In high school, I struggled deeply with depression, and my alternative identity became one of the clearest reflections of what I was experiencing internally. I dressed in a grunge style, wore chains, and listened to death metal bands like Mortician and Autopsy because that world gave me a way to express emotions I did not always know how to explain. My style was never just about appearance. It became a form of survival, self-expression, and comfort during one of the most difficult periods of my life. As I began healing, my style changed as well. I found myself drawn to Lolita fashion, which felt softer, more intentional, and full of a kind of beauty I had not allowed myself to embrace before. That change was deeply meaningful to me because it reflected my growth. It showed me that healing does not mean erasing who you were, but rather allowing yourself to become more fully who you are. Moving through these different forms of alternative expression taught me that identity is not fixed, and that there is strength in transformation. My personal experiences with mental health gave new depth to something I had always known about myself: I wanted to pursue medicine. Over time, I realized I was especially drawn to psychiatry because I understand how deeply mental health can shape a person’s life, identity, and sense of hope. I want to become a Physician Assistant so I can support patients not only with clinical knowledge, but also with compassion and understanding. My dedication and passion for this path helped me earn a place in a direct-entry accelerated PA program, which affirmed both my academic commitment and my desire to make a meaningful impact in healthcare. Attending a predominantly white Catholic college has made me even more aware of what it means to stand out. Being an asian and in my Lolita fashion, I am often visibly different from the people around me, and that has pushed me to become more confident in who I am. It has also reminded me how easy it is for people to make assumptions based on appearance alone. One of the challenges I have had to overcome is proving, both to myself and to others, that individuality does not make someone less intelligent, professional, or capable in STEM. If anything, my experiences have made me more empathetic, observant, and determined. They have shown me the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen instead of dismissed. In the future, I hope to contribute to my field by helping build a more compassionate and inclusive approach to psychiatric care. I want patients, especially young people who feel misunderstood, to know that they do not have to fit a certain image to deserve respect, support, and excellent care. My alternative identity has not pulled me away from STEM. It has given me a deeper reason to pursue it and a clearer understanding of the kind of provider I hope to become.

My name is Jade Zhang-Wong, and I am a sophomore at DeSales University in a direct-entry accelerated Physician Assistant program. As a Chinese American student, my background and family experiences have shaped the way I view healthcare and the role I hope to play in it. My father immigrated to the United States from China, and both sets of my grandparents did as well. Growing up in an immigrant family meant hearing stories about sacrifice, perseverance, and the determination it takes to build a life in a new country. Those experiences taught me to value hard work, resilience, and the importance of helping others in my community. I also speak Cantonese, which has allowed me to stay closely connected with my family and culture. Through this, I have seen how language and cultural understanding can impact someone’s comfort in healthcare settings. For many immigrant families, navigating healthcare systems can be intimidating, especially when language barriers or cultural differences are present. These experiences have shown me how important it is for healthcare providers to approach patients with empathy, patience, and respect for their backgrounds. I chose to pursue healthcare because I want to be part of a profession that focuses on improving people’s lives in meaningful ways. I have always been drawn to the human side of medicine, where listening, understanding, and building trust are just as important as clinical knowledge. As I continue my education, I have developed a strong interest in psychiatry. Mental health is an essential part of overall well-being, yet it is still often misunderstood or stigmatized. Psychiatric patients are frequently judged or overlooked, and many hesitate to seek care because they fear being labeled or dismissed. This stigma can make people feel isolated at a time when they most need support. As a future physician assistant, I want to help change that perception by providing compassionate and respectful care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. I believe that addressing both physical and mental health is essential to truly helping patients heal. I am especially motivated to contribute to a healthcare environment where patients feel comfortable speaking openly about their struggles without fear of judgment. By listening carefully and treating each patient with dignity, I hope to build trust and ensure that individuals feel supported throughout their care. Ultimately, my goal is to use my education and training to make healthcare more accessible, understanding, and inclusive. Whether through improving communication with patients from diverse backgrounds or helping reduce stigma surrounding mental health, I hope to make a positive difference in the lives of the people I care for.

One of the most impactful experiences that shaped my understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia came from watching my great-grandfather live with the condition. My great-grandfather lived in California while I grew up in Pennsylvania, so I did not get to see him as often as I wished. However, whenever I visited him, he was incredibly warm and welcoming. One of my favorite parts of spending time with him was listening to his stories about his life in China before immigrating to the United States. Because I grew up in America, hearing about his experiences and culture helped me feel more connected to my family’s history and identity. Even when I was younger, I remember how much I loved sitting with him and listening to him talk about his life. As I grew older, my great-grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the distance between us, I only saw him every few years, which made the progression of his illness even more striking. Each time I visited, I could see that the disease had taken a little more from him. The man who once told vivid stories and welcomed everyone with warmth slowly began to lose parts of himself. Watching someone you admire slowly lose their memories and independence is incredibly painful, and it made me realize how devastating Alzheimer’s and dementia can be not only for the individual but also for their family. This experience stayed with me as I continued growing up, but it became even more real when I began working in a nursing home while pursuing my education. During my time there, I cared for many elderly residents, including several who were living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Seeing their daily struggles reminded me so much of what my great-grandfather had experienced. What affected me even more was witnessing moments where residents were not always treated with the patience, dignity, and compassion they deserved. Many of them relied entirely on caregivers, yet some were overlooked or dismissed simply because they could not communicate as clearly as they once had. Those experiences deeply impacted me and strengthened my commitment to working in healthcare. I am currently in a direct-entry physician assistant program and plan to specialize in psychiatry. My goal is to work with patients experiencing cognitive decline, mental health struggles, or neurological conditions and ensure they are treated with respect, compassion, and understanding. I want to be an advocate for patients who may not always be able to advocate for themselves. Watching my great-grandfather’s journey with Alzheimer’s and later witnessing similar experiences in the nursing home showed me how important it is to improve both care and awareness surrounding these conditions. It reinforced my belief that patients with dementia deserve not only medical treatment but also patience, empathy, and dignity. Through my future career as a physician assistant specializing in psychiatry, I hope to contribute to a healthcare environment where individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia receive the compassionate care they deserve.

My decision to pursue a career in the medical field is deeply connected to my own experiences growing up. When I was younger, I struggled significantly with my mental health. During that time, I often felt overwhelmed and isolated, and it was difficult to find people who truly understood what I was going through. Those experiences shaped how I view healthcare and made me realize how important compassionate and attentive providers are for people who are struggling. Because of this, I developed a strong desire to pursue a career where I could help others who may be facing similar challenges. This personal motivation led me to pursue a career as a physician assistant, with the goal of specializing in psychiatry. I believe mental health care is one of the most important and often overlooked areas of medicine. Mental health struggles can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their physical health, relationships, and ability to function in everyday life. I want to be a provider who not only treats patients medically but also listens to them, supports them, and helps them feel understood. My goal is to help patients feel less alone during difficult periods in their lives and provide them with the tools and care they need to move forward. Because I had already committed to this career path, I chose to enter a direct-entry physician assistant program immediately after graduating high school. I am currently at the end of my second year in the program, and after completing next year I will begin the master’s phase of my PA education. While pursuing my studies, I also began working in a nursing home. That experience strengthened my resolve to work in healthcare and serve vulnerable populations. Seeing elderly residents who depended entirely on others for their care made me realize how important compassionate and respectful healthcare providers truly are. Witnessing moments where residents were overlooked or not treated with the dignity they deserved deeply affected me and reinforced my commitment to becoming a provider who advocates for patients and ensures they are treated with respect and empathy. While I am extremely grateful for the scholarships I currently receive from my college, those scholarships will not continue once I enter the master’s portion of my program. As I move closer to the graduate phase of my education, the financial burden of completing my degree becomes much more significant. Because of this, outside scholarships such as the Maxwell Tuan Nguyen Memorial Scholarship are incredibly important in helping me continue my education and achieve my goal of becoming a physician assistant. Through my future career, I hope to make a meaningful difference by improving access to compassionate mental health care and advocating for patients who may otherwise go unheard. My experiences have given me a deep sense of empathy for individuals who feel overlooked or unsupported, and I am committed to using both my education and personal experiences to help create a healthcare environment where every patient is treated with dignity, respect, and compassion.

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare and dedicate my life to helping people during some of their most difficult moments. That certainty is what led me to commit to a direct-entry program immediately after graduating high school. I understood that becoming a physician assistant would require years of dedication, discipline, and sacrifice, but I felt strongly that this path would allow me to make the greatest impact on the lives of others. I am currently at the end of my second year in my program, and after completing next year I will begin the master’s phase of my physician assistant education. My long-term goal is to specialize in psychiatry because I believe mental health care is one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of medicine. Mental health affects every part of a person’s life, including their physical well-being, relationships, and ability to function day to day. I want to become the kind of provider who truly listens to patients and helps them feel seen, supported, and understood when they are struggling. My motivation for pursuing advanced education is deeply connected to my desire to provide compassionate, whole-person care. Organizations like Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts emphasize the importance of continuing education across many specialties of medicine, including cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, and women’s health. This multidisciplinary approach to healthcare reflects the kind of provider I hope to become—someone who understands that every system of the body and mind is connected and that patients deserve thoughtful, well-rounded care. While I am incredibly grateful for the scholarships I currently receive from my college, those scholarships will not continue once I enter the graduate portion of my program. As I approach the master’s phase of my physician assistant education, the financial burden of completing my degree becomes much more significant. Because of this, outside scholarships like this one are extremely important for helping me continue pursuing my education. Receiving this scholarship would not only ease some of the financial stress that comes with completing an advanced medical degree, but it would also allow me to remain fully focused on my studies and clinical training. My ultimate goal is to use my education to help patients navigate both the physical and emotional aspects of their health. I hope to contribute to a healthcare system that prioritizes empathy, education, and comprehensive care, and this scholarship would help me take another step toward that goal.