The most challenging component of my life I've ever had to endure is something I still currently struggle with. What is it? Well, it’s laughing. Specifically, the social anxiety and insecurity caused by my uncontrollable laughing episodes. It traps me in a whirlpool of anxiety and disregards any ability I have to control my reactions to humorous instances, and situations in which I am nervous. Having already consulted with multiple clinicians about this tragically hysterical phenomenon, I've been told that it is not a medical issue but is just a part of my character that I have to learn to deal with.                  Growing up, this laughing matter was never perceived by me to be a challenge, mostly because it seemed that immaturity of this magnitude is generally expected from younger children. However, as I grew older and started to bear more responsibility, a certain level of maturity became expected of me. While working in customer service the past year, I've experienced a multitude of embarrassing situations due to my unmanageable laughter. On one occasion, while working at Sonic, a fast food restaurant, my laughter jolted through my body so suddenly, that it caused me to spill a customer's drink on their lap. After my manger notified me of the complaint that resulted from the situation, the laughter struck again, and I was written up. Not only did this tragic chain of events almost cost me my job, but it also allowed for a sense of disablement, self-pity, and loss of identity to live within me. For about a year I proceeded to move on, constantly being in fear of what my giggling may cost me next. And oh boy did it. Through weeks of preparation leading up to the game of the season, against the hardest team in our district for girls' basketball, it was only natural that our practice environment became a bit more hostile. The high-stakes of this game, in addition to such an environment, caused a tower of anxiety to build inside of me just waiting to come out through laughter. And in that moment, when it finally did, I was sent out of practice and was told not to come back. My laughter had now become intolerable to myself and to others around me, and I decided it was time to do something about it.             Through research, I discovered that in severe cases, extreme laughter of this extent can derive from a neurological condition called Pseudobulbar Affect. So, I began to retrieve my sense of identity. Even the slightest possibility that a medication, or therapy existed that could help rid me of this inappropriate emotional response that had been medically recognized gave me hope. That was, until I learned that pseudobulbar wasn't the cause of my occurrences. For every step I felt that I was getting closer to solving this issue, I would take a step back to my depressed self. However, instead of fleeing from situations that proved to trigger that response, I ran to them.             Throughout this process I learned to be unapologetically myself. As well as keeping in mind that my laughing is a blessing and not a curse. It's much better than the alternative of crying all the time or being so serious that I can't find the humor in anything. My laughter is also very contagious. Even while visiting with my psychologist I laughed so much that the doctor and my mother laughed right along with me. My uncontrollable laughter is just what makes me Nia. If a had a choice, I am not sure I'd change this laughing matter.  

The standards were set high in my single parent household. My mom never allowed me room for slacking in any are of my life because she knew I had great potential before I even came out of the womb. The characteristics my mom has instilled in me, combined with my potential has allowed me to be very successful academically. I settle for nothing less than A’s, just as she never settled to provide only the best for me growing up. I now have a 3.5 GPA on a full ride academic scholarship at my current college. Just as she held onto her faith during uncertain times, I was able to hold onto mine after committing 12 years of my life to basketball and not seeing any offers. I now am at the school that I received a basketball scholarship from. When I was younger I found myself attracted to a multitude of things. Things of which I would allow careers in engineering, basketball, art, and everything else beneath the sun. I never thought about how all of these skills I possessed could collectively work together in pursuit of one career. Surgery. It would still allow me to be somewhat creative and pay extreme attention to detail, like I would when painting. Rediscover my use for hand eye coordination as I would when playing basketball. And intricately use my hands as I would when attempting to build mini robots out of electric tooth brushes. Surgery is not only interesting to me, but allows me to combine my best skills into one area of pursuit. It’s no secret that careers in the medical field require an expensive and extensive education. My mom prides herself in being a hard working individual however, she’s still struggling to pay off her own student loans. In order for me to not limit myself academically I require assistance. Otherwise, I will not be able to pursue my dreams of becoming a surgeon. Along with that, most physicians are white males. With more minority kids not having money as a limiting factor, we will see a more racially diverse group of physicians in medicine. Being that I myself will add to the numbers that represent the diversity within an establishment, my goal is to continue inspiring other minority kids to push those limits as well. Finally, I plan to open my own practice that specifically features doctors of all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and religious beliefs. You all providing this assistance would help generate some accountability because your believing me would inspire me to the finish line.

When I was younger I found myself attracted to a multitude of things. Things of which I could group and allow careers in engineering, basketball, art, and everything else beneath the sun. I never thought about how all of these skills I possessed could collectively work together in pursuit of one career. Surgery. It would still allow me to be somewhat creative and pay extreme attention to detail, like I would when painting. Rediscover my use for hand eye coordination as I would when playing basketball. And intricately use my hands as I would when attempting to build mini robots out of electric tooth brushes. Surgery is not only interesting to me, but allows me to combine my best skills into one area of pursuit. Being that I myself add to the numbers that represent the diversity within an establishment, my goal is to continue to raise those numbers. As I’m furthering myself on my career path I am going to continue to volunteer, reach out, and speak to minority communities in efforts to inspire. I am grateful that most of my costs for this current school year have been covered due to an academic scholarship I received in addition to an athletic scholarship. However, I plan on going to a larger institution next year and the fees are going to rise dramatically. I plan on using my scholarship money towards tuition as well as setting some aside to help pay for med school in the future. Within the next 10 years, I aspire to be called Dr.Brady. I plan to open my own practice that specifically features doctors of all races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and religious beliefs. And finally, I plan to have my own scholarship award program directed towards others that could other people of color pay their way through school just as it helped me.