Malala Yousafzai is a notable female role model who has overcome gender hurdles to achieve considerable success. Malala was born July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, was a school owner, educator, and educational advocate who encouraged her from a young age. Malala began writing a blog for the BBC under a pseudonym in 2009, when she was 11 years old, about life in Pakistan under Taliban rule and their efforts to prevent females from attending school. Her outspoken support for girls' education garnered international prominence, making her a target of the Taliban. A Taliban gunman shot Malala in the head while she was on a bus heading home from school in October 2012. She survived the attack after being airlifted to Birmingham, England, for medical care. The assassination attempt generated a worldwide outpouring of solidarity for Malala and her cause. Following her recuperation, Malala expanded her global advocacy efforts. She co-wrote the memoir "I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban," which became a global bestseller. In 2013, she created the Malala Fund, a non-profit organization that advocates for girls' education around the world. Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, at the age of 17, when she shared the honor with Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian child rights campaigner. Malala's journey as an activist began in 2009 when she wrote a blog for BBC Urdu under the pseudonym "Gul Makai." She described her experiences living under Taliban rule in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where girls were banned from attending school. Her writings brought global attention to the plight of girls in the region. The Malala Fund, co-founded by Malala and her father, Ziauddin, works to ensure 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for every girl. The organization supports education advocates and activists around the world and invests in education programs to help girls go to school and succeed. Malala has remained a strong advocate for girls' education and women's rights. In 2020, she graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Her work with the Malala Fund has helped to fund education programs in a variety of nations, ensuring that more girls have access to a quality education. Malala Yousafzai's narrative is a powerful example of bravery, fortitude, and unrelenting devotion to gender equality and education, making her an inspiring role model for people throughout the world.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

xGoing to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Going to into my freshman year of college I certain that I was on the path that god want me to be on. I started off as a nursing major. Since I can remember, I've wanted to be a doctor. As I grew older, the fear of not being smart enough surpassed me, and my once-big aspiration became a modest one, so I settled on being a nurse. Once the semester began, I became quite interested in my general psychology class. I enjoyed everything about the class, including the professor, the essay, and the reports. I conducted extensive research outside of class and fell in love with the how the mind operates. I really wanted to alter my major. I was dissatisfied and did not feel that I was fulfilling my passion. On September 29, 2023 I was involved in a near fatal accident where the vehicle that I was a passenger in was hit by an 18-wheeler. The vehicle caught on fire.  I was rushed to Memorial Herman at which time I had to undergo emergency surgery for a broken pelvis, internal bleeding, a tear to my bowel and a hole in my bladder.  My initial surgery was to save my life to stop the bleeding and to stabilize me enough for the next surgery.  During my next surgery I have several screws and metal plates to fix my pelvis.  I spent 20 days in the hospital became septic and had severe blood loss. After being released, I was in a wheelchair. Due to the severity of my injuries, I was forced to return home to Las Vegas and withdraw from my class. I found myself sinking into a terrible depression. My mother took out several loans to assist me get through school, and now she has my hospital bills. I felt I had let her down. I didn't know how to deal with the sense of failure. My step-by-step plan was not working. I lose faith in everything. I would simply lie in bed, in bodily and emotional misery. I didn't understand how the God I was so committed to could allow me go through so much during a time when I was supposed to be growing. One day I was laying in bed watching TikTok when this video of Pastor Mike appeared, and I knew the message was for me. He went on to say "your at home wondering and questioning God but God is saying if you just wait a little while longer you'll see the plan I have for you is so much bigger than the one you had for yourself" At that point, I knew God had my back, and everything was possible for him. On December 23, I was able to get out of the wheelchair and begin to walk again. By January 8, I was back at school, ready to finish what I had started. The day I returned to university, I went to the student success office to alter my major to Biology. Now I'm finishing my freshman year of college with a 3.5 GPA, good health, and the most mental clarity I've ever had . This is because I have God on my side. I'm not sure what's next for me, but God does, and I'll follow his plan.

Hello, my name is Kayla Washington. I attended Prairie View A&M University as a member of the class of 2027. I major in nursing-pre clinical. My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "The pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away. I used to want to be a public defender before my grandmother passed away and eventually advance to a district attorney since I've always been good at arguing and being extremely honest with my emotions. That was the job and way of life I wanted. After my grandmother deceased, I underwent a shift. I'm still unsure if my lack of direction was the result of my sadness, but I felt confused and unsure of what I wanted to do with the remainder of my life. Until one night, when I awoke from a dream with a completely different perspective on life. I had a vivid dream that I was a doctor and I healed my grandmother and she told me that my purpose on this earth was to heal people. Since that evening, I've made it my life's work to go to medical school and help others in the same way that I was unable to help my grandma. My heart will be healed by becoming a nurse and being able to do everything in my ability to rescue someone else's grandmother. I'm currently still in school. I plan on getting my master's in nursing to become a registered nurse (RN) to work as a NICU Nurse or truma one nurse for a few years, then later going back to school to become a nurse practitioner (NP), and hopefully having the opportunity to own my own sexual and reproductive clinic. I had the chance to work as a paid intern at a doctor's office this summer before starting college, shadowing a nurse practitioner. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to learn about billing and insurance.

Hello, my name is Kayla Washington. I attend Prairie View A&M University as a member of the class of 2027. I major in nursing-preclinical. My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "The pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away. I used to want to be a public defender before my grandmother passed away and eventually advance to a district attorney since I've always been good at arguing and being extremely honest with my emotions. That was the job and way of life I wanted. After my grandmother deceased, I underwent a shift. I'm still unsure if my lack of direction was the result of my sadness, but I felt confused and unsure of what I wanted to do with the remainder of my life. Until one night, when I awoke from a dream with a completely different perspective on life. I had a vivid dream that I was a doctor and I healed my grandmother and she told me that my purpose on this earth was to heal people. Since that evening, I've made it my life's work to go to medical school and help others in the same way that I was unable to help my grandma. My heart will be healed by becoming a nurse and being able to do everything in my ability to rescue someone else's grandmother. IM currently still in school. I plan on getting my master's in nursing to become a registered nurse (RN) to work as a NICU Nurse or truma one nurse for a few years, then later going back to school to become a nurse practitioner (NP), and hopefully having the opportunity to own my own sexual and reproductive clinic. I had the chance to work as a paid intern at a doctor's office this summer before starting college, shadowing a nurse practitioner. Additionally, I've had the opportunity to learn about billing and insurance.

Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. In my spare time, I try to do as much community service as possible through Further Black Business Leaders of America, a non-profit organization of which I am a member. But the majority of my time is spent as a varsity cheer captain at Cheyenne High School, which I thoroughly enjoy. We recently won regionals and are now preparing to compete in U.S.A National. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother basically raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were basically twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. In my spare time, I try to do as much community service as possible through Further Black Business Leaders of America, a non-profit organization of which I am a member. But the majority of my time is spent as a varsity cheer captain at Cheyenne High School, which I thoroughly enjoy. We recently won regionals and are now preparing to compete in U.S.A National.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas is What they say. Also known as Sin City or the City That Never Sleeps. This is the city I've lived in for the past 17 years of my life. My city has many different layers, and it truly shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up in Las Vegas is more than just a place where adults come to party. It is also a city with a high rate of homelessness, and little is done to help the black community. Just by growing up in the City That Nevers Sleeps and facing daily challenges, I've learned that nothing will be handed to me; I must work for everything I desire. Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother basically raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were basically twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts. I was placed on an IEP very young (Individualized Education Program). I recall sitting at a table with my mother and teachers, and them telling my mother that I couldn't read and that I should be tested for a learning disability. I was assigned to a special education class where the advisor made me feel poor because I learned differently than others. I felt like a failure in only the fifth grade, and I knew what it meant to be depressed at the age of eleven. I confided in my mother about how I was being verbally abused. I was removed from the school and placed in a charter school. I was doing a lot better after only a few months at this school; I was understanding more and getting better grades. As I entered sixth grade, I began to struggle with social anxiety and depression, and I began to believe words used to put me down as truth. I began working harder than ever before, reading any book I could get my hands on, and I was determined not to be subject to the label of having a learning disability and to be free of the shackles of any title of should. My academic performance began to flourish. Starting high school I was accepted into a college and career academy, and I was extremely proud of how far I had come, so I asked my mother to remove me from my IEP, and she agreed. Now I am an honors student with a 3.3 GPA and on track to graduate in a white honors cap and gown in May 2023. I was admitted into my dream college and could be happier about my growth. I had to learn that God never gives us more than we can handle, and I would not be where I am today if it weren't for God.

Passion can be defined as many different things. Google's definition of passion is an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. I define passion as your "why", what is your why to living and doing what you do? My grandmother is my inspiration. My grandmother basically raised me, and we were as close as can be. We were basically twins; we had the same birthday and shared interests. She was like my best friend. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. I was heartbroken to learn that someone so kind-hearted would have to endure such suffering. When you think of someone with cancer, you usually think of someone who is very sick. My grandmother was the polar opposite; she was still herself and so upbeat, and it made me admire her so much. I remember a lady sitting next to her at her chemo appointment telling my grandmother how she was struggling to eat, and my grandmother telling her, "the pain you are feeling shall pass, and you have to eat to live, you are here for a good time, not a long time make the most of every moment." My grandmother died unexpectedly in May 2020. I felt like a piece of myself had been taken away, and the only way to reclaim it was to live my life the way she would want me to, which is why college is so important to me: I want to help people the way my grandmother helped me and the people around her. My grandmother was an inspiration to me, and I feel like I'd be letting her down if I didn't help people get through cancer. Being an oncologist would not only heal my heart, and I hope to touch many hearts.

Becoming a nurse is important to me for the fact that there is a need for African American nurses in my community. When my Granny was receiving chemotherapy there weren't any nurses or physicians in my area that looked like us. I want to provide an avenue to make patients feel valued, heard and understood from a cultural aspect.

When I initially started high school I was on an IEP (individualized education plan). On the first day of school I reported to the mentor class and the teacher for the students with "disabilities" was so rude and unprofessional that I knew at that moment I had to be removed from my IEP. I spoke to my Mother and Grandmother and convinced them to give me an opportunity to come off the IEP. They agreed and I worked hard to maintain a 3.0 GPA and higher. I watched online videos on successful study habits, read chapters ahead, used Kahn academy for learning methods. I saw my IEP as an obstacle; however now I see it as a character builder. I am strong, confident, motivated and I am goal oriented. This makes my next chapter in life that much more exciting because with my characteristics I will reach my goals.

When I initially started high school I was on an IEP (individualized education plan). On the first day of school I reported to the mentor class and the teacher for the students with "disabilities" was so rude and unprofessional that I knew at that moment I had to be removed from my IEP. I spoke to my Mother and Grandmother and convinced them to give me an opportunity to come off the IEP. They agreed and I worked hard to maintain a 3.0 GPA and higher. I watched online videos on successful study habits, read chapters ahead, used Kahn academy for learning methods. I saw my IEP as an obstacle; however now I see it as a character builder.

Self confidence is important in every area of life. To be confident is to be sure that no matter the outcome I was absolutely sure of myself. I work daily to be a confident individual; I use positive affirmations, journaling and vision boards. When I see my goals accomplished I feel strong and confident.

I believe in self advocating. In doing so no matter the situation it is important for me to always speak the truth RESPECTFULLY.

When I initially started high school I was on an IEP (individualized education plan). On the first day of school I reported to the mentor class and the teacher for the students with "disabilities" was so rude and unprofessional that I knew at that moment I had to be removed from my IEP. I spoke to my Mother and Grandmother and convinced them to give me an opportunity to come off the IEP. They agreed and I worked hard to maintain a 3.0 GPA and higher. I watched online videos on successful study habits, read chapters ahead, used Kahn academy for learning methods. I saw my IEP as an obstacle; however now I see it as a character builder.

For me the word hardship has a different meaning for different people. In my case it applies to two very different situations. First, when I was young I had trouble reading and comprehension. My Mother being who she is put together an individualized education plan with the school counselor. Along comes high school and I remember the first day of school I was taken into a room with other kids who had disabilities. The teacher was very rude and completely demeaning. I went home that day and spoke to my Mother and Grandmother expressing that I could absolutely do without the IEP and I will stay on the honor role to just give me a chance to prove myself. I DID IT!!! I came off the IEP and have maintained a 3.0 or higher since my freshman year. I studied hard, took courses online on proper note taking, read chapters ahead and I prayed. Secondly, my Grandmother who was my absolute best friend passed away during covid. I knew that no matter how devastated I was; I could not and would not let her down. I went to therapy, learned coping skills and knew that failure was not and will not ever be an option.

I learned the hard way how to enjoy simple pleasures. When my grandmother passed away; my therapist suggested that I focus on things that make me happy. I learned to do my makeup, because when you look good you feel good. Also, just a simple walk in the park and meditation.

Hello my name is Kayla Washington. I believe that I am an outstanding young lady with a thirst for knowledge and the drive to accomplish any goal I set my mind to. I chose to become a STEM student after the death of my best friend; my Grandmother. My Grandmother had triple negative breast cancer. When she was diagnosed I always said that I would become a Doctor in order to help other women. I believe I have a natural talent to help others and I instinctively have the ability to respond to the needs of others. Because of my determination for better healthcare within my cultural community I will be able to implement programs to move healthcare forward.