I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives as the inspiration sparked from a family member of mine who hasn't received the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. A stroke happens when there is a reduction or blockage of blood flow to a portion of the brain, leading to damage to brain tissue and potentially impairing fundamental functions like walking, talking, and thinking. Post-stroke, my grandfather could not be able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. While in the hospital, we learned that many of the nurses and staff didn’t share the same genuine motivation to help him genuinely get better, which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine sympathy. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. During my junior year of high school, I was enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor taught and led me to earn many of my greatest accomplishments including becoming a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomist, Certified and Registered Medical Assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career.

I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives as the inspiration sparked from a family member of mine who hasn't received the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. A stroke happens when there is a reduction or blockage of blood flow to a portion of the brain, leading to damage to brain tissue and potentially impairing fundamental functions like walking, talking, and thinking. Post-stroke, my grandfather could not clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills, such as eating food to nourish his body. While in the hospital, we learned that many of the nurses and staff didn’t share the same genuine motivation to help him genuinely get better, which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care, which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine sympathy. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on, whether its mental, physical, or emotional. My advice to someone in the same circumstances is to stay faithful because miracles can happen. Earning this scholarship would help me pay for my future education in university and make me feel like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives.

I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives as the inspiration sparked from a family member of mine who hasn't received the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. A stroke happens when there is a reduction or blockage of blood flow to a portion of the brain, leading to damage to brain tissue and potentially impairing fundamental functions like walking, talking, and thinking. Post-stroke, my grandfather could not clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills, such as eating food to nourish his body. While in the hospital, we learned that many of the nurses and staff didn’t share the same genuine motivation to help him genuinely get better, which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care, which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine sympathy. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on, whether its mental, physical, or emotional. My advice to someone in the same circumstances is to stay faithful because miracles can happen. Earning this scholarship would help me pay for my future education in university and feel like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. During my junior year of high school, I was enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor taught and led me to obtain many of my greatest accomplishments such as becoming a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomist, Certified and Registered Medical Assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career.

I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives. Patients in healthcare facilities deserve to feel like their voices and concerns are heard and never have the possibility of being neglected from treatment. My inspiration sparked from my beloved grandfather who hasn't received the proper care he deserves after having had his stroke in December of 2023. I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on, whether it is mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients, no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me pay for my future education at university and feel like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives. Being able to be the person in people's lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. During my junior year of high school, I was enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor, taught and led me to achieve many of my greatest accomplishments, such as becoming a Certified and Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomist. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class, as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in healthcare.

I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives. Patients in healthcare facilities deserve to feel like their voices and concerns are heard and never have the possibility of being neglected from treatment. My inspiration sparked from my beloved grandfather who hasn't received the proper care he deserves after having had his stroke in December of 2023. I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on, whether it is mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients, no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me pay for my future education at university and feel like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives. Being able to be the person in people's lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. During my junior year of high school, I was enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor, taught and led me to achieve many of my greatest accomplishments, such as becoming a Certified and Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomist. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class, as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in healthcare.

I am Olivia Ledan, an upcoming freshman at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences is very important to me because it grants me a beautiful opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who has a passion to make a true difference in others' lives. Patients in healthcare facilities deserve to feel like their voices and concerns are heard and never have the possibility of being neglected from treatment. My inspiration sparked from my beloved grandfather who hasn't received the proper care he deserves after having had his stroke in December of 2023. I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on, whether it is mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients, no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me pay for my future education at university and feel like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field in dire need of diverse perspectives and to positively impact others' lives. Being able to be the person in people's lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. During my junior year of high school, I was enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor, taught and led me to achieve many of my greatest accomplishments, such as becoming a Certified and Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomist. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class, as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in healthcare.

Throughout my educational journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for science and medicine. This passion has guided me toward a career in healthcare, where I am committed to making a significant impact and helping families positively through their health journeys. Every person in life is important, even if you don’t know them personally, and I am determined to contribute to their well-being through my work in the medical field. As a senior high school student in a medical assisting program, I dedicated myself to mastering the skills and knowledge required to excel in healthcare. My education has been a powerful tool, enabling me to earn numerous certifications, including Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. These credentials are a testament to my commitment to excellence and readiness to make a difference in the medical field. From a young age, I have been motivated by the desire to help others and make a tangible difference in their lives. This motivation has fueled my determination to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can use my education to make a mark in the world. Each success, no matter how small, reinforces my belief in my abilities and fuels my determination to continue pushing forward. My experience in the medical assisting program has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. As a Black female aspiring to become a healthcare professional, I bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. Our voices are essential in creating a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system. My journey has strengthened my resolve to be a part of this change, to be a role model for other minority students, and to advocate for inclusivity within the medical community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out opportunities to gain practical experience and further develop my skills. These experiences have not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also demonstrated my commitment to excellence in the healthcare field. I am confident that the resilience, determination, and self-belief I have cultivated will serve me well in my future endeavors. However, my journey has not been without significant financial challenges. Despite my relentless efforts, I have yet to secure the Bright Futures Scholarship, even after numerous attempts to achieve the required ACT or SAT score. In addition, recently my mother recently lost her job, further straining our financial situation. Without scholarships, funding my education remains a significant concern. This financial need underscores my determination to succeed and highlights the importance of support for students like me who are striving to make a difference. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field that is in dire need of diverse perspectives and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. My journey has taught me the importance of self-reliance, perseverance, and believing in myself. These qualities have shaped my character and fortified my resolve to achieve my dreams. As I move forward, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.

My greatest achievement/s to date are what I accomplished during my time as a former senior high school student in a medical assisting program, I dedicated myself to mastering the skills and knowledge required to excel in healthcare leading me to earn numerous certifications, including Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. These credentials are a testament to my commitment to excellence and readiness to make a difference in the medical field. From a young age, I have been motivated by the desire to help others and make a tangible difference in their lives. This motivation has fueled my determination to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can use my education to make a mark in the world. Each success, no matter how small, reinforces my belief in my abilities and fuels my determination to continue pushing forward. My experience in the medical assisting program has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. As a Black female aspiring to become a healthcare professional, I bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. Our voices are essential in creating a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system. My journey has strengthened my resolve to be a part of this change, to be a role model for other minority students, and to advocate for inclusivity within the medical community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out opportunities to gain practical experience and further develop my skills. These experiences have not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also demonstrated my commitment to excellence in the healthcare field. I am confident that the resilience, determination, and self-belief I have cultivated will serve me well in my future endeavors. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field that is in dire need of diverse perspectives and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. My journey has taught me the importance of self-reliance, perseverance, and believing in myself. These qualities have shaped my character and fortified my resolve to achieve my dreams. As I move forward, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.

Throughout my educational journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for science and medicine. This passion has guided me towards a career in healthcare, where I am committed to making a significant impact and helping families positively through their health journeys. Every person in life is important, even if you don't know them personally, and I am determined to contribute to their well-being through my work in the medical field. As a former senior high school student in a medical assisting program, I dedicated myself to mastering the skills and knowledge required to excel in healthcare. My education has been a powerful tool, enabling me to earn numerous certifications, including Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. These credentials are a testament to my commitment to excellence and readiness to make a difference in the medical field. From a young age, I have been motivated by the desire to help others and make a tangible difference in their lives. This motivation has fueled my determination to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can use my education to make a mark in the world. Each success, no matter how small, reinforces my belief in my abilities and fuels my determination to continue pushing forward. My experience in the medical assisting program has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. As a Black female aspiring to become a healthcare professional, I bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. Our voices are essential in creating a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system. My journey has strengthened my resolve to be a part of this change, to be a role model for other minority students, and to advocate for inclusivity within the medical community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out opportunities to gain practical experience and further develop my skills. These experiences have not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also demonstrated my commitment to excellence in the healthcare field. I am confident that the resilience, determination, and self-belief I have cultivated will serve me well in my future endeavors. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field that is in dire need of diverse perspectives and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. My journey has taught me the importance of self-reliance, perseverance, and believing in myself. These qualities have shaped my character and fortified my resolve to achieve my dreams. As I move forward, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.

Throughout my educational journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for science and medicine, leading me to choose the major of biological sciences. This pathway allows me to go the premed route in order to become what I want to become in the future which is an optometrist or physician assistant. This passion has guided me towards a career in healthcare, where I am committed to making a significant impact and helping families positively through their health journeys. Every person in life is important, even if you don't know them personally, and I am determined to contribute to their well-being through my work in the medical field. As a former senior high school student in a medical assisting program, I dedicated myself to mastering the skills and knowledge required to excel in healthcare. My education has been a powerful tool, enabling me to earn numerous certifications, including Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. These credentials are a testament to my commitment to excellence and readiness to make a difference in the medical field. From a young age, I have been motivated by the desire to help others and make a tangible difference in their lives. This motivation has fueled my determination to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can use my education to make a mark in the world. Each success, no matter how small, reinforces my belief in my abilities and fuels my determination to continue pushing forward. My experience in the medical assisting program has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. As a Black female aspiring to become a healthcare professional, I bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. Our voices are essential in creating a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system. My journey has strengthened my resolve to be a part of this change, to be a role model for other minority students, and to advocate for inclusivity within the medical community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out opportunities to gain practical experience and further develop my skills. These experiences have not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also demonstrated my commitment to excellence in the healthcare field. I am confident that the resilience, determination, and self-belief I have cultivated will serve me well in my future endeavors. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field that is in dire need of diverse perspectives and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. My journey has taught me the importance of self-reliance, perseverance, and believing in myself. These qualities have shaped my character and fortified my resolve to achieve my dreams. As I move forward, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.

Throughout my educational journey, I have been driven by a deep passion for science and medicine. This passion has guided me towards a career in healthcare, where I am committed to making a significant impact and helping families positively through their health journeys. Every person in life is important, even if you don't know them personally, and I am determined to contribute to their well-being through my work in the medical field. As a former senior high school student in a medical assisting program, I dedicated myself to mastering the skills and knowledge required to excel in healthcare. My education has been a powerful tool, enabling me to earn numerous certifications, including Certified Medical Assistant, Registered Medical Assistant, Certified EKG Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician, Certified Phlebotomy Technician, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant. These credentials are a testament to my commitment to excellence and readiness to make a difference in the medical field. From a young age, I have been motivated by the desire to help others and make a tangible difference in their lives. This motivation has fueled my determination to pursue a career in healthcare, where I can use my education to make a mark in the world. Each success, no matter how small, reinforces my belief in my abilities and fuels my determination to continue pushing forward. My experience in the medical assisting program has also highlighted the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the healthcare field. As a Black female aspiring to become a healthcare professional, I bring a unique perspective and set of experiences to the table. Our voices are essential in creating a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system. My journey has strengthened my resolve to be a part of this change, to be a role model for other minority students, and to advocate for inclusivity within the medical community. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have sought out opportunities to gain practical experience and further develop my skills. These experiences have not only enhanced my knowledge and skills but also demonstrated my commitment to excellence in the healthcare field. I am confident that the resilience, determination, and self-belief I have cultivated will serve me well in my future endeavors. Looking ahead, I plan to major in a STEM field and aspire to become either an optometrist or a physician assistant. I am eager to contribute to a field that is in dire need of diverse perspectives and to make a positive impact on the lives of others. My journey has taught me the importance of self-reliance, perseverance, and believing in myself. These qualities have shaped my character and fortified my resolve to achieve my dreams. As I move forward, I am committed to making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system.

Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences in university to further my education into the health field is very important to me because it grants me with huge opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. We figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed as a minority, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field and considering that I would be a woman in STEM that could represent underrepresented black woman and properly serve everyone equally makes me to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, electrocardiography technician, certified pharmacy technician, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified medical and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career.

Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences in university to further my education into the health field is very important to me because it grants me with huge opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. We figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed as a minority, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field and considering that I would be a woman in STEM that could represent underrepresented black woman and properly serve everyone equally makes me to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, electrocardiography technician, certified pharmacy technician, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified medical and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career.

I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who is looking to pursue a degree in the medical field. I would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care she deserved. My beloved grandmother passed way in June of 2020, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. My mother told me we were going to visit my grandmother who was sick at the time. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with the severity of her sickness. My mother brought me and my sister up to her bed and we greeted her but it was very upsetting to see the state that she was in, confusing and lost as she didn’t remember our names. She had developed various diseases including Alzheimer’s and dementia due to her getting older which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. Seeing the sadness and looming grief on my father was immensely stressful. He explained to me that it was probably one of the last times I would see her which I didn’t want to be true. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field however my grandmothers situation makes me want to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, ekg technician, personal trainer, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified pharmacy technician and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class. I believe my professor as well as my family have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in the medical field.

I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who is looking to pursue a degree in the medical field. I would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that even though he couldn't descriptively say everything he wanted to say, we figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high- quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field however my grandfather's situation makes me want to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, ekg technician, personal trainer, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified pharmacy technician and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class. He along with my family have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in the medical field

Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences in university to further my education into the health field is very important to me because it grants me with huge opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed as an underrepresented minority, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field and considering that I would be a woman in STEAM that could represent underrepresented black woman and properly serve everyone equally makes me to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor has help us with many accomplishments thus far such as becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, electrocardiography technician, certified pharmacy technician, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified medical and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. He, my family, and my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career.

Being able to pursue a degree in Biological Sciences in university to further my education into the health field is very important to me because it grants me with huge opportunity to change the lives of people. I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that even though he couldn't descriptively say everything he wanted to say, we figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed as an underrepresented minority, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future, I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field and considering that I would be a woman in STEM that could represent underrepresented black woman and serve underrepresented people like me makes me to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. My greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, electrocardiography technician, certified pharmacy technician, and phlebotomist. As well as soon becoming a certified medical and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class as he gave me the opportunity to become well rounded in many different specialties in the medical field. My family’s support along with my future goals and aspirations have further lit up the lights for me to help underrepresented minorities like my family.

I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who is looking to pursue a degree in the medical field. I would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that even though he couldn't descriptively say everything he wanted to say, we figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field however my grandfather's situation makes me want to join it all the more. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. My grandfather along with my family have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in the medical field and being passionate about being the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy.

I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who is looking to pursue a degree in the medical field. I would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that even though he couldn't descriptively say everything he wanted to say, we figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field however my grandfather's situation makes me want to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, ekg technician, personal trainer, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified pharmacy technician and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class. He along with my family have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in the medical field.

I am a 17-year-old Caribbean black, ambitious, and resilient minority who is looking to pursue a degree in the medical field. I would like to able to make a true difference in others' lives as a family member of mine hasn't been able to receive the proper care he deserves. My beloved grandfather recently had a stroke in December of 2023, which drastically changed the lives of me and my family. We initially received a call that my grandfather was in the hospital and so we immediately went to go see how my grandfather was doing. I remember walking into the room blindly because I was never familiar with what a stroke was. He could only mumble due to his brain not being able to clearly put words together to express how he feels or do simple tasks that require motor skills such as eating food to nourish his body. The tough part about the situation was that even though he couldn't descriptively say everything he wanted to say, we figured out that the nurses in the hospital weren't giving him the proper care that he needed, which was very disappointing. Many of the nurses often sounded like they didn't have urgency or true motivation to help him genuinely get better which was extremely discouraging to me and my family. We constantly kept transferring my grandfather to various hospitals and rehabilitation centers because he wasn't receiving high-quality care which was immensely stressful. The one thing that could've made a huge difference to our family's feelings of sadness and confusion was for the nurses and staff to show their genuine care. From that moment on, I realized that one of my many goals in life is to get a career in healthcare so that I can take care of and help people with anything that is going on whether its mental, physical, or emotional. I believe it's very important to truly care for your patients no matter how dire their conditions are because miracles happen. Earning this scholarship would help me with paying for my future education in university and feeling like I'm taking the necessary steps to make my family proud. In the future I plan to be debt free and the best way to achieve this is through a variety of scholarships that can be offered to me through my passion for the healthcare field. Ever since I was younger, I've had multiple people in my family who had encouraged me to consider joining a career in the health field however my grandfather's situation makes me want to join it all the more. Being able to be the person in peoples' lives who could potentially relieve their feelings of worry would be very satisfying and would make me very happy. Since junior year of high school, I have been enrolled in a 2-year medical assisting program which with the help of my talented and very educated professor teaches us not only to be a certified medical assistant but many other roles in the medical field as well to be well rounded. Many of my greatest accomplishments thus far are becoming a certified medical administrative assistant, ekg technician, personal trainer, and phlebotomist. In the next couple of months, I will also become a certified pharmacy technician and a registered medical assistant. I am grateful to my professor and the opportunities I was given in his class. He along with my family have further lit up the lights for me to follow on my path to taking on a successful career in the medical field.

I was initially exposed to what Sickle Cell Anemia was when I was able to see what it did to a uplifting black female YouTuber that I watch whose name goes by Karren Atakora. She is someone who is very inspirational to me as she is a believer in Christ and is a black woman of Caribbean descent suffering with sickle cell anemia. Her life was drastically impact by this disease and I am deeply inspired by how she never lets it overcome her. In her videos she would explain that her full blown sickle cell disease was almost incurable and life threatening. In her videos, she would document her experiences with sickle cell anemia, I found out that I was naturally more likely to develop sickle cell illness because I also come from a Caribbean family. Although I was grateful for having merely the trait, having it made me want to learn more about the complexities and risks associated with sickle cell disease in general as well as how it affects my family. Upon initially finding out I had the trait, I was concerned for my health as I heard that the red blood cells in my body weren't potentially not fully shaped the way that the human body would preferably want them to. But then, as I started to educate myself, I discovered that the sickle cell gene mutation is passed down from only one parent to a child with sickle cell trait. In this instance, the one with the trait carries the gene into next generations but does not contract the disease, so my red blood cells aren't crescent shaped. From talking to my mom about it, I quickly learned that my aunt who I've yet to meet, also has sickle cell disease. My mom explained everything that she saw at an early age of the detrimental effects the disease had on her life, both psychologically and in terms of her being in and out of hospitalization due to multiple sickle cell crises. My mom said that she taught her that even though you could be going through dark times in your life, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. She told me that there was a time that she remembers as she would come to visit her in the hospital, she said to her, "God doesn’t give us battles we can’t handle” This is 100% true. As cliche as it sounds, her fight motivates me to never give up.

If I could form a squad out of all of the amazing characters in stranger things I would be choose Eleven, Nancy, and Hopper. Eleven is obviously a given considering that she is only one with powers, however I would choose her because I do believe that she could form the most predictions and has the history with the creatures of the upside down. She could probably take a new enemy down by herself but she would end up being very weak and fragile after and almost risk sacrificing her life to kill the creature, so because of that I would put her in a squad. Nancy could be a good addition to the team as she is very resourceful and knows how to use the weapons in the best way possible to do the most damage. Throughout the seasons, she used guns, bear traps, and even lit Vecna on fire. This is crazy considering that she is a teenage girl who had to think quick on her feet to save her family and friends. Lastly, I would choose Hopper. I would choose him because he is one of the oldest out of the group and has the most experience with going against the creatures one on one and being hyper aggressive.

Zendaya has been a very inspirational woman in my life. An aspect of her life that I admire the most is the mark that she made in the tv and entertainment industry. Zendaya was often a girl during my childhood that I would see on my screen when I would watch Disney channel and immediately have a a face that lit up with joy watching her on my favorite show of hers “KC Undercover” Later on I used to be heavily obsessed with her role in “The Greatest Showman” In her role she portrayed a mixed black women in society who was discriminated against even from the parents of her love interest. She would get nasty stares which hindered her passion to trapeze. Zendaya’s ability to highlight and showcase black women and put them into a positive life will be something that I always will admire. She also has a beautiful grasp of fashion which when I see her looks online, I am always shocked and appalled about. My favorite look of hers was her look at the Spider-Man no way home premiere. It was a floor-length Valentino dress with black spider web designs which perfectly hinted at the “Spider-Man” movie she was featured in. The dress was jaw-dropping and left me speechless. She seems like the woman who has it all but will always be humble.