Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who lay motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. Stale, sour tears trickled from my eyes as my father carried me from the scene, as vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind. Three years later at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class in a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning CPR techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands into the mannequin, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. I have participated in several other summer programs throughout my middle and high school that have solidified my aspiration to go into the medical field. Some of these programs included Duke Splash hosted by Duke University, Carolina Admires hosted by UNC-Chapel Hill, and Step Up to Stem hosted by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. I explored various aspects of the STEM and science fields in these programs, which drew me closer to the profession. My dream is to become an OB-GYN so I can assist in the most remarkable aspect of life: childbirth. I want to provide mothers with care and maintain their health as they embark on their journey. Additionally, I hope to help create change and close the margin of prenatal care disparities in the rural south by opening my own medical practice in an underrepresented area in North Carolina. My aspirations are deeply rooted in my passion for others. Service above self is a fundamental belief I value. This is demonstrated through my involvement in school and community service activities. I am grateful to be a part of my high school, Green Level High’s first inaugural class. With this honor, I have helped build the foundations of my school and contribute to its legacy. One of my biggest time commitments at Green Level was being a part of the women’s varsity basketball team. Even though our season did not start until October, we would start workouts over the summer in July. A large belief of the Green Level Athletic department was giving back, so I translated this into my community. I organized and executed the basketball program’s first Thanksgiving food drive. With the help of my teammates, I donated over 150 cans of soups, vegetables, and other non-perishable items to a food bank in my community called Urban Ministries of Durham. Through my basketball team, I also volunteered at a local elementary school and spent hours playing and bonding with the children. This experience was very similar to my volunteer work at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, North Carolina where I spent summers mentoring pre-kindergartners. From educating their young minds about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to applying first aid after bee stings or knee scraps, I cherished every moment. In my senior year of high school, my coach named me one of the team captains of my basketball team. By no means was I the best basketball player on my varsity team, but I was chosen for my leadership skills. In March 2022, I was awarded the 2022 Director’s award by my high school’s athletic director. Out of the hundreds of extremely talented and intelligent students, I was one of the two students (one male and one female) to be a recipient. Other awards I have received through Green Level’s athletic department include the 2020 Coach’s Award, Modern Woodman of America Player of the week, Athletic Honors All-Conference 3x, and I am a three-year varsity letterman. I was also lucky to be a part of the Green Level High School Roundtable club, where students sat with teachers to discuss how the school could improve their learning environment and social aspects. This club was especially important during Green Level’s first year because it helped establish a positive culture and school environment. I am also grateful to be a member of my school’s National Honor Society and Student-Athlete Leadership Team, or S.A.L.T. I participated in several community service projects through both of these organizations. Outside of school, I am the founder of an online teenage initiative that encourages community impact and improvement through activism. My initiative is called Teens Who Advocate and has over 900 followers and connections on Instagram. I also make and share graphics with other teenagers that attend various schools in my community. When I first started my initiative in 2020, I would have never imagined how much positive impact it would have on others. This fall, I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I plan to continue giving back to my community by joining various organizations and clubs. I believe community engagement is the most important aspect of a unified society. It allows those with gifts to use their talents to help others in their community who need them. Communities are significant to individuals because they shape and mold the way a person lives. It is vital to give back to your community so that you are exponentially giving back from what you took.

Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who laid motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. Stale, sour tears trickled from my eyes as my father carried me from the scene, as vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind. Three years later at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class at a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning CPR techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands into the mannequin, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. In fact, that incident solidified my desire to become a physician. I knew that I would have a long journey ahead before becoming a doctor. Therefore, along the path, I planned to continuously pursue opportunities that would allow me to help others. I aspire to be an OB-GYN so I can assist in the most remarkable aspect of life: childbirth. My passion to become a physician started when I was a little girl experiencing a troublesome time when my newborn twin sisters were admitted into the NIC-U immediately after their birth. Since then at the age of 12, I have become deeply passionate about becoming an OB-GYN so that I can give the best care to mothers and their newborns. My aspirations are deeply rooted in my passion for others. This is demonstrated through my involvement in many schools and community service activities. Thus far, my favorite volunteer experience has been mentoring Pre-kindergartners at the Museum of Life and Science summer camp in Durham, North Carolina for three years. From educating their young minds about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to applying first aid after bee stings or knee scraps, I cherished every moment. In 2020, when the novel Covid-19 virus provided uncertainty to many, I was once again reminded of crimson red. As I did the last time I experienced vulnerability, I took action by using my passion for science to create graphics that urged my peers to wear masks properly, avoid cluttered spaces, and get vaccinated. When I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, it was unfortunately under inconceivable circumstances. My mother had fallen ill with Covid-19. At the time, my dad withheld all the facts to protect my younger siblings and me from going into panic. While my mom was away in the intensive care unit of the hospital, I helped my family in countless ways including cooking meals, driving my siblings to their events, and keeping the house tidy, while working at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Thankfully, my mother returned home after a long hard fight against Covid. After receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I stared into my dimly lit bathroom mirror studying the band-aid that was placed on my left bicep. I noticed the color was crimson red. The color that once reminded me of trauma and vulnerability had become a source of hope and motivation for me to do-better and be-better in my community. Attending an HBCU is significant to me because I wish to pursue my degree in a nurturing environment full of history and culture while interacting with professors who will value me on a personal connection. The supportive atmosphere and close-knit sense of community at HBCUs are unmatched. I am very passionate about my identity of being a double minority and I believe studying with other black women who wish to pursue careers in STEM will help motivate me. Only 5% of physicians are black, and the percentage of those who are black and female is even smaller. Along with becoming an OB-GYN, another ultimate goal of mine is to inspire other girls studying STEM. I want them to know that although we are underrepresented in this rigorous path, we are here making an impact, and as long as we set our minds to it, we can achieve anything.

I want to be an OB-GYN so I can assist in the most remarkable aspect of life: childbirth. My passion to become a physician started when I was a little girl experiencing a troublesome time when my newborn twin sisters were admitted into NIC-U immediately after their birth. Since then at the age of 12, I have become deeply passionate about becoming an OB-GYN so that I can give the best care to mothers and their newborns. I also aspire to create change and close the margin of prenatal care disparities based on race by creating my own medical practice in a predominantly BIPOC area. Attending an HBCU is significant to me because I wish to pursue my degree in a nurturing environment full of history and culture while interacting with professors who will value me on a personal connection. The supportive atmosphere and close-knit sense of community at HBCUs are unmatched. I am very passionate about my identity of being a double minority and I believe studying with other black women who wish to pursue careers in STEM will help motivate me. Only 5% of physicians are black, and the percentage of those who are black and female is even smaller. Along with becoming an OB-GYN, another ultimate goal of mine is to inspire other girls studying STEM. I want them to know that although we are underrepresented in this rigorous path, we are here making an impact, and as long as we set our minds to it, we can achieve anything.

Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who laid motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. As vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind, I quickly despised that color that day because it reminded me of the helplessness that filled my heart. I could not do anything to help because I did not have the necessary skills. All I could do was just stand there and cry. Later the next morning, I went on a personal mission never to feel that way again. I felt obligated to help. Three years after that incident, at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and advanced trauma first-aid class at a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning life saving techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy quickly resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands onto the mannequin and bandaged its “fake” wounds, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. The class was extremely challenging. I actually took it with certified EMT specialist. While the classroom portion came easy, the hands-on practical aspect of the course was not. Mainly due to the post-traumatic stress that lingered. Through faith and perseverance, I pushed through and in fact, passing the course and overcoming my trauma fueled my passion in helping others and pursing a STEM focused advanced education. At that moment, I knew I wanted to become a physician to combat the vivid images of crimson red. In 2020, when the novel COVID-19 virus exacerbated so much uncertainty to many, I was once again reminded of the vivid images of crimson red. As I did the last time I experienced vulnerability, I took action by using my passion for science to create infographics that urged my peers to wear masks properly, avoid cluttered spaces, and get vaccinated. When I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, it was unfortunately under inconceivable circumstances. My mother had fallen ill with Covid-19. At the time, my dad withheld all the facts to protect my younger siblings and me from going into panic. While my mom was away in the intensive care unit of the hospital, I helped my family in countless ways including cooking meals, driving my siblings to their events, and keeping the house tidy, while working at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Thankfully, my mother returned home after a long hard fight against COVID. After receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I stared into my dimly lit bathroom mirror studying the band-aid that was placed on my left bicep. I noticed the color was crimson red. The color that once reminded me of trauma and vulnerability had become a source of hope and motivation for me to do-better and be-better in my community. My story is just beginning, and I want to continue to make an impact in the face of crimson red.

Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who laid motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. Tears trickled down my face as my father carried me from the scene, as vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind. I despised that color that day because it reminded me of the helplessness that filled my heart. Three years later at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class at a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning CPR techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands into the mannequin, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. In fact, that incident fueled my passion in helping others and utilizing the technical skills acquired from a STEM focused advanced education. I want to become a physician to combat the vivid images of crimson red. My passion for others is demonstrated through my involvement in many school and community service activities. Thus far, my favorite volunteer experience has been mentoring Pre-kindergartners at the Museum of Life and Science summer camp in Durham, North Carolina. From educating their young minds about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to applying first aid after bee stings or knee scraps, I cherished every moment. Moreover, this passion led me to become the founder of “Teens who Advocate,” an online initiative that uses social media to encourage youth advocacy. I established this online platform which connects teens from many countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Afghanistan to raise awareness about health, education, and politics. At present, Teens who Advocate has connected over nine-hundred and sixty people with a similar desire to provide education on topics that matter most to teenagers and opportunities to get involved. In 2020, when the novel COVID-19 virus exacerbated so much uncertainty to many, I was once again reminded of the vivid images of crimson red. As I did the last time I experienced vulnerability, I took action by using my passion for science to create infographics that urged my peers to wear masks properly, avoid cluttered spaces, and get vaccinated. When I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, it was unfortunately under inconceivable circumstances. My mother had fallen ill with Covid-19. At the time, my Dad withheld all the facts to protect my younger siblings and me from going into panic. While my mom was away in the intensive care unit of the hospital, I helped my family in countless ways including cooking meals, driving my siblings to their events, and keeping the house tidy, while working at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Thankfully, my mother returned home after a long hard fight against COVID. After receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I stared into my dimly lit bathroom mirror studying the band-aid that was placed on my left bicep. I noticed the color was crimson red. The color that once reminded me of trauma and vulnerability had become a source of hope and motivation for me to do-better and be-better in my community. My story is just beginning, and I want to continue to make an impact in the face of crimson red.

Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who laid motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. Tears trickled down my face as my father carried me from the scene, as vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind. I despised that color that day because it reminded me of the helplessness that filled my heart. Three years later at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class at a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning CPR techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands into the mannequin, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. In fact, that incident fueled my passion in helping others and utilizing the technical skills acquired from a STEM focused advanced education. I want to become a physician to combat the vivid images of crimson red. My passion for others is demonstrated through my involvement in many school and community service activities. Thus far, my favorite volunteer experience has been mentoring Pre-kindergartners at the Museum of Life and Science summer camp in Durham, North Carolina. From educating their young minds about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to applying first aid after bee stings or knee scraps, I cherished every moment. Moreover, this passion led me to become the founder of “Teens who Advocate,” an online initiative that uses social media to encourage youth advocacy. I established this online platform which connects teens from many countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Afghanistan to raise awareness about health, education, and politics. At present, Teens who Advocate has connected over nine-hundred and sixty people with a similar desire to provide education on topics that matter most to teenagers and opportunities to get involved. In 2020, when the novel COVID-19 virus exacerbated so much uncertainty to many, I was once again reminded of the vivid images of crimson red. As I did the last time I experienced vulnerability, I took action by using my passion for science to create infographics that urged my peers to wear masks properly, avoid cluttered spaces, and get vaccinated. When I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, it was unfortunately under inconceivable circumstances. My mother had fallen ill with Covid-19. At the time, my Dad withheld all the facts to protect my younger siblings and me from going into panic. While my mom was away in the intensive care unit of the hospital, I helped my family in countless ways including cooking meals, driving my siblings to their events, and keeping the house tidy, while working at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Thankfully, my mother returned home after a long hard fight against COVID. After receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I stared into my dimly lit bathroom mirror studying the band-aid that was placed on my left bicep. I noticed the color was crimson red. The color that once reminded me of trauma and vulnerability had become a source of hope and motivation for me to do-better and be-better in my community. My story is just beginning, and I want to continue to make an impact in the face of crimson red.

Screams of terror rang within my ears as horrified tourists ran for help, desperate to save the life of a pregnant woman who laid motionless beneath decaying stairs. The rollercoaster ride quickly turned into a chaotic scene as crimson red blood began to escape from the side of her head. A husband who was once preparing to ride the rollercoaster chanted in discombobulated sentences as he leaped towards his wife fearing the unimaginable. Stale, sour tears trickled from my eyes as my father carried me from the scene, as vivid images of crimson red replayed in my mind. I despised that color that day because it reminded me of the helplessness that filled my heart. Three years later at the age of 15, I took my first Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class at a summer program at Duke University called Duke Splash. While learning CPR techniques, images of the rollercoaster tragedy resurfaced. As I pumped my clustered hands into the mannequin, I felt some redemption knowing I was not going to allow the trauma from that day make me feel defenseless in the future. In fact, that incident solidified my desire to become a physician and continuously pursue opportunities that would allow me to help others. My passion for others is demonstrated through my involvement in many school and community service activities. Thus far, my favorite volunteer experience has been mentoring Pre-kindergartners at the Museum of Life and Science summer camp in Durham, North Carolina. From educating their young minds about the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to applying first aid after bee stings or knee scraps, I cherished every moment. Moreover, this passion led me to become the founder of “Teens who Advocate,” an online initiative that uses social media to encourage youth advocacy. I established this online platform which connects teens from many countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Afghanistan to raise awareness about health, politics, education, and much more. At present, Teens who Advocate has connected over nine-hundred and sixty people with a similar desire to provide education on topics that matter most to teenagers and opportunities to get involved. In 2020, when the novel Covid-19 virus provided uncertainty to many, I was once again reminded of crimson red. As I did the last time I experienced vulnerability, I took action by using my passion for science to create graphics that urged my peers to wear masks properly, avoid cluttered spaces, and get vaccinated. When I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, it was unfortunately under inconceivable circumstances. My mother had fallen ill with Covid-19. At the time, my Dad withheld all the facts to protect my younger siblings and me from going into panic. While my mom was away in the intensive care unit of the hospital, I helped my family in countless ways including cooking meals, driving my siblings to their events, and keeping the house tidy, while working at Moe’s Southwest Grill. Thankfully, my mother returned home after a long hard fight against Covid. After receiving my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I stared into my dimly lit bathroom mirror studying the band-aid that was placed on my left bicep. I noticed the color was crimson red. The color that once reminded me of trauma and vulnerability had become a source of hope and motivation for me to do-better and be-better in my community. My story is just beginning, and I want to continue to make an impact in the face of crimson red.