I don’t want to be a unicorn anymore. As a young girl I was obsessed with unicorns, so obsessed that I wanted to be one. It’s normal for kids to believe in mythical creatures. Some girls wanted to be fairies, princesses, or even Barbie dolls. Although becoming a unicorn seemed impossible, who would’ve thought my dream would actually come true? During the year of 2020, I started to have anaphylactic reactions to unknown substances at different times. My life became a cycle of waking up at 3 a.m. with strange sensations, struggling to breathe, experiencing intense stomach pain and a swollen face. There was a constant fear of not knowing what was wrong with me, and every time doctors told me they’d never seen anything like it, my hope faded a little more. After countless blood tests, allergy tests, MRIs, and failed treatments, the doctors began to call me a 'medical unicorn.' My doctors sent me to other doctors, everyone grasping at straws trying to see how to fix me. My parents wracked their brains day after day to see if they could find a solution to fix their broken daughter. As a child I watched the two strongest people I knew --my parents— have their eyes filled with tears longing for answers, that is a hard burden to carry. Every day, as time went on, I started to feel like everyone’s life would be better off without having to carry me as a burden. My parents wouldn’t have to stress anymore about finances, my loved ones wouldn’t have to worry about whether I’m going to be ok or not. All problems would be erased with me. Can you imagine carrying that burden as a child? Doctors appointments seemed to be useless. We tried food cancellation, new medications, and surgeries. Nothing seemed to have worked. While searching for the cause of one problem, we uncovered even more issues, each one adding another stripe on my unicorn mane. Ovarian cyst, breast mass, and a rare condition called EOE( eosinophilic esophagitis) after one problem came another, but yet no solutions. I felt like I had to act strong for my parents when I was terrified of what was going on inside of me. So much anxiety caused my mental health to deteriorate. Death felt both distant and terrifyingly close. Crying became part of my nightly routine, just like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. Saying the phrase “ I’m ok” with a smile became a part of my daily routine just like eating lunch or watching TikTok. Who knew being a unicorn was so challenging, something mythical my doctors had never seen. Not even 10 years in medical school could have prepared them for me. Nothing could have prepared my parents for the journey that we’ve encountered. Being a unicorn has taught me not to look at obstacles as defeat, but to look at them as a stepping stone to make me stronger. It taught me that illness does not just affect the one that is infected, it affects the loved ones of the infected. In this journey I’ve learned that if you dwell on what feels like a failing life you will never reach the life you’ve dreamed of. Some people didn’t get to sulk, their story ended before it began. I'm grateful to be a unicorn because I am here to still tell my story to those who don’t believe.

I don’t want to be a unicorn anymore. As a young girl I was obsessed with unicorns, so obsessed that I wanted to be one. It’s normal for kids to believe in mythical creatures. Some girls wanted to be fairies, princesses, or even Barbie dolls. Although becoming a unicorn seemed impossible, who would’ve thought my dream would actually come true? During the year of 2020, I started to have anaphylactic reactions to unknown substances at different times. My life became a cycle of waking up at 3 a.m. with strange sensations, struggling to breathe, experiencing intense stomach pain and a swollen face. There was a constant fear of not knowing what was wrong with me, and every time doctors told me they’d never seen anything like it, my hope faded a little more. After countless blood tests, allergy tests, MRIs, and failed treatments, the doctors began to call me a 'medical unicorn.' My doctors sent me to other doctors, everyone grasping at straws trying to see how to fix me. My parents wracked their brains day after day to see if they could find a solution to fix their broken daughter. As a child I watched the two strongest people I knew --my parents— have their eyes filled with tears longing for answers, that is a hard burden to carry. Every day, as time went on, I started to feel like everyone’s life would be better off without having to carry me as a burden. My parents wouldn’t have to stress anymore about finances, my loved ones wouldn’t have to worry about whether I’m going to be ok or not. All problems would be erased with me. Can you imagine carrying that burden as a child? Doctors appointments seemed to be useless. We tried food cancellation, new medications, and surgeries. Nothing seemed to have worked. While searching for the cause of one problem, we uncovered even more issues, each one adding another stripe on my unicorn mane. Ovarian cyst, breast mass, and a rare condition called EOE( eosinophilic esophagitis) after one problem came another, but yet no solutions. I felt like I had to act strong for my parents when I was terrified of what was going on inside of me. So much anxiety caused my mental health to deteriorate. Death felt both distant and terrifyingly close. Crying became part of my nightly routine, just like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. Saying the phrase “ I’m ok” with a smile became a part of my daily routine just like eating lunch or watching TikTok. Who knew being a unicorn was so challenging, something mythical my doctors had never seen. Not even 10 years in medical school could have prepared them for me. Nothing could have prepared my parents for the journey that we’ve encountered. Being a unicorn has taught me not to look at obstacles as defeat, but to look at them as a stepping stone to make me stronger. It taught me that illness does not just affect the one that is infected, it affects the loved ones of the infected. In this journey I’ve learned that if you dwell on what feels like a failing life you will never reach the life you’ve dreamed of. Some people didn’t get to sulk, their story ended before it began. I'm grateful to be a unicorn because I am here to still tell my story to those who don’t believe.

I don’t want to be a unicorn anymore. As a young girl I was obsessed with unicorns, so obsessed that I wanted to be one. It’s normal for kids to believe in mythical creatures. Some girls wanted to be fairies, princesses, or even Barbie dolls. Although becoming a unicorn seemed impossible, who would’ve thought my dream would actually come true? At an early age I struggled with a battle against my mental health. In the Black community there is a stigma about mental health and how it is not real. The topic of mental health is deeply suppressed in the Black community, where everyone is scared to ask for help, leading us to lose our brothers and sisters to suicide. When you feel alone in a battle against your own mind, it is hard to navigate how to resolve an issue. and this is something I connect deeply to because in my lowest times I felt alone, and it made the process of recovery 10x harder. The experience of being a part of the Black community in the middle of my battle with mental health, my eyes were opened to the ignorance we pass down generations. It made me aware that if you don't take away the negative stipulations in raising the new generation, you will do more harm than good. The way we handle the topic of mental health has created many stereotypes about us as a community. Hopefully when I enter the journey of being a pediatric psychiatrist, I will leave a positive impact on my community. I've always felt like no one was there for me during my journey. My mission is to be that safe space for children where there is no child that has to feel alone while battling with their mental health.that would be my first way of helping this cause, being a psychiatrist. My second way of helping this cause will be to start a group where people can come for free and get professional advice on how to deal with their mental health. My last way of helping this cause will be to donate money to charities that help kids struggling with mental health. If I am afforded the opportunity, I'm interested in the following: biology, chemistry, psychology, sociology, and human development. I am interested in these course areas because my dream career is to be a pediatric psychiatrist.My mission is to be that safe space for children where there is no one that has to feel alone while battling with their mental health. This may include starting or joining a club where people can express their feelings through the arts.

I don’t want to be a unicorn anymore. As a young girl I was obsessed with unicorns, so obsessed that I wanted to be one. It’s normal for kids to believe in mythical creatures. Some girls wanted to be fairies, princesses, or even Barbie dolls. Although becoming a unicorn seemed impossible, who would’ve thought my dream would actually come true? During the year of 2020, I started to have anaphylactic reactions to unknown substances at different times. My life became a cycle of waking up at 3 a.m. with strange sensations, struggling to breathe, experiencing intense stomach pain and a swollen face. There was a constant fear of not knowing what was wrong with me, and every time doctors told me they’d never seen anything like it, my hope faded a little more. After countless blood tests, allergy tests, MRIs, and failed treatments, the doctors began to call me a 'medical unicorn.' My doctors sent me to other doctors, everyone grasping at straws trying to see how to fix me. My parents wracked their brains day after day to see if they could find a solution to fix their broken daughter. As a child I watched the two strongest people I knew --my parents— have their eyes filled with tears longing for answers, that is a hard burden to carry. Every day, as time went on, I started to feel like everyone’s life would be better off without having to carry me as a burden. My parents wouldn’t have to stress anymore about finances, my loved ones wouldn’t have to worry about whether I’m going to be ok or not. All problems would be erased with me. Can you imagine carrying that burden as a child? Doctors appointments seemed to be useless. We tried food cancellation, new medications, and surgeries. Nothing seemed to have worked. While searching for the cause of one problem, we uncovered even more issues, each one adding another stripe on my unicorn mane. Ovarian cyst, breast mass, and a rare condition called EOE( eosinophilic esophagitis) after one problem came another, but yet no solutions. I felt like I had to act strong for my parents when I was terrified of what was going on inside of me. So much anxiety caused my mental health to deteriorate. Death felt both distant and terrifyingly close. Crying became part of my nightly routine, just like brushing my teeth or taking a shower. Saying the phrase “ I’m ok” with a smile became a part of my daily routine just like eating lunch or watching TikTok. Who knew being a unicorn was so challenging, something mythical my doctors had never seen. Not even 10 years in medical school could have prepared them for me. Nothing could have prepared my parents for the journey that we’ve encountered. The financial burden that weighs on them from hundreds of medical bills and doctor visits. this scholarships would be greatly appreciated.