehend how some people do not like dogs. About ten and a half years ago, I went to an animal shelter with my parents, and while looking at the group of Chihuahua Terrier puppies, I saw a little girl not barking when the rest of the puppies were. She also had a tag already on her because someone had claimed her, however I was happy to find out they never came back for her. I was able to take her home that day and on the drive home, we became best friends. For the next ten years we did everything together. While she was still a puppy, I could fit her in my own eight year old hand. She was so tiny and lovable, she was everything I could have ever wanted in a dog. As she grew up I did too. When I developed migraines at 10, she would always lay beside me when I did not feel good. My family would always say that she was "taking it away" and transferring the migraine to herself because she would often start pawing her own head as if it hurt. Whenever I would have a stomach ache, she would lay on my stomach to make me feel better. The deep connection I had with her went beyond her being just a dog, she was almost like my child and my sister at the same time. I would take care of her like she was my child, she would then take up for me and bark at anyone who was being rude or mean to me. Whenever I needed anything and she didn't want to do it, I would simply offer peanut butter on an apple and she would comply. Velvet and I shared so many good memories together, from long walks to practicing music for choir with her howling along, I will never forget her. Two weeks before Christmas of 2021, she passed away, leaving paw prints all over my mind and heart. Without her, I would have never experienced the love a dog can give, and without that, I would not be the dog lover I am today.

During my time in high school, I was blessed to be able to lead multiple, large community service based organizations and clubs with high student involvement. In each of these clubs, there would be some individual club work where only Key Club would work on certain events and long term commitments and Beta Club and National Honor Society would do the same, however on some large scale community involvement activities, these three clubs as well as others would unite to make a bigger difference. As Vice President of Key Club and Beta Club and Historian of National Honor Society, the union of these clubs was done with more ease than it would typically be. One of the long term involvement activities that all three clubs participated in was Certain's Little Free Pantry. This pantry was created by one of our art teachers, Mrs. Certain, in order to help students in need of food for after school or for the weekend. I was one of the schedule keepers for who was working what days as well as working in it myself after school. Volunteers typically stocked pantry shelves, broke down boxes and put them in the recycling, picked up food from our box at Kroger, and helped students get food when they came. Over my three years at Conway High School, I recorded more than 200 different students helping with this project with over 3,000 hours coming from this service project alone in three years, which is breathtaking. Students were able to help other students get food for them and their family when they were in need, and hopefully this helps develop a more generous society. Another long term involvement that these organizations had was with the Faulkner/Van Buren County Library. Members of our clubs would sign up a few days in advance to secure a spot to do one of most people’s favorite activities. At the library, some students would read to children with special needs while others would sit with them so they could play with them because some kids with special needs like to have multiple activities occurring simultaneously. Whenever I was able to read to these children, they would all have the largest smiles on their faces because of how excited they were to hear and see their favorite story read to them and their friends. Starting this program was difficult for my friend Kierra and I, and I am thankful that she will be able to continue it while I go out of state for college. When playing with these children, sometimes they would just want to lay their head against your shoulder, other times a tonka truck would run over your foot, and sometimes you would play Barbie with them. The way that each child had special needs which united them, but had such different personalities was so great to show to other members of these school organizations. I started this program because I had an Uncle with autism that passed away recently in June of 2022, and 2 cousins with autism. I wanted to show people that these children are important, as well as show people the spectrum of special needs. Volunteering with these people has impacted me because I can see how helping these people impact not only the individual, but the families so that they can live with a little more hope and peace, which makes me feel like I can chan

Losing someone is never easy for anyone, however, when I lost my grandmother May of 2020, I lost not only my grandmother, but my best friend. She was 99 when she passed, and because of Covid-19, I had not been able to see her since March of 2020 due to her living in an assisted living facility. Her birthday was in March, so one of the last times I got to see her was on her 99th birthday. People say that once someone is 90 or above, they have lived a full life, however, she should have lived more. She was still active in her community, church, and bingo group. She is one of the only people to pass at her age that when talking to others I am told that she shouldn't have went to eternal life so young. My grandmother graduated at 16, became a teacher, then a principal, but she was much more than just a typical teacher. She spoke with congress about what is now called ADHD before it was known to our society by that name, she helped integrate schools and helped the Little Rock Nine enter school so they can be educated, most importantly, she valued her family and treated everyone like she would want her family and herself to be treated. As I was growing up, she taught me her ideas of equality and fighting for what is right, despite when everyone is against you, and I continue to live with that mindset today. Another thing we would do when I was young would be playing school because of how much she valued education. She taught me that education is key to a good life. She taught me to be book smart, street smart, and common sense smart because she believed that the only way to be successful is to be smart in each of those three ways. Sometimes she would teach me mathematics, other times social studies, sometimes how to repair a chair or a fan, and on occasion we would play logic type games to develop common sense and morality. My grand more in early May of 2020 had a fall and hit her back on her toilet in her bathroom in her room. The way it hit damaged her kidney, however she did not realize it at first. She simply thought it was a bruise, but when it got to hurting worse, she had to go to the hospital. Her Sodium levels kept wavering up and down making her sick, and along with that, her heart failure that she was diagnosed with in her 40's started to make her decline rapidly. Despite all of that, we would still talk on the phone about going to Arkansas Governor's School the following summer and about my dream college Baylor University. One night she asked me to bring her glasses the next day so she could read her Bible because she hated getting behind in her daily lessons. On my way there, I get a call saying she had passed away. I screamed in the hospital parking lot for a while. A few days later I led the graveside funeral service for friends and family of my grandmother. She always said she wanted me to lead the service, and at 16, that was the biggest fight. To not break down in tears while speaking was both a physical and mental battle, and with her right beside me, it became a spiritual one as well because I asked God why He took her. The next whole school year I thought about her, but I kept up my grades so I know she would have been proud. Losing her was losing the person I was closest to, but I remembered what we had talked about and in January of 2021, I was notified I was accepted to Arkansas Governor's School for the summer where I went and learned. Now, as I am on my way to Baylor University this fall of 2022, I know that she would have been proud of all of the fighting I have done to get to where I am and I know she would have supported me throughout this entire, long, stressful journey. Without her I would have never been where I am now, and without her our society would not be what it is today. I hope that when I get done fighting to become a doctor, I can then fight to save a lot of people's lives so that their families can stay whole a while longer.

During my time in high school, I was blessed to be able to lead multiple, large community service based organizations and clubs with high student involvement. In each of these clubs, there would be some individual club work where only Key Club would work on certain events and long term commitments and Beta Club and National Honor Society would do the same, however on some large scale community involvement activities, these three clubs as well as others would unite to make a bigger difference. As Vice President of Key Club and Beta Club and Historian of National Honor Society, the union of these clubs was done with more ease than it would typically be. One of the long term involvement activities that all three clubs participated in was Certain's Little Free Pantry. This pantry was created by one of our art teachers, Mrs. Certain, in order to help students in need of food for after school or for the weekend. I was one of the schedule keepers for who was working what days as well as working in it myself after school. Volunteers typically stocked pantry shelves, broke down boxes and put them in the recycling, picked up food from our box at Kroger, and helped students get food when they came. Over my three years at Conway High School, I recorded more than 200 different students helping with this project with over 3,000 hours coming from this service project alone in three years, which is breathtaking. Students were able to help other students get food for them and their family when they were in need, and hopefully this helps develop a more generous society.

Summer of 2021 changed my life forever in how I view people and how I understand them. I attended Arkansas Governor's School the summer of 2021 for the top 400 students in the state of Arkansas. While staying at Arkansas Tech, where Arkansas Governor's School was hosted, I met many new people of all different backgrounds, cultures, and religions I had never had experienced before. Here, we were all very calm and open to learning about other people's viewpoints and ways of life, and accepting to hearing if they did something other than we typically do. This group for the summer really changed the way I think about fighting for your rights as a citizen in any country, but especially here in the United States. As a caucasian, I did not truly realize how important the right of free speech was until I met people from many racial and ethnic backgrounds. People need to be able to stand up for what they believe, and until then, I did not realize how important it is. Now, with violence constantly in the news harming people of specific racial profiles, everyone needs to stand up for them because of the exponential power in numbers. The power of a voice was shown to be so very important to society as a whole, and gives an individual so much more power because people cannot take away your voice. If someone tries, you can raise it to be louder and spread your voice among other people. In the wake of the political situation in the United States, your voice is voting and campaigning for who you want to help lead this country, and without using it, society could ultimately tumble.

Throughout my time in high school, I have been extremely bold with many things. From taking the hardest AP classes to trying to be friends with the people who never hang out with anybody, I tackled all of the hardest situations I could. Along with that, I was bold and brave by helping lead 9 organizations at my high school in my time there. As a senior, I was in my 5th year of Presidency of the Spanish Club, President of Spanish National Honor Society, Historian of National Honor Society, Vice President of Key Club, Vice President of Beta Club, Vice President of Young Feminist Alliance, Treasurer of Students Demand Action, Manager of Student Council, and a Delegate of Conway High School to the Conway Morning Rotary Club. With all of these titles came a lot of responsibility. I was bold enough to stand up in front of anywhere from 10 to 70 people speaking in Spanish for meetings for two of my organizations and anywhere from 10 to 400 students for the other organizations in which meetings where held in English. I would tell the students about all of the different events that I would help plan around and outside of school so they could participate in them for community service hours. I was brave to be able to go to our schools board and other leaders of our school to propose these ideas and hopes so our school would continue to flourish. Usually they said if it did not work within a timeframe that we would have to abandon it, however, I was blessed with being able to get all of my projects off the ground and running in time.

STEM, the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is a powerful one and it impacts everyone's life, every single day, during every single second of their lives. For me specifically, the science division of STEM has impacted me deeply since I was a child, leading me to develop a love for something that continues to astonish me day by day. When I was three years old, my parents took me to the doctor's office because of a sinus infection and I was prescribed Penicillin and Amoxicillin so I could get better. Little did anyone know that I was actually extremely allergic to both of those medicines. The next day I could not move. From the waist down, my body was stone still, aching with pain, covered in swarming rashes, hives, and sores. The pain was agonizing and this entire event became my first memory of my entire life. For about half a day long, I cried in anguish, scratched at myself like I was covered in fleas, all while not understanding why I could not walk. Later, my parents rushed me to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where for hours upon hours, the doctors also did not understand what was happening. After multiple guesses, blood tests, scans of my body and its extremities, one doctor pulled out a big faded red book that was so thick, I thought it was a giant book back then. In the book were all medical conditions that they have ever studied in Medical School, and it just so happened that I had one of the rarest of them all. Serum Sickness, a medical condition in which when someone takes a medicine that they are allergic to, they become extremely ill to where their body begins to self paralyze. It begins in the muscles of the body, creeps into the joints and bones, and slowly makes it harder for the patient to move. In the worst cases, it makes it harder to breathe, slows heart rate and digestion, and causes pain to become more intense. I had one of the terrible cases where I had all of the symptoms. While at the hospital, they gave me more medications to counteract the ones I am allergic to, and throughout it, they did not truly know if it would work or not. That night they sent me home, still unable to walk. They did not know if I would ever bounce back to my normal toddler self who loved to run around the yard and jump on the trampoline. They said that the feeling I had was equivalent to the pain a 90 year old with severe arthritis has when they try to be active. That extreme pain lasted for a week, and after many prayers, I was able to walk again. This has happened two other times since. Once in 4th grade, and again in 8th grade, but these two times I understood what was happening. Due to this extreme condition I have, I want to be able to help other people who find themselves in an unknown predicament like I was. The fear of the unknown is real, and it is terrifying when the unknown is in your body. My goal is to become a doctor and help people going through their roughest times in their life so that they can come out of it and then help change other people’s lives for the better.