Perseverance is defined as persistence despite difficulty or delay, but growing up in a single-parent, low-income household taught me that perseverance is not always a choice. For many people, perseverance means having the strength to continue despite obstacles. For me, it meant not having the option to quit. I was raised by a single mother who carried the responsibility of raising three children while working to provide us with the opportunities she wanted us to have. Watching my mother sacrifice her own time for the sake of our family changed the way I view hard work and perseverance. She showed me that strength is shown through the daily decision to keep going despite exhaustion and uncertainty. Her perseverance became the standard I hold myself to. Because of my upbringing, I understand the challenges many young people face when they grow up without a consistent father figure in their lives. I know how easy it can be for young men to search for guidance in unhealthy places when they lack positive examples around them. This motivates me to become a role model for younger students and athletes, especially those growing up in single-parent households. Through simply being present, I hope to show them that their circumstances do not limit their potential. I plan to use my education and career to continue creating a positive impact in my community. While I hope to become a biomedical engineer and contribute to innovations that improve people's lives, I also want my impact to extend beyond my profession. I want to mentor young people who come from backgrounds similar to mine and remind them that adversity does not determine their future. My experiences have given me a desire to serve others.

Many people would describe me as a complex person. My brother and sister often joke that being disabled, queer, and Black means life has given me more obstacles than the average person. While there is some truth to that, I do not see these parts of my identity as weaknesses. Instead, they have shaped me into someone who is resilient, compassionate, and determined to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Every challenge I have faced has taught me to find strength even when circumstances are difficult. One of the experiences that has had the greatest impact on me has been living with a disability and relying on medical technology every day. Because of this, I have developed a deep appreciation for the engineers, researchers, and healthcare professionals whose work allows people like me to live healthier, more independent lives. Their innovations give people freedom. My passion for biomedical engineering grew even stronger during the time I spent in a children's hospital. While I was receiving treatment, I met many children facing serious medical conditions. Some had access to advanced technology that improved their quality of life, while others were still waiting for better treatments or medical innovations that could address their needs. Witnessing both the progress of modern medicine and its limitations inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to developing new technologies that improve patient care. I realized that every advancement in biomedical engineering has the potential to change thousands of patients' lives. Beyond my academic interests, these experiences have shaped the values I carry with me every day. They have taught me patience and the importance of serving others. I understand what it feels like to depend on the work of people I have never met, and that motivates me to become someone whose work can have that same impact on future patients. I want to create technologies that make healthcare less burdensome for people living with chronic illnesses or disabilities. The degree I am pursuing will provide me with the scientific knowledge, engineering skills, resources, and research experience necessary to achieve my goal of becoming a biomedical engineer. It will challenge me to think collaboratively with others who share my passion for innovation. More importantly, it will give me the opportunity to use my personal experiences as solutions that can improve the lives of people around the world. Looking toward the future, I hope to contribute to the development of medical devices that make treatment for any and all chronic illnesses. I also want to mentor students from underrepresented backgrounds, specifically, my community where I grew up, who are interested in STEM, encouraging them to pursue careers where they can make a lasting impact. My experiences have shown me that anything can become a source of purpose. I am determined to use my education to create technologies that give others the same hope and opportunities that medical innovation has given me.

They say the bond between a father and son is built on a father's approval, often expressed through tough love rather than emotional connection. When I was 17, my father walked out of my life. Losing him was a major obstacle in both my personal and educational journey. The guidance and support I once relied on disappeared, forcing me to navigate one of the most important periods of my life independently. As I prepared for college and adulthood, I learned to make difficult decisions for myself and take responsibility for my future. The experience taught me resilience and showed me that my success would be determined not by my circumstances, but by the effort I put forth each day. Although he never got to see me grow into adulthood, many of the values he taught me continue to shape the person I am today. My name is Mark, an African American student born in White Plains, New York, and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Despite the challenges I faced, I remained focused on my goals and committed to my education. One of my proudest accomplishments was being accepted to SUNY University at Albany with a half scholarship. In the fall of 2026, I will begin the next chapter of my life there, pursuing opportunities to grow both as a student and as an individual. Throughout high school, I have also dedicated myself to track and field. As a two-year captain of my school's team, I learned the importance of leadership, accountability, and supporting others. Running has taught me discipline and perseverance, lessons that extend far beyond athletics. It has also provided me with a meaningful connection to my father, who competed in track throughout high school and college. As I prepare for college, I hope to continue competing in track and field while creating a legacy of my own. Living with Type 1 diabetes has also shaped my outlook on life. Managing my condition has given me firsthand experience with the impact that technology can have on a person's health and independence. This experience sparked my interest in engineering and inspired me to pursue a career developing technologies that improve the lives of others. In the future, I hope to earn my degree and contribute to innovations that make healthcare more accessible, effective, and life-changing for people around the world. In the future, I see myself graduating from college, building a successful career, and giving back to the communities that have supported me along the way. Receiving this scholarship would help ease the financial burden of higher education and allow me to focus more fully on my academic, athletic, and personal growth. As a single mother, my mom is preparing to send both me and my twin brother to college at the same time. With financial resources being shared between the two of us, this scholarship would provide meaningful support and help make my educational goals more attainable. More importantly, it would allow me to continue pursuing my dream of earning a degree, serving my community, and creating a better future for myself and others. To my father, I wish you could see the young man I have become. Many parents dream of watching their children graduate and step confidently into adulthood. Although you will not be there to witness those moments, I will continue striving to become a man who supports his family and leads with integrity. I will continue pursuing my passion for track and field, earn my college degree, and build a stable future for myself and those I care about. In doing so, I hope to honor the lessons you left behind and prove that adversity does not define a person's future.

When I was 9 years old, I was told that I had type 1 diabetes. At the time, I didn't understand what it meant, only that the doctor said I would struggle to play sports and eat foods that I liked. Though at nine I was more worried about the food, it ended up coming back into play when I started high school. As a child, my primary concern was about the foods I would have to limit, but as I entered high school, the reality of managing my diabetes set in. I realized that living with this condition required immense discipline, resilience, and effort. I learned to balance my love for sports with my health needs, which not only taught me time management and self-regulation but also fueled a passion for advocating for others with similar challenges. When I go to college, I plan on joining a program by the company Dexcom that sponsors college athletes and encourages them to share their journey with diabetes. On the field, I am chasing the dream of becoming a Track & Field state champion. This is what drives me, the determination to become a state champion, to show that my disability isn't actually disabling me. To fulfill this dream, I practice 4 times a week, and while practicing, I learn new ways to handle my diabetes. Another dream I have in the classroom is to become a Biomedical Engineer. Using this degree, I would like to be a part of the inventors who create medical devices for student athletes who struggle to deal with chronic illnesses. I would like to receive this scholarship because it represents a critical stepping stone toward achieving my academic and athletic aspirations while managing my type 1 diabetes. As someone who has faced challenges associated with this condition, I understand the importance of perseverance and hard work. This scholarship would alleviate financial burdens, allowing me to focus more on my studies in Biomedical Engineering and my training for Track & Field. I plan to use this scholarship to further both my academic and athletic goals by providing me with the necessary resources to manage my diabetes while pursuing my passions. This scholarship will help cover the medical expenses of diabetes, such as insulin, Dexcom, and food for low blood sugar. This scholarship would enable me to continue my education and navigate these challenges while pursuing my goals. It represents the ability to succeed despite adversity. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity, not only for myself but also to inspire others who face their own obstacles. Thank you for reading my application.