Appalachia is a region with 26.4 million people, yet it is constantly overlooked. Even the way people pronounce its name is emblematic of how little people know about it. While App-a-lay-sha has become accepted nationwide, Appalachians will be quick to tell you it is, in fact, App-uh-la-cha. I would likely be amongst those ignorant of Appalachia without my family ties to the region. Traveling up winding mountainous roads to see my grandparents on their farm in Southwestern Virginia makes up some of my fondest memories and introduced me to a way of life vastly different from my suburban upbringing. Eventually, though, these visits ended because a lack of easily accessible rural healthcare forced them to move and leave behind the place they had called home for generations. This experience set me on a mission; whenever the opportunity arose to educate people about Appalachia, I did so. In my English classes, I gave presentations on Appalachian culture and the high rates of poverty. In Mock Congress, I chose to portray Senator Shelley Capito so that I might share the struggles of access to healthcare and education. I even introduced a bill to increase funding to Appalachian schools. The proposal would expand the percentage of the population that receives a college education and thus, improve the economic state of the region. Combined with my interest in medicine and computer science, witnessing how a lack of accessible healthcare can impact people inspired me to pursue computational biology. To accomplish this goal, I plan to study computer science as an undergraduate and then go on to graduate school to focus on computational biology. In this way, I can play a role in devising methods to decrease the rural healthcare crisis. For instance, I might provide solutions in the form of algorithms that ease the burden on healthcare providers and create natural language processing systems that will reduce the amount of time workers spend on charting. Such action can help fight the healthcare worker shortage by maximizing the time of existing providers, making accessible healthcare a reality for Appalachians. Ultimately, I hope my work will mean that in the future, Appalachians will not be forced to abandon everything they have ever known in search of healthcare. At my university, Duke, I will continue to bring up Appalachia and spend every day in pursuit of an education that might help this struggling region. Moreover, I will ensure that those I talk to are aware of the discrepancies faced by Appalachia in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and so many more sectors. Additionally, I’m sure to encounter others who hold a special place in their heart for Appalachia, and we might be unified by this shared desire to see this region improve. My familial connection to Appalachia has opened my eyes to how some people in this country still face challenges solved in urban and suburban areas decades ago. It has imbued me with the desire to solve this problem and provided me direction in my life, academically and professionally. Along the way, I am bound to encounter hardships, but I know I can get through them as I have in the past. No one should have to face the struggles of inaccessible healthcare, and I know this is an issue I can do something about. Ultimately, I hope that my work will mean that a region that has long been in a healthcare desert may finally find relief from its suffering.

Early in my stint as HOSA co-president, I was presented with a task that would revolutionize how I viewed leadership. The assignment: organizing a haunted house charity event with student council. Problems quickly arose and were exacerbated by the tight deadline under which we were working. In less than a week, we were faced with the challenge of gathering numerous decorations and volunteers to host this event. With such little time to prepare, I had to think quickly. I reached out to the National Honors Society, hoping we could encourage people to donate their time and decorations by offering service hours. Sure enough, after this partnership went through the number of interested people skyrocketed. While we were able to assemble enough volunteers, things were not as straightforward as they had appeared. Many of those who signed up to deliver decorations never arrived, and we were left with barely enough materials to cover a quarter of the hallway. Once again, I was confronted with a dilemma; I sent out some volunteers to purchase more decorations and continued to help those remaining decorate as rapidly as possible. Eventually, more decorations arrived, and by the time the clock struck 7:00, the space had been transformed into a haunted forest. This experience was a trial by fire that forced me to fully embrace my leadership role. While at times I felt unprepared, I knew such thoughts were unwarranted and that quick decision-making was vital for the success of this event. Moreover, this experience highlighted how leaders must adapt to any circumstance. With each twist and turn I was forced to quickly reroute and chart a new course ahead, lest we all be derailed. Furthermore, I now realize that collaboration is indispensable; leaders should not distance themselves from those they are leading. Rather, they should immerse themselves amongst their team. This increases efficiency, allows one to ensure requests are reasonable, and demonstrates devotion to the cause. Leadership is not only about planning and delegation; active engagement and acting as an example for one’s peers are some of its most crucial components. Ultimately, we contributed to over $90,000 raised for the Meyer Center. Not only was I able to create change in my community, but I also gained insight into leadership skills that I have continued to carry with me as co-president of HOSA, as well as in my other leadership roles. As a leader, one cannot be equipped for every unexpected situation, but how one overcomes these hurdles truly demonstrates one’s effectiveness. In my future plans to become a professor, I will use these skills to lead my students. I have already explored this through my work as a tutor and am excited for the opportunity to continue to serve as a role model for students. Moreover, in college, I hope to join leadership organizations and continue to devote myself to a myriad of interests through club involvement, which will further provide me with opportunities to pursue leadership positions. Leading may not always be intrinsic, but by discovering the importance of collaboration and problem-solving, my skills as a leader have grown and will continue to flourish as I constantly strive to build upon this strong foundation.

There is no feeling more satisfying than hearing my club perfectly connect with the ball as I watch it fly off the tee. Even when my stress is at its height, golf allows me a brief respite. Moreover, it has taught me the importance of hardwork and collaboration. Additionally, the large time commitment of the sport forced me to improve my time management skills and pushed me to prioritize the things I am espcially passionate about. This experience has allowed me to gain increased insight into what I hope to pursue as a career, a career that will leave a lasting impact on my life and the lives of others. Regarding my career, my dream is to become a professor of Bioinformatics. However, this career path comes with a myriad of challenges, many of which are financial. This scholarship would aid this pursuit and assist in the financing of the years of schooling required to achieve my goals. To become a professor and researcher, I need to attend undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate school, and the cost of so much education quickly adds up. As a professor of Bioinformatics, I would be able to research and teach about a subject about which I am immensely passionate. In 4th grade, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition that affects my metabolism and has had a monumental impact on my life. One of the most promising areas of study within Bioinformatics is metabolomics, which provides key insights into the human metabolism and can thus be applied to hypothyroidism. This is the area within which I would like to focus my research so that I can discover information related to my condition and help to improve the lives of the many people who also struggle with hypothyroidism. I view teaching as an incredibly benevolent career and as an area of work that can truly touch lives. As a tutor, I have experienced first-hand the incredible role one can play in the lives of students. I have watched as those I tutor transform from struggling students to people who are lightyears ahead of their peers. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you contributed to this transformation. Education opens so many doors, and it warms my heart that I have played even a small part in improving the lives of these students. It is this feeling that has allowed me to recognize that I want to continue to teach for the rest of my life. As a professor, I could share my research and knowledge with the next generation, helping to expand the field of bioinformatics for years to come. However, I cannot achieve this dream on my own; I need financial support to attend so many years of school. Within the field of bioinformatics, I will work tirelessly to make advances in technology and medicine, so that I might improve the lives of the many who are impacted by diseases about which little is known. I want a career that leaves a lasting, positive impact, and I feel that being a professor and researcher of bioinformatics is the best outlet for me to achieve this dream. I would be incredibly honored to receive this scholarship, and so grateful for the help it would provide me in achieving my goals. I know that the path to reaching my dream career is long and arduous, but this scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burden associated with this journey and allow me to focus on leaving an impact that can transform lives and improve our understanding of diseases like hypothyroidism.

I was, furiously typing away, when I was struck by a horrifying realization. Glaring back at me was the word count–I had somehow managed to speed past this number, and I was far from finished with my essay. Moments like these rekindle my hatred for word limits; it is as if they are designed to ruin the blissful feeling accompanying me when I write. My creativity seeps out of me, and I rack my brain for a way to simultaneously get my point across and remove several hundred words, a daunting feat for someone who struggles with concision. Eventually, the dreaded day arrived: the introduction of word limits. It felt as if I was forced to strip down my writing style and conform to modern-day standards of concision. I considered this an affront to a craft I prided myself on and perceived such a notion as ridiculous since the authors I had taken inspiration from had no qualms about verbose compositions. For the first time, I no longer found joy in writing; I dreaded it. Nevertheless, my passion for writing had merely wandered away and was awaiting the moment at which I would rediscover it. This epiphany arrived when I delved into the world of poetry, enabling me to discuss my fears and hopes, without the rules that often plague other forms of writing. I write poetry about mundane thoughts–waking up too early, the peace found in silence, and my concerns for the environment–but when these ideas are expressed poetically they become captivating and take on additional weight. Poetry has become a journal that lets me chronicle crucial moments, and perhaps most importantly, it has facilitated my rediscovery of a love of writing. A year ago, I lost my grandfather, and the only method that seemed fitting to find closure was poetry. I pieced together words perfectly encapsulating who he was and poured out my soul: Like a star that shone so bright Lighting up our lives So suddenly gone In a fiery blaze But your light remains For years to come Each night it comforts us Your kindness and your warmth Never forgotten Always remembered A star forevermore… Doing so revealed to me he will always be there to “guide [me] through / Even the darkest of nights,” and with such a weighty topic, flowery language felt necessary to ensure due attention was paid to his memory. Whether documenting my experimental recipes, logging my research, or writing a computer program, I once again feel a sense of innate joy. Poetry helped me to ascertain it is not always practical to prattle on endlessly in an academic essay, just as it would be nonsensical to write an unambiguous poem. By coming to terms with word counts, I have grown as a writer and gained the confidence to enter my compositions in competitions and tutor other students, so they too might fall in love with writing. In college, I will continue to write about my experiences and use poetry to express my emotions. Moreover, I will further develop as a writer through classes that focus on the discipline and literature. I can also apply these skills to more technical classes as I perform research and write research papers; the possibilites are endless. Writing is about the journey and destination; sometimes one wants to amble along a scenic path, and other times the highway is preferred. Neither method is incorrect; they are merely different ways of getting where one wants to go.

One of my most notable experiences in high school has been serving as Co-president of my school's HOSA chapter. HOSA is a club for those interested in healthcare careers, and we have grown to be the largest chapter in our state with approximately 200 members. Leading so many people has proved challenging but also immensely rewarding because I am able to impact the lives of countless people. HOSA does not only work to help its own members, but having such a large club allows us to play a significant role in bettering our community. In past years we have collected blankets for the Ronald McDonald House and I have organized a canned food drive in partnership with Project Host. However, one of our most successful events was Haunted Trails. Each year, our school’s student council hosts a haunted house to raise money for their chosen charity. I was put in charge of organizing HOSA’s involvement. While we were able to garner a team large enough to help decorate and to dress-up during the actual event, unfortunately, things did not run as smoothly during set-up. Many of the people who had signed up to deliver decorations never arrived, and we were left with barely enough to cover a quarter of the hallway. I was faced with a dilemma, so I sent out some of those helping to set-up to purchase more decorations and began to help the remaining volunteers decorate as quickly as possible. With several hands down that task had become significantly more challenging, but we persevered. Eventually, more decorations arrived, and by the time the clock struck 7:00 the hall had been transformed into a haunted forest filled with vampires and werewolves. You would have never known the monumental effort it took for us to reach this point, and I could never have done it without the wonderful volunteers. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when one puts their mind to it. This was the most successful iteration of Haunted Trails hosted in recent years, and contributed to over $90,000 raised for the Meyer Center. This experience prepared me to navigate all the unexpected twists and turns that lie before me in college. Moreover, it has given me a sense of what it means to be a leader and how one needs to be ready for any circumstance. If at any moment I had been unable to find a solution, this event may have fallen apart, but with each new challenge my problem-solving abilities grew. HOSA is a club that means so much to me. It has allowed me to reach numerous people and help them find a career they are truly passionate about. Additionally, it has furthered my interest in the medical field and stengthened by desire to pursue Computational Biology. Moreover, it has provided me with a platform to create change in my community through food drives and school events. While things are not always easy, I would not trade this experience for anything. It has made me who I am, improving me as a person and leader and allowing me exposure to a field I hope to one day join. This scholarship would help me to pursue this dream and receive the education necessary to conduct ground-breaking research that could revolutionize the medical field and continue to help those in need.

Throughout my life, I have envisioned a myriad of different career paths; from popstar to architect, there seemed to be no correlation between one aspiration and another. I struggled to find a route incorporating all of my interests: writing, coding, teaching, science, medicine–the list goes on. However, I did not give up, and eventually, the path forward became clear. A vital step toward this moment of clarity was my diagnosis with hypothyroidism, which ignited my interest in medicine; computational biology will enable me to combine this interest with computer science, so I can study the subjects about which I am most passionate, and thus, it is the STEM field that I hope to pursue. As co-president of HOSA, a health science career club at my school, I have shared this enthusiasm with members, facilitating my discovery of a love for teaching. Additionally, my work as a tutor has furthered this passion, granting me the opportunity to watch kids transform from struggling to excelling students. It is heart-warming to be involved in this transformation, and it is not a feeling I ever want to leave behind. Moreover, volunteering at Roper Mountain Science Center has granted me an outlet through which I can share my love of STEM. Whether answering kids’ questions or explaining a marine animal’s diet, I know I am deepening their fascination with science. I have watched children’s faces light up when they see animals they have only read about and their excitement is palpable as they discuss their favorite dinosaur with me. Best of all, their natural curiosity has helped to reignite my own. To further combine my areas of interest, I aspire to become a professor and enter academia. In this way, I can perform research and make a lasting contribution to computational biology, but I will also be able to share my knowledge with the younger generation and help them to achieve their dreams as well. I delved further into the world of research the summer before my senior year. With many unanswered questions about hypothyroidism, I hoped to explore a topic that could make a meaningful contribution to the treatment of the disease. Eventually, I set about performing a meta-analysis of hypothyroidism biomarkers found through metabolomics. Searching through databases and reviewing hundreds of articles, was monotonous. However, it was not without purpose, and my drive to contribute to these databases and see my research alongside the articles I was reading pushed me forward. I persevered, and this initial journey proved to me research is a path I find immensely fascinating. The roadblocks on my way to completing this project were opportunities to problem-solve and learn, pushing me to continue to explore and equipping me for future challenges. As I move toward publishing my research paper, it feels like the close of a chapter. I have poured my heart and soul into this project, along with countless hours. However, the close of one chapter means the start of another. This was only one of my first steps into the world of research and STEM, and yet, it feels like a giant leap toward a future where I might have a career that fully encompasses my diverse interests. I am excited for the day I am a teacher, researcher, and member of the Computational Biology field. While I know I might encounter setbacks that force me to reroute, the experience I have garnered thus far will help me be more equipped to face these dilemmas, preventing me from being permanently derailed and allowing me to pursue my dream STEM career.

I have always been a dreamer. From day one my aspirations have led me through life and played a role in every decision I make. Sometimes these goals lead me down challenging paths, but the journey to achieving my dreams is far from impossible. This scholarship would help to make this expedition slightly less harrowing and reduce the challenges I face on the way to reaching my career goals. Regarding my career, my dream is to become a professor of Bioinformatics. However, this career path comes with a myriad of challenges, many of which are financial. This scholarship would aid this pursuit and assist in financing the years of schooling required to achieve my goals. To become a professor and researcher, I need to attend undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate school, and the cost of so much education quickly adds up. As a professor of Bioinformatics, I would be able to research and teach about a subject about which I am immensely passionate. In 4th grade, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a condition that affects my metabolism and has had a monumental impact on my life. One of the most promising areas of study within Bioinformatics is metabolomics, which provides key insights into the human metabolism and can thus be applied to hypothyroidism. This is the area within which I would like to focus my research so that I can discover information related to my condition and help to improve the lives of the many people who also struggle with hypothyroidism. I view teaching as an incredibly benevolent career and as an area of work that can truly touch lives. As a tutor, I have experienced first-hand the incredible role one can play in the lives of students. I have watched as those I tutor transform from struggling students to people who are lightyears ahead of their peers. There is no greater feeling than knowing that you contributed to this transformation. Education opens so many doors, and it warms my heart that I have played even a small part in improving the lives of these students. It is this feeling that has allowed me to recognize that I want to continue to teach for the rest of my life. As a professor, I could share my research and knowledge with the next generation, helping to expand the field of bioinformatics for years to come. However, I cannot achieve this dream on my own; I need financial support to attend so many years of school. Within the field of bioinformatics, I will work tirelessly to make advances in technology and medicine, so that I might improve the lives of the many who are impacted by diseases about which little is known. I want a career that leaves a lasting, positive impact, and I feel that being a professor and researcher of bioinformatics is the best outlet for me to achieve this dream. I would be incredibly honored to receive this scholarship, and so grateful for the help it would provide me in achieving my goals. I know that the path to reaching my dream career is long and arduous, but this scholarship would alleviate some of the financial burden associated with this journey and allow me to focus on leaving an impact that can transform lives and improve our understanding of diseases like hypothyroidism.

Growing up in Huntsville, AL, I was constantly surrounded by technology and people working to make discoveries that would revolutionize our knowledge of the universe. I spent weekends at the Marshall Space Flight Center, exploring models of space shuttles and marveling at the feats of engineering required for us to reach the moon. Even though we would eventually leave Hunstville, these experiences remained and showed me how impactful a career in technology could be. At first, this manifested itself in my desire to be an aerospace engineer, but my school’s coding classes helped me to realize that my impact should be through software. The possibilities seemed endless, and as an indecisive child, I flitted between various ideas of how my technology would be used. My inner conflict intensified when I gained interest in a medical career. Much like rockets had sparked my interest in technology, the prospect of saving a life ignited my interest in medicine To be a doctor, I thought I had to give up on a career in technology. However, this was not the case. Eventually, I discovered the field of bioinformatics–a discipline that combined the two areas for which I harbored fascination. I delved deeper into this field and explored the myriad of opportunities. It occurred to me that there was still room for expansion of knowledge in this young area of study; thus, my drive to enter academia as a bioinformatics researcher was born. One particular area of fascination for me within bioinformatics is metabolomics, a field providing cutting-edge insights into metabolism. As someone with hypothyroidism, I have always aspired to learn more about my condition, and the opportunity to devote my career to such an endeavor seems like the ideal path. As a result, I have begun a meta-analysis to determine the metabolic biomarkers of hypothyroidism that may help improve understanding of the disease. Furthermore, through my work as a tutor, I have recognized my desire to share my knowledge with the younger generation, so the world can continue to move forward and advances can continuously be made. Thus, working in academia would provide the perfect outlet for me to realize my dreams and contribute to bioinformatics in a significant way; by both researching and teaching in the field, I would be doing my part to expand our knowledge not only in the present but the future too. With my first step into the world of research, my motivation to pursue this as my career has only intensified. It feels monumental that my efforts might result in advances in healthcare and technology, improving the world for so many. This is the side of history I hope to be on, and I want a career that leaves the world a better place. As a bioinformatics researcher and professor, I know that I will be fulfilling my goals, and this knowledge will propel me forward with renewed vigor and passion every day.

Autoimmune diseases pervade every aspect of your life. When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease at the age of 12, my world changed. While some things suddenly made more sense, others seemed completely nonsensical. At such a young age, it had never occurred to me that I could be diagnosed with a disease that would impact me for the rest of my life. This idea terrified me, and I immediately did all the research I could (at least to the extent that a 12 year old does research) on what this disease was and how it would play a role in my future. Over time, I became more comfortable with the idea of Hashimoto's Disease and hypothyroidism. It has become an intrinsic part of my identity. I no longer allow it to limit me; rather, I use it as a means to continue to push myself toward achieving my dreams. In fact, it is this disease that has inspired me to pursue a career in the medical field. My dream is to go into endocrinology and help others struggling with endocrine issues. Moreover, I want to research autoimmune disorders and be involved in potentially discovering what causes these diseases. My own endocrinologist has encouraged me in these endeavors. She has been there to help me through the navigation of this disease, and her positive impact on me has in turn encouraged me to enter the same profession. I want to be involved with guiding people on their own medical journeys. I know the support from my doctor has allowed me to no longer view my disease as a limitation, and I think it is important that others with autoimmune diseases know the same thing. Had it not been for this diagnosis, I may have never been introduced to the world of endocrinology, and I certainly would not harbor the same passion for this field of medicine that can only stem from one's personal experiences. Moreover, my autoimmune disease will allow me to connect to my patients on a level that few medical professionals can because I understand what they are going through because I have also been through it. In this way, Hashimoto's Disease is my strength; it will enable me to provide the highest level of care to my patients and it will continue to push me each and every day to find out more information about autoimmune diseases. I know I will never reach a point at which I tire of my research because I am not just researching nameless data points; instead, I am diving deeply into my own identity and searching for ways to make a difference in my life and the lives of so many others with autoimmune disorders.

“The rest of the world was black and white / But we were in screaming color”(Swift 8-9), is a line that fully encompasses why “Out of the Woods” is my favorite song from 1989. The song builds slowly, painting a picture of a tumultuous relationship. Suddenly, the tempo increases dramatically during the chorus, and the line “Are we out of the woods yet?” repeats over and over again. This use of rhythm and repetition illustrates how suddenly anxiety over this relationship arises. In such few words and with only subtle changes, Taylor Swift manages to illustrate a multitude of emotions. The song is a journey from beginning to end and a beautiful depiction of Swift’s songwriting and lyricism at its best. The main reason for this being my favorite piece from 1989 is its emotional impact. “Out of the Woods” incorporates large amounts of repetition, an oddity in Taylor Swift's songs. The repetition here serves a purpose beyond filling space; instead, it showcases how the speaker is constantly worried about the state of the relationship. The song flips back and forth between flashes of joyful moments between the couple and terrifying, ever-present anxiety. This emotion is captured without ever saying the word; rather, it is felt when one truly concentrates on the song. It is one of those songs that the more one listens to it, the deeper one’s understanding of it becomes. Layers and layers of meaning have been packed into these three minutes and 55 seconds such that the song never becomes boring. “Out of the Woods” leaves one wondering where the relationship leads and if the couple ever makes it out of this proverbial “woods.” The speaker seems to have the same question and is trying to convince themselves that they are “in the clear,” yet, with a relationship so rife with strife, it is hard to imagine that they are not still trapped deep within the forest. Overall, I feel that this song is one of the most impressive lyrically and metaphorically from the 1989 album. In addition to the technical impressiveness of this song, the emotions it conveys are what set it apart. People can connect to it in one way or another, as no matter where one is in their life they have experienced the ups and downs that are so artfully depicted in “Out of the Woods.” The rollercoaster of emotions that the speaker portrays is poignant and impactful. By the close of the song, the listener feels connected to the singer, as if they are no longer alone in the woods, but on this winding and confusing journey together.