Open-minded, hard-working, and patient are the words that best define who I am. I think open-minded best describes me because I am always open to try new things. Whether that is trying different foods or listening to new ideas. I love learning how people think and why different religions function the way they do. Hard-working defines me because I will relentlessly work at something to achieve the result I desire. I take that mentality to sports and academics because I have a goal to get into college, so I won't stop until I achieve the goal. I chose patience because I am not quick to aggravate. From a young age, being interested in science and math led me to realize Pharmaceutical Science is the field that I would like to pursue. I was attracted to Pharmacology, as it combines math and science together; also shows how these disciplines impact lives everyday in a positive way. I would like to contribute to pharmacy research to directly impact underserved, low income, and minority populations. My grandma passed away from Covid-19. I think this taught me that you never know when something can get taken away from you. So cherish the time you spend with loved ones regardless of the amount of time. Every memory is precious and every "I love you" could be your last. I would like to be awarded this scholarship because it would allow me to impact black and brown communities. African Americans and Hispanics have had a longstanding distrust in medical professionals. They will not take medications because they believe that the doctors are there to harm them and for good reason. The medical establishment has a long history of mistreating black Americans, from gruesome experiments to forced sterilizations and the infamous Tuskegee study that withheld treatment from hundreds of black men for decades. So, this deterred African Americans from seeking traditional medical care. We have see this recently with the COVID vaccine, "just 42% of black Americans said they'd be willing to take the vaccine. "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the inequities faced by Black Americans into sharp focus. Recent data shows that higher COVID-19 rates and deaths in predominantly Black counties are linked to social conditions and structural racism, not underlying health conditions. Another major reason for this is the medical professionals accessing them don’t look like them. They don’t share similar experiences, background or stories this can be intimidating. That is my “why” for pursuing the pharmaceutical industry. I want other African Americans to be comfortable getting medications and I believe one of the ways to do that is being an expert in the industry.

From a young age, being interested in sciences specifically Chemistry led me to realize Pharmacology is the field that I would like to pursue. I have taken AP Science and Math courses throughout high school and unfortunately don't see many students that look like me, black males. I was attracted to Pharmacy, as it combines math and science together also shows how these disciplines impact lives everyday in a positive way. I would like to contribute to pharmacy research to directly impact underserved, low income, and minority populations. I would also like to be an example and mentor to black and brown males encouraging them to pursue STEM careers. We can do well in math and science, this will lead to more positive outcomes in our communities. I would like to be awarded this scholarship because it would allow me to impact black and brown communities. African Americans and Hispanics have had a longstanding distrust in medical professionals. They will not take medications because they believe that the doctors are there to harm them and for good reason. The medical establishment has a long history of mistreating black Americans, from gruesome experiments to forced sterilizations and the infamous Tuskegee study that withheld treatment from hundreds of black men for decades. So, this deterred African Americans from seeking traditional medical care. We have see this recently with the COVID vaccine, "just 42% of black Americans said they'd be willing to take the vaccine." Another major reason for this is the medical professionals accessing them don’t look like them. They don’t share similar experiences, background or stories this can be intimidating. That is my “why” for pursuing the pharmaceutical research career. I want other African Americans to be comfortable getting medications and I believe one of the ways to do that is being an expert in the industry.

Open-minded, hard-working, and patient are the words that best define who I am. I say open-minded best describes me because I am always open to try new things, learn and listen to everyone in the room most the the schools that attended have been multicultural and diverse. I love learning how people think and why different religions function the way they do. Hard-working defines me because I will relentlessly work at something to achieve the result I desire. I take that mentality to sports and academics because I have a goal to get into college, so I won't stop until I achieve the goal. My strength would be patience because I am not quick to aggravate try to keep a calm demeanor. From a young age, being interested in sciences specifically Chemistry led me to realize Pharmacology is the field that I would like to pursue. I have taken AP Science and Math courses throughout high school and unfortunately don't see many students that look like me, black males. I was attracted to Pharmacy, as it combines math and science together also shows how these disciplines impact lives everyday in a positive way. I would like to contribute to pharmacy research to directly impact underserved, low income, and minority populations. I would also like to be an example and mentor to black and brown males encouraging them to pursue STEM careers. We can do well in math and science, this will lead to more positive outcomes in our communities. I would like to be awarded this scholarship because it would allow me to impact black and brown communities. African Americans and Hispanics have had a longstanding distrust in medical professionals. They will not take medications because they believe that the doctors are there to harm them and for good reason. The medical establishment has a long history of mistreating black Americans, from gruesome experiments to forced sterilizations and the infamous Tuskegee study that withheld treatment from hundreds of black men for decades. So, this deterred African Americans from seeking traditional medical care. We have see this recently with the COVID vaccine, "just 42% of black Americans said they'd be willing to take the vaccine." Another major reason for this is the medical professionals accessing them don’t look like them. They don’t share similar experiences, background or stories and this can be intimidating. That is my “why” for pursuing the pharmaceutical research career. I want other African Americans to be comfortable getting medications and I believe one of the ways to do that is being an expert in the industry.