May 18th, 2026. The day before my high school graduation my sister Hannah was rushed in for an emergency MRI. The images confirmed what years of dismissed pain had never been able to prove; multiple endometriosis cysts, serious enough to require immediate surgery. We canceled my graduation and 18th birthday party, for the money we saved would go toward her procedure instead. I sat in that waiting room and felt something shift permanently- reinforcing clarity. This is exactly why I need to be in healthcare. But, Hannah's situation wasn't new. Watching my mom and sister navigate healthcare showed me where the system fails. Doctors dismissed my mom's symptoms for months before diagnosing mesocardia, a congenital heart defect she had been living with her entire life. My sister's pain was labeled "normal" for two decades. Their experiences taught me that accurate diagnostics matter most for vulnerable populations who face dismissal. Women of color like us suffer disproportionately from under researched diseases. Like endometriosis, a disease only diagnosable by surgery and analysis. That realization drove me to pursue pathology. The first time I viewed histological slides under a microscope in biotechnology class, I saw nature's hidden art revealing stories of health and disease. As a gold medalist painter at the 2025 Houston Rodeo, I recognized artistic beauty in those cellular patterns. But more than that, potential. Each slide holds answers that could change someone's treatment, prevent misdiagnosis, or close gaps in care for patients like my sister, who suffered twenty years with endometriosis before proper diagnosis. I've spent years building the technical foundation for this career. Since I was 14 in Mr. Hite's biotechnology program, each year of high school led me to progress from basic techniques to advanced applications: PCR, CRISPR, RT-qPCR, plasmid purification, ELISA, and primary cell culture. Each technique taught me precision and observation. Recently, my NASA HUNCH biomedical project addressed astronaut vision issues, requiring the same meticulous attention I apply when selecting pigments in paintings. Working under Dr. Scott Buckel at UHCL took this further. I conducted western blots, gel electrophoreses, and other labs investigating laminin proteins. Running each blot meant analyzing bands layer by layer, interpreting results that contributed to understanding cellular structure. That's pathology too: reading patterns others might miss, finding meaning in microscopic details. Growing up low-income under a single mother raising three kids, I understood early that finances and healthcare problems are intertwined. The same week I became salutatorian and an adult became Hannah’s worst nightmare. Instead, It reconfirmed what our family always knew: that access to healthcare is not equal, and consequences of that inequality are borne by real people, in real waiting rooms. In healthcare, I'll bring my collaboration to advocacy and scientific research in women’s health to make up for the years of little to none. Through education, I gain a passion to relate to others who have been through various hardships. I'll push for systemic changes so that fellow doctors listen from the first appointment, not after the tenth. My sister and my mom should have had that. So should every woman, and I won’t stop until it happens. It is in science, I will turn pain into purpose and compassion into action. From combining viewpoints in solving problems or noticing details in my artwork, I'll apply that attentiveness to pathology. Through persistence in biotech labs, activism, and volunteering, I’m committed to elevating my community- as a Nation myself.

School meant safety in predictiveness. Growing up under my dad’s violence, I realized school sparked more than learning. A teacher once bought book fair books after I broke down about my dad. Compassion matters as much as curriculum. Teachers’ endless love teaching led my intriguing mind. The first time I viewed histological slides under a microscope in biotechnology class, I saw nature's hidden art revealing stories of health and disease. As a gold medalist painter at the 2025 Houston Rodeo, I recognized artistic beauty in those cellular patterns. But more than aesthetics, I saw potential. Each slide holds answers that could change someone's treatment, prevent misdiagnosis, or close gaps in care for patients like my sister, who suffered twenty years with endometriosis before proper diagnosis. That realization drove me to pursue pathology. I've spent years building the technical foundation for this career. Through Mr. Hite's biotechnology program, I've progressed from basic techniques to advanced applications: PCR, CRISPR, RT-qPCR, plasmid purification, ELISA, and primary cell culture. Each technique taught me precision and observation. Currently, my NASA HUNCH biomedical project addresses astronaut vision issues, requiring the same meticulous attention I apply when selecting pigments in paintings. Working under Dr. Scott Buckel at UHCL took this further. I conducted western blots, gel electrophoreses, and other labs investigating laminin proteins. Running each blot meant analyzing bands layer by layer, interpreting results that contributed to understanding cellular structure. That's pathology too: reading patterns others might miss, finding meaning in microscopic details. But technical skill alone doesn't make a good pathologist. Watching my mom and sister navigate healthcare showed me where the system fails. Doctors dismissed my mom's symptoms for months before diagnosing mesocardia, a congenital heart defect. My sister's pain was labeled "normal" for two decades. Their experiences taught me that accurate diagnostics matter most for vulnerable populations who face dismissal. Women of color like us suffer disproportionately from under researched diseases like endometriosis. I'm pursuing pathology, or biomedical laboratory science generally, not just to read slides but to ensure proper diagnoses reach all communities. This commitment to serving others extends beyond the lab. When our school eliminated daily club meetings senior year, accessibility plummeted for students in sports, arts, and extracurriculars. I gathered 2,100 signatures in one day and led month-long negotiations between administrators and students. Using my MUN, mixed race, and middle-child skills of compromise, we created a club matrix restoring daily meetings. Although we couldn’t recover the schedule, this taught me that fundamental change requires both persistence and collaboration, skills I'll need whether advocating for patients or pushing for research funding in overlooked areas of women's health. Education gives me both skills and purpose. A sense of passion to relate to others who have been through similar, or different, hardships than I. Through persistence in biotech labs, activism, and volunteering, I’m committed to elevating my community- as a Nation myself.