Growing up in an atmosphere that teaches that every part of your mind matters has had the greatest effect on what area I am interested in. The main focus is your view, emotions, feelings, and speaking your truth is something I've grown up knowing. With this in mind, has pushed me towards learning the intricate, convoluted, and amazing ways in which the human brain functions and processes under certain situations, circumstances and environments. I'm most interested in researching neuroscience and bioengineering with a concentration in pre-med during my undergraduate degree. My research and my passion for researching mental illnesses and diseases reflect the technological aspect of my interest; I intend to find and improve brain stimulation methods that are ideally non-invasive and successful in mental illness patients with varying issues such as ADHD, Epilepsy, Bipolar disorder, depression, etc. Brain stimulation technologies such as Electroconvulsive therapy, are known to be barbaric in addition to its effectiveness. I want to find ways of treating mental illnesses without it being painful or traumatizing for patients and even doctors, as they instill pain through such drastic treatment methods. My passion for studying the symptoms of ADHD, depression, and epilepsy and how they're linked is what's at the center of my passion for neuroscience and bioengineering. Through my pre-med during Undergrad, to med school, to becoming an official MD, I vow and aspire to be vigilant and committed to my passions, regardless of their rigor, time consumption, and ambition because in the end my biggest motivation is this: To make sure patients get the treatment they deserve in a way that'll help them both physically and mentally, in order to make our world filled with such brilliant and individual minds able to prosper in their uniqueness and individuality.

I was always raised to be honest; express how I feel and to speak my mind. Being raised in a household in which brutal honesty is a mindset everyone has is what's made me passionate about the things I do today. My family always instilled in me the idea of staying truthful, and how the lessons I grew up learning and the lessons my family taught as they watch me grow is just one seed planted in my brain next to millions that are currently prospering. The human brain is interesting, complex, and convoluted in the best way imaginable. Learning the endless ways the brain adapts, or doesn't, under certain circumstances and environments, around certain people and situations, is what gives each and every human being their individuality and uniqueness. Using the lessons I've always been taught, I'm using this to succeed in my most ambitious aspirations: to become a neurosurgeon and do research on new developing brain stimulation technologies that affect illnesses of the mind. My dreams are about as big as they come, that's not a bad thing, but in order to that I have to work hard and push through until I get there. Today, I can say I've become an accumulation of people in my life I've looked up to and learned from my entire life. My parents teaching me persistence and perseverance being an immigrant from a third world country who had to adapt to the American education system, my sisters teaching me to be honest to myself and other no matter who gets uncomfortable, and my grandmother who taught me to be fearless and powerful whenever I walk into the room or pursue my dreams regardless of what others think. The lessons I've learned inspired me to dream the biggest and most intricate thing known to human existence: the human brain. Discovering how minds work to develop conditions and mental illnesses and developing brain technologies has always been something I've been interested in. As of right now, I'm doing research for neuroscience and neuroethics inspired and encouraged by the National Institute of Health as to how Electroconvulsive Therapy is used on certain mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression, and originally epilepsy because of the cells it produces in the brain. I work to uplift marginalized communities in the medical field in any way that I can; whether it be through doing research, doing fundraisers and research organizations, and much more. Being brought up in a household where telling the truth knowing your mind and beliefs pushed me toward the field I'm interested in, but not in the way most people would think. I strive to be an inspiration to others pursuing a career in STEM as well as diagnose, research, and quite possibly cure a mental illness. I've had family members struggle with mental illnesses and disorders such as epilepsy and ADHD and doing everything in my power in order to become someone who can treat that is my main goal in life.

(Contains Spoilers for Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice) Amelia Shepard from the TV series Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, is my role model and inspiration for where I want to get in life. In the show, she is perhaps the strongest character, with the most character development than any other character in the show. She was always looked upon as the "underdog," her older brother Derek Shepard, a world class neurosurgeon who everyone thought was better than Amelia, was the golden child; an excellent doctor and chief of his department at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. In her past (in the show Private Practice) she had a history with drugs that started when she was young, which damaged her relationship with her family, her friends, and her career. Amelia had hit rock bottom when her fiancé Overdosed and died in the same bed with her, and she lost her son at birth. Her family practically disowned her, she didn't talk to her friends, and she felt like the only thing she could actually rely on was drugs. That was until she went into rehab and has been in recovery ever since. Amelia has been through way more and has overcome it all even stronger. She became one of the best neurosurgeons in the world, she graduated top of her class at Harvard, and adopted a child of a mother who had a drug addiction too. She shaped the person I am and the career I want to pursue. There isn't enough time, or amount of words to describe everything she's done after overcoming the things she did. I want to be someone who can overcome any challenge I'm faced with no matter who's against me, Amelia Frances Shepard is someone who has that ability and become the person nobody expected her to be. My aspirations are too ambitious to be done without facing adversity and doubt from others. For this reason I want to be able to prove people wrong while doing what I dream to do, but to do it for me. That's another thing about Amelia, she does everything in her life for herself and nobody else. She estranged from her family because she was that passionate about what her life had to offer regardless of who was made uncomfortable by it. Having a passion and drive for what you love to do that is so brutal to other people is powerful. I don't mean to say I want to estrange from my family or disappoint the people who care most about me, but she did those things reluctant but beneficially for her own well being. She understands her morals, capabilities and that she is her own person which is something nobody can take away from her. Throughout watching Grey's Anatomy and its spinoffs, I've always felt a strong relationship with Amelia. Although she is a fictional character, everything she stands for; redeeming yourself, not giving up no matter what you've been thorough, overcoming your past and what others think of you, and living life to it's fullest with all of it's offerings is what I needed to see in a show like that in order to show me that I have what it takes to do whatever I want in life no matter how big or small, ambitious or predictable. I'm no longer ambivalent about standing up for myself and speaking for myself because of the inspiration I've gained from this character. I hope to learn lessons like those along my journey onto bigger and better things and additional lessons that I could pass teach other people as she has taught me in a way I'll always implement and never forget.

https://www.tiktok.com/@anahymanzanares/video/6880285012609043713?lang=en BigDreams.

An aspiring neurosurgeon who hopes to change lives in any way possible in order to prevent brain injuries and mental illnesses, and do research on how certain disorders start out and finding ways to change that. A person who does everything in their power to make sure people know just what they're capable of; showing what's possible through another perspective. Someone who wants to see a change in the way the world works, and believes that it starts with the brain; how people think and the way we see each other. Views individuality as something that's crucial in keeping the world healthy; but not in a way that discriminates against others. Pursuing a prestigious education in which I don't get certain opportunities for reasons like "not starting out small," perhaps going to a community college or getting a degree in one major, or being too young to get any rewards for a dream. In pursuing my career, holistic, and personal goals, I'm hoping to make a difference in the medical field in any way I can. As a result, I have already started doing research encouraged by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in new brain technologies, how they relate to Nueroethics and surgery, as well as ethical and societal implications. When we leave out age, or where I am currently in my education; my accomplishments and aspirations are just as valid and deserving as anyone who is currently in College or University. I'm preparing myself currently as many college students are preparing themselves right now, which is why I'm a competitive applicant. Sometimes I think that being a black women, who, quoted by Malcom X, "Is the most disrespected person in America," as well as having very ambitious educational and career goals can be intimidating rather than unrealistic. Which is why I think opportunities like this one often pass over me. I'm my own person who has my own dreams and aspirations and leaving out the things that could make me successful is unfair, rather than looking at the myriad of things I could accomplish isn't right. As a person first, I would make sure it's known to people that I think anyone no matter what their aspirations are, and what obstacles they may have to face on the way, can achieve anything they put their heart and mind to. What makes me unique and, more prepared to achieve my goals is that I am looking to expand my ways of thinking not only academically by taking rigorous classes, maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and doing research; I'm also preparing myself holistically. One of the major parts of being in the medical field as a career, in my desired specialty, is being able to communicate with people and be better able to make others feel comfortable not only with your service and skill, but with you as a person. Unlike many people who only think of the scientific aspects of working in the medical field no matter what specialty or area, many seem to overlook this important skill you need to have in order to be successful, not just with being in the medical field but anywhere in general. By volunteering in nursing homes and babysitting, getting a better look at people of all ages and points in their life I'm better able to see what kind of people I'd be working with as a doctor and how to address them according to age, race, cultural background, religion, mannerisms, etc. Being aware and respectful of people's beliefs, culture, and mannerisms help you interact with people without coming off as disrespectful or insensitive to people's ideals. These are all lessons I've learned from my own experience by learning new things and talking to different people. If there's one thing you take away from learning about me it's this: I genuinely want to make the world a better, safer, and healthier place. I don't want to do this more for any other reason besides that one. I hope you'll help me make the world a better place for everyone the right way.

Neuroethics and the study of the different societal and ethical implications that different recently developed as well as old brain technologies have on societies. Through my research, I plan on finding and implementing new ways of thinking into the neuroethical and neurosurgical fields of medicine and discovering new ideas and ways of using different therapies, medicines, and technologies used for different illnesses of the mind outside of their original use. As an example, quite recently, I've been researching the evolution, understanding, and purposes of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and how it could be used on patients with ADHD in addition to their original purpose being Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Mania, and Epilepsy. As a result of ADHD patients having the same symptoms and hormonal imbalances as people with these other mental illnesses have that are treated with ECT. However, the societal and ethical viewpoint is a hard one; since there are many controversial opinions on ECT treatment. With this research grant, I plan on expanding further into this research as well as research on other brain technologies that are more recently developed such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and to learn more about it's uses and advancements in comparison to ECT and other brain stimulation technologies. I plan on using this grant in a way that benefits other people and people with mental illnesses affecting their everyday lives through my empathy and compassion for my love of the brain and patients with mental illnesses affecting so many areas of the brain I want to delve deeper into this research that could one day quite possibly save many lives and improve many mental illness treatments that go deeper into ethics and society than we realize.

Spray on skin. When you hear that, you're most likely thinking that it sounds unreal; something out of a movie or story. The concept in which you can quite literally obtain new skin after damaging the original is bizarre, divergent, and absolutely brilliant. The woman behind it is named Fiona Wood; who's a British plastic surgeon who is a director of the Royal Perth Hospital burns unit and the Western Australia Burns Service. She is known for having done research on burn scars and finding ways to produce cells in order to cover major burns, help them heal, and reduce scarring. This research and her ideas always fascinated me from the beginning when I first read a children's book by Cristy Burne on "STEM Stars" which featured Fiona Wood and how she not only become a magnificent physician, but also overcame obstacles and adversity in the face of being a woman pursuing a career in medicine. Her achievements have spoken to me greatly and I've used her as a lifelong inspiration to help me learn how to persevere in the face of doubt from others, as well as how to be creative with any ideas I have because anything can happen. Although I'm pursuing a career as a neurosurgeon mainly studying neuroscience and neuroethics, I will never forget the lessons I've learned from her as she pursued her career in plastic surgery. My goals in the medical field besides just being a neurosurgeon, include fighting for women and their right and encouragement to never be afraid of aspiring and pursuing a career in medicine, as well as staying encouraged to pursue what I please in spite of those who doubt me. Just like how she passed down so many lessons and knowledge down to me as a next generation woman in medicine, I also hope to be an inspiration to someone aspiring to have a career in medicine as she was mine.

I progressed from taking reasonably simple courses throughout middle school to pursuing AP and Honors classes during my first year of high school at just the onset of my first year of high school. The workload, the pressure to partake in extracurricular programs, and the need to get on a freshly broken leg and surgery to and from school was quite daunting. During this time, I was one-week post-op bringing myself on my crutches every day to and from school; which is around 4 miles a day on a broken ankle. In addition to not being able to walk, the immediate amount of work thrown my way during the first week of school was a hardship and the rather insurmountable pain I was in was troublesome. I didn't have anyone to help me bring my things, couldn't take the elevators, and for months I was constantly tired. My parents and grandmother strive so hard to raise me the right way and demonstrate to me the significance of education. None of my family members went to college, but they have always been insistent on me getting the utmost education I can achieve. They are the most hardworking people I could ever ask for, and the number of hours they have to work didn't allow them any time to drive me to and from school every day; so I got up hours earlier than normal to get there on my own. My family's hardworking nature and determination inspired me to push through the burdens I had at the time, and the ones I have today. My father taught me perseverance through his experiences of being an African American man in America, My mother taught me to be patient through her experiences of being a first child, like me, as well as being an African immigrant, and my grandmother taught me to be wise and fearless in the eyes of adversity through her experiences of working as a maid since birth in her country of Ethiopia. The lessons I learned from them are the ones I applied to in my everyday life, and never at a time more than this one. This experience taught me the importance of strength, will power, and grace; how the power you hold when you possess these lessons can get you through the face of any obstacle in your path. I acquired the appreciation for having two legs to walk on my entire life, I thought about the millions of people who live like this every day, and I commend them to this day for their strength and willingness to never give up. Thinking about this made me realize I'm healthy, I have clothes on my back, food to eat, a safe home, and a family who loves and supports me, and I have two working legs that get me where I need to be; I have more than most. I was grateful for what I had and thought about how that's how it should always be, rather than focusing on what you don't have. I am an accumulation of the lessons taught to me by my family, my history, where I come from, as well as the knowledge and realizations I have on my own through experiences and challenges like this one. Despite this, I managed to get a 4.2 GPA freshman year and eventually made it to the varsity basketball team shortly after my ankle healed, jumping right into action the minute I could realize that the opportunity to do so could be taken from me in an instant. The lessons I've learned, revelations I had, and admiration I acquired for others who live like this with certain disabilities and illnesses I will never forget, and they will stay with me for the rest of my life. I finally understood that I needed to get an education, make my family proud after everything they went through to get me where I am; working endlessly, providing for me, encouraging me. Some children don't have these things and I'm grateful for what I have and know I can't take it for granted. Although my family didn't go to college or get a degree, they learned and taught me lessons that can never be taught at any school, ivy league or top university; the importance of being strong and patient in the face of obstacles thrown your way, to stay kind and humble no matter what, and to be grateful you have no matter how infinitesimal.