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Isabel Mendes

1x

Finalist

General information

Age
21
Gender
Female
Ethnicity
Black/African, Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Indigenous Peoples
Religion
Prefer Not To Answer

Hobbies & Interests

  • Taekwondo
  • Advocacy And Activism
  • Dance
  • Acting And Theater
  • Community Service And Volunteering
  • Drawing And Illustration
  • Electric Guitar
  • Music
  • Songwriting

Reading

  • Academic
  • Art
  • Cultural
  • Social Issues
  • Science‎
  • Politics
  • Plays
  • Mystery
  • Literature
  • Historical

I read books multiple times a week.

Bio

Isabel is a first-year Kilachand Honors student in the Human Physiology program at Boston University through Sargent College of Health Sciences. She’s a digital and physical artist focusing mainly on Black and Latinx-inspired digital art under the Instagram handle @IzzyMendyes_Art. Isabel aspires to be a physician, aiming to make a difference in the health outcomes of disenfranchised populations. Isabel has participated in a Global Student Summit on Black Lives Matter – A Call to Action and the National Coalition of Girls Schools’ Winter Series: Justice, Equity, and Belonging. Isabel was a part of the Greater Hartford Chapter of Jack and Jill for 12 years, being recognized nationally for community service and receiving the National Youth Volunteer Service Award and U.S. Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award. Her role models include her maternal grandparents, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic and raised their children to be community and professional leaders, who inspired her to be great as she moves forward with the goal of increasing positive health outcomes for marginalized people in her community.

Education

Boston University

Bachelor's degree program

2023 – 2027

Majors:
  • Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences

Miss Porter's School

High School

2019 – 2023

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other, Psychology, General
Medical school interest:
Yes

Career

  • Receptionist, and Substitute Instructor

    Performing Arts · Evjen Academy of the Peforming Arts

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2023

  • Communication Intern

    Public Relations and Communications · Miss Porter's School

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • Swim Teacher and Lifeguard

    Recreational Facilities and Services · Big Sky Farmington CT

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • Apprentice

    Motion Pictures and Film · Real Art Ways

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

  • Owner and Artist

    Arts · @Izzymendyes_art Digital art business

    Jan 2021 – Present

  • Apprentice

    Theatre Tech · TheaterWorks

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Surgeon
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Book Lovers Scholarship
If I could have everyone in the world read just one book it would be “Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? and other questions about race.” by Dr. Beverly D. Tatum. I think everyone in the world should read this book because both the content and quality of reading make it an enriching read that forces people to think deeply about the systems in place that influence the way we live. Reading Dr. Tatum's book helped me to learn more about the ways that racism and prejudice are subtly ingrained in our society, their historical roots, and how we can combat it in our sphere of influence to be agents of change within our communities and the wider world. I read this book as leisure when I found a signed copy of the book on my mother’s college bookshelf. I felt a personal connection to the book and the author as I read the inscription on the inside cover to my mother from Dr. Tatum. This book can remind us that our world is not perfect, but it gives us the necessary drive and language to be inspired to focus our energy on changing it. Regardless of who you are, we all can do our part to make the world a better place than what we’ve been given. Whether writing a book like Dr. Tatum, making speeches, or going out of our way to help people, we all have something to contribute that can make a difference in the world around us. While this book made me feel gloomy at times, it also gave me hope and motivation to do my part to walk across the room and always attempt to understand the point of view of someone whose experiences are entirely opposite to mine. I’m an avid reader and enjoy a fun read as much as the next person; a book like this one is thought-provoking and provides me the academic and cultural knowledge to understand and interrogate my own family history, identity, and impact of colorism, racism, colonization, and immigration on my lived experience. While touching on controversial and complex topics, it has provided me with insight and understanding that will positively impact my interactions and success in life and would benefit anyone to read it.
Bold Art Matters Scholarship
I love several pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat. The reason I love them is that I have a habit of getting caught up in realism and perfectionism, and the thought process that everything I do needs to be only straight lines and perfect shapes. Looking at Basquiat's artwork helps remind me that there is no one way to do art neither is there a right way. Art can have different purposes. You can make art because you want to make something pretty, or you can be trying to convey an emotion. You can experiment with the human form and the form of different parts of life. I love Basquiat's work because it reminds me of why I love art in the first place. I don't love art because it looks like a photograph, or because it captures a subject in full realism. I love art because you could have ten artists convey the same subject and end up with artwork that is so unique and true to each artist. I enjoy how Basquiat uses shapes, lines, and contrasting colors to convey thoughts, feelings, and people. His art is just an image, but an experience. Every time I look at his pieces I notice another detail I hadn't seen before, and that makes the viewing experience so much more interesting for me. I appreciate his work not because it is like mine, but because it isn't, and viewing his work can inspire me to push my boundaries. Locking myself in one type of art stops me from growing. Rather, pushing myself out of my comfort zone forces me to see art and the world in a vastly different way.
New Year, New Opportunity Scholarship
1. I am one person named Isabel in a world of people trying to do something right 2. Trying two make the world a better place through intersectional facites of life 3. Through three things the arts sciences and humanities 4. four the underprivileged and underrepresented The people left behind I want to count the things I do through how much I can help people not how much money I've made or how I move upwards in life I want not just to hear but to listen not to just look at people but to see them Fully and Truly In all that I do
Bold Meaning of Life Scholarship
When I was young I was in a pet store with my parents when I saw a white parrot in a cage. When I saw the parrot I told my parents "that bird shouldn't be in there, birds are meant to be free, they are supposed to fly." I think that is the meaning of life. The meaning of life is to fly and soar. To explore and see new sights and learn new points of understanding. I try to achieve this by going to diverse places and talking to different types of people from around the world. I resist measuring success and happiness for myself by how much I produce and I instead measure success through how many new things I can learn. You can fly by what you enjoy, making human connections, discovering new places. Similarly, I put a lot of value on being the person to help lift people up and help them acquire what they desire in life. I feel dedicated to being on the runway to get people who need that help off the ground. I believe that flying alone is a very lonely venture and it Is more meaningful for everyone if we all fly together. An aerial migration to a better world for us all.
Isabel Mendes Student Profile | Bold.org