My Mind, My Method: Using STEM to Create a Greater Impact I have never been interested in simply following a path someone else created. I want to build my own—one where science, compassion, and curiosity come together to solve problems that matter. This fall, I will attend Tuskegee University to begin my pre-veterinary studies with the goal of becoming a licensed veterinarian. Veterinary medicine represents STEM at its most meaningful: using biology, research, technology, and problem-solving to protect animals, strengthen communities, and better understand the world we share. While I am excited to explore opportunities in wildlife and large-animal medicine, I also hope to continue exploring my interests in aquatic animal health through internships, certifications, and hands-on experience. My passion for this field has been strengthened through real experience. After completing more than 300 hours in a veterinary hospital internship and earning my Veterinary Assisting certification through my Career and Technical Education pathway, I came to appreciate the dedication, skill, and heart required in veterinary medicine. These experiences confirmed that this is more than a career goal—it is a responsibility I want to take on. As someone with ADHD and autism, I have learned that the way I think is not something I need to overcome; it is something I can use to innovate. My ADHD brings curiosity, energy, and deep focus to the subjects that inspire me. My autism helps me recognize details, patterns, and connections others may overlook. These strengths have taught me how to approach challenges differently and create solutions that reflect my unique perspective. I want to use my STEM degree to uplift my community by increasing representation, creating opportunities, and encouraging future students to believe they belong in science. As a Black woman pursuing veterinary medicine, I understand the importance of seeing someone who represents you succeed in a field where representation remains limited. I want young students who love science, animals, wildlife, and discovery to see a future for themselves in STEM. My goal is not simply to earn a degree or become a veterinarian. I want to use my education as a tool for service—mentoring future students, expanding opportunities, and contributing solutions to challenges affecting animals, communities, and the environment. The path I am taking may not be conventional, but it is mine. I am not trying to follow someone else’s definition of success—I am creating one that reflects my strengths, my passions, and my purpose. STEM has given me a way to turn my curiosity into action, and I plan to use that opportunity to redefine what is possible for myself, my community, and those who come after me.

Finding My Voice Through Theirs Before I knew what veterinary medicine was, I knew I wanted to understand animals and be part of their world. While other kids were watching cartoons, I was watching Animal Planet and learning about animals from all over the world. I loved seeing how different species lived, survived, and interacted with their environments. I was fascinated by the animals I saw every day and those I only dreamed of seeing someday. I was the kid who would take off my shoes, roll up my pants, and walk through the creek behind my house searching for crawfish, watching frogs, and following tadpoles as they changed. I even wished the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were real because the idea of animals having voices, protecting their own kind, and being understood felt like a better world. Looking back, I realize I was already searching for my connection to the animal world. Animals have always been my peace and the source of my purpose. In a world that can feel loud, confusing, and overwhelming, animals have always helped me feel grounded. From dolphins and turtles in the water to goats, turkeys, dogs, birds, and even the small creatures many people overlook, I have always found something special in them. Animals do not ask me to be anything other than patient, caring, and present. They simply need consistency, compassion, and someone willing to understand them. Caring for animals has shown me responsibility in ways I never expected. Seeing an animal suffer affects me deeply because they cannot explain their pain, symptoms, or fears the way humans can. I understand what it feels like to struggle to communicate and feel like your voice is not always being heard. That is part of why I want to become a voice for animals who cannot speak for themselves. My connection with animals became a responsibility through FFA and my supervised agricultural experiences. Root Beer, my first turkey, was my first true animal responsibility, entirely my own. She was more than a project; she was my daily reminder that another life depended on me. Feeding her, cleaning her space, and spending time with her could turn even my hardest days around. She taught me patience, dedication, and the kind of love that comes from caring for something that cannot care for itself. Then came Simba, my goat and my hardheaded companion, who reminded me a lot of myself. He was stubborn, full of personality, and always did things his own way. Caring for Simba taught me that helping animals requires patience, problem-solving, and advocacy. Whether I was helping with health concerns, adjusting care during difficult weather, or making sure he had what he needed, Simba showed me that animals depend on us to notice the things they cannot tell us themselves. My veterinary internship was the moment when my passion became my purpose. I honestly looked forward to going to the animal hospital more than going to school. As a senior with fewer traditional classes, I was most excited about those clinic days. I packed my things, showed up ready to learn, and never knew what new experience would come next. I loved learning animal handling and restraint, medical terminology, anatomy, medications, and diseases because I could see the connection between knowledge and helping an animal feel better. Learning anatomy from a living patient, rather than only from a textbook, helped everything make sense because I am a visual learner. Through more than 300 hours in the animal hospital, I completed the requirements for my Certified Veterinary Assistant credential and earned my Veterinary Medical Applications certification. Tests have not always been easy for me, but these felt different because the information had meaning beyond a grade. I earned a 95% on my first CVA I exam attempt and scored the highest among my classmates who took the exam with me. It felt like another piece of the puzzle, confirming that veterinary medicine is where I belong. Veterinary medicine appeals to me because it combines science, compassion, and the ability to help those who cannot ask for help themselves. I can tell my family when I do not feel well, and people can go to a doctor and explain what is wrong. Animals communicate in their own ways, but they cannot explain their pain, symptoms, or fears the way humans can. They rely on veterinarians to observe their behavior, understand their bodies, investigate problems, and find ways to make them feel better. I want to have the knowledge and skills to recognize when an animal is not acting like themselves, discover what is causing their pain, and provide the best care possible. Helping an animal also helps the people who love them. Many people consider their animals family, and when those animals are healthy and happy, the people around them feel that happiness too. My passion for wildlife and aquatic veterinary medicine became even clearer during a recent school trip to the Georgia Aquarium. As I walked through the exhibits and learned more about marine animals, I felt a connection that was difficult to explain. The combination of unique animals, science, conservation, and the water that has always brought me peace showed me a future where everything I love comes together. I realized that my dream was not only to care for animals but also to protect the wildlife and ecosystems they depend on. The aquarium felt like a glimpse of the future I hope to build, one where I can help animals both large and small. Attending Tuskegee University and beginning my pre-veterinary studies is the next step toward the dream I have carried since childhood. When I visited Tuskegee, I felt a connection to its history, community, and commitment to excellence. I love the tradition and pride of an HBCU, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue my education there. Pre-veterinary studies are my first step toward earning my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and gaining the scientific knowledge needed to care for animals, protect wildlife, and serve my community. The work required to become a veterinarian will be challenging, but it does not feel like just a career path to me. It feels like the place where my curiosity, compassion, and determination come together. The child who watched Animal Planet, searched for crawfish in the creek, and wished for a world where animals could talk never stopped wondering about them. The difference now is that my curiosity has grown into purpose. I may not have the ability to magically speak every animal’s language like Dr. Doolittle, but I can dedicate my life to understanding them, advocating for them, and giving them the care they deserve. Veterinary medicine is where I found my voice by learning to listen to theirs.