At the age of 12, I was introduced to the reality of living with a chronic illness. It began with shortness of breath during gym class and quickly escalated into frequent emergency room visits and numerous prescriptions. That’s when I was diagnosed with a chronic respiratory condition. As I grew older, my symptoms worsened. Activities I had once loved—like walking long distances or playing sports—became physically demanding. While my peers were exploring life without limits, I had to learn how to manage mine within boundaries. Just as I began adjusting to life with respiratory challenges, my health journey took an unexpected turn. During my sophomore year of college, I started experiencing intense chest pain, heart palpitations, and lightheadedness. I had a long history of telling doctors about unusual bodily experiences—sharp jolts, sleep issues, and other odd sensations—but most tests, including sleep studies, were deemed “normal.” That changed after a critical hospital visit and a battery of new tests revealed a serious heart condition. The diagnosis stunned me. I had assumed I was having a severe asthma attack, but instead I was facing an entirely new, life-altering condition. Balancing school, health, and my emotional well-being became increasingly overwhelming. Just when I thought I had endured enough, I received an abnormal result on an ANA test. While I had been warned that some irregularities might occur, several markers that were supposed to be normal were not—raising serious concerns among my doctors and parents about a possible autoimmune condition. This new threat introduced yet another wave of fear, stress, and emotional exhaustion. Living with invisible illnesses has often left me feeling misunderstood or doubted. There were days when I felt buried beneath the weight of my own body and the questions about why my journey couldn’t be simpler. Yet, through the frustration and exhaustion, I’ve discovered strength. I’ve grown in my faith, developed resilience, and learned how to advocate for myself in clinical settings. I’ve gained the awareness to listen to my body and the courage to keep going even when it hurts. What fuels me now is the community of others navigating similar paths. I understand what it feels like to be vulnerable in a hospital gown, to worry about missing classes and falling behind, and to cry quietly behind a strong façade. These lived experiences have inspired me to pursue a career in medicine. I aspire to become a physician—whether in pediatrics, emergency trauma, or another specialty—so I can offer care, compassion, and advocacy to those who need it most. I want to be the person who listens when others feel unheard. I also hope to challenge the stigmas surrounding chronic illness, particularly among young people. Too often, our experiences are diminished or brushed aside. By sharing my journey, I hope to empower others to embrace their struggles, pursue their dreams, and recognize that their goals remain valid—regardless of any diagnosis. My illnesses haven’t held me back. They've lit a fire within me to fight for others as much as for myself. Through education and service, I aim to be both a voice for the unheard and a light for those walking through life’s darker moments.

My name is Miasya Williams, and I am an economically challenged African American female undergraduate student pursuing a biological sciences undergraduate degree at Virginia State University. I have lived a life of sickness, environmental exposure to difficult surroundings, and emotional anguish. However, by dint of hard work, dedication, and an abiding commitment to using science to transform the world, incrementally, day by day, I not only survived those demanding years but have also flourished. This is not merely a mere tale; it is a description of my raison d'être and legacy that I will forge. Adversity has been my abiding friend so far throughout my student life. This past semester was one of the most difficult periods at school, much less in life in general. I was taking eight classes while in university, including a difficult chemistry class where I struggled so desperately. I had some trouble where I managed to get my grade up to pass with a "C," but I had a greater difficulty where I was cheated out of my grade. Several compounding issues affected my physical and mental health. During the duration of this semester, I was hospitalized for worsening heart problems and asthma complications. These were not temporary setbacks, they were terrorizing experiences that left me drained physically and behind in class. Apart from my health conditions, I was also in a living situation that made recovery all but impossible. My living environment in the dorm was emotionally draining because I had to live with a person whose poor hygiene rendered the room perpetually toxic at all times. The daily habit of living in a dirty, disrespectful, and dangerous living environment heightened my anxiety and made me helpless and alone. Even after repeatedly asking for help, my problems were minimized and even instigated at times by a professor who was more interested in pointing out my flaws than helping me be successful. Nevertheless, I didn't give up. I acquired faith, discipline, and a vision for the future that smolders deep within me. I reminded myself the hardships I am facing are not my own—but what I have to say regarding them is. I pursued tutoring assistance, studied late at night on homework after recovering from medical treatments, and discovered sanctuary in studying science—the only place where truth, reason, and perseverance matter more than heritage or station. I have had a lifelong interest in both STEM and other individuals' well-being, particularly health sciences and biology. My greatest fascination is the internal complexity of life—from the structure of cell membranes to molecular causality of disease. It was in conducting a high school biology lab where we observed onion root tip mitosis under the microscope that I experienced my initial sense of connection with the scientific process. I realized at that time that science doesn't merely explain the world—it sets us up to change it. I like helping others, it's what drives all that I do. That is why my eventual goal is to be a medical professional, a surgeon. If I become a pediatric surgeon or a trauma surgeon, my role will be the same: to save lives, to heal, and to provide care to those in need. I have seen for myself the devastating impact of inferior healthcare, especially among the underserved. My own experience within the healthcare system while I fought heart and asthma complications has only gone on to demonstrate just how much of an impact poverty and institutional discrimination can have in determining the quality of care that one is given. That is why I am committed to being part of a new generation of medical clinicians who fight for affordable, equitable, and accessible healthcare for all. Being a Black woman in STEM is no walk in the park. In my labs and classrooms, I am typically one of the solitary women—sometimes the only Black woman—present. I've had to advocate, speak up when I felt dismissed, and prove my worth repeatedly. But I don't consider that weak, I consider it my strength. I carry the burden of representation and resilience, and I see myself in these rooms not as a deviation but as a step toward progress. I would like to let other young women who are like me know that we have a place here. We are not intruders in medicine or science—we are leaders and innovators. My goals extend well beyond personal accomplishment. I want to lead young girls from underprivileged groups who dream of being scientists, physicians, or engineers but have limited role models from their own background. I want to create space and possibility for those who have been silenced or overlooked. In an operating room, in a hospital, or in a community clinic, I want to be one of hope, concern, and change. Acceptance of this scholarship would be more than a matter of monetary assistance—it would be a validation of my path, my ideals, and my aspirations. It would ease some of the financial strain of tuition, cost of living, and educational materials, letting me concentrate squarely on my education and pre-med track. But most significantly, it would be a nod to the memory of Eric W. Larson, a person whose enthusiasm for equity and faith in women in science still inspires. Eric's story moves me profoundly. I also believe that challenge should never prove to be a hindrance to greatness. His constant support of women, especially women of color, in professional pursuits in the STEM disciplines is the exact support many of us desperately require. I want to be able to do that too—without merely doing it myself, but by also assisting others. In honoring him, this scholarship honors all girls like me who fight to be heard, who have great aspirations despite the circumstances, who fight through sickness and hardship, and who have the strength to be the change that we all want to see. Thank you for your consideration.

I am Miasya W. (My-Asia) senior and soon-to-be high school graduate at Churchland High School. Currently, I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA, just won third place in States for Virginia Shot Put track and field, Member of the National Honor Society, volunteer at Churchland Primary and Intermediate and First Church of Deliverance II, and role model as the oldest sibling of 3 within a single-parent household. Enduring many negative encounters within the healthcare system promoted my desire to want to be a neurosurgeon and positively improve the care of those less fortunate. Since those experiences, it has been my dream to become a medical professional and help others. While dreaming big, being an introvert affected my motivation, and would sometimes add limitations to my dreams, however over the years specifically this year I have been momentous in overcoming my reservations and discovering who I am and how I can impact the world around me. Proper healthcare is intended to be exactly what the words say, professionally and essentially caring for one’s health, however, I have experienced many unlikely situations. Although a lack of care and professionalism has been shown to my family and me, I am optimistic because of the strength I observed through my mom. I watched her, battle illnesses, and income restrictions, deal with those biases and still be one of the loudest advocates and cheerleaders in my life. Her resilience and those experiences inspired me in more ways than one. In fact, it affected me both negatively and positively, negatively because I was privy to those broken moments, she experienced trying to be the lone voice for my siblings and I, nonetheless I have chosen to use those moments positively as the fuel to my fire in becoming a healthcare professional that cares for others despite any status and shows them the accurate form of humanity and professionalism in the healthcare system for those in need. With the previously mentioned achievements, this journey was not pretty or easy. To get the courage to try out and participate in extra activities outside of academics was intimidating for an introvert like me but freshman year I wanted to change, I needed to push through and so I did. As a result, I made the team and started volunteering to help at my old school. Then, the pandemic hit, and I had to stop everything. This isolation made me challenge the introvert in me forcing me to advocate for myself as well as the people within my environment. Upon returning, to school this year, I was determined to finish what I started with track and field and community service, by practicing every day, volunteering more, and whenever there were opportunities I jumped at the chance. Thus far, I am in 3rd place in division 4 states, have over 300 hours of community service, maintain a high GPA, and being more direct in my intentions of becoming the change to make an impact. Today I am more confident in who I am and determined not to place limitations on my goals in life. In addition, I have learned to use hurdles as stepping stones to support me along the way, which has been one of the most vital keys in positively impacting my life. Therefore, I believe I currently am on the right track to becoming a neurosurgeon, who will apply the tools I will learn studying this career, along with the lessons learned through my experiences and self-discovery that will constructively impact the medical care treatment for all.

Two, Three, four, and thirteen may not guarantee me the jackpot winnings and maybe the unluckiest numbers in my life, considering those are ages in my life cancer decided to pilfer some of the joys I cherished. For various families one of the scariest diagnoses in the world known as cancer does not strike consecutively, but, that disease has fatally plagued my family year after year. As I watched, 4 relatives take on this involuntary war for their lives, subsequently, their fight motivated my desire to become a doctor to help people in the medical world today. Cancer not only impacts the one it is robbing of life, nevertheless its effects change the minds, hearts, and paths of the ones who are left behind. In the timeline of each battle, starting with my uncle Archie Sexton an army veteran, age 52 lost his battle to Mesothelioma Cancer on February 14th, 2007. My uncle lived with my mother and me for a year before he left to go stay where he could receive specialized care. Next, my aunt Juanita Sexton-Wells age 35 registered nurse, and single parent of 3 boys fought Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for two bouts over a 5-year span. After 1 year she was successful and went into remission, however, after 2 years of being cancer free it returned aggressively to stage 4, where she fought for 2 more years. In awe, I watched how she would go to work and nursing others, while being on an oxygen tank, to being broken, weeping in my mother’s arms feeling God is shorting her time with her sons, “I am going to die, my boys are too young to leave now” (9,11, 14) she cried. Sadly, two weeks later October 15th, 2008, she would pass away. Third, my grandfather Timothy Demiel an engineer, age 54 went to inquire about his back as he believed he was injured while building a sunroom, to discover he had stage 4 “kidney cancer”. Doctors were amazed that he was walking because cancer deteriorated parts of his spine. Immediately they performed surgery replacing bones with metal. My grandfather was a diligent worker, my hero, and my superman. Indeed, I mimicked everything he did from walking like him to grunting as I would dig dirt with my toy shovel. Commendably, every day he walked around the house determined to win against cancer. Even so, after 5-months of battle, on July 19th, 2009, I witnessed my grandfather take his last breath as Kidney Cancer would be his kryptonite. Lastly, my uncle Emmanuel Sexton, age 61, Reverend, and a wise trailblazer in our family, meant everything to me as he stepped in and picked up where my grandfather left off. In addition, recently celebrated his 60th birthday with a surprise birthday party which opportunity presented me to help with planning. After diagnosis, he came to live with us, heartbreakingly stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer would claim his life on August 1st, 2019. With four family members passing away back-to-back from this vile disease, it sparked a fire within me to strive to work in healthcare, fighting for others along with the goals I want to achieve in life despite the circumstances. Although there are monumental effects from indirect and direct experiences with cancer, not all are negative. Regarding each relative heroically, conquer some victories and some defeats, their willpower to endure with nobility until the end, which fostered an awareness to live within every moment of my life, create cherished memories, challenge adversities, and not focus on how arduous they may be, and care for others regardless obstacles stacked against me.

Hello, my name is Miasya Williams, and I am a 17-year-old High School Senior at Churchland High School. I am the older sibling of 3 children, my younger brother being 14 and my younger sister is 12. When I was a younger girl, I always wanted to help people and make them feel as if there are people who care for them in the world. One could say that I always had a heart for better treatment and equality for all people. In my younger days, I always wanted to be some kind of doctor. Whether this was a veterinarian to help animals, an orthopedic surgeon to have the ability to help people with their bones or now my latest career choices, a Pediatric Neurosurgeon or a Pediatric Surgeon. Some people, choose this career for the money that is involved or the high status of being in the medical field, for me, it is the joy of helping people receive the care and support that they need in life. As my experiences with doctors have not always been the best, my experiences have inspired me for the future, in my practice, I want to treat my patients and their families with the utmost respect and fairness when it comes to their health and lives. During my high school journey, I have taken many classes to aid me in the start of pursuing high education. It has always been a goal to be able to go to college to have a chance at pursuing the higher education required for the field of career choice. Receiving this scholarship would be both a pleasure and a blessing. If I were to win this scholarship, I would use it to aid me in my studies of Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, and Biomedical Engineering. Those choices I know will help me to become someone great in life, someone who wants to help others and benefit from my good doings in the world. Giving to my community has never been a problem in my heart. One of the many ways in which I have helped my community is by volunteering at my church with a food and clothing drive. We donated food and clothing to people who needed such. Next, I volunteer at one of the local schools in my area, Churchland Primary and Intermediate. I am a member of the National Honor Society and for some events, we aid in helping the school whether the event contains passing things out, aiding the school liaison in organizing the events, guiding the children, cleaning up and conducting surveys. One of my final jobs in my community that I take much pride in is mentoring younger children in the schools, churches, and all around me. Since I am the older sibling in my family, I have always cared for the well-being of children younger than me. I always questioned if I was being a great role model for the children around me. With this thought and feeling, I went to mentor younger children to help them become better people in the world. I hope to inspire many people to be great, trust that they can achieve, and become successful in their lives. It would be an honor to receive this award to aid me in this new journey I am about to embark upon. Thank you so much for the opportunity to give insight and to have a chance at a better life in the future.

Realizing there are always obstacles to prevail in life, persistently being passionate about your specific goals takes immense focus, purpose, and resilience. As a result, I focus on what can be, regardless of what is. If I look at life or trials without any certainty or positivity, I will make excuses not accomplishments. For instance, being a black female in this troubled world, the oldest of 3, within a disabled low-income single parent home I would conceivably conform to what one may think is a misfortune, not embracing who I am and doing nothing to enrich my life in the future. For that reason, I am vigorously achieving scholarly academics currently a 4.3, volunteering to help others, and striving to make my future successful. Therefore, the obstacles from my past and in my future will not negatively impact my passion to become a pediatric neurosurgeon and advocate for better healthcare for black and brown communities. Some barriers are out of your control, like being born into a single-parent, low-income family home where at times some resources are not affordable. Not having the means to participate or obtain those provisions casually impedes your life. Nonetheless, those difficulties promote creativity and ingenuity that factor your accomplishments. Despite this obstacle I have learned that I was born as I am, and who I am going to be, unambiguously a pediatric neurosurgeon and healthcare advocate for black and brown communities. Another obstacle that has been the driving force for my passions to become a pediatric neurosurgeon and change the inequitable healthcare for black and brown communities which my family and I have received while seeking professional definitive treatment. Consequently, growing up I have had many difficulties with medical providers who despite having a congenial manner are unwelcoming, deliberately omit benefits conducive to my health, and undeniably exhibit chauvinistic boorish behavior. For example, I injured my ankle, and the doctor did not want to do an x-ray but as my mom continued to express my pain level with concrete evidence (a doubly swollen bruised ankle) the doctor said “since she is complaining I will do an X-ray. Through customary treatment for injuries like mine, doctors generally request X-rays, which ultimately revealed my ankle was broken in my growth plate, would require weeks in a cast, additional weeks on a walking boot and months of physical therapy. At 12 years-old, this encounter was disdainful to my perception of this world, nevertheless, as I watched my mom over the years persistently advocate to get me apposite care, I have perspicaciously developed a passion to also be persistent in standing up for what’s right, and overcoming any obstacle, acrimony, or adversity that may present itself. In conclusion, obstacles can have an influence on your passions in life but deciding which impact, whether negative or positive, will be the cogency behind the progression of your life. Consequently, taking my negative obstacles and making them my motivation to positively direct my passions is key for me to become a pediatric neurosurgeon substantially able to help in reconstructing a considerable healthcare system that are comprehensive, resourceful, and compassionate to all patients regardless of income, race, or status. Furthermore, it is my goal to express how and the importance of being passionate about your goals, since obstacles will and often occur time after time it is key to not focus on the obstacles as a negative but to focus on what those obstacles will positively help develop within you because they are there as building blocks to enhance the person you will be.

Imagine hearing these words described to you as a parent about your children ranging from 4-12 from trusted medical professionals, “your son is a sociopath with mental issues, and since your daughter is complaining I will give her an x-ray”. Now imagine your child’s point of view hearing these same words from someone who is supposed to help them when they need medical treatment. Not a pleasant feeling I anticipate; However from the time my family and I tried to obtain proper medical care treatment, those words constantly echo in my mind whenever there is an obstacle I must overcome or redirect in achieving my goals. Consequently, those challenging moments helped shape who I am today, and the goals I have set for myself now and the future. Those goals include finishing high school with a 4.0 GPA or better, completing a 4-year degree University preferably an HBCU, finishing medical school and residency, and becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon that will promote proper healthcare treatment for black low-income single parent communities similar to the one I grew up in. I have had 3 surgeries, diagnosed with pre-diabetes, diagnosed with anemia, and had a rare infection that caused me to take antibiotics for a year. Throughout, receiving appropriate healthcare for these issues, I have had to experience injustices from medical professionals without any bedside manner. After watching my mom advocate relentlessly for my siblings and I, it shaped my decision to work diligently and become a TRUE medical professional. Some of those obstacles include but not limited to getting proper diagnosis for my brother with Asperger’s Syndrome who at the age of 4 a doctor called him a sociopath or having mental issues on the first visit, to trying to get an x-ray for me on my ankle when a specialist said, “since I was complaining he would do an x-ray” that turned out to be broken and required casting and eventually physical therapy. From those experiences I felt offended, devastated, and confusion, but most importantly I felt motivated to become a doctor and treat others with more dignity and respect than the doctors did my family and me. Finishing high school, going to college, and becoming a neurosurgeon, are still within reach. If I can endure the challenges of being racially discriminated against within the medical field, not receiving proper healthcare, in a low-income single parent home, and still enthusiastically going throughout life there is nothing that can deter my focus on accomplishing my goals. For that reason, finishing my senior year with a 4.0 GPA or better is currently being achieved, and with this scholarship, I would be able to continue taking steps towards going to a 4-year University while getting the upper hand on the financial barrier of college tuition. When it comes to my passion for becoming a better person, and a Pediatric Neurosurgeon you could say that my obstacles throughout my life shaped that decision. As a black female, born into a low income disabled single parent home, my obstacles motivated me to set higher goals for my life. After constantly receiving a lapidated amount of proper healthcare treatment for my family and myself, I have set extremely high goals such as finishing this year of high school with a 4.0 or better, preferably going to an HBCU or 4 year University, studying neuroscience or biomedical science, becoming the first doctor in my family, becoming the 34th Black Female neurosurgeon in the world, and ameliorating healthcare for single parent, low income black communities are all my ambitions I will accomplish to be successful.

Would you write a composition of any kind without an outline? Perhaps that is not the brightest idea. Then why would you go through life without setting any goals? Creating an outline, guides the flow of your writing process, by structuring your organization methods, time management, and limiting errors, to substantiate a lucrative piece. Likewise, setting goals for yourself is like having an outline of how you want your life to play out. They pilot your efforts as you pursue what you view as a successful plan for your life. As a result, I have set goals that for someone like me seem to be slightly far-fetched. Nevertheless, I know my efforts appropriated now and, in the future, to reach my goals are outlined distinctively in achieving my life ambitions regardless of my background, the steps I must take, and the long road ahead. I have outlined many goals for myself that I believe will afford me a successful future. They include finishing my last year in high school, going to college preferably at an HBCU, attending medical school, becoming a successful Pediatric Neurosurgeon, notably the first doctor in my family, and procuring financial stability to aid similar low-income diverse communities like myself. Consequently, as a senior in high school outlining my next steps in reaching my goals was eminent. Selecting the right classes, participating in sports and activities, maintaining good grades, getting a worthy SAT score, completing community service hours, and developing peer relationships, were just some of the goals set for me to achieve. At the same time, being an African American teenage girl, coming from a disabled single-parent low-income family household, placed more hurdles in my path for me to leap than many others. Undertaking these goals has not been easy. I am a certified CPR-trained caretaker, a member of the National Honors Society which requires meetings and service hours, Track and Field Shotput team which necessitates practices and games, I volunteer at local schools, and churches, while helping my mother who battles mental illness, encouraging my brother as he takes on the world with high functioning Asperger’s syndrome, while setting an example for my younger sister, and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Also, I have taken the SAT twice, the first time was a 920 and the second 1010, however, I will continue until I reach a satisfactory score. Fortunately for me making excuses are not on my outline! I know the road to achieving an MD will be long and difficult, but I have been through hard times and welcome whichever challenge comes my way. Not being a math expert, I challenged myself, during my junior year, when I took on AP statistics. During that year, I had to have emergency surgery and was out for weeks, however, I prevailed with a B+ for the course. Though I have been filling out scholarships and college applications since my junior year, I have not had any luck. Nonetheless, here I am, still optimistic and persistent in applying, for these are the necessary steps, I must take to reach my goals. Although there are many steps, and long roads onward for me to reach my goals, excuses or giving up are not on my outline. Despite any obstacle I have faced this far I know I must continue to follow my outline goals of graduating high school, going to college, then medical school, becoming a successful Pediatric Neurosurgeon, being the first doctor in my family, and procuring financial stability to aid similar low-income diverse communities as I have endured myself.

Aspiring to respond thoroughly, I conducted a small 10-person survey ranging in ages from 16 to 61. I desired a comprehensive idea of why people have either pursued or are currently pursuing their college degrees. Upon my investigation many believed it is essential, to make their parents proud, and gain a sustainable career that would provide the financial support they need to take care of themselves and their families. In comparison to their belief and mine, they are similar, but still, I felt there was more to it than that and questioned the real reason I am pursuing a college degree. Consequently, I reflected on what I wanted to be in life, how could a college degree help in reaching my goals, and what impact I could have on the world with a college degree. Reflecting on my life and all the things that I wanted to do, becoming a doctor, a medical professional who advocates for women, black and brown communities, and helping others have always been at the forefront of my dreams. For me to become a doctor there are several steps to achieve this goal which starts with graduating high school and proceeding to college. Gaining a college degree will bequeath me an extensive education associated with the medical field. Also, it will afford me the tools to advocate for women and black and brown communities which have been negatively targeted in today’s climate. Lastly, colleges promote diversity by bringing people together from all walks of life, where they can learn how to live, work, and help others despite distinct philosophies. As a result, attending college will encourage my understanding of how to support ones outside of my ideologies so that I can apply empathy throughout the care I impart based on my experiences earning a college degree. I believe obtaining my college degree will support me in making an impact on the world by changing the views in healthcare and opening doors for all. As mentioned above diverse communities have been adversely impacted in the healthcare field. I can recount many prejudicial experiences that guided me into setting goals of pursuing a college degree to become a medical professional. As a young female African American teen, in a low-income family home, there was limited support, a lack of empathy, and resources accessible to me. Therefore, this college degree will help me change the way women, and diverse communities are treated and give them a different perspective on how healthcare treatment should be. Offering resources, being thorough in my care, educating them on certain issues, fighting greedy insurance companies blocking treatment, and being responsive to their needs is how I can make an impact with my college degree. Moreover, this college degree could put me in a prominent financial condition where I can be more charitable and donate to many communities that lack the funding necessary to change inadequate circumstances around them. Like many others, pursuing a college degree is viewed as a requirement to make their families proud, gain a career, and supply possibilities to be more established in their lives. Likewise, for me pursuing a college degree will allocate those opportunities but can also be more advantageous for me in other measures. For example, it awards a profusion of expertise in the field I am studying, presents situations to teach, advocate, reason, and apply inclusiveness in marginalized settings, and resource likelihood of enriching society and successively impacting the world.

Healthcare does not look the same for every race, gender, or status quo. It is prominent in the world today, especially within women’s rights to their bodies, African American mothers losing their lives during childbirth, access to insulin, and healthcare, while being unobtainable for those without an abundance in income. These injustices in healthcare have put distrust within countless communities. As a young African American teenager, I am no stranger to the injustices within the healthcare system and those experiences are what shaped the importance of restructuring the outlook on the healthcare system. Each experience encouraged me to set a goal to become either the 34th African American female neurosurgeon or the first doctor in my family, specifically a pediatric surgeon. Moreover, giving others better care than I received, not discriminating based on their race, gender, or income, whilst restoring trust within those communities by developing interpersonal relationships, and exhausting every resource available to better promote their health and wellness is my plan of making an impact on the healthcare system. Setting a goal to help those in need while either becoming the 34th African American female neurosurgeon or the first doctor in my family, may seem implausible for a teenager, being raised in a single-parent low-income family home of four. On the contrary, it is highly likely, and I indeed, tend to bring this into fruition with the goals I have set for myself, from reflecting on the experiences I received from theoretically trained medical professionals. From being on Medicaid receiving frowns when telling the receptionist or doctor my insurance, remarks such as “oh you on Medicaid”, to seeing my mom being belittled while trying to explain the symptoms of a sick child, to receiving the bare minimal help that is out there for patients with certain conditions. For example, I had been struggling with my weight, but for each visit sick or well discussed my weight issues. To some standards, I was “obese”, and all my symptoms were related to my weight. We tried various diets, and exercise until one day my mom heard a lady talking about a program for children who struggle with their weight called Healthy You. Curious about the program my mother mentioned it to the doctor, in a condescending tone they asked, “where did we hear about this program, and would you be interested in the program,” as if we did not want to receive help in being healthier or loved to hear the words you are obese. Why did the doctor fail to suggest this program to me, and why was everything about obesity and not ways to help someone with this condition? Healthy You did a complete makeup of labs discovering I inherited symptoms of diabetes. After constant feeling of doubt about the healthcare community here is where I decided I wanted to make an impact on the healthcare system. As a future healthcare professional changing the distrust people of color, women, and low-income families receive and expectation for their treatment to an efficacious feeling during their visits can be the norm. Although we are equal, care for everyone requires differentiation based on their healthcare demands. Correspondingly, I will build interpersonal relationships with my patients, getting to know who they are, discovering what works and what does not, suggesting accessible programs, and educating them on various treatments available. Furthermore, sharing empathy builds stronger relationships that our communities need because it exemplifies your responsiveness, and esteem to their needs, which will consequently impact the deficiencies within the healthcare community concerning disparities within women, gender, race, and status.

One of my dreams or goals for my life is to either become the 34th African American female neurosurgeon or become the first doctor in my family as a pediatric surgeon. This is a dream of mine because I want to help others and give them the medical care, I wish I could have received growing up. Another goal is to become self-sufficient and travel the world because I have never left the state of Virginia due to finances and would love to see more of the world around me learning about my culture and different cultures as well.

In each person’s life, defining moments, or experiences outline where they came from, and who they are today. Consequently, I am not an exception to the process of self-discovery and each experience produced an opportunity for me to grow, challenge my beliefs, surmount difficulties, and cultivate my cognizance. There is one prominent experience of this year that marked the beginning of a new me. I am an introvert, whose skills of speaking up or expressing my needs are ineffectual, intensely frightened of insects, and allergic to about everything in nature, with the dream of becoming the 34th African American Female Neurosurgeon. However, this school year I did not advocate the specificity of taking Biology Anatomy over Biology Ecology, which examines ecosystems, animals, nature, and insects. Not speaking up or being directly specific about which class I needed, fostered a change in the skills I lacked being unequivocal about the conditions I required for myself, and what growth or changes would benefit my success in taking on new experiences while completing my senior year, going to college, and journeying through life. Enthusiastic, anxious, and motivated describe the emotions I feel as my counselor and I fill out courses for my senior year. My last classes needed were Government and English 12, however, if I wanted to continue acquiring an advanced diploma, I needed to take one more science course. The science courses included Biology 2 Anatomy, Oceanography, and Physics, but the Pandemic improved class and flexibility options with an extensive collection of classes for the virtual school. Among those include Biology 2 either Anatomy or Ecology, Physics, oceanography, and a medical course not covered by the school. With this, I assumed my counselor would choose Biology 2 Anatomy, since this was the first choice considered for my future. Quite the opposite, my counselor chose Physics, emailing immediately, I explained I would like Biology two, not specifying Biology Anatomy as we previously discussed. Thinking we were on the same page my counselor registered me for Biology Ecology, then takes a two-week vacation locking me outside of the window to drop or add a course for virtual school. As mentioned earlier I am allergic to nature and frightened of insects, and now I am in a class that requires me to study as well as interact with these elements, all because I did not be direct in communicating my needs. Experiences are intimate and they can trigger self-reflection that fosters growth in one’s self-discovery. Since this experience, I have discovered a new me one that is now aware that I am in control of my destiny, I am the author of my biography and if I do not be direct in communicating my needs then others will choose it for me. This self-discovery has since encouraged me to not be apologetic in articulating my needs, as my needs are the sunlight, the water, and the soil that will help me to continue to grow into whom I want to be. Although I am still an introvert, I am now more confident in who I am and the choices I make for the progression of my life. Furthermore, Biology Ecology has not been monotonous, but fascinating learning about species I did not know existed, nevertheless, I remain enthralled by human anatomy and the pursuit of my dream. Fortunately, this defining moment facilitated growth in me that has made me who I am today. I am more encouraged to speak up, take on challenges, and welcome more experiences that will promote more advocating for myself as well as others.