“We all go… what you leave should be bigger than you”, a quote by Cameron Boyce that has resonated with me since his passing. Leaving an impact is important to me, which is why I take initiative to do so in my community. Growing up in Jacksonville I have seen so many underserved and underrepresented, which has inspired my passion for public health. I believe that everyone should have the opportunity and access to be healthy. Living with my grandparents has taught me a different type of appreciation for things compared to my peers, like the importance of education. Because my grandparents didn't grow up in a time where education was equal for everyone, I have learned to truly value the privilege of going to school and having the opportunity to learn. Their experiences have served as a source of inspiration, motivating me to make the most of my educational opportunities and seize the chances they never had. This has instilled in me the importance of advancing my education, something I hope to contribute to the HBCU community by engaging in collaborative community, study body, and the prestigious academics. My aim is to continue the HBCU legacy as the next generation and one day join the long list of notable alumni. I have found human development interesting after taking Human Growth and Development through my local community college. While I found this class very interesting and informational I could not get over the fact that almost all of the diagrams we viewed and information we read only catered to a certain group of people. I want people to recognize that studying medicine means that we have to study medicine pertaining to all cultures and diaspora. We cannot just look at the majority and apply it to the minority. We must pay attention to minorities as well. I truly believe that attending an HBCU gives me the opportunity to focus on minority health and bring awareness to these disparities. I believe that the education that an HBCU offers will better prepare me for a career in public health with their health science program ensuring that I will deliver proper care to people who look like me. “By us, for us” is a common phrase used to describe these historically black institutions. I believe that the education that Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University will give me an education that is unmatched. It will start the foundation in my educational and career path that will help me make medicine more inclusive for people, especially those who look like me.

In order to promote the general welfare of all individuals in society, I intend to major in health sciences. Public health has piqued my interest since the COVID 19 pandemic where many people were affected by the disease, especially minorities. In the Jacksonville community, many of my peers were scared to get vaccinated due to the misinformation about the vaccine and the pandemic itself, which was justified. It's hard to trust a system that has been mistreating certain individuals for centuries. Like the Tuskegee syphilis experiment in the early 1900s, where groups of black men were unknowingly studied by a U.S. department with the promise of free healthcare. The government has been failing to protect certain groups or truly acknowledge these things that happen. In the future I wish to have the ability to address these disparities and problems that occur in minority health. I think that everyone should have the opportunity to be or become healthy. I truly believe that attending college will give me the opportunity to focus on minority health and bring awareness to these disparities. My grandparents have been my biggest inspiration for continuing my education and selecting my major. Living with my grandparents has taught me a different type of appreciation for things compared to my peers, like the importance of education. Because my grandparents didn't grow up in a time where education was equal for everyone, I have learned to truly value the privilege of going to school and having the opportunity to learn. Their experiences have served as a source of inspiration, motivating me to make the most of my educational opportunities and seize the chances they never had. Additionally, I have embraced the value of being involved, something my grandparents have always shown in their involvement in my life and the community. Their commitment has inspired me to be involved in my school and community as well by being a tutor, holding leadership positions in various clubs, and participating in the color guard, all of which have been the highlights of my high school journey. Being involved is so important because it gives us a chance to foster a supportive community and learn from other individuals. In my future career I truly hope to help other individuals in the way they have helped me and others. Growing up in Jacksonville FL, it is not hard to see these differences regarding healthcare. Many individuals do not receive access to proper medical attention. Currently, the infant mortality rate for black infants is much higher than white infants even though northeast Florida's white population is bigger. We need to protect these fragile populations and make sure that the getting the correct care catered to their needs. I think that everyone should have equal opportunity when it comes to being healthy, which is why I think programs like free and reduced lunch are so important. So, after college, I plan to work in a hospital or non-profit to help spread awareness and fight for equal opportunity in my community which has helped foster my love for public health. I want to help promote diversity and awareness to the niches of health among different people, whether it be internally in a hospital or externally through advocating. Overall, I want people to recognize that studying medicine means that we have to study medicine pertaining to all cultures and diaspora. We cannot just look at the majority and apply it to the minority. We must pay attention to minorities as well. Everyone should have the opportunity to be or become healthy.