My interest in optometry stemmed from a personal journey that began when I first learned about my poor vision at the tender age of eight years old. I still remember when realization struck. On a road trip back to my hometown, my usual look out the window appeared to be a big blur, lacking the details of the movie scenes I would create in my head. It wasn’t long before I began repeatedly shouting, “I can’t see!” The Nigerian culture in my parents didn’t allow them to see my eyesight as anything but perfect. So it took some convincing before I finally had my first eye appointment. As I was leaving the eye center, my optometrist advised me to “look at the trees first.” Stepping outside, I put on my glasses and carefully opened my eyes. That’s when I saw it: the detail, from the crevices in the branches to the variations of green in the leaves. It left a lasting impression on me, as well as a lasting smile. Years after that, I would be caught describing this moment as feeling like I had just completed my painting of the world. Throughout my life, I have become interested in how glasses aid people with poor vision to see the world in a different light. My interest in optometry is inextricably linked to my passion for art, which inspires me to see the world as a blank canvas full of potential. This perspective has inspired me to see where my creativity lies in the realm of solving real-world issues. Individuals with poor vision are often viewed as “imperfect.” Though glasses never changed my parent’s perception of who I was, the world tends to disregard poor vision as something to be adjusted to, but rather labeled as a “societal stain.” I want to create pathways for people with refractive errors and vision impairments to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, despite their limited vision. To prepare myself for such a position, I have observed 14 hours of optometry practices at the Pediatric Vision Development Center of Gwinnett. This opportunity allowed me to see the importance of equity in care and how individuals of all ages, regardless of the “pediatric” label, were treated with attention and respect. Alongside shadowing, I worked with the blind children from the FCT School for the Blind Children to gain a well-rounded understanding of how different variations of vision loss impacted their lives. It has been an honor to gain a sense of hope. I would like to express my gratitude to the John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship commitee for the opportunity. I value my education and understand that in order for me to pursue optometry, I have to attain a higher education. My father lost his job, and with all three of his children attending college next semester, we’ve solely been relying on savings. This scholarship will help take this weight off of his shoulders. Have a very blessed day! Thank you.

Appreciating the world's beauty can be difficult when one's authentic self is confronted with the world's perception. When it came to art, I always felt it was implausible for it to be stripped of its beauty, despite the external judgment. However, everytime I stood across my reflection, I struggled to recognize the beauty that glowed from within my canvas. My futile attempts to draw myself grew ridiculous as I stared at this blank spot on the painted canvas, otherwise known as the world. The unwavering criticism and comparison began to infect my artistic vision. Why did others’ sentiments towards me slowly taint my self-image? Being born into a family of social butterflies, it felt as if I was constantly being brushed over. As a result of my timid and peculiar attributes shading over my dark skin, there was an undeniable shadow of estrangement that never left my side. My mere existence felt like a consistent apology, as if I were a ‘societal stain’. My entire being was tackled by the projection of the world’s perception. Perception was a concept I never truly comprehended until I began to overanalyze the art in my vicinity. Art told an in-depth story that was beyond its surface level beauty. I used it as a means to display myself as a masterpiece rather than a shadow. Through this new perspective, I was given the opportunity to grow an understanding of who I was without the loud noise that crowded my judgment. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the unwavering criticism and comparison that was completely at fault. The issue was that everytime I struggled to draw myself, I would give up on a piece of my lens. It’s no wonder my vision eventually grew hazy. At the tender age of 8, I received medicated glasses for the first time, and my view of the world had completely changed. It was as if I had just completed my painting. I hope for many to experience that clarity. My fascination with vision has fueled my desire to become an optometrist specializing in pediatrics and vision therapy. To prepare myself for such a position, I have observed 14 hours of optometry practices at the Pediatric Vision Development Center of Gwinnett. This opportunity allowed me to see the importance of equity in care and how individuals of all ages, regardless of the “pediatric” label, were treated with attention and respect. I observed how this environment fostered a calm ambience. Along with the shadowing, I also worked with the blind children from the FCT School for the Blind Children to gain a well-rounded understanding of how different variations of vision loss impacted their lives. I aspire to create pathways for people with visual impairments to use the world’s beauty to their advantage, despite their limited vision. To extend this vision further, I wish to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with all forms of vision loss and poor eyesight. This foundation will offer resources, advocacy, and creative programs to help them experience the world’s beauty. It has been an honor to complete this application and gain a sense of hope from it. I would like to express my gratitude to the Career Test Scholarship commitee for the opportunity. Using this scholarship will aid me in being able to advance in my education despite my dad losing his job. This scholarship will allow for me to pursue my dreams without having to focus on the monetary contraints. I wish for whoever is reading this to have a blessed day! Thank you.

My name is Michelle Ekon, and I am a nineteen-year-old woman entering my sophomore year of college. I am a friendly, open-minded individual who practices active listening whilst engaging in profound conversations. I love to create a comfortable and safe place for others to express themselves. One of my love languages is quality time, as I treasure every second with loved ones. For most of my life, I have wanted to view the world in a creative light. I have always wanted to see it as an art piece, rather than seeing it for what it actually was. My interest in optometry stemmed from a personal journey that began when I was around eight years old and received my first pair of medicated glasses. As I was leaving the eye center, my optometrist advised me to "look at the trees.” The detail, from the crevices in the branches to the variations of green in the leaves, left a lasting impression on me. Over the years, I have become interested in how glasses help people with poor vision to see the world in a different light. My interest in optometry is inextricably linked to my passion for art, which inspires me to see the world as a blank canvas full of potential. This perspective has inspired me to see where my creativity lies in the realm of solving real-world issues. Individuals with poor vision are often viewed as “imperfect.” The world tends not to acknowledge their differences as something to be adjusted to, but rather as a “societal stain.” As I work to “solve” these problems, I hope to merge my future skills in optometry with my artistic sensibilities. In addition to finding solutions, I want to create pathways for people with refractive errors and vision impairments to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, despite their limited vision. To prepare myself for such a position, I have observed 14 hours of optometry practices at the Pediatric Vision Development Center of Gwinnett. This opportunity allowed me to see the importance of equity in care and how individuals of all ages, regardless of the “pediatric” label, were treated with attention and respect. I observed how this environment fostered a calm ambience. Along with the shadowing, I also worked with the blind children from the FCT School for the Blind Children to gain a well-rounded understanding of how different variations of vision loss impacted their lives. I would like to express my gratitude to the Schmid Memorial Scholarship committee for giving me hope and supporting my journey to help others. I value my education and understand that in order for me to pursue optometry, I have to attain a higher education. My father lost his job, and with all three of his children attending college next semester, we’ve been solely relying on savings. This scholarship will aid me with taking this weight off of his shoulders. It would allow me to focus on these goals rather than worrying about monetary constraints.

Being the first daughter in a Nigerian family, my heart weakened as I often felt the pressure to strengthen my parents’ egos. Each academic accomplishment that seemed to earn their conditional love diminished my own sense of self. From kindergarten to the first grade, the title “gifted student” filled me with unimaginable happiness. Then, one sweltering summer day marked a turning point as I immersed myself in my Nigerian culture, eventually calling it home. Adapting to the new environment, I determined my position within the new system. By thirteen, I had earned thirteen academic honors, which reflected my effort and dedication. During assemblies, I waved my certificates high and kept a smile that came alive. In my family, there was always a strong emphasis on achieving perfection, which felt tied to how my parents viewed their own success through their children. As a result, my default setting was a cold sweat, and my heart dropped at the idea of making a mistake that would deem me a disappointment. In the novel The Road Less Traveled, Peck defined love as “the will to extend oneself for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth” (119). Reflecting on my upbringing, I received conflicting messages at home. The same voice that praised me as a “brilliant child” also labeled me “selfish,” “disrespectful,” and “inconsiderate.” These words were delivered in a way that made them feel like an undeniable reality, leaving a lasting impact on my identity. The inconsistency made it difficult for me to develop my self-awareness and confidence. Despite these internal conflicts, I eventually found an obscure sense of tranquility through layers of pastel colors. With each stroke of my pencil, I advanced towards my heart’s desire—creativity. Art became a viewing pleasure that filled my childhood with rhythmic images. This gratification allowed me to determine that regardless of my mindless interpretations, there would always be a beauty that glowed from within these pieces. A beauty I could fixate on daily. When it came to art, I felt it was implausible for its beauty to be stripped, despite the external judgment. However, every time I faced my reflection, I struggled to recognize the beauty that glowed within my canvas. My futile attempts to draw myself grew ridiculous as I stared at this blank spot on the painted canvas, otherwise known as the world. The unwavering criticism and comparison began to infect my artistic vision. Why did others’ sentiments towards me slowly taint my self-image? Being born into a family of social butterflies, it felt as if I was constantly being brushed over. As a result of my timid and peculiar attributes shading over my dark skin, there was an undeniable shadow of estrangement that never left my side. My mere existence felt like a consistent apology, as if I were a ‘societal stain’. My entire being was tackled by the projection of the world’s perception. Perception was a concept I never truly comprehended until I began to overanalyze the art in my vicinity. Art told stories that were beyond its surface-level beauty. I used it as a means to display myself as a masterpiece rather than a shadow. This perspective gifted me the opportunity to grow in my understanding of who I was without the loud noise that usually crowded my judgment. Nevertheless, it wasn’t solely the unwavering criticism and comparison that were at fault. The real issue was that every time I struggled to draw myself, I would give up on a piece of my lens. It’s no wonder my vision eventually grew hazy. At the tender age of 8, I received medicated glasses for the first time, and my view of the world had completely changed. It was as if I had just completed my painting. I hope for many to experience that clarity. My fascination with vision has fueled my desire to become an optometrist specializing in pediatrics and vision therapy. To prepare myself for such a position, I have observed 14 hours of optometry practices at the Pediatric Vision Development Center of Gwinnett. This opportunity allowed me to see the importance of equity in care and how individuals of all ages, regardless of the “pediatric” label, were treated with attention and respect. I observed how this environment fostered a calm ambience. Along with the shadowing, I also worked with the blind children from the FCT School for the Blind Children to gain a well-rounded understanding of how different variations of vision loss impacted their lives. I aspire to create pathways for people with visual impairments to use the world’s beauty to their advantage, despite their limited vision. To extend this vision further, I wish to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with all forms of vision loss and poor eyesight. This foundation will offer resources, advocacy, and creative programs to help them experience the world’s beauty. I would like to combine my passion for art and vision care to empower individuals by providing “solutions” and tools to create their own vibrant narratives. During the summer of 2020, I created an art account that displayed the creative pieces I developed during quarantine. With my desire to become an optometrist, I hope to help visually impaired people be seen beyond their “imperfections.” Through the account, I have shown that appearance is miniscule compared to self-perception. People can create beautiful art by simply varnishing their self-portraits. It is important to me to acknowledge those who have been supportive along this journey. I would like to express my gratitude to the Eric W. Larson Memorial STEM Scholarship committee for giving me hope and supporting my journey to help others. My father lost his job, and with all three of his children attending college next semester, we’ve been solely relying on savings. This scholarship would allow me to focus on these goals rather than worrying about monetary constraints. I hope to make Eric W. Larson proud through my journey of becoming a future Nigerian optometrist.

Slavery in America was a legalized system of enslaving human beings and owning them as property. Within the US medical system, the topic remains perplexing. Several years of questioning whether their lives mattered enough to access the same health care as their non-black counterparts. Likewise, Vernellia R. Randall, a professor who focuses on research in race, law, and health, states in her research article, “the health care system has been built on bodies of African Americans” (195). To be aware of their importance in this community yet continuously being treated as less than, what would change when it came down to their essential health care? Eventually, as black people become more socially aware of the discrimination in American healthcare, it leads to their distrust in the system. With the abrupt pandemic that started in 2020, the medical system failed to be looked up to by black people, especially with the discussion of a vaccine. Manuel E. Jimenez, a pediatrician in New Brunswick, created a study of group and individual interviews to analyze the views of health care workers from marginalized communities and how they were affected by the recent covid-19. According to the study, “vaccine skepticism was high across all groups. Participants did not trust the vaccine development process and wanted clearer information. Black participants expressed that they did not want to be subjects of experiments” (1). The emphasis on the black participants not wanting to be part of the experimentation shows the gravity the history of experiments has had on them. The retraumatization of this sudden pandemic brought forth the possibility of being a victim in the process of creating the vaccine. Within the medical system, black people are often unintentionally disregarded and maltreated. Even with the lack of black doctors in the US, the mistreatment of them remains evident. The article “When No One Sees You As Black” is by Tasha Wyatt, an educational researcher who studies the intersection of race, ethnicity, and culture within medical education. During the rise of racial violence in summer 2020, a study interviewed several black physicians and trainees to analyze the effect of racial trauma and how that affected the workplace. It showed that this lack of black doctors led to less safety in the workplace because of the insufficient number of people who could understand their racial struggles, let alone cater to them (S17). One physician also expressed feeling “much less secure living in this world”. The article emphasized the fact that “Not only did they have to process their own emotions around the racial violence, but they also tended to it in their clinical settings” (S19). This is especially acknowledging the amount of injured black people they witnessed while working. The inability for non-black hospital members to understand the reality of black people’s struggles led to the creation of an unsafe environment for these black doctors. It further proves the complete disregard of the current and historical trauma they endure. The history of the systematic destruction of black people has been so heavily embedded into various institutions, such as health care, through turning a blind eye to their needs. Therefore, I believe there needs to be a growing awareness of the racial discrimination in American healthcare.

An obscure sense of tranquility seemed to seep through the layers of pastel colors. With each stroke of my pencil, I advanced towards my heart’s desire — creativity. Art became a viewing pleasure that ran ecstasy through my veins and filled my childhood with rhythmic images. With this instant gratification, I determined that regardless of my mindless interpretations, there would always be a beauty that glowed from within these pieces. A beauty I could fixate on daily. When it came to art, I always felt it was implausible for it to be stripped of its beauty, despite the external judgment. However, everytime I stood across my reflection, I struggled to recognize the beauty that glowed from within my canvas. My futile attempts to draw myself grew ridiculous, as I’d stare at this blank spot on the painted canvas, otherwise known as the world. The unwavering criticism and comparison began to infect my artistic vision. Why did others’ sentiments towards me slowly taint my self image? Being born into a family of social butterflies, it felt as if I was constantly being brushed over. As if I was put up on this easel to witness each time a person would look at me with discerning eyes. I’d watch when the realization hit that my reality wasn’t up to par. I could envision them mixing white into my color palette, in an attempt to make a lighter shade. As a result of my timid and peculiar attributes shading over my dark skin body, there was an undeniable shadow of estrangement that never left my side. My mere existence felt like a consistent apology, as if I were a ‘societal stain’. My entire being was tackled by the projection of the world’s perception. Perception. This was a concept I never truly comprehended until I began to overanalyze the art in my vicinity. Art told an in-depth story that was beyond its surface level beauty. I used it as a means to display myself as a masterpiece rather than a shadow. Through this new perspective, I was given the opportunity to grow an understanding of who I was without the loud noise that crowded my judgment. Nevertheless, it wasn’t the unwavering criticism and comparison that was completely at fault. The issue was that everytime I struggled to draw myself, I would give up on a piece of my lens. It’s no wonder my vision eventually grew hazy. At the tender age of 8, I received medicated glasses for the first time. My view of the world had completely changed. It was as if I’d just completed my painting. The feeling I felt is one I’d hope for many to experience. My desire to become an optometrist has been fueled by my heightened fascination with one’s vision. I aspire to aid others with this so they can use the beauty of the world to their advantage. I hope to enable people with refractive errors to be seen beyond their “imperfections.” This begins with establishing a safe community of opportunities to fully engage in the world’s potential love. The proposed techniques would include developing specialized art tools, integrating advanced technology, creating customizable glass frames, and establishing a supportive online community. By implementing several trial runs and welcoming feedback, these solutions should be one of the steps towards fixing this tainted view of authenticity. Additionally, this will focus on promoting self-love and community among artists with refractive errors, allowing them to explore and display their creativity without limitations. With this, they can create the most beautiful piece of art through simply varnishing their self portrait.

My name is Michelle Ekon, and I am a nineteen-year-old woman going into my sophomore year of college. My interest in optometry stemmed from a personal journey that began when I was about eight years old and received my first pair of medicated glasses. As I was leaving the eye center, my optometrist advised me that “the first thing [I] should look at are the trees.” The detail, from the crevices in the branches to the variations of green in the leaves, left a lasting impression on me. Over the years, I have grown increasingly interested in how glasses can help people with poor vision see the world in a different light, allowing them to appreciate its beauty on a deeper level. My interest in optometry is inextricably linked to my passion for art, a lifelong hobby that inspires me to see the world as a blank canvas full of potential. In fact, realizing that there is still a ton of paint left to splatter has made me overflow with joy. It is what comes with having an ever-changing home. Having the ability to change my glasses has allowed me to embrace personal change. It has sparked my desire to learn more and develop a greater appreciation for the world’s beauty. This perspective has inspired me to see where my creativity lies in the realm of solving real-world issues. The problem in the world is these individuals can often be looked at as “imperfect.” The world refuses to acknowledge their differences as something to be adjusted to, but rather as a “societal stain.” As I work to “solve” these problems, I hope to merge my future skills in optometry with my artistic sensibilities. In addition to finding solutions, I want to create pathways for people with refractive errors to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, despite their limited vision. This vision drives my goal to develop specialized art tools, integrate advanced technology, create customizable glass frames, and establish a supportive online community for those with refractive errors. Aside from my career goals, I enjoy playing soccer, laughing, and making others laugh. It is important to me to spend quality time with friends and family, and I treasure every chance to express my love for them in any way I can. As I begin my journey into the field of optometry, I am excited to combine my passions and skills to make a meaningful difference, helping others see and appreciate the world's beauty in the same way that I have.

The tale of Romeo and Juliet, one of Shakespeare’s most known pieces, has been carefully studied and recognized to be a tragedy with two lovers protecting their fondness for one another despite having all odds against it. Shakespeare constructs a meticulous way of analyzing the different stages and representations of love through many mediums such as Romeo’s passionate dialogue, creative analogies, and in-depth characterization. When I was younger, I was never caught without a book in hand. In fact, Barnes & Noble felt like my second home, as it had captured my entire heart and kept a bright smile stretched across my face. Placing my stack of books on one of the polished wooden tables, I would spend hours lost in the delicate words written on the pages. Romeo and Juliet was the first novel that I read with distinguished language. When I was able to get through it, I fell in love with how Shakespeare’s writing drew this story in my head. Despite me knowing the general idea of this common story, finally being able to read this writing seemed like magic to my brain. As much as I appreciated reading, I was also an art enthusiast who appreciated a great Disney film. Following an indistinguishable build-up is Disney’s 1988 reimagining, ‘Lion King II: Simba’s Pride’, a kid-friendly interpretation of the tragedy. I stared in awe at the television as I watched this film. On account of the different forms of media, the creators chose different routes to express the various details. Disney illustrated the ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ characters through their spectacular addition of sharp and darker features; like how Kovu had darker fur with a slender figure and Simba had bright, fluffy fur with a big youthful figure. This allowed readers to maintain a strong connection to the imagery and music. The music videos displayed the many emotions that the readers were expected to feel. An example of this is when the song “We Are One” came on. The warm-colored sunset that glowed throughout the video heavily represented the idea that every new experience was going to be received differently. It illustrated the beauty in one’s learning because of how every sunset was understood to be beautiful despite its differences. The general moods of new beginnings were shown through these bright colors and young animals. In terms of Shakespeare, he tended to set the mood through the emphasis on the characters and their inner thoughts. With Romeo being the main character, his dialogue clearly showed his romanticness and way with words. When he announced, “One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun ne’er saw her match since the first world begun” (Shakespeare Act 1, Scene 2 in 34), it was lyrically put together in a flabbergasted tone. His distinct shock allowed the readers, like me, to understand how upset Romeo was by the assumption that there would be other girls who could be more beautiful than his dearest love. Shakespeare often aimed for this descriptive style of writing, which enhanced the romantic perspective of Romeo. When he constantly chose to paint a picture to represent the art he saw in his women, these words became every splatter of paint. Following that, the film and play strived to insert creative elements for a chance at representing them through words and visuals. The use of color to indicate the mood was constantly being used, especially because of their audience. Even with being kid-friendly, Disney aimed to entertain the general public by including elements for everyone; whether it be the clever humor, effective character build-up, great lessons, or a catchy soundtrack.

Trey Edward Shults’ “Waves” is an intentionally crafted film that features a cinematic approach to storytelling. The storyline demonstrates its importance through the choice of lighting, color, music, and camera angles. It follows a suburban African American family as they go through the trials and tribulations regarding love, forgiveness, and loss. Within the first hour of the film, the viewers learn about Tyler Williams, who struggles to achieve the standard of perfection presented to him by his father. In one of the scenes, it opens up in a visibly dark gymnasium, with the fighters lit by softly flickering lights. Within this scene, viewers begin to develop a possible understanding of the relationship Tyler has with his parents. As the camera cut to them in the crowd, his mom’s eyes blinked frequently, and she clapped energetically. Her voice came through from the roar of the crowd, and she yelled out, “Good job!”. Her eager gestures and supporting words displayed her unwavering support for him, even after his defeat. However, his father exuded disappointment in every way. His jaw tightened, and he clenched his hands in silent frustration. Viewers can interpret this unspoken exchange as a representation of the fear his dad instills in him. It is likely that his dad is particularly hard on him, with high expectations for his wrestling career and success in general. In fact, the addition of wavering and shaking enhanced the crescendo of a piercing scream-like noise. The background noise of the audience added to this layer of chaos and intensity while the drama unfolded. As the match ended, the background noise faded into a haunting silence, broken only by a sad melody. In that moment, his father's gaze was singled out from the crowd. The juxtaposition of parent’s reactions is mirrored by the contrasting background sounds. That escalating noise served as a reminder of the new disorder that failure had brought into Tyler's life. Following that, the camera shots effectively convey the overwhelming pressure he feels to be perfect. The strategic use of camera angling serves as a means of fully immersing the viewers in Tyler’s physically exhausting turmoil. With these intentional angles, viewers can recognize facial expressions more easily than if they were sitting on the sidelines of the game. It brings them closer to the protagonist in a way that allows them to understand his emotionally exhausting turmoil as well. In that way, they are drawn into his world of high expectations and harsh realities. After his second loss, he failed to get up and was met with medical care. A moment of struggle, pain, and sadness flickered across his face before he quickly masked it. The camera captured a heartbreaking moment as Tyler caught his father’s blank stare again. With this stare, he offered no comfort or understanding. Tyler’s father seems to leave no room for vulnerability. So despite being advised not to continue wrestling, it becomes apparent that he may have persisted out of fear and the inability to show his pain. In conclusion, this film delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, personal struggles, and societal pressures. Tyler displays his straining search for perfection and the weight of expectations constantly placed on him by his father. This is just one scene out of the colorful film that triggers several emotions. Through its cinematic storytelling and strong performances, “Waves” is a compelling show of love, forgiveness, and loss, as every scene has a lasting effect on these themes. This leaves viewers reflecting on the complexities of human relationships and the struggle for perfection in everyday life.