As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I stepped into my local doctor's office I was always interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department, I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans they still took care of their samples as if they were full humans. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping study dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment for victims to live a happy healthy life. I aim to advocate for women in STEM and make a difference in this male-dominated field. During my job shadowing in the microbiology unit, I was inspired by the support and encouragement of the female microbiologists. Their willingness to help motivates me and I believe increased representation can encourage more young girls to pursue STEM careers. I aspire to mentor young girls, just as I once needed guidance, to help them achieve their goals. Being a mentor or professor is crucial for students, as experts in the field can open doors to valuable opportunities. I hope to be a guiding light for those interested in my career path. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to apply for this scholarship, and I will do everything possible to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I stepped into my local doctor's office, I was always interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information, I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and want to help people. Throughout the year, I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department, I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans, they still took care of their samples as if they were full humans. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment for victims to live a happy healthy life. I aim to make a difference as a woman in STEM by advocating for those pursuing a career in this field. Historically, STEM careers have been male-dominated, and even successful women faced criticism about their capabilities. During my job shadowing in the microbiology unit at my local hospital, I noticed that all the microbiologists were women who supported each other and took the time to answer my questions. I believe that increased representation can inspire young girls to enter STEM. I aspire to mentor girls in similar situations to help them achieve their goals. Being a mentor, whether as a professor or intern, is crucial as it can provide valuable opportunities and connections. I hope to guide and inspire those interested in my career field throughout my journey.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and work. While I was in the department, I saw the diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to realize my academic potential fully. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of essential materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

My plans for the future are to become a microbiologist and help work toward developing a treatment for different diseases. I would love to study microorganisms and observe the way that they function in their environments. While many of my immediate family have had dreams of going to a four-year institution it was not made a reality. I intend not only to dream but also to turn that dream into a reality. I discovered my passion for helping others when I entered high school. Starting high school during COVID-19 made it difficult to connect with my peers, and I felt isolated. However, when I finally stepped into the school building for the first time, I was nervous but eager to succeed. Every Friday, our dedicated high school volunteers engage in community service, contributing to various local initiatives. We helped beautify community gardens, worked with students who had intellectual disabilities in schools, and supported operations at food pantries, all of which made a positive impact in our neighborhood. During my senior year, I had the opportunity to job shadow a microbiologist at my local hospital. This experience deepened my passion for helping others, particularly through lab work. My parents had always taught me that education was one of the most important things. They have always implanted in me that with education comes bigger opportunities. My parents were not as fortunate to attend a 4-year university. They have always wanted me to do better than they did and make a difference in the world. While I know that receiving a higher education is important, having the money for it makes a difference in how much prospect you can get. Winning the Bright Lights Scholarship would relieve some of the financial burden of attending a university. This scholarship would also allow me to further the amount of education I get outside of a high school classroom. It will also allow me to purchase essential textbooks, attend conferences, or pay for travel expenses that may come up. In addition, I may have the opportunity to expand my network circle better by going to more events specific to my major and career of choice. This would be a much-appreciated burden taken away from my financial college worries. I will also be able to attend school with less stress. I am grateful for the consideration and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to apply. My career goal is to first graduate with my Bachelor of Science in Biology. With that, I plan to get an entrance job as a research assistant or biological technician. While working in that field, I plan to return to school to get my master's in Microbiology. Working as a biology technician and taking many microbiology-related classes while working on my bachelor's will help me build a foundation in the microbiology field even before the focused education. After receiving my Master I will go into getting my PhD while doing that I will be looking for a job in development and research at companies or a microbiologist position in the hospital.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and wore. While I was in the department, I saw the diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my localdoctor'ss office I would always be interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and work. In the Microbiology department, I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans, they still cared for their samples as if they were full humans. While I was in the department, I saw the diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household.

My family is one of my motivations to attend college. Ever since I could remember they have instilled in me that education was the way to make it in this world. From my early days in elementary, I was pushed to do my best, work harder, never give up, and take everything as a lesson. While many of my peers were in sports or doing activities that seemed fun I was more academically inclined. While they pushed me to be great academically they also encouraged me to be active in my interest. With their encouragement, going to college was not much of a thought but a normal step in life. I plan to stay motivated to accomplish my future career goals by always keeping the end goal in mind. For all of my years in school, I stayed motivated to complete a task if I remembered that it was a stepping stone to success. Steps that I will take to stay focused to accomplish my future career goals are to stay surrounded by people who also have their end goals in mind. Having a support group with the same values can push you toward working harder. I also plan to limit distractions to a minimum. While there is time for fun there is also time for work. By identifying those times early on and making habits of keeping a schedule I will not feel delayed. Taking my parents' advice from my early childhood, I will be prepared to accomplish my future career goals and create a better life for them and myself. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I hope to make a difference as a woman in this field by being an advocate for women who are pursuing a career in STEM. Throughout history, STEM-related careers have been dominated by men and even when women made a name for themselves, they still had to go through the criticism of not being capable. While job shadowing in the microbiology unit at my local hospital all the microbiologists were women, and they were so encouraging to each other and others. When I had questions, they took their time to explain things to me. I believe seeing more representation will encourage other young girls who want to enter STEM. I hope to become a mentor to young girls who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life.

My plans for the future are to become a microbiologist and help work toward developing a treatment for different diseases. I would love to study microorganisms and observe the way that they function in their environments. While many of my immediate family have had dreams of going to a four-year institution it was not made a reality. I intend not only to dream but also to turn that dream into a reality. I discovered my passion for helping others when I entered high school. Starting high school during COVID-19 made it difficult to connect with my peers, and I felt isolated. However, when I finally stepped into the school building for the first time, I was nervous but eager to succeed. Every Friday, our dedicated high school volunteers engage in community service, contributing to various local initiatives. We helped beautify community gardens, worked with students who had intellectual disabilities in schools, and supported operations at food pantries, all of which made a positive impact in our neighborhood. During my senior year, I had the opportunity to job shadow a microbiologist at my local hospital. This experience deepened my passion for helping others, particularly through lab work. My parents had always taught me that education was one of the most important things. They have always implanted in me that with education comes bigger opportunities. My parents were not as fortunate to attend a 4-year university. They have always wanted me to do better than they did and make a difference in the world. While I know that receiving a higher education is important, having the money for it makes a difference in how much prospect you can get. By winning the Bright Lights Scholarship it would relieve some of my financial burden of attending a university. This scholarship would also allow me to further the amount of education I get outside of a high school classroom. It will also allow me to purchase essential textbooks, attend conferences, or pay for travel expenses that may come up. In addition, I may have the opportunity to expand my network circle better by going to more events specific to my major and career of choice. This would be a much appreciated burden taken away from my financial college worries. I will also be able to attend school with less stress. I am grateful for the consideration and thank you for allowing me the opportunity to apply.

An event in my life that best demonstrates my determination and perseverance is the beginning of the college semester this year. While most of my classes have been going well my calculus class was giving me a hard time. I decided to take it because I did not want to take it at a bigger school when I could take it for free at a two-year college. I had never been all that strong in math but for this class, it seemed to be a bit more complex than anything I had taken. While there were times in which I wanted to give up I kept going because I could only get better. I took steps to better my understanding, such as receiving tutoring. Tutoring helped me in the class and at the end of the semester I completed the course with a high B. This experience influenced my outlook on education by helping me understand that I will not be perfect with everything. Before this experience, I had always sailed through my classes with ease, consistently earning A's without breaking a sweat. My academic journey felt effortless as if I were gliding along a smooth path, comfortably mastering the material and impressing my teachers with my performance. With my calculus class, I got to experience what it was like to struggle for the first time. While it did take a toll on my mental health for a bit, I soon came to realize that it didn't matter whether I was perfect but if I was learning. I plan to use this education to positively impact my community by being an advocate for growth and not perfection. It seems as if the education system today is mostly built on who is the greatest and not how the students are making growth in their studies. While competition can be a good starting point in which students can get better, competition can instead be a hindrance to young minds. As a first-generation college-bound student, I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to excel academically. Growing up in a family where higher education was not a common path, I understood that achieving some of the best grades in my class was crucial for paving the way toward my college aspirations. I spent countless hours studying, seeking help from teachers, and collaborating with classmates to ensure that my grades reflected my dedication and hard work. This drive not only motivated me to perform well academically but also fostered a deep appreciation for the opportunities that education could provide for me and my family.

Many people in my family have health conditions without cures. I want to pursue a field that helps understand their suffering. I decided to pursue an education in healthcare because I have always wanted to help others in one way or another. During my senior year of high school, I got the opportunity to job shadow a microbiologist. I was fascinated with the working space of the scientist. Although it was not as big as most of the spaces in the hospital it was the balance of machine and human workstation. While there was technology to assist there was still a human touch. After having the opportunity of job shadowing in that department I have turned my educational focus to pursuing a career in that field. So far I have been taking entry-level sciences and math college courses such as Biology and Calculus. While taking these classes I have also been looking into scientific discoveries that have been made to stay up-to-date with scientific breakthroughs. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. While attending school I would try to get internships and go to events that resonate with my major. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment for victims to live a happy healthy life. My future career goal is I am aiming to become a microbiologist and with my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by finding treatments for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything possible to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my local doctor's office I would always be interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I like the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity, I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department, I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans they still took care of their samples as if they were full humans. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment for victims to live a happy healthy life. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

In my everyday life, I support others by volunteering at the hospital in my county every Thursday for four hours each week. I have been volunteering there for a few months and thoroughly enjoy it. I have worked in various departments, assisting the staff with tasks that need to be done but that they do not have the time to complete. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months, I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit or the NICU, I made sure that all of the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so that the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. I have also done some laundry to make sure that the unit does not have the linen that they need. Mainly, I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I distribute snacks to mothers and fathers as they enjoy their time with their newborns. In the Orthopedic unit, I prepare care baskets for patients recovering from surgery and stock the rooms with gloves. I take pleasure in ensuring that patients are as comfortable as possible by providing them with water and warm blankets. I plan to continue this volunteer work at the local hospital whenever my schedule permits. Additionally, I aspire to pursue a healthcare career, which will allow me to help people in various ways. Becoming a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and helping them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my local doctor's office, I would always be interested in whether the doctors got the details of their diagnosis. While I had never seen myself being a nurse, I was drawn to the research side of things through on-site observation in the microbiology department. Throughout the year, I have had the opportunity of volunteering at my local hospital. While there I have helped people with small tasks that have made a significant impact. It brings me joy to see patients’ smiling faces when I ask them how they are doing and if they need anything. I am passionate about community service because it allows me to make a positive impact on others' lives. I also had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. Although Microbiologists do not work directly with patients, they still take care of their samples as if they were the entire human in front of them. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology-related courses as possible so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment for victims to live a happy healthy life. I hope to make a difference as a woman in this field by being an advocate for women who are pursuing a career in STEM. Throughout history, STEM-related careers have been dominated by men and even when women made a name for themselves, they still had to go through the criticism of not being capable. While job shadowing in the microbiology unit at my local hospital all the microbiologists were women, and they were so encouraging to each other and others. When I had questions, they really took their time to explain things to me. I believe seeing more representation will encourage other young girls who want to enter STEM. I hope to become a mentor to young girls who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my local doctors office I would always be interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans they still took care of their sample as if they were a full human. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDS and how different microorganisms may be the treatment to victims to live a happy healthy life. I hope to make a difference as a woman in this field by being an advocate for women who are pursuing a career in STEM. Throughout history STEM related careers have been dominated by men and even when women made a name for themselves, they still had to go through the criticism of not being capable. While job shadowing in the microbiology unit at my local hospital all the microbiologists were women, and they were so encouraging to each other and others. When I had questions, they really took their time to explain things to me. I believe seeing more representation will encourage other young girls who want to enter STEM. I hope to become a mentor to young girls who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my local doctors office I would always be interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans they still took care of their sample as if they were a full human. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDS and how different microorganisms may be the treatment to victims to live a happy healthy life. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Every time I would step into my local doctors office I would always be interested in what the doctors had to say. While the doctors were telling my parents important information I always wondered how they came up with the diagnosis they had and also if they were the ones who had to take a deep dive into the samples that were given. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. It would bring me joy to see patients smiling faces when I would ask them how they were doing and if they needed anything. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. In the Microbiology department I got to experience how it felt to be in the background of the medical field. Although Microbiologists did not see full humans they still took care of their sample as if they were a full human. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world by helping with the study of dangerous diseases such as AIDs and how different microorganisms may be the treatment to victims to live a happy healthy life. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. Biology is an expansive field that encompasses an array of sub-disciplines, each with its own set of fascinating topics. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I have worked in a variety of departments, assisting the staff with tasks that need to be done but that they do not have the time to complete. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months, I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, I made sure all the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. Done some laundry to make sure that the unit is not out of linen that they need. I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I give snacks out to moms and dads as they are enjoying their time with their newborn. In the Orthopedic unit, I make care baskets for patients coming from surgery and stock the rooms with gloves; making sure that the patients are as comfortable as they can get by giving water and warm blankets is an aspect I enjoy. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. Biology is an expansive field that encompasses an array of sub-disciplines, each with its own set of fascinating topics. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I have worked in a variety of departments, assisting the staff with tasks that need to be done but that they do not have the time to complete. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months, I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, I made sure all the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. Done some laundry to make sure that the unit is not out of linen that they need. I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I give snacks out to moms and dads as they are enjoying their time with their newborn. In the Orthopedic unit, I make care baskets for patients coming from surgery and stock the rooms with gloves; making sure that the patients are as comfortable as they can get by giving water and warm blankets is an aspect I enjoy. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

Three things that I would like to promise a future version of myself that I will commit to enable an older "me" to have a better life is to continue to study until I am fully confident in the material, continue to go for opportunities that will launch my career, and to be kind to people no matter what. Continuing to study will help me be more conscious in the subjects that I may need extra help with and also I can be the best student I can be. I will continue to go for opportunities that will launch my career by taking classes that seem to be a good fit to the major/ career that I am pursuing. Taking as many science and also math classes can enlarge my knowledge for a career in Biology. I will also continue to volunteer at my local area throughout my life. I have volunteered for sometime through my school but I have continued even after feeling that there is more to be done and that people will always need help in different ways. Being kind to others even when you do not feel the best yourself can be a revived experience. To me seeing a smile on others faces after saying good morning is great because you never know what someone is going through and they may need a good pick me up. This scholarship will make a difference in the education of my life by helping pay for books and room and board. Instead of paying out of pocket, the scholarship will ease some of the burden of having to take out loans and pay for them even after graduating from university. Having a decent night's sleep in university will matter because instead of working to make money for loans I could be studying or getting ready for a test/exam. When coming out of school and entering the workforce full-time I could focus my financial energy on living a comfortable life for myself and my family. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship I can focus more on my studies and less on financial circumstances. I can put my energy into being a student and also a volunteer and fighter for causes that I find to be important to me and my community. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to apply to this scholarship, and I will do everything possible to make the most of it.

My involvement in my local church has contributed to the service I do for my community by uplifting my community. Ever since I was a young girl in Sunday school, I have learnt that we should help others in any way possible. We were taught that we are given gifts by God to help the world and to be a light. At my local church I am involved in playing the bass guitar for the song service. I uplift the congregation's spirits so that they will feel revived. I have also been able to revive the spirits of those who are looking for help outside of the church. I have had the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital. I have worked in a variety of departments, assisting the staff with tasks that need to be done but that they do not have the time to complete. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months, I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, I made sure all the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. Done some laundry to make sure that the unit is not out of linen that they need. I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I give snacks out to moms and dads as they are enjoying their time with their newborn. In the Orthopedic unit, I make care baskets for patients coming from surgery and stock the rooms with gloves; making sure that the patients are as comfortable as they can get by giving water and warm blankets is an aspect I enjoy. My involvement in my local church and being able to help uplift the spirits of those in a religious environment has encouraged me to also help those who are in a medical environment where I can.

Adversity is not a roadblock but a stepping stone to perseverance despite the circumstance. Looking back, adversity makes us stronger than when we started. I can always remember that in my early childhood I never really saw black women who were in the medical field that was not in nursing. All of the adults around me told me that black people, especially women, had to work harder than anyone else to get to the same position. When I was in clubs and organizations, I was one of the only black individuals there. I had to really work hard even though I was a part of the group so that it did not seem I was slacking. As a black student working the extra mile became necessary to be seen as a respectable student. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. With going the extra mile I have gotten the opportunity to be enrolled in a school that offers dual enrollment for four years. At this school I had the opportunity to volunteer from my sophomore year to my senior year. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, I have made sure that all of the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so that the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. I have also done some laundry to make sure that the unit is not out of linen that they need. Mainly, I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I give snacks out to moms and dads as they are enjoying their time with their newborn. In the Orthopedic unit, I make care baskets for patients who are coming from surgery and also stock the rooms with gloves; making sure that the patients are as comfortable as they can get by giving water and warm blankets is an aspect that I enjoy. I plan to continue this throughout my career by volunteering my time at the local hospital in the area, when my schedule allows. I wish to help my community in the future by giving back time and also with the help of a career. I am aiming to become a microbiologist and with my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world in finding treatment for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything possible to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world in finding treatment for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I can always remember that in my early childhood I never really saw black women who were in the medical field that was not in nursing. All the adults around me told me that black people, especially women, had to work harder than anyone else to get to the same position. When I was in clubs and organizations, I was one of the only black individuals there. I had to really work hard even though I was a part of the group so that it did not seem I was slacking. As a black student working the extra mile became necessary to be seen as a respectable student. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world in finding treatment for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember being captivated by the world of medicine and was always curious about the background work of medical investigations. While at first, I wanted to go into the criminal justice field as a career but when I entered my high school biology, it really piqued my interest. As a result, I decided to pursue a degree in Biology, as I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. Biology is an expansive field that encompasses an array of sub-disciplines, each with its own set of fascinating topics. I found myself particularly drawn to microbiology, and the opportunity to job shadow and volunteer at my local hospital further cemented my interest in this field. I had the chance to learn about the diverse types of bacteria and viruses that exist, as well as the unusual ways they can affect our health. I also got to see firsthand how microbiology is used to diagnose and treat diseases. I saw that in the unit there was the use of STEM in many aspects and not just the use of science. Technology was used to help test medicine that could be the best treatment for illness. Mathematics was used in the counting of the colonies in Petri dishes to identify the intensity of the disease or infection. While I will be majoring in Biology in taking as many microbiology specific classes as possible, I can gain knowledge without majoring in the topic. I hope to make a difference as a woman in this field by being an advocate for women who are pursuing a career in STEM. Throughout history STEM related careers have been dominated by men and even when women made a name for themselves, they still had to go through the criticism of not being capable. While working as a job shadowing in the microbiology unit at my local hospital all the microbiologists were women, and they were so encouraging to each other and others. When I had questions, they really took their time to explain things to me. I believe seeing more representation will encourage other young girls who want to enter STEM. I hope to become a mentor to young girls who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world in finding treatment for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. With my independent research, I hope to impact the medical world in finding treatment for dangerous diseases by studying the microorganisms that cause them. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. Being able to be a mentor to students as a professor or having an intern, I think is an important part of a student's career. Having someone who is an expert in their field as a leading hand can open doors to opportunities and connections. I hope to be a light to many of those interested in the career field I am pursuing in the depths of my career. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

As a child, I remember always being fascinated with the world of medicine and have been interested in the background work of investigations. Many of my friends and family have said that they could see me being a nurse, but I have never seen myself doing that type of work. Although I do not see myself as a nurse, I liked the medical field and have also wanted to help people. Throughout the year I have been volunteering at my local hospital. With this opportunity I have helped people with insignificant things that make a significant impact. I am passionate about community service because it benefits those around me. I had the chance to job shadow in the Microbiology department at my local hospital and was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and the work being done. While I was in the department, I saw the amount of diversity and was inspired by it. Seeing young black girls being represented in fields such as science is truly inspiring, especially coming from a first-generation college student household. Science has always been a part of my childhood, as it was always the subject that I had the most interest in. I believe that seeing more representation of black girls in science can help to encourage other young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. I decided to pursue a degree in Biology because I have always found the subject to be both fascinating and enjoyable. Even when the work became challenging, I was always willing to put in the necessary effort to learn and expand my knowledge. I hope to continue my education after high school to obtain a PhD in Biology while taking as many microbiology related courses as possible, so that I can have the knowledge to do the most work. After graduating, I aspire to become a microbiologist and conduct independent research. I also hope to become a mentor to students who are in a similar position to where I was when I was younger and help them achieve their goals in life. This scholarship will provide me with the financial resources necessary to fully realize my academic potential. With this scholarship, I will be able to cover the costs of necessary materials such as books and other educational resources, which will allow me to focus more on my studies and less on my finances. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity, and I will do everything in my power to make the most of it.

In my everyday life, I support others by volunteering at the hospital in my county every Thursday for four hours each week. I have been volunteering there for a few months now and I thoroughly enjoy it. I have worked in a variety of departments, assisting the staff with tasks that need to be done but that they do not have the time to complete. I have also worked at the front desk, providing patients with directions to their appointments and loved ones with directions to the rooms they would like to visit. I have volunteered in the registration center of the hospital by helping patients sign in for their appointments. There have also been times in which I have had to take patients to their appointments because of the condition that they were in. For the past few months I have been in the Neonatal intensive care unit, Birthplace, and Orthopedic center of the hospital. In the neonatal intensive care unit, or the NICU, I have made sure that all of the rooms' carts were stocked with towels and blankets so that the nurse would not have to go around looking for them. I have also done some laundry to make sure that the unit is not out of linen that they need. Mainly, I am at the front desk making sure that everyone who enters is authorized to be there. In the Birthplace, I give snacks out to moms and dads as they are enjoying their time with their newborn. In the Orthopedic unit, I make care baskets for patients who are coming from surgery and also stock the rooms with gloves; making sure that the patients are as comfortable as they can get by giving water and warm blankets is an aspect that I enjoy. I plan to continue this throughout my career by volunteering my time at the local hospital in the area, when my schedule allows. I also want to pursue a career in healthcare, which will allow me to continue helping people in a variety of ways.

This scholarship will help me with my career goals because it will reduce the chance of not focusing on my studies and also maximize the amount of opportunities that I can achieve. My career goals are to go to a 4-year university and graduate with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. I want to major in biology because I enjoy learning about the function of living beings on planet Earth. I am fond of being in a laboratory environment from times that I have job shadowed, as I see it as a staple in the ability to help people, even though it is behind the scenes. With this degree I can go into an entry level job in research or in some sort of lab to further my experience, and while at the same time going back to school to get my Masters and PhD. Working an entry level job, can help me network in the company or hospital in which I am located to move up the ladder for a better opportunity of hiring after I have accomplished my PhD. Post Doctorate wise, I hope to work as a microbiologist. With this scholarship it would help pay for books and also room and board that I would have to pay for at university. I would not have to get a job to pay for those expenses and could focus on studying for my classes. Instead of paying out of pocket the scholarship will ease some of the burden of having to take out loans and pay for them even after graduating university. There is also the point of having the ability to go to a better school that offers better opportunities for their students to get internships and residencies. Graduating in the minimum amount of time would allow for me to strive for other opportunities, while making sure that my education is not delayed due to financial restrictions. This would allow me to take on more classes during the semesters because I am financially secure to do so, while also giving me the flexibility to take fewer classes during semesters when I am experiencing financial restraint. Although the number of classes a semester would fluctuate I would still be on track to graduate in the minimum amount of time. This way, I would be on time to complete my degree and have the liberty to strive for other opportunities.These other opportunities could be taking on a larger research project or giving back to my community in a larger way.

My name is Moriah Wallace, I am the kind of person who likes to learn about new things and find out different sides of stories whether they are from history or in a novel. I like to read diverse types of books, mostly mysteries and action novels. Other than fiction I enjoy reading about influential figures in history and how their up comings influenced what they stood for. I like listening to and performing music. Lately, I have found interest in music from different countries. While listening to music from other places I find myself looking into their culture and entertainment. I enjoy learning about black history and how it has impacted the United States. I value a world where everyone is treated equally no matter who they are and what they do. It is important to me that I live in an environment where others feel comfortable to be themselves. Some of my passions are traveling the world and taking in the beauty of how different people around the world view things. My goal is to become the best person I can be and be a positive example to others. My educational goals are to graduate with my high school diploma along with obtaining my associate degree in science at the time of graduation. After graduating I plan to attend a university and study for my bachelor's in biology. I will also strive to have a minor in either chemistry or biochemistry. While I could just obtain a degree in Biology, I look forward to entering medical school to become a pediatrician. This is the main goal and what I will strive to do but if for some reason the plan does not work out that way, I will go to get my certification for a career in biochemistry to become a biochemist. Career-wise my main goal is to become a pediatrician and work to help kids become their best healthy selves. While it will take a lot of schooling and a lot of sleepless nights it will be worth it. This scholarship will make a difference in the education of my life by helping pay for books and room and board. Instead of paying out of pocket, the scholarship will ease some of the burden of having to take out loans and pay for them even after graduating from university. Having a decent night's sleep in university will matter because instead of working to make money for loans I could be studying or getting ready for a test/exam. When coming out of school and entering the workforce full-time I could focus my financial energy on living a comfortable life for myself and my family.