Growing up in a low-income immigrant community, I saw how women around me quietly struggled with their health. I remember moms missing work because they didn’t have the care they needed, young girls feeling ashamed or confused about their periods, and older women dealing with menopause without anyone to guide or support them. These were real people with real challenges, but their stories often felt invisible, like science and medicine hadn’t caught up to what they really needed. That made me want to pursue a career in women’s health, so I could help change that. My dream is to become a missionary doctor, working in places where women don’t just lack access to care, but where they also lack information and respect. I want to create health education tools that are simple, easy to understand, and sensitive to the cultures I serve. I believe that when women know their bodies and have the right support, it changes everything—not just for them, but for their families and communities. Whether I’m teaching young girls about menstrual health or helping women keep track of their reproductive health in ways that fit their language and lifestyle, I want to meet them where they are—with kindness and understanding. One of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had was leading a community health education session on menstrual and reproductive health for young women in my neighborhood. Many of these girls were first-generation immigrants who had never received formal education about their bodies. They came with questions filled with uncertainty and even shame, having never had a safe space to talk openly about things like their menstrual cycles, contraception, or managing pain. I worked hard to create an environment where they could speak freely without judgment. To make the information accessible, I prepared translated handouts and visual aids and explained concepts using simple language. We covered topics like period hygiene, recognizing normal and abnormal symptoms, natural pain relief methods, and how to communicate their needs effectively with healthcare providers. After the session, some girls and their mothers expressed deep gratitude, sharing that they finally felt seen and empowered. That moment reinforced for me how vital it is to meet women with education and empathy—because knowledge can restore control and confidence. Another eye-opening chapter in my journey was my internship at Mount Meru Hospital in Tanzania. There, I witnessed the profound impact of limited resources on women’s health. Maternal complications, delayed diagnoses, and preventable illnesses were far too common. I saw women come to the hospital only when their symptoms had become severe, often because of fear, stigma, or lack of clear information. This experience deepened my understanding of how global women’s health challenges are often tied to a lack of culturally informed communication. It strengthened my resolve to serve with humility and cultural sensitivity—values I believe are critical as medical knowledge. What excites me most about the FemTech field is the chance to create tools that truly fit women’s lives. Every woman’s body is different, and many products out there don’t consider how culture, language, or even access to technology can change what people need. I dream of designing affordable, easy-to-use tools that can help women track their health and feel confident about their bodies, especially in areas where healthcare is difficult to access. This scholarship feels like a perfect fit because it supports exactly what I care about: giving women a stronger voice in health research and care, and creating solutions that actually make a difference. With this support, I hope to keep working toward a world where women’s health is treated with the attention it deserves.

My decision to pursue a degree in STEM is rooted in a lifelong desire to bring healing where it’s most needed. Growing up in a low-income immigrant community, I saw firsthand how preventable diseases could devastate families when care was either out of reach or misunderstood. I remember children in my neighborhood being isolated because they were sick—rejected not out of cruelty, but fear and misinformation. Those early memories planted a desire in me to understand illness, but more importantly, to restore hope and dignity to people whose suffering often goes unseen. Science, to me, is more than facts and data—it’s a tool for compassion. As I continued my education, STEM became a pathway that brought clarity to the questions I carried as a child. I majored in Biological Sciences to better understand the human body, but I didn’t want to stop at the cellular level—I wanted to reach the people behind the diagnoses. During college, I spent a summer interning at Mount Meru Hospital in Tanzania. While there, I encountered the beauty and complexity of delivering care in a resource-limited setting. I also learned a painful but important lesson about cultural sensitivity. A well-intentioned comment I made about learning English and Swahili unintentionally offended some of the nurses. Instead of retreating, I took accountability, apologized sincerely in Swahili, and committed to using the language in daily interactions. That experience taught me that empathy, humility, and cross-cultural respect are just as essential as scientific knowledge. Beyond academics, I’ve devoted myself to serving my community. I co-lead a weekly Bible study, host a walking club to promote physical health, and created a health education series to teach neighbors how to care for themselves and their families. Many people I serve are immigrants or from low-income households, and they often carry the same questions and fears I grew up with. Through these programs, I’ve seen how education can be a powerful form of healing—one that builds trust and empowers people to make informed decisions. As a person of color, I recognize the significance of entering a field where our presence is still underrepresented. I’ve often found myself in spaces where no one looked like me or understood my background. Rather than letting that discourage me, it’s made me more determined to lead with empathy and integrity. I want to be the kind of doctor and scientist who not only treats illness but uplifts voices that have long been ignored. Representation matters—not just for the sake of diversity, but because it shapes how care is delivered and received. My ultimate goal is to become a missionary doctor and serve in underserved regions around the world. I want to work at the intersection of science and service, where I can provide both medical care and human connection. Whether it's through leading public health efforts, mentoring future scientists, or offering clinical care in remote areas, I hope my life’s work will reflect the compassion that inspired me to pursue STEM in the first place. I believe that the future of STEM lies not only in technological advancement, but in its ability to be more inclusive, just, and humane. I hope to be part of that change—someone who brings not only knowledge, but also kindness, humility, and purpose into every space I enter.

I am worth my dreams because I have learned to fight for them with resilience, grace, and faith—even when the world told me they were too big for someone like me. As a young woman growing up in a low-income, immigrant community, I often felt invisible. I saw people struggle with illnesses they couldn’t afford to treat, dreams they couldn’t afford to chase. I felt the weight of expectations—to play it safe, to settle, to make myself small. But deep down, I knew I was meant for something more. I dreamed of becoming a doctor—not just to wear a white coat, but to bring healing and hope to those who feel forgotten. I am now on the path to becoming a missionary physician, serving in resource-limited communities where both medicine and compassion are scarce. That dream has not come without struggle. In college, I faced one of my darkest moments. Anxiety and depression crept into my life, and for months I could barely sleep, eat properly, or focus in class. I cried over small things, withdrew from my friends, and felt like I was falling apart. But I refused to give up. With the help of my family and my faith, I found the strength to keep going. I started hiking to clear my mind, spent time in prayer, and slowly rebuilt myself. I realized that I am not weak for feeling broken—I am strong for choosing to heal. Through that experience, I found my true voice as a woman and a future leader in healthcare. I am not just passionate about medicine; I am committed to serving the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. I now lead weekly programs in my community, including health education classes, walking clubs, and Bible studies. My goal is to create safe spaces where people—especially young women—can learn, grow, and value themselves. I have also served globally, interning at Mount Meru Hospital in Tanzania. There, I saw firsthand how infectious diseases like malaria and typhoid claim lives that could be saved if only the right care were available. I also saw the emotional toll illness takes on mothers and children—worry, isolation, and fear. That’s when I knew my calling was more than treating symptoms. It was to be present, to educate, and to empower others to thrive, even in the most difficult environments. So why am I worth my dreams? Because I have chosen to believe in myself even when it was hard. Because I am committed to building something bigger than myself. Because I carry the hopes of the little girl I once was—the one who wanted to bring joy to hurting children, the one who dreamed of saving lives. As a woman, I believe my worth is not defined by my circumstances, but by the impact I choose to make. And I choose to live boldly, love deeply, and lead with purpose. This fall, I will begin my medical journey at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, a place that aligns with my desire to serve through faith and healing. With your support, I will continue to pursue medicine, ministry, and service fearlessly. I will become a physician who advocates for the forgotten, uplifts women and girls, and uses her voice to create change.

It had been two days since I last slept properly. I was crying over small things, eating when I wasn’t even hungry, and struggling to complete even the most basic tasks. I didn’t understand what was happening to me—until I spoke to a friend and heard the words “stress eating” and “anxiety.” That was my sophomore year of college, the moment I realized I was battling something far more serious than academic pressure. I was facing mental health challenges head-on, and the scariest part was realizing that I wasn’t alone. Friends I thought were thriving quietly admitted they, too, felt overwhelmed. My younger sister, only in high school, was showing signs of panic and worry far beyond her years. It broke my heart to see how widespread and yet invisible mental health struggles were, especially among young people. In many immigrant and underserved communities like mine, mental health is often misunderstood or dismissed. People suffer in silence because they’re afraid of judgment or don’t have access to help. I was fortunate to have the support of my family—especially my mother, who walked with me step by step, reminding me that I mattered, that healing was possible, and that I wasn’t alone. While mental health is an issue close to my heart, my awareness of healthcare inequality expanded even more profoundly when I interned at Mount Meru Hospital in Tanzania. There, I encountered another devastating reality: infectious diseases continue to ravage communities that lack basic medical resources. I saw children with malaria lying on shared beds, mothers fearful that a cough might be tuberculosis, and overworked nurses doing their best with minimal supplies. Some patients walked miles just to be seen, and many left without answers. It was overwhelming—but it also fueled a deep conviction in me. Both of these experiences—my personal battle with mental health and my time in Tanzania—taught me that suffering wears many faces, and that true healthcare must treat both the visible and the invisible. Infectious diseases like malaria, cholera, and tuberculosis are still leading causes of death in many parts of the world—not because we don’t know how to treat them, but because systems fail to reach the people who need help the most. The same is true for mental health. Whether someone is facing depression or dengue, they deserve access to care, compassion, and dignity. This dual burden of mental and infectious diseases, especially in resource-limited settings, is why I am pursuing a career in medicine. I want to become a physician who serves where the need is greatest, not just with medical knowledge, but with empathy, cultural understanding, and a commitment to long-term impact. I’ve led health education programs in my local community, taught children about hygiene and wellness, organized walking clubs, and led Bible study groups that give people space to share their burdens. These experiences showed me that healing begins with presence—and that the best healthcare providers are those who listen, uplift, and empower. As a future missionary doctor, I hope to build clinics that address both infectious disease and mental health—places where someone can come with a fever or a broken heart and find hope. Medical school is a necessary step in this journey, but it comes with financial barriers that can be daunting. Receiving the TRAM Panacea Scholarship would ease that burden and allow me to stay focused on my mission: to be a doctor who heals the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—and brings comfort where it is most needed.

As a young girl in a refugee camp, the world was often full of mysteries and fear. There was a boy my age (around 8 years old) who, like me, played, laughed, and smiled like any other child. Yet, unlike the others, he was shunned and feared. When his body convulsed in seizures, our community, myself included, believed he was possessed through witchcraft. The haunting sight of his helpless shaking met with avoidance rather than assistance, became a chilling routine. Such fates were also encountered by many children who suffered from abnormal conditions. Our ignorance, derived from a lack of medical knowledge and resources, made it easier to accept supernatural explanations than to understand the reality of illness. This ignorance bred fear, and fear led to isolation. This changed with the arrival of a missionary doctor who diagnosed the boy with epilepsy and provided treatment, dispelling the myths and fears surrounding his condition. Witnessing the boy and others in his position regain their dignity and joy deeply touched me. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing the power and necessity of medical knowledge and care. This experience ignited a fire within me, a desire to pursue a career in pediatric medicine where I could bring understanding and healing to those in need. I realized that medicine was not just about healing the body, but also about empowering communities and children in despair. I want to foster the same feeling of freedom and reinstatement in kids as the missionary doctor did for the boy. Similar stories are often heard in many remote areas such as where I grew up in. As a constantly sick child myself, medicine was like that gift I could never get no matter how hard I wished or dream for it. It was as precious to me as air. The only familiar doctor close to me was my mom’s friend who knew a thing or two about herbal medicine. For that reason, I want to gift this gift to many children around the world as a pediatrician, so that they may live a longer, joyful, happy life. This passion for pediatric medicine has been pursuing me throughout my personal life as I have used my skills to bring fulfillment to kids’ lives through tutoring, babysitting, and volunteering at the hospital. These experiences bring me closer to understanding kids and their vulnerabilities, which in return will serve me a great purpose as a pediatrician.

I live in an underrepensated community on government housing (African-American community, incoming international families) where receiving basic life needs is a struggle. I always do my best to serve this community in the best way that I can. For example, a food pantry is placed just 5 minutes from us to serve our community. I always, whenever I find time, go there to help provide support by volunteering to serve food, and clothes to the community. Throughout this service, I can bring comfort to the family that comes as I interact with them to lighten up their day or encourage them daily that life is more than just food to eat. I have also served my community by volunteering at a neighborhood homeless shelter. Through this service, I help around such as babysitting as parent(s) go out for courses, or looking for jobs, I tutor if a kid is struggling with school work, and I provide help during fundraising events. This service shaped me into a compassionate individual as it taught me not fight for my life but also to care for others' needs. The strong desire to help my community, and expand this throughout the entire world is influenced by my Christian faith values of living like Jesus. Not a single life has been beautiful to me such as that of Jesus whose heart is selfless, loving, humble, and graceful. I grew up in a Christian faith family and decided to give my life to Christ when I was twelve years old. I have read the Bible multiple times, but on countless have read the story of Jesus more than three times. This story has inspired me to become more like Jesus, for that's where happiness comes from. Happiness and true religion consist of "serving the needy, comfort the window, and serve the orphans". This whole value has shaped my future career goal of becoming a missionary doctor. As a future missionary doctor, I was to uphold these values and serve any community that needs the love of God, no matter their race, religion, culture, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. It is through this career goal that I can show people that our life purpose here on earth is to serve each other, bring hope where it is needed, and wait gracefully for the coming of our Lord Jesus to bring us where there is no suffering but peace and joy abundantly.

My name is Merveille Muyizere, a devoted Christian with a passion and goal of giving my life to Jesus as his servant. I grew up with a blurry vision of what my future looks like. Thirteen years in a refugee camp provided me with nothing but fewer expectations for myself. But deep inside of me, I knew God had a better future prepared for me. Without a clear view of my future, I still was a devoted student in school by getting great grades and many awards for my academic performance. I continue to go to church and believe that God will provide if I work hard and kept believing in him. Five years ago, I, my mother, and my two siblings moved to the US as immigrants. From that day, I wanted to thank God forever for the kind of opportunity he decided to shine upon me by becoming a missionary. I have always wanted to become a doctor given the fact that many people close to me died due to the lack of proper medical assistance. That's why I have decided to provide others with hope by becoming a missionary doctor. Through this dream, I can not only provide others with hope, but I can also help others sufferings see a clear view of their future. I am currently an undergraduate student double majoring in Biology and French, which will help me be prepared for my medical career and expand my horizons. Preparing for my dream, I came to understand that it does not only require knowledge of medicine, but also a great connection with God and people. Since I want to be a missionary in countries with great help needed such as Africa and Asia, I have been learning various languages such as Japanese, Korean and Chinese. I am also currently fluent in French and another African language Lingala. In learning more about these languages, I indulge myself with their cultures and find a deep connection with them that not distances can cut apart. Being able to finally one day be present in front of them, and heal them will fulfill my achievement in life. The one important thing that inspired me to follow this journey is the life Jesus lived in this world. I have read the Bible during my entire life, and I have fallen in love with the life of Jesus whenever I read the book of Mathew. A young, single man living solely to save others by preaching to them and showing them mercy through healing. That's why I decided to have the same kind of life as him. This does not necessarily mean that I gotta start when I finish my education. My journey started since I gave my life to him. I have been volunteering at multiple areas such as feed my starving children, Batavia interfaith food pantry, and Delnor hospital. I believe these experiences give me both the chance to give back to my community and be prepared for my bigger journey ahead of a missionary general surgeon. Seeing the joy and happiness on people's faces is what excites me the most about this world. I want to be the kind of person who helps others find joy and happiness. Through being a missionary every day of my life, I can witness many people living their life with an abundance of happiness. Despite the challenges I am facing and will face, I still believe that through God's power and my resilience I will make a great missionary.

For four years now, I live in a community surrounded by people deprived of natural resources to go on about their day. In fact, I, myself, am an immigrant who has been living in a government house like others around my community for four years. Many community programs such as the Batavia interfaith food pantry, Mercy housing, and Batavia school district have very much helped my family get the necessary help we need to live life in abundance. As thankful as I was, I decided to give back to my community through volunteering my time. I have volunteered at the Batavia Interfaith food pantry for a couple of months now, and It has been a great experience as it provided me with the opportunity to make a difference in others' lives in the way that my community has done to me. Many people wake up every day wondering what to eat and what clothes to wear for the day. And as I volunteered at the pantry, I can ease their worries by giving them food and clothes, along with a bright smile that provides them with the hope of tomorrow. I also have provided many donations of food and clothes myself. For example, I recently won a fifty dollars Walmart gift card in which I used to buy food for donations at the pantry. Some pretty and in good condition clothes of mine were also donated to the pantry. All these small actions of mine can at least help a family with food and clothes issues, and also reminded them that there is hope out there to make it through the world. Since I do not have much to give and make this community a better place, I choose to give my time in whatever way I can, so that we can become a community full of friendly people, and less deprived people. The American dream is not only available to those who were born here, to those who had rich parents, to those who had a great education. But it also available to everyone willing to achieve it. This wonderful dream is faster accomplished when people go out on their way to give back to others in whatever way they can, because as they said: " good work is accomplished when done together". So, as I go out of my way every day to volunteer and donate to others, more people will slowly be able to live the kind of life they want to in the future. Overall, As I help out others and use my time to give back, the more opportunities and motivation people will have to accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves in the future.

I used to hate that he makes my life difficult by studying physics, but now I love him for providing this world with an excellent insight into how the world works. That is my favorite scientist Isaac Newton. Every time I will seat in my class, I will ask myself if Newton had nothing better to do than coming up with difficult problems that people in the future will have to work hard to understand. Not everyone is a genius, especially me, but whenever I thrive myself to understand Newton's works such as the law of force, I found myself passionate and motivated to challenge myself more in the STEM courses, and look forward to challenges that I will face in the future. His discoveries, and accomplishments such as telescope, and calculus provide people, like me, with the opportunities to believe that so much can be discovered or researched.

"Go back to your country; you toxic woman" was a common phrase people used to address my mother. I used to call her "mama makassi," which means a strong woman. But her real name is "Faina Kampire," meaning the one who accomplishes. My mother did not choose to be a polyonymous woman, that's something that life has provided for her. After being the sole survivor of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide in her family, my mother strived very hard to find a new identity in foreign lands. Her challenges started from a country where she was unwanted ( Gongo), to a nation filled with opportunities (USA). However, her despair to overcome several impediments has shaped me into a very accomplishing, and promising person. Meaning, living as a courageous woman's daughter has taught me a fresh way to identify myself forever. My lesson started at the age of four in a refugee camp situated in Congo; that provided a home to many fugitives of the Rwandan Genocide, such as my mother. Although this camp was home to us, it was also at the same time an open hidden spot from the natural-born citizens of Congo. Most of our days in the camp were filled with sorrows as the citizens invaded our territories, destroyed our properties, and made our lives more strenuous than it was. The best my mother could do for me and my siblings was placing us under the bed while properly covering our ears; not only to hide us from the enemies but to also prevent her kids, from losing innocence in all those sufferings. But the truth is, under that bed, I grew up extremely quickly. My sister and brother are crying of fear, but me fantasizing about our dad appearing out of nowhere as a superman and making the enemies disappear. There was no fear in my eyes in those moments. I couldn't bring myself to talk to my mother about these secrets because, for some reason, I sensed that she knew. She is a mother after all, but not a mother for nothing. Like other mothers, my mother also wanted to provide a better life for my siblings and me. A life more than going to the forest and making coals, a life more than selling food to the markets, a life more than farming, and life more than going to school with no teachers. However, as a single mother, that dream seemed unachievable to many, especially in the refugee camp. Nonetheless, my mother reminded me that a dream doesn't realize itself through magic but through will power, assiduous attitude, and braveness. In 2009, my mother, with all courage, presented her case to the UNHCR ( United Nations High Commissioner for refugees) for better living assistance. This was an audacious move that forever made me applaud my mother. Because the fact of being illiterate didn't stop her, and it was complicated for a non-citizen to receive assistance from the government. But after many years of dealing with the immigration system ( getting citizenship), pleading, suspicious interviews, and insults, finally in 2016 her case was accepted and acknowledged by the United States government to resettle there. Until today, I could envision my mother's face on that day as she kneeled crying and apologizing for being a mother for once in her life. Sometimes, whenever I reminisce about that moment, I used to question myself whether what she apologized for was a fact. Today, I believe she was more than a mother. She was our hope for a better future. Her patience through these struggles only made her stronger each day and increased her desire for something more for her life. She couldn't and never let obstacles decide her destiny. She wanted to create a new life not only for herself but also more importantly for her precious kids with no help from the father. Like her, I always repudiate to let struggles take control of my life. Because everyone has Goliaths, and if we can't be a David to our Goliaths, who can?. As I depart for my journey on becoming a missionary surgeon, the impediments will be greater than before. But thanks to my mother, I have come to the belief that life is more than a dream, more than our circumstances, and more than our status. Due to this belief, I wanted to do some great in my life, something that will make me proud of myself when I reach my end years. So I decided to not only become a general surgeon, but also a missionary surgeon. That way, I will provide hope to the people whose life seems darker than it is. Like my mother, I want to become a person that will remind others that "[ they] will face many defeats in life, but [ they should ] never let [themselves] be defeated" (Maya Angelou).

I grew up in a refugee camp in Africa where I could witness the death of people vainly due to sickness. So, my interest in science grew from then. I wanted to be a doctor that heals the sick from their hopeless physical and mental health. And Science seemed the only path that will guide me in becoming a doctor. So, from then I choose to follow my path in the STEM field. However, this was not the only one that pushed me to pursue a career in the STEM field. My parents also played a huge role in my interest in the STEM field. Both of my parents have lives a tragic childhood and they were unable to complete their full education. They both never went to college or high school, but I could witness their thirst and hunger to get a proper education like everyone else. My father was an expert and loved math very much. My mother on the other was very passionate about science. From my elementary years and middle school years, they were the ones who helped me with my math and science homework. They always forced me to be the best at these core courses, saying that these fields will provide me with the ability to reason and make something big of myself in the future. Despite our difficulties and traditions, my parents always believed that I could make my dream and their dreams come true. We all had the same dream. Their dream was to have a doctor in their family, and my dream was always to become a doctor so I can help others. That's where my passion for the STEM field lies. With STEM, I can be able to pursue my medical career from college to medical school. A medical career requires a lot of skills, and among them are analytical skills, critical thinking, technical, problem-solving, and resilience. All these skills can be acquired through the classes offered by the STEM fields. For example, my major in Biology provides me with laboratory classes that provide me with the opportunity to supplement my analytical and critical thinking skills. For that reason, I believe that STEM helps me acquire many skills and knowledge that will serve as a weapon for my success in both medical school and my career as a general surgeon. My dream is to become a missionary general surgeon. I plan to travel around the world where great help is needed and heal others. I know this is a long journey for me to accomplish, but I believe with courage, resilience, and the knowledge gained from STEM, I can make it through no matter how long.