Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over five hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are notoriously long, I could not help but complain about how the under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Although the wait took a while, I watched the nurse take my grandma to the operating room with the utmost care and gentleness. She nursed her through her pains and left her feeling confident that she was going to be in good hands. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having Black professors is extremely important because the advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to come back to my underserved community and work as a women’s health nurse, helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and the unethical treatment of the Black community. As women’s health rights are modified, I want to provide care for the unique health issues faced by women. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black nurses and doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my community and support those who are overlooked. Not only will having an increase of healthcare workers in the hospital speed up visits, but having doctors of color saves more POC lives. POC oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of patients at risk. As a professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths. As of right now, I give back to my community by volunteering at my local nonprofit organization. So Others Might Eat, or SOME for short pride itself on servicing individuals, families, veterans, and senior citizens who struggle with mental and physical illnesses in the DMV. While volunteering at SOME, I met Dean. Born in the DMV, Dean became addicted to drugs at seventeen. Due to his family's low income, Dean had no way of attending college. At 18, Dean’s parents kicked him out, forcing him to live on the streets of Lanham. Unfortunately, Dean was in and out of jail for the next 20 years due to gun charges. As of 2022, Dean is on the streets, seeking assistance from SOME. No person should be disregarded by society due to their disadvantages at birth. My time at SOME has taught me the importance of health, support, and most importantly, education. It provides stability and financial security for life. I strive for higher education to be an advocate for change.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over five hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are notoriously long, I could not help but complain about how the under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Although the wait took a while, I watched the nurse take my grandma to the operating room with the utmost care and gentleness. She nursed her through her pains and left her feeling confident that she was going to be in good hands. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having Black professors is extremely important because the advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to come back to my underserved community and work as a women’s health nurse, helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and the unethical treatment of the Black community. As women’s health rights are modified, I want to provide care for the unique health issues faced by women. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black nurses and doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my community and support those who are overlooked. Not only will having an increase of healthcare workers in the hospital speed up visits, but having doctors of color saves more POC lives. POC oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of patients at risk. As a professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths. As of right now, I give back to my community by volunteering at my local nonprofit organization. So Others Might Eat, or SOME for short pride itself on servicing individuals, families, veterans, and senior citizens who struggle with mental and physical illnesses in the DMV. While volunteering at SOME, I met Dean. Born in the DMV, Dean became addicted to drugs at seventeen. Due to his family's low income, Dean had no way of attending college. At 18, Dean’s parents kicked him out, forcing him to live on the streets of Lanham. Unfortunately, Dean was in and out of jail for the next 20 years due to gun charges. As of 2022, Dean is on the streets, seeking assistance from SOME. No person should be disregarded by society due to their disadvantages at birth. My time at SOME has taught me the importance of health, support, and most importantly, education. It provides stability and financial security for life. I strive for higher education to be an advocate for change.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over five hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are notoriously long, I could not help but complain about how the under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Although the wait took a while, I watched the nurse take my grandma to the operating room with the utmost care and gentleness. She nursed her through her pains and left her feeling confident that she was going to be in good hands. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having Black professors is extremely important because the advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to come back to my underserved community and work as a women’s health nurse, helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and the unethical treatment of the Black community. As women’s health rights are modified, I want to provide care for the unique health issues faced by women. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black nurses and doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my community and support those who are overlooked. Not only will having an increase of healthcare workers in the hospital speed up visits, but having doctors of color saves more POC lives. POC oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of patients at risk. As a professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over five hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are notoriously long, I could not help but complain about how the under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Although the wait took a while, I watched the nurse take my grandma to the operating room with the utmost care and gentleness. She nursed her through her pains and left her feeling confident that she was going to be in good hands. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having Black professors is extremely important because the advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to come back to my underserved community and work as a women’s health nurse, helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and the unethical treatment of the Black community. As women’s health rights are modified, I want to provide care for the unique health issues faced by women. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black nurses and doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my community and support those who are overlooked. Not only will having an increase of healthcare workers in the hospital speed up visits, but having doctors of color saves more POC lives. POC oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of patients at risk. As a professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths. As of right now, I give back to my community by volunteering at my local nonprofit organization. So Others Might Eat, or SOME for short pride itself on servicing individuals, families, veterans, and senior citizens who struggle with mental and physical illnesses in the DMV. While volunteering at SOME, I met Dean. Born in the DMV, Dean became addicted to drugs at seventeen. Due to his family's low income, Dean had no way of attending college. At 18, Dean’s parents kicked him out, forcing him to live on the streets of Lanham. Unfortunately, Dean was in and out of jail for the next 20 years due to gun charges. As of 2022, Dean is on the streets, seeking assistance from SOME. No person should be disregarded by society due to their disadvantages at birth. My time at SOME has taught me the importance of health, support, and most importantly, education. It provides stability and financial security for life. I strive for higher education to be an advocate for change.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over 5 hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are always notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Although the wait took a while, I watched the nurse take my grandma to the operating room with the utmost care and gentleness. She nursed her through her pains and left her feeling confident that she was going to be in good hands. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having African American professors is extremely important because the support they have for African American students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am forever grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to be a women’s health nurse, helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and the unethical treatment of the Black community. As women’s health rights are modified, I want to provide care for the unique health issues faced by women. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my community and support those who are overlooked. Not only will having an increase of healthcare workers in the hospital speed up visits, but having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

As a student-athlete, I am passionate about extracurricular activities because of the lessons gained while building a community, and the bonds I’ve gained throughout the process. One extracurricular I take part in is running on my school’s track team. Although the girls on the team are individuals who I compete with when I step onto the track, we would never let competition hinder our relationships. The boys and girls on the team bring a passion not only for the sport but for each other. I try my best to support others on the team after races even if I haven’t run my best or if I get beat because I am passionate about their success as well. Positive interactions with teens in my community have demonstrated that I can be ideal for a leadership role as a captain on my track and field team. To be a leader, one should lead with influence because leadership is not simply a title or position. Even before having the official title of “Captain” on the team, being a leader consisted of coming up with morals to stand by. The morals contributing to my behavior include gratitude, accountability, and commitment. Workshops I have participated in have helped me understand what it means to be a leader and how to reach the pinnacle of success. A leader holds themselves accountable to serve others and establish leadership in others. A quality leader takes others’ ideas, thoughts, and emotions into consideration while decision-making. These actions of leadership and ultimately teamwork have led the team to repeat state championship titles, the All-American Title in three relay events for 2022/23, and being D.C.'s #2 sprinter in the 55-meter dash. In addition, I hold myself to the same standards when directing and leading the yearbook club. In the yearbook club, I am head of the sports section, leading a team and working with others to complete the sports section of the book. As a whole, the staff devotes their time to creating a keepsake for the entire school community. This activity is important because it ties the community together, celebrating students and staff. Highlighting academic, athletic, and theatric achievements, the yearbook staff’s main goal is to commemorate those who put in the effort it takes for school and display their successes. My morals outside of school continue to follow me into the classroom because I hold myself and others accountable to do assignments and stay committed to my school work. This ideology has helped me to be a 4.31 GPA student, winning various academic awards and taking numerous AP and honors courses. Throughout my junior and senior years, I have contributed to my community by volunteering at my local nonprofit organization. So Others Might Eat, or SOME for short pride itself on servicing individuals, families, veterans, and senior citizens who struggle with mental and physical illnesses in the DMV. Employees and volunteers such as myself strive to provide food, clothes, and job opportunities for those who need them in my community. I am passionate about my volunteer work because I get to hear the thought-provoking stories of individuals who come for meals and clothes. The lack of regard that many in society, and society as a whole, have for people who are struggling to get on their feet is astonishing. No person should be pushed aside when seeking help due to their financial circumstances. As a volunteer, I can help provide individuals in need with the necessities for life, keeping a smile on some faces and a passion to make it out of poverty in their hearts.

Growing up, my parents reinforced the importance of financial independence to me. At the age of 13, I worked for and saved around $800 for my first phone for two years, but little did I know that would be the first step in understanding the value of a dollar. As years have passed, I have provided the majority of the funds for my lifestyle regarding food, clothes, school supplies, etc. This independence has taught me many lessons, but I would be naive to say I did it alone. My parents drilled financial dos and don'ts in my head via Dave Ramsey and Chris Hogan for as long as I can remember. Urging me to think about the choices I make so I do not make the same mistakes they did. The biggest regret my mother constantly reminds me of is how she took out loans to go to school. "If you can go to college without taking out a loan, do it!" Those were always her words. Growing up with foreign parents, she didn't have much guidance on the college process. She had no encouragement or even knowledge of where to start applying for scholarships. Her young and blissful ignorance at the age of 18 caused her to take out a large amount of money that she continued to pay off over 15 years after graduation. Starting at age six, I earned money each week for doing basic home chores. I usually earned about $8 a week, but instead of spending all my money on toys like I would have preferred, I was encouraged to separate my money into sections: savings, spending, and tithes and offerings. This method taught me the importance of budgeting and organization because I was practicing for the real world. In addition, the act of budgeting taught me how to be patient when saving for things I wanted, terminating the desire for impulsive shopping. At age 16, I was hired for my first retail job. Although minimum wage wasn’t much, the substantial increase in money that was now in my possession made me feel unstoppable. Suddenly, the skills I had learned over the years went out of the window. At one point, I desired to swipe my card at every urge. I snapped back to reality when I sat in on one of my parents' budgeting meetings. They urged me to add an emergency fund to my sections; that is when I realized I needed to do a better job of spending less and saving more. I have seen the dire importance of an emergency fund over the past year. In January 2023, the catalytic converter of my car was stolen. Repairs cost over $4000 on top of the $2000 I had worked to put into purchasing the car. I was devastated because I had worked so hard to save up to purchase the car, all for it to be taken away. My dad assured me not to worry because money in the emergency fund had been saved for situations like this, emergencies. When setting up the direct deposit for my job at 17, Chick-fil-A, I forced myself to create better habits by having my employer change my direct deposit to my savings account rather than my checking. In doing this, I am less likely to spend due to the hassle of transferring money in person with the assistance of my parents. Though I am still learning important lessons regarding financial literacy, I have been blessed with a strong foundation.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over 5 hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are always notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. It is important to have diversity in STEM because I believe having African American professors is extremely important. After all, the support they have for African American students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am forever grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself, but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those parts of the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will come back to my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by my white counterparts. Not only will having an increase of doctors in the hospital speed up visits but having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over 5 hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are always notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. It is important to have diversity in STEM because I believe having African American professors is extremely important. After all, the support they have for African American students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am forever grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself, but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those parts of the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will come back to my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by my white counterparts. Not only will having an increase of doctors in the hospital speed up visits but having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over 5 hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are always notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred university will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having African American professors is extremely important because the support they have for African American students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am forever grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself, but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those parts of the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will come back to my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by my white counterparts. Not only will having an increase of doctors in the hospital speed up visits but having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns puts the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Throughout my junior and senior year, I contributed to my community by volunteering at my local nonprofit organization. So Others Might Eat, or SOME for short prides itself on servicing individuals, families, veterans, and senior citizens who struggle with mental and physical illnesses in the DMV. Employees and volunteers such as myself strive to provide food, clothes, job opportunities, etc for those in need. While volunteering at SOME, I have met dozens of people but one man in specific had a story that stuck with me. Born had raised in the DMV, Dean had become addicted to drugs by the age of seventeen. With no hope of college due to his family's low income, Dean struggled to keep faith in his ability to attend a university. By the time he was eighteen, Dean’s parents kicked him out of his home and was forced to live on the streets of Montgomery County. Dean was then forced out of Montgomery county by police officers and relocated to the streets of D.C. The struggle to reach a sustainable life lead Dean to a life of crime, resulting in 20 years in prison. While in custody, Dean fell victim to physical abuse and was in and out of jail. Traumatized from his experience in jail, he decided to purchase a firearm for protection. This mistake leads to Dean’s second arrest and prosecution for eight years. As of 2022, Dean is back on the streets of D.C., where he seeks clothes, food, and job opportunities from volunteers at SOME. Dean’s story and stories similar to his are what drive employees and volunteers to help provide those in need with the necessities for life. No person should be ignored and kicked to the ground by society due to their wealth and class or lack thereof. People deserve chances to reach success and sustainability regardless of the financial circumstances they were born into. My time at SOME has taught me the importance of so many things that include family, health, and support, but the overarching necessity is education. Higher education opens so many doors for opportunities to reach success. Education provides stability and financial security in life. This scholarship will make pursuing a higher education feasible for my family and me. Growing up, my parents have always reinforced financial independence. At the age of 13, I worked for/saved around $800 for my first phone, but little did I know that would be the first step in my journey of understanding the value of a dollar. My parents drilled financial dos and don'ts in my head via Dave Ramsey and Chris Hogan for as long as I can remember. The biggest regret my mother constantly reminds me about is how she took out loans to go to school. "If you can go to college without taking out a loan, do it!" Those were always her words. Growing up with foreign parents, she didn't have much guidance on the college process. She had no encouragement or even knowledge of where to start for applying to scholarships. This scholarship will lessen the mental and financial burden of student loans. My goal is to study nursing as an undergraduate student and become a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. After working in my specialty, I plan to attend med school to become a pediatrician and cover the expenses for med school with what I’ve earned as a nurse. Not only will I graduate with a nursing degree, but some courses taken as an undergraduate student will also go to my prerequisite courses in med school, ultimately saving me money.

As my mind jumped from one thought to another, from ambition to indifference, I tried to find peace in my thoughts. It was not until I took up reading that I found the calm in the storm. As I walked the aisles of the library, in search of something to spark my interest, a little yellow book caught my eye. The book was titled “Resisting happiness,” by Matthew Kelly. I loved how the words flowed as if the author was speaking directly to me. The lessons at the end of each chapter served as a guide whenever trying to understand who the best version of me was, and how I could achieve it. I soon learned the best version of me is the one who takes the initiative to turn her negative thoughts into positive ones. The girl who can admit when she needs help, and tackle her bad habit of overthinking head-on. Being able to listen before objecting to these lessons allowed me to soak up advice I once would’ve turned a blind eye to. With my newfound ideology, I was able to help others by suggesting the book to those in need. These interactions with other teens in my community then led to a leadership role as a captain on my track and field team. To be a leader, one should lead with influence because leadership is not simply a title or position. Even before having the official title of “Captain” on the team, being a leader consisted of coming up with morals to stand by. The morals that contribute to my behavior include gratitude, accountability, and commitment. Workshops I have participated in have helped me understand what it means to be a successful leader. A leader holds themselves accountable to serve others and establish leadership in others as well. A quality leader takes others’ ideas, thoughts, and emotions into consideration while decision-making. These actions of leadership and ultimately teamwork have led my team to repeat state championship titles, the All-American Title in relay events, winning the Heisman High School Award and being D.C.'s #2 sprinter in the 55-meter dash. Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over five hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in servicing black communities. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those in the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by white caregivers. Having doctors of color saves more black lives and speeds up rates of service. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns put the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Pursuing a nursing degree at my HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in support and encouragement from Black professors. I believe having Black professors is extremely important because the support they have for Black students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself, but for everyone who has helped me along the way. It drives many Black students to succeed when they have a role model that looks like them, allowing students to know their goals are achievable. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those in the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will serve my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by white caregivers. Having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns put the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Attending high school in DC, I was always fond of the city lifestyle. The idea of constantly being in the midst of hustle and bustle piqued my interest. Unfortunately, in all of the commotion of the city, many people fall victim to not being heard and slipping through the cracks. Like any hospital, the local hospital in the city was constantly overcrowded. As I sat in the emergency room with my grandma for over 5 hours to wait for treatment for an animal bite, I knew immediately the system had to change. Though hospital waits are always notoriously long, I could not help but wonder if under-service stifled the efficiency of the hospital. At that moment I was motivated to answer the cry for help in service of black communities, not only in my area but across the country, and eventually the world. Pursuing a nursing degree at my preferred HBCU will push me to achieve a high level of education rooted in the support and encouragement of Black professors. I believe having African American professors is extremely important because the support they have for African American students specifically is unmatched. The advocacy they demonstrate for their students plays a large role in the growth of a student inside and outside of the classroom. The support others show for me as an individual also motivates my desire to excel. Whether it be a peer or a teacher, someone that puts effort into guiding me to reach success in life displays attributes that I am forever grateful for. It drives me to know that I am not only working towards the pinnacle of success for myself, but for everyone who has helped me along the way. My goal is to be a nurse and eventually a pediatrician who is helping change the negative stigma surrounding hospitals and their unethical treatment of those parts of the Black community. I will use my degree to be a representation of Black doctors and be a safe space for patients of color. I will come back to my underserved community and support those who are overlooked by my white counterparts. Not only will having an increase of doctors in the hospital speed up visits but having doctors of color saves more black lives. Black individuals oftentimes have their concerns overlooked by white caregivers. This overlooking of medical concerns put the health and life of Black patients at risk. As a Black professional in the medical field, I will make it my duty to comfort patients in need and put an end to the disregard for avoidable deaths.

Being surrounded by students, who like myself, strive to achieve a similar goal: an advancement in diversity in the classroom, creating a community dedicated to inclusivity. Shifting from a predominantly Black middle school to a Predominantly White High School, I often played a game of “Spot the Difference.” Though the significant difference in resources was no surprise, the variation in the use was outright disappointing. The counseling staff of St. John’s College High School was comprised of multiple individuals whose goal was to prepare students for a proficient future, while the single counselor of Judith P. Hoyer Montessori School strived to do the same. Although the counselor-to-student ratio of Hoyer outdid that of St. John’s, the dedication and drive that single counselor had was greater than some who claimed to be the “best of the best” at St. John’s. In mid-March, during my freshman year at St. John’s, it was time to meet with my grade-level counselor and select the courses for the upcoming school year. I informed her about the jump I wanted to take from on-level courses to more honors courses. Since I took the prerequisites and passed with flying colors, I thought the choice would be obvious, yet she discouraged me. “Are you sure?” She would ask. “That workload may be too much.” I was puzzled. Why would my advisor deter me from accepting a challenge I was up for? I was disappointed because the level of support from the staff I once felt in my old neighborhood school had nearly disappeared when I enrolled in St. John’s. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only student of color to experience these microaggressions. Whether it was deference from applying to competitive colleges, or suggestions to not take the Minority Voice’s course because it would “Not look good on transcripts,” there was a noticeable difference in the support Black teachers had for Black students, in comparison to their White counterparts. It would be incorrect for me to say that all White educators are of this nature because that is simply not true, but having some type of authority figure who shares a similar background as myself makes a world of a difference. Now as a senior, I have decided to up my courses, taking a total of two AP courses and two honors courses to truly challenge myself. Although my confidence in my ability to take on a harder workload has changed, my drive for reaching success has always been consistent. I have learned that I am not only prepared to champion the endeavors in academics but I will also do my part to challenge factors working to suppress the advancement of students and professors of color. In college, I will continue to enroll in courses that not only allow me to attain knowledge but also broaden my perspective of the surrounding world, rather than simply filling a course requirement or just “looking good on a transcript.”