I come from a lineage of brave, strong, and independent women who have spent their lives being selfless, often to their own detriment. I want to be different. I want to pursue my dreams of attending medical school without sacrificing myself to traditions that were never truly my own. The matriarchs who raised me gave up parts of their authenticity to be loved, seen, and respected within systems that were never designed for them. I intend to use the strength they passed down to me to do what many still fear to do, live fully and authentically in my truth. I am a young, queer Black woman born in Chicago Heights and raised in St. Louis pursuing a neuroscience psychology undergraduate degree. I do not only possess the curiosity of the academic world but am driven to protect the spectrum of womanhood. I aspire to become an adolescent psychiatrist and advocate for children and families, particularly those navigating identity, trauma, and growth. Tradition in the United States is evolving, and I hope to play a part in that change by protecting childhood and advocating for families who have been disproportionately overlooked in research, education, and medicine. My goal is to bring physicians closer to their patients through connection, empathy, and vulnerability, values that heal as deeply as any medicine can. Empathy and compassion come to me naturally, but I also work to preserve and deepen them. The people I surround myself with and the environments where I volunteer have shaped my understanding of care and human connection. I currently work at a senior home, serve as a caregiver for animals, and plan to pursue a medical career dedicated to uplifting children and families. My academic interests include developmental psychology, transgender youth, and the socialization of gender. I believe that the foundation of a healthy society begins with listening to and empathizing with our youth, understand their needs and raising the standards for their developmental healthcare. I view my educational journey as part of a mission to break generational cycles and become a leader within my community. My past does not define me; instead, it grounds me and fuels my determination to move forward. Building community is an integral part of who I am. At Hunter College, I aim to continue networking and hosting creative events in New York City to cultivate spaces that inspire others to connect, express, and heal. Empathy, when paired with confidentiality, compassion, and cultural sensitivity, becomes a powerful tool in medicine. Through empathy, I aim to help rebuild trust between healthcare and the communities it serves. My journey is not just about becoming a doctor but about redefining what it means to lead with heart.

In middle school, where I attended Gateway Science Academy, my classmates and I were highly academically competitive. Since then, I have always been one to two grades ahead in math and science courses throughout high school. It was an intuitive decision to pursue my education in science and major in neuroscience psychology because I have always enjoyed overcoming my challenges and following my curiosity. My adolescent years deeply impacted my mental health, and my academic achievements helped me stay focused on something positive and optimistic about the future. It has been my dream since I was eight years old to live in New York City, and getting accepted into Hunter College has shown me the beginning of what is truly posible through determination. Yet, the path has not been easy. At eighteen, I was forced to leave my parents’ home in December of 2020 and navigate my personal journey on my own, living with distant relatives who did not quite understand who I was or wanted to authentically become. My parents divorced the following year and my mother repeated the same trauma of casting out my younger brother, who also aspires to attend college. When I’m not at school or work, I am a mixed-media portrait artist working with acrylic, oil paint, and pastels to share bold, abstract and expressionistic portraits. My portfolio, at kyahswurld.com, reflects how art has strengthened my self-expression and built healthy coping mechanisms in the face of adversity. I view my educational journey as of a greater mission to break generational cycles and lead within my intersectional communities. Learning about the historic mistreatment of women of color, particularly Black women, once deepened my anxiety. Media portrayals of Black and queer folk being dismissed or harmed by healthcare and scientists revealed a painful truth: empathy and equity remain scarce in medicine. But instead of letting that reality discourage me, it fuels my purpose to become the change I wish to see. As the eldest sister of four brothers, I strive to lead with integrity and intentional action. I currently work at a nursing home, am a caregiver to animals, and seek opportunities to share my art through volunteer work in my community. Throughout college, it has been incredibly challenging to sustain my academic performance while managing the stress of work, tuition, and overall well-being. Without parental information on my FAFSA, I have had to pay tuition entirely out of pocket. The impact of this scholarship would not only alleviate the financial strain but also bring abundance into the life I envision as an aspiring adolescent psychiatrist. It would allow me to dedicate more focus to my studies and maintain my place on the Dean’s List. My priority is not only to graduate but to do so with exceptional performance and honorable recognition on Hunter College’s Wall of Excellence. This scholarship would help me redefine the odds and pull others like myself out of the margins. I work hard to inspire my family, stand for my community, and preserve my inner child.

My interest in pursuing medical school to become a MD is quite a funny story. I have always been inspired by powerful women in authority, and in middle school, I became uniquely obsessed with ‘Law and Order: SVU’ and deeply admired the character Olivia Benson, played by Mariska Hargitay. In the show, she’s an NYPD Special Victims Unit detective with a tragic past, yet she dedicates her life to helping people like her and her mother. I saw her as a woman who turned pain into purpose and led with strength and compassion. While she began the story as a rookie detective, the show has been on for as long as I have been alive, and she has since risen into the position of Lieutenant Benson. From an early age, I knew I wanted to serve a community similarly as a district attorney or adolescent psychiatrist. It became an obsession to grow and live authentically as a highly educated person with unwavering morals and values. My interest in medicine solidified as my awareness of the lack of representation for myself, narcissistic abuse and childhoods lost to trauma grew. I have always been drawn to math, science and research because they help me understand and protect what I value most: human life. That show became a source of comfort during my own struggles with mental health and self-image. Around that same time, I discovered online LGBTQ+ communities and felt deeply connected to their self expression and creativity. I identify as a queer woman, and although I did not always have the words to articulate my identity, I found a space that made me feel seen. Media portrayals of Black and queer individuals being dismissed or harmed by healthcare systems revealed a painful truth that empathy and equity are still lacking in medicine. But instead of allowing that to discourage me, it drives me to be the change I want to see. Through social media, I have been able to find others like me documenting their medical journeys and proving representation matters. I transferred to Hunter College in the fall of 2024, but before arriving to the Big Apple, I endured some of the biggest heartbreak from my family. At eighteen, I was forced to leave my parents’ home at the end of 2020 and find my own path, living with distant relatives in the suburbs of Chicago. My parents divorced the following year, and my mother mirrored the same trauma onto my younger brother, who also aspires to be in college. The people who supported me along the way will always hold a place in my heart, but I have learned that real growth begins within. I don’t let my past define me but keep me grounded and centered in myself. The challenges I have faced taught me resilience, responsibility, and compassion. I view my education as a mission to break generational cycles and rebuild trust between people and medicine. Through empathy and strength, I aim to lead, to heal, and to serve.

- My name is Jakyah Overton, and I’m a 23-year old neuroscience psychology major at CUNY Hunter College in New York City. Living in New York has been a dream since I was eight years old and being accepted into Hunter as a psych major was more than an academic milestone; it was proof that my drive and hard work could turn my imagination into my reality. Transferring from College of DuPage in fall of 2024 was both thrilling and daunting. Balancing work, tuition, and unstable housing has tested me in every way. Without parental support or FAFSA information, I’ve relied on resilience while moving between relatives, paying out of pocket, and refusing to give up. As the eldest of four brothers, I feel a responsibility to lead with integrity, compassion and purpose. Born in Chicago Heights and raised in St. Louis, I’ve taken grit and creativity from both cities. When I’m not studying or working, I create mixed-media portraits using acrylic, oil paint and pastels. Art has transformed my hardship into expression and therapy for me. My experiences have shaped my commitment to medicine, where I hope to support others navigating mental health challenges with empathy and understanding. - Empathy, to me, is to embody the foundation of being a decent human being. Life can be unpredictable and deeply traumatic, yet the ability to extend compassion toward others has always come natural to me. My empathy is not fragile but it is something I consciously preserve and nurture through the people I surround myself with and the environments I choose to serve in. I currently work in a nursing home and as a caregiver for animals, both of which remind me of the beauty of patience, kindness and human connection. These experiences have guided me toward a lifelong goal: to pursue a career in medicine, specifically advocating for and working with children. Empathy, when paired with confidentiality, compassion, and cultural sensitivity becomes a superpower in medicine. My capacity for empathy has grown out of my own struggles with mental health and self image during adolescence. I remember how it feels to be unseen, misunderstood and unheard. That understanding fuels my drive to advocate for those who share the same experiences, particularly those with intersecting identities that are often marginalized. Pursuing my Bachelors degree in neuroscience psychology is the first step in my path toward medical school, where I aspire to become an adolescent psychiatrist. My work in caregiving continues to strengthen my patience, emotional intelligence and ability to communicate effectively, which are essential to the physician I aim to become. My life is centered around self-care, community building and cultivating patience. I view my educational journey as part of a personal mission to break generational curses and become a leader within my community. My research interests include developmental psychology, transgender youth and the socialization of men. These stem from my belief that a healthy society begins with understanding our youth. By identifying and addressing their needs, we can raise the standard of care, emotional literacy and social support during their most formative years. As American tradition and family structures evolve, I want to ensure that childhood is preserved and respected, especially for those disproportionately affected by the inequities in healthcare, education and research. Growing up, visiting the doctor often left me feeling voiceless and intimidated. Learning about the historic mistreatment of women of color, particularly Black women, only deepened my anxiety. Media portrayals of Black and queer individuals being dismissed or harmed by healthcare systems reinforced a painful truth. But rather than allowing, that realization to dishearten me, it motivates me to be the change I want to see. I’ve witnessed my own family members navigate the healthcare system with vulnerability and strength: relatives diagnosed with bipolar disorder, my mother suffering preeclampsia after childbirth and young Black children in my family living with ADHD, ADD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. My educational and career pursuits are an ode to their experiences. I want to use my knowledge, compassion and voice to ensure that patients of all backgrounds receive care rooted in respect, compassion and humanity. Through empathy, I aim to help rebuild trust between healthcare and people.