My senior year has been one of immense challenges and growth. At the end of junior year, I was riding high on academic success: I had completed an all-AP and Honors course load with straight A’s, scored a 1550 on the SAT, and earned 4’s and 5’s on my AP exams. Balancing 2 part-time jobs, coaching volleyball and rigorous academics, I was excited for my senior year. But my world was turned upside down. First, I was called to take my grandmother to the hospital with symptoms of advanced uterine cancer. She moved in with our family under hospice care. Meanwhile, my older brother, a 20-year-old college sophomore was diagnosed with advanced-stage testicular cancer that had metastasized to his abdomen and lungs. He returned home for surgery and high-dose chemotherapy treatments, and our family’s focus shifted entirely to caring for him. I assumed the responsibilities of caring for my younger sister and grandmother. I managed cooking and driving my sister to activities, administering medications, while also juggling my schoolwork and college applications. I discovered true independence and full accountability for myself. My worst setback was that my grades fell in Multi-variable Calculus and AP Physics-C. I was so afraid to miss these classes that I made round trips to and from the hospital to attend these classes. I was deeply frustrated because I had sacrificed so much to maintain straight A’s. This experience helped me find my voice as I talked with my teachers and advocated for myself. My struggles were minor in comparison to my brother’s, after all, I had my health and the opportunity to go to school, which he no longer had. This adversity has solidified my passion for pursuing a degree in computer science. I want to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology to create transformative solutions that improve lives. Witnessing the impact of delayed diagnoses on my grandmother and brother has inspired me to develop AI systems that can bridge the gap between symptoms and timely medical intervention. I will create solutions that empower patients to articulate their symptoms so that doctors can diagnose more effectively. I am drawn to AI for its potential to enhance human experiences. I want to immerse myself in the algorithms, safety, and ethics to ensure AI blends human intuition with machine intelligence to serve humanity better. I have inspired many others to consider a STEM field. I represent the math and computer science departments as a school ambassador. Tutoring and teaching Java coding has been particularly rewarding, as I love helping others see the beauty in math and coding. And I serve on the Teen Board of an after-school non-profit community center to help children see their potential. I am impressed by the diligent academic achievements of Richard and Rebecca Whiddon, and would be honored to carry their light as I realize our shared dream of personal growth and inspiring others. My ability to afford a private school has changed. My father took a leave of absence to care for my brother, my mother does not work, and we are supporting my grandmother living with us. We have unexpected medical expenses and we are looking at cancer treatment trials not covered by insurance. I have been accepted at the The University of Notre Dame, and would graciously apply scholarship funds toward giving my 100% best effort to boldly pursue success in school. As President Trump said in his Inauguration speech, “Impossible is what we do best,” and I feel empowered to rise to every challenge to achieve my dream of creating innovative solutions that transform lives.

Math has always been a subject that sparks joy and curiosity within me. I love how math challenges me to think critically, solve problems creatively, and uncover patterns hidden in the world around us. I enjoy participating in various math competitions, including traveling twice to the University of Oklahoma Math Day, where I was thrilled to advance to the final round. These experiences have not only sharpened my problem-solving skills but also deepened my appreciation for the collaborative and competitive aspects of mathematics. Beyond competitions, I find immense satisfaction in sharing my love for math with others. As a member of the Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, I have had the privilege of tutoring my peers at school. One of my favorite moments is seeing the light in someone’s eyes when they finally understand a concept I’ve explained. I am especially passionate about encouraging other girls to embrace math and build their confidence in a field where women are often underrepresented. Through my role as a school ambassador for the math and computer science departments, I actively encourage prospective students and younger classmates to enroll in the more challenging math courses our school offers, helping them realize their potential. My own journey in math has not been without challenges. Taking AP Calculus BC and Multivariable Calculus in high school initially seemed intimidating, but these courses taught me to overcome fear and self-doubt. They pushed me to think differently and explore complex mathematical concepts that I never thought I could master. I have gained confidence not only in my abilities but also in my capacity to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of difficult math. I love discovering how these advanced concepts apply to real-life scenarios, such as optimization in manufacturing and other industries. My passion for math has also opened the door to the world of computer science. Coding allows me to apply analytical reasoning and logic to develop technological solutions for real-world problems. It also taps into my creative side, enabling me to express myself in ways I never imagined. I teach coding at Code Ninjas and at Wesley Rankin Community Center where I especially love empowering young women to embrace math. I have transformed from a shy student into a confident leader. I plan to attend college, earning degrees in computer science and math to become an expert technologist or engineer, and drive meaningful change in our world.

My senior year has been tragic. Undetected cancer has motivated me to use my passion for coding and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve a real-world problem in healthcare. With this drive, I aim to establish a technology solutions company that empowers individuals to identify symptoms and connect them to potential health concerns. By leveraging AI, my company would help people advocate for themselves to their primary care physicians, enabling earlier diagnosis and life-saving treatment. This vision is profoundly personal. Last fall, my grandmother endured months of unexplained bleeding and pain before being diagnosed with advanced uterine cancer. A tool connecting her symptoms to a fatal condition would have propelled her to visit her gynecologist and detect the cancer earlier, but instead she is on hospice unable to undergo the multi-modal treatments required to save her life. Similarly, my 20 yr. old brother experienced back pain, stomach pain, and breathing difficulties before being diagnosed with advanced testicular cancer last November. These symptoms, though seemingly unrelated, could have been connected by AI to suggest appropriate tests last summer, saving him from his cancer metastasizing to his abdomen and lungs, and lowering him to the worst level of prognosis. A simple blood test for tumor marker levels would have alerted his physician of cancer, a cause no one considered because he was otherwise a healthy, athletic young man. My company’s mission is to develop an AI-powered platform that analyzes patient-reported symptoms and offers a list of potential conditions and recommended diagnostic tests. The solution would bridge the gap between patients and doctors, ensuring no critical symptoms are overlooked. By enabling patients to articulate their concerns effectively, my platform could dramatically improve early detection rates for severe illnesses, allowing the start of treatment sooner and saving lives. I am deeply passionate about starting my company so I can combine my love for technology with the spiritual fulfillment I feel when I make a meaningful impact. Witnessing the struggles of my grandmother and brother has ignited my determination to prevent others from enduring similar delays in diagnosis. By empowering individuals with knowledge to be their own health advocate, I will revolutionize the healthcare system. Unlike working within an established corporation, entrepreneurship gives me the freedom to go to market quickly, prioritize innovation, and avoid bureaucratic delays. I prefer to have autonomy of my developments. I have learned that entrepreneurship requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to take calculated risks, however, my passion for the limitless potential of AI drives me to develop solutions I can take to market with my own enterprise. My company will save lives, empower patients, and shift the focus toward proactive, patient-centered care. A scholarship would allow me to pursue my education in computer science and business. I am uniquely positioned to use my math, coding, and leadership skills to urgently bring my company into reality and create a world where no symptom goes unnoticed, and no diagnosis comes too late. Thank you for your consideration, Macy Soderberg