What makes me different is my ability to overcome. At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with scoliosis and mild kyphosis. As time went on, the curve in my spine worsened and the doctors told me that it would be too late to wear a brace. I was told I needed spinal fusion immediately. The next thing I know I was scheduled for surgery after my 16th birthday. That surgery put me straight into a 6 month recovery period. I had to learn how to re-walk up the stairs, sit up for long periods, and even do something as simple as bending over. I felt as if I had been reduced to the range of a toddler in a matter of hours. Aside from having to relearn basic mobility, I also was tasked with completing my junior year of high school online due to covid. I was pulled in three different directions trying to keep up with my recovery, academics, and mental well-being. Despite feeling buried under my battles, I did not succumb to the very pressure I was faced with, and I now stand three years post-op as happy as can be. I did indeed finish my recovery strong, completed my junior year with all a’s, and I learned ways to treat my mental health with the comfort it deserves. My ability to overcome has allowed me to attend college and pursue my dreams of dentistry while continuing to do service in my community. Dentistry always stuck out to me as a kid. I wanted a career where I could combine my interests in STEM with giving back to my community. Since I was young, I was always taught the importance of pouring back into others. Before entering my freshman year at Fisk, I was part of an organization called Top Teens of America for 6 years. During the holiday season of Christmas and Thanksgiving, we wrote letters to the elderly showing our gratitude for their presence in the world. Working with people of different calibers allowed me to hear new perspectives on living and building relationships. Besides my community service with Top Teens of America, my church does community service too. I am a member of Cosmopolitan Community Church. Every month, we give care packages containing toiletries and undergarments to the needy. Being a member of my church has allowed me to be more involved in the community and use my free time to volunteer for those who need help. My commitment to service also started tying into my interest in dentistry. Since childhood, I took an interest in becoming a dentist. I was intrigued by how dentists could perform serious procedures while making someone smile. Helping others while giving affordable services is my passion in my career. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some financial burden and still provide pristine service. I chose to major in Biochemistry and molecular biology because I wanted a degree that would continue to elevate my interest in science while also providing me with the tools needed to help my community. Upon reaching my career goals, I’d be able to provide low-income communities with sliding-scale services to minimize patient fees. With every patient, I meet I’ll remember the elderly I worked with and those that I helped at the wellness shelters. By becoming a dentist, I will achieve the change I plan to make in my community and live out my love for science.

Since I was little, I was always taught the importance of giving back to my community. Working for a cause greater than myself allows me to tap into the potential I was blessed with. I was part of an organization called Top Teens of America. Our core values are based on community service and beautification. We play bingo with them, serve lunch, and hand out valentines as a way to show appreciation. During the holiday season of Christmas and thanksgiving, we write letters to the elderly showing our gratitude for their presence in the world. We also make blankets and care packages to give to women's and children's wellness shelters. Working with people of different calibers allowed me to hear new perspectives on living and build new relationships. Besides my community service with Top Teens of America, my church does community service too. I am a member of Cosmopolitan Community Church. Every thanksgiving we give care packages including toiletries, undergarments, and snacks to the needy. We also serve lunch to designated homeless shelters. Typically the two shelters we partner with are Matthew House Inc. And the Primo Center for Women and Children. Being a member of my church has allowed me to be more involved in the community and use my free time to volunteer for those who need help. From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I was always intrigued by how the dentist could make people smile while also performing serious procedures. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces while providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I will offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With the degree I earn, I will be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. Through my time helping out at shelters, and working with the elderly, I learned what it takes to help people from all walks of life. My inspiration for getting involved in my community comes from my faith and wanting to give everyone a fair chance to succeed. With these lessons I’ve gained, I will make sure that my career in dental care thrives while benefiting my community and giving them the best care possible.

Since I was little, I was always taught the importance of giving back to my community. I am a part of an organization called Top Teens of America. Our core values are based on community service and beautification. Every valentines day we go to New City Senior Suites and spend time with the elderly. We play bingo with them, serve lunch, and hand out valentines as a way to show appreciation. During the holiday season of Christmas and thanksgiving, we write letters to the elderly showing our gratitude for their presence in the world. We also make blankets and care packages to give to women's and children's wellness shelters. Working with people of different calibers allowed me to hear new perspectives on living and build new relationships. Besides my community service with Top Teens of America, my church does community service too. I am a member of Cosmopolitan Community Church. Every thanksgiving we give care packages including toiletries, undergarments, and snacks to the needy. We also serve lunch to designated homeless shelters. Typically the two shelters we partner with are Matthew House Inc. And the Primo Center for Women and Children. Being a member of my church has allowed me to be more involved in the community and use my free time to volunteer for those who need help. Black people as a whole have faced long-lasting effects of racial disparities, so it never hurts to make sure my people have the right foundation to succeed in life. From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I was always intrigued by how the dentist could make people smile while also performing serious procedures. I even enjoyed the end of my appointment where I was given my little to-go bag so that I could take care of my teeth at home. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I chose the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope to one day open a dental practice back in my community. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I will offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With this degree I would be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. Through my time helping out at shelters, and working with the elderly, I learned what it takes to help people from all walks of life. With these lessons I’ve gained, I will make sure that my career in dental care thrives while benefiting my community and giving them the best care possible.

Being a black woman affects how I’m perceived in life. I know that trying to succeed in the healthcare field will mean working twice as hard, just because of my skin. 3.8% of dentists are African Americans. Of that 3.8%, 13% are women. There aren’t many black women dentists who own their practice, so fulfilling this goal will make me feel like I’ve done black women justice. I wanted to attend a school where my aspirations and career goals would be understood by like-minded individuals. I wanted to be able to go to a school where a sense of community is created and I felt I belonged. I knew an HBCU would exceed my expectations when attending. I know in the workplace black people are typically the minority, so I wanted to attend somewhere where I could escape reality and be in a collective space where everyone looks like me. I wanted to meet people of color who came from different backgrounds and learn how they ended up at the same school as me. Going to a school knowing that my culture is understood, accepted, and celebrated was my biggest want. HBCUs escape the stereotypes all black people face and allow us to be ourselves with no apologies. Being at an HBCU has allowed me to continue my educational journey while also gaining knowledge from other individuals who are reaching for the same career goals as me.

The quality I value most in myself is my faith. Since I was born my family has always gone to church. Whether it was Sunday service, bible study, or a youth event, I was always at church. When I was younger I didn’t understand the importance of faith, but as I got older I was able to learn and grow on my own. My father started as a musician within our church, but he eventually became a minister, then through years of schooling, he became a Pastor. My whole life up until my teen years was following my father’s faith journey rather than being able to grow my own. When he became pastor of our current church, Cosmopolitan Community Church, I was old enough to hear other people’s perspectives on christ, and learn from someone who wasn’t my dad. I got more into reading the bible and over time, my love for Christ grew. Now that I’m in college, this was a chance to truly explore my faith and mature outside of my church. My father had his suggestions on what church I should attend in Nashville, but down here it was my choice as to where I would let the lord lead me. At first, I started at Mt. Zion Church, which is where my father suggested, but now I currently attend Bethel World Outreach. Through both of these churches, I was able to learn from people my age as well as learn from others who followed the same faith. I value my faith because it has kept me going during the hardest times of my life. Whether it was from my spinal fusion surgery to deciding on a college, my faith has remained strong. It continues to grow every day the more I read the word and pray. Faith will help me within my life journey because no matter how low things can get, faith will always be able to lift you again. Faith will remind you of what you have when you lose something. Faith keeps you going even when the going gets tough. Faith helps you express gratitude when you’re blessed by something. When all hope is lost, some may think there is no one there, but the faith I have in Christ and myself is what helps me continue on my journey. I take everything I do day by day, but no matter how old I get, I know my faith will remain.

From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I was always intrigued by how the dentist could make people smile while also performing serious procedures. I even enjoyed the end of my appointment where I was given my little to-go bag so that I could take care of my teeth at home. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I chose the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope to one day open a dental practice back in my community. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I will offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With this degree I would be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. Through my time helping out at shelters, and working with the elderly, I learned what it takes to help people from all walks of life. With these lessons I’ve gained, I will make sure that my career in dental care thrives while benefiting my community and giving them the best care possible. Racial diversity is important in health care because of the unfortunate ways minorities have been treated in the past. Whether it's due to increasing financial burdens or facing racial prejudices, seeing racial diversity is important. Seeing a doctor or dentist that looks like you makes you feel more at ease. You feel more supported when someone can understand your health needs while sharing the same racial background. Unfortunately, the mistreatment of minorities in health is common so making sure that minorities are represented and receiving the proper care is most important.

Since I was little, I was always taught the importance of giving back to my community. I am a part of an organization called Top Teens of America. Our core values are based on community service and beautification. Every valentines day we also go to New City Senior Suites and spend time with the elderly. We play bingo with them, serve lunch, and hand out valentines as a way to show appreciation. During the holiday season of Christmas and thanksgiving, we write letters to the elderly showing our gratitude for their presence in the world. We also make blankets and care packages to give to women's and children's wellness shelters. Working with people of different calibers allowed me to hear new perspectives on living and build new relationships. Besides my community service with Top Teens of America, my church does community service too. I am a member of Cosmopolitan Community Church. Every thanksgiving we give care packages including toiletries, undergarments, and snacks to the needy. We also serve lunch to designated homeless shelters. Typically the two shelters we partner with are Matthew House Inc. And the Primo Center for Women and Children. Being a member of my church has allowed me to be more involved in the community and use my free time to volunteer for those who need help. Black people as a whole have faced long-lasting effects of racial disparities, so it never hurts to make sure my people have the right foundation to succeed in life. From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I was always intrigued by how the dentist could make people smile while also performing serious procedures. I even enjoyed the end of my appointment where I was given the little to-go bag so that I could take care of my teeth at home. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I chose the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope to one day open a dental practice back in my community. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I will offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With this degree I would be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. Through my time helping out at shelters, and working with the elderly, I learned what it takes to help people from all walks of life. With these lessons I’ve gained, I will make sure that my career in dental care thrives while benefiting my community and giving them the best care possible.

From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist and emulating what they do. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I chose the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope to one day open a dental practice back in my community. The classes and prerequisites within the Biochemistry major are what I need to make it into dental school. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I would offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With this degree I would be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. When I first came to Fisk my main feeling was fear. Fear of fitting in and making friends all over again. Fear of being accepted by my peers and being away from my family. That fear kept me closed off from my peers for the first two months of college. Sometimes I’d go out and say hello to new people and now and again but I felt I didn’t belong. This small HBCU had a family feel but in my eyes, I was a distant cousin. I didn’t know how to open myself up and show that I was ready to make new friends. I never had a problem being social before but, this new barrier stumped my starting experience. Socialization is just as important as academics when branching out in college, and for me, I felt I didn’t have a balance. That’s when one day the school had its activities and club showcase. I met upperclassmen who were just like me in their past, and they helped me find clubs where I could belong. The Chicagoland club helped with my homesickness, and I was able to converse with others in my city while getting used to Nashville. The college ministry allowed me to grow in my faith with those close to my age group. The natural hair org let me make new friends who kept their natural hair as a part of their identity too. So what does all this have to do with my obstacle? My obstacle is fear. Fear of dwindling in my faith, my friendships, and my lifestyle. I’ve achieved happiness I haven’t felt in a long time and it’s all because of the upperclassmen who opened doors for me to grow. I’ve broken out of my cocoon of a dorm room and turned into a social butterfly that has gained meaningful friendships. Through my growth, I’ve been able to look fear in the eye and tell it, “You don’t scare me anymore”. That scared little girl from fall no longer exists, and the maturing young woman that stands today thanks the upperclassmen that took a chance on me.

Since I was little, I was always taught the importance of giving back to my community. I am a part of an organization called Top Teens of America. Our core values are based on community service and beautification. One of the main things we do is every spring we clean up Governor’s highway. This event allows me to see how important it is to take care of my community and make sure we keep it clean. Every valentines day we also go to New City Senior Suites and spend time with the elderly. We play bingo with them, serve lunch, and hand out valentines as a way to show appreciation. During the holiday season of Christmas and thanksgiving, we write letters to the elderly showing our gratitude for their presence in the world. We also make blankets and care packages to give to women's and children's wellness shelters. Besides my community service with Top Teens of America, my church does community service too. I am a member of Cosmopolitan Community Church. Every thanksgiving we give care packages including toiletries, undergarments, and snacks to the needy. We also serve lunch to designated homeless shelters. Typically the two shelters we partner with are Matthew House Inc. And the Primo Center for Women and Children. Being a member of my church has allowed me to be more involved in the community and use my free time to volunteer for those who need help. Black people as a whole have been oppressed for generations, so it never hurts to make sure my people have the right foundation to succeed in life. From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I was always intrigued by how the dentist could make people smile while also performing serious procedures. I even enjoyed the end of my appointment where I was given my own little to-go bag so that I could take care of my teeth at home. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I chose the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope to one day open my own dental practice back in my community. Post-dental school, I’d be able to provide low-income people of color with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with it. I will offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. With this degree I would be able to succeed in dental school and achieve the change I plan to make in my community. Through my time helping out at shelters, and working with the elderly, I learned what it takes to help people from all walks of life. With these lessons I’ve gained, I will make sure that my career in dental care thrives and benefits my people’s health without financially hurting them.

When I first came to Fisk my main feeling was fear. Fear of fitting in and making friends all over again. Fear of being accepted by my peers and being away from my family. That fear kept me closed off from my peers for the first two months of college. Sometimes I’d go out and say hello to new people every now and again but I felt I didn’t belong. This small HBCU had a family feel but in my eyes, I was a distant cousin. I didn’t know how to open myself up and show that I was ready to make new friends. I never had a problem being social before but, this new barrier stumped my starting experience. Socialization is just as important as academics when branching out in college, and for me, I felt I didn’t have a balance. That’s when one day the school had its activities and club showcase. I met upperclassmen who were just like me in their past, and they helped me find clubs where I could belong. The Chicagoland club helped with my homesickness, and I was able to convein with others in my city while getting used to Nashville. The college ministry allowed me to grow in my faith with those close in my age group. The natural hair org let me make new friends who kept their natural hair as a part of their identity too. So what does all this have to do with my obstacle? My obstacle is fear. Fear of dwindling in my faith, my friendships, and my lifestyle. I’ve achieved happiness I haven’t felt in a long time and it’s all because of the upperclassmen who opened doors for me to grow. I’ve broken out of my cocoon of a dorm room and turned into a social butterfly that has gained meaningful friendships. My social growth has allowed me to also make friends within my major. These friends give me advice on how to manage my time between being a Biochemistry major and being involved in many social groups. I also have been using my growth to take time to connect with those that can benefit me within the dental field. Finding mentors, making new friends, and gaining advice let me see what I need to excel in my major and career field. Through my growth, I’ve been able to look fear in the eye and tell it, “You don’t scare me anymore”. That scared little girl from fall no longer exists, and the maturing young woman that stands today thanks the upperclassmen that took a chance on me.

“Don’t look at the bumps in the road, just celebrate the journey”. This is a quote I kept with me as I finished my high school journey. This time last year I was tallying up my college acceptances and getting down to the nitty-gritty of where I wanted to go. I was going over expenses and school distances with my parents when my older siblings' voices played in my head. “No matter what happens it’s not your choice”. I didn’t know what they meant by that at the time until I gave my top choices and my parents told me where they saw me attending college. From a young age, I always thought North Carolina A and T would be the school for me. I had this whole plan of graduating college than going to dental school and becoming a pediatric dentist. I had aggie pride before I even knew what an Aggie was, so one could imagine the disappointment I had when my dad told me I would not be attending there in the Fall of 2022. I was hopeful but my spirit wasn’t fully broken so I suggested FAMU next. Again, he said no I will not be attending there. So I name HBCU after HBCU on my list and again he says “NO you will not be attending there”. I asked why and my father tells me “ They’re all too far. I made the drive for your sister, and I will not be making it for you”. I held back the burst of tears that waited to rumble down my cheeks. I asked his choices and he told me about Northern Illinois University. It was 1 hour away and the cheapest since it was in the state. I told him I wouldn’t be happy and how I only applied because he told me to but my father was stubborn as a mule on his choice. I turned to my mother hoping she’d be able to persuade him to consider any other option, and he told me to think logically and not with my feelings. There weren’t enough scholarships or grants in the world to convince him that I would be better than anywhere over an hour's drive away. All I could do was cry and think how much I’d be heartbroken these next four years. With my spirit broken, I had a realization; I was so focused on one path that I didn’t look at any other routes to reach my destination. It took some time for journaling and prayer, but I decided to regroup and reevaluate my college list. That’s when I saw a school I hadn't seen before. Fisk University. I applied and got accepted. I told my parents who were stubborn at first but later had a change of heart and agreed with my decision. Now I’m currently in my second semester at Fisk, and I have joined the natural hair club, the college ministry, and the chicagoland club. As I finished up my fall semester I looked back at that day and remembered that rejection may come in life, and you may take a path that’s different than what you intended. So maybe Fisk wasn't my top choice or the school my Dad gave me. What matters is that I’m still striving to become a dentist and putting my best foot forward. I not only keep this attitude in school, but I keep this in mind with everything that I do. I’ve grown to learn not to look at one piece of the picture, but to instead visualize the whole portrait.

From a young age, I took an interest in going to the dentist. I like the process of examining teeth and seeing all the different tools used in my mouth. I even enjoyed the end of my appointment where I was given my little to-go bag so that I could take care of my teeth at home. From that point on I knew I wanted to be an orthodontist or dentist. Putting a smile on people’s faces and providing affordable health care to patients is my goal in this career field. In my community, a large number of people don’t go to the doctor or dentist’s office due to affordability. I want to improve access to affordable healthcare, including dentistry, for low-income people of color. While cutting fees completely is unattainable, it is feasible to take away some of that financial burden and benefit the patients. My people need to have access to healthcare because you can’t figure out how to solve your health problems if you can’t even afford to determine the issue. I took on the major of Biochemistry and molecular biology with the hope of one day opening my dental practice back in my community. I chose this major because I know if I chose a career in the dental health field, I’m going to have to explore the aspect of how chemicals used by those working in dental health can affect the body and teeth. I’ll be able to dive deeper into the types of materials used and understand the chemical processes that relate to the body in general. Being a biochemistry major will allow me to analyze how teeth are affected by certain agents on a microscopic level. I’ll learn what are the correct procedures to help my future patients maintain good dental health. I’d be able to provide my people with the opportunity to handle their medical struggles without having to take on the financial barriers that come with them. I would offer sliding-scale services so that patient fees are minimized, and I’d still be able to maintain a sustainable income for myself. This scholarship helps towards my educational goals mainly because it helps fund my schooling. Fisk university does pay a portion of my tuition, but to continue my education at my university, aside from working I look for other scholarships. This scholarship will allow me to stay at school and finish what I have started. My time at my hbcu has been eye-opening, I've been able to gain more maturing experiences while pursuing my degree. The support from this scholarship would be a blessing and help ease the financial burden burdens that come with attending my university.