For me, my physics degree means taking life into my own hands. As a woman of color, I’ve often been intimidated to enter the privileged and objectively white male-dominated world of STEM. However, by obtaining my degree, I want to challenge the norms and showcase a level of aptitude that can garner respect. That slip of paper levels the playing field between women of color and the privilege that excludes us from having equal opportunities. When pursuing a degree in STEM, the challenges that arise can be psychologically damaging for women of color. But, these issues in STEM are a reflection of how women of color are treated in society and the lack of respect they are shown by health care. My mother has been a victim of this lack, who now suffers End Stage Renal failure as a result of a misdiagnosis, and who has faced a discrepancy in treatment for her pain and condition. With my degree, I will help create and refine emerging technologies that can be used to detect health issues early on and prevent the negative consequences that arise as a result. By applying physical principles, physics-based technologies can provide detailed images of internal organs and tissues, allowing for early detection of disease. For example, medical imaging technologies like X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans use physics principles to create images that help detect early signs of diseases such as cancer and even kidney failure. Additionally, physics-based instruments such as ultrasound machines, optoacoustic imaging, and wearable devices can monitor vital signs and bodily functions non-invasively, helping to detect health issues early on and allowing ample time for intervention and treatment. The application of nanotechnology and biophysics can also provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of disease and help develop new diagnostic tools and therapies. As a physicist, I could make strides in improving my mother’s condition and prevent others from experiencing similar experiences. As previously mentioned, racial bias is also prevalent in STEM fields which can have negative effects on mental health by creating a hostile and unwelcoming environment that can lead to feelings of isolation, discrimination, and low self-esteem. This can result in increased stress and anxiety, reduced job satisfaction, and decreased motivation and productivity. To protect minority mental health when entering and pursuing these careers I aim to create an initiative to facilitate BIPOC women entering these careers through mentorship, sponsorship and advocating for women of color, and creating inclusive environments. I would like to focus this support on STEM fields that do not have as many initiatives offering support for minority women entering the field such as physics, astronomy, geology, and environmental science. Overall, racial bias in STEM fields and health care has a damaging impact on mental health and the detection and treatment of diseases. My physics degree would be an asset in my mission to improve the world for people like me by providing me with the knowledge to develop better technology to improve the medical field. After I have received my degree, I hope to help others by providing a network of support to improve their mental health. I will use my degree to bring about the change and support that I wished was there for me because a degree is a key to expanding possibilities and my capabilities.