An impactful physician assistant is someone who leads with empathy, advocates fiercely, uplifts underrepresented voices, and uses their training to expand access to equitable care. As a Black woman pursuing the PA profession, where less than 5% of PAs are Black, I understand how deeply representation influences trust, belonging, and patient outcomes. My journey reflects the qualities I believe define an impactful PA: leadership, resilience, service, and a commitment to diversity and community. At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), I served as President of the Pre-PA Club and transformed it into one of the most active pre-health organizations on campus. In one year, I grew our membership by over 100 students, built mentorship pipelines, and hosted PA and PA-S guest speakers. I planned a multidisciplinary professional development panel featuring a PA program director, dental school administrator, pre-health advisor, MPH student, and two medical students. I also organized a rescue-squad-led skills workshop where students practiced EKGs, airway management, and CPR, giving many their first hands-on clinical exposure. My goal was always to make the PA pathway feel accessible, especially for students of color who did not see themselves represented. My leadership extends beyond campus. I currently serve on the AAPA Student Board Leadership and Diversity Committee, where I work alongside student leaders nationwide to promote inclusivity, strengthen representation, and amplify the voices of aspiring PAs from marginalized backgrounds. This role has shown me how meaningful policy, mentorship, and visibility are in creating a more diverse profession. My academic journey reflects dedication and excellence. As Lead Preceptor for VCU's Cellular and Molecular Biology, I mentored ten preceptors and supported course instruction, earning the 2024 Outstanding Undergraduate in Molecular and Cellular Biology Award and the Black History in the Making Award. My passion for cardiovascular health led me to two years of cardiology research, where I became first author on an abstract accepted for the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions and published in Circulation, the AHA's flagship journal. Becoming a first author as a young Black woman deepened my commitment to evidence-based, patient-centered care and to breaking barriers in academic medicine. Working as a Patient Care Technician has grounded me in the human side of healthcare, listening, advocating, and showing compassion during patients’ most vulnerable moments. These experiences have affirmed the kind of PA I strive to be: someone who serves with intention and uses their voice to uplift others. The PAC Diversity Matters Scholarship would help reduce the financial barriers that often limit students of color pursuing PA school. More importantly, it would support my mission to increase representation, mentorship, and equity in the PA profession. I hope to continue leading boldly, empowering future students of color, and becoming the kind of PA who creates lasting impact through compassion, advocacy, and community.

The years of 2016-2018 was a time in my life of both strength and agony. They were moments that I would not want to relive but will forever remember. My mom met my step-dad in early 2016, they fell in love and got married within a few months. He had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure and shortly thereafter, NonHodgkin's lymphoma (cancer). This took us on a difficult two-year journey that I will never forget. Knowing there was little we could do to make his situation better, except stay by his side and hold onto him for as long as we could. It was through these tough times that I truly learned patience, empathy, and leadership. George was an amazing new addition to our family, he cared more about his family than anything else in this world, and could make the room erupt in laughter in seconds. It was the good times we had that I hold dear to my heart, but there were difficult times along the way too. He did not deserve the pain and struggles he went through. He went through two years of being unstable because he had lost all feeling in his feet. Two years of not being able to hold a drink, use utensils, or write because his hands would shake. In those same two years, he had countless needs, doctor visits, and so much more. It was mentally tolling on me as a 14-year-old girl, my mom knew more about what was going on than I ever did. Going to school, attending church on weekends, and participating in my local swim team, then leaving to go to tennis practice right after was my escape. All I prayed and hoped for was for my stepdad to get better. By the end of 2017, one of my prayers had been answered. We got the great news that my stepdad was cancer-free. A weight had been lifted off of our shoulders, but the fight was not over. Every day we waited to hear from doctors about a possible kidney transplant and used a dialysis machine for his kidney disease. Soon after he had to get his left leg amputated after a hard fall. It was a challenge to deal with all of this through the holiday season. All I could do was try to help meet his needs, and take more initiative so that my mom did not have so much on her plate. Working a little harder around the house, I helped with vacuuming, doing the laundry, and even spending more quality time with George watching our favorite TV shows such as Hell’s Kitchen and The Curse of Oak Island. Being someone he could confide in and make some of his last memories with meant so much to me and brought our family closer together. Unfortunately on April 10, 2018, George passed away. I felt numb and the world felt empty. It calmed my mind to know that he was not in pain anymore. Ever since then, it helped change my viewpoints on others' struggles. Welcoming a stranger like George into my life and witnessing his battles like they were my own taught me empathy. George helped my mom and I grow closer together and reminded us to never take a moment for granted. This experience, although being tragic, helped mold me into the person I am today.

Education is the tool that unlocks amazing opportunities for my future. I use education to positively impact my community. With education, I am open-minded, a thinker, and a problem-solver. I am able to create goals to solve the issues my community faces. Last year I took a class called AP Human Geography, the study of human relationships with communities, cultures, economies, and interactions with the environment. The class helped me understand the world around me, what their needs are, and how I can help. I am also apart of the National Honor Society where I volunteer around my community. I worked with organizations like the Foodbank to help feed my community and in the past, I have also made lunches to give out to the homeless. My AP Human Geography coursed influenced me to reach out to other communities outside my own. I have committed to start donating to organizations I care about such as Feeding America, American Red Cross, Equal Justice Initiative, UNICEF, Save the Children, and The Ocean Cleanup. Whether I chose to donate my money, time, or to educate others on issues I have knowledge about makes a difference. My Human geography class and community service work have given me the strength to become broad-minded and empathetic. I hope that in the future I can start my own organization that will educate others about the world around us and the issues that we face daily. Education gives me the tool to change the world for the better.