Receiving the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship would have an everlasting impact on my education and future career in STEM, enabling me to pursue my passion for mental illness research and contribute to the well-being of others. Community is an essential element of my life, it provides me with mental strength, personal identity, and a sense of purpose. Through my extensive volunteer work at my church, where I care for children in the nursery, babysit for friends and family, assist patients and nurses at a hospital, manage my school soccer team, and overlook the financial aspects of a club in my school, I have learned the importance of serving something greater than myself. These experiences have deepened my interest in a career in psychology, where I can make a meaningful impact on people's lives while also enjoying my job. As a Nigerian, I know the importance of education and the high expectations placed on me to excel academically and in life. Nigerians are known to be hard-working, high achieving, and work for what they want, and I am aiming to follow this expectation of me. High grades are not just encouraged but expected, as my parents came to America for the good education they have to offer. I have always prioritized my studies to meet these expectations. This scholarship would help alleviate some of the financial pressures of my education, allowing me to focus more on achieving academic excellence and pursuing my goal of researching preventive measures for mental illnesses. Mental health is a significant concern globally, and I am passionate about finding ways to prevent mental illnesses before they take root and help treat people who currently have it. With the support of the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship, I would have the opportunity to delve deeper into this field, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary to make significant contributions to mental health research. This scholarship would not only support my education but also empower me to serve my community and contribute to the betterment of society. In summary, the Dr. Soronnadi Nnaji Legacy Scholarship would be very invaluable in helping me achieve my longtime educational and career goals. It would provide the financial support I need to excel academically and pursue my passion for mental illness research. More importantly, it would enable me to continue serving my community and contribute to a field that can potentially improve countless lives.

I have chosen the field of Neuropsychology because it merges two subjects that deeply fascinate me: Neurology and Psychology. My interest in psychology was first sparked when I learned about mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and the historical methods used to treat them, like lobotomies. It broke my heart to know that people had to endure such intrusive procedures, often with devastating consequences, due to the limited understanding and treatment options available at the time. What captivated me even more was the realization of how much the field of psychology has evolved. The progress made in understanding and treating mental health issues is thanks to the relentless efforts of countless researchers and practitioners who sought better solutions. This evolution has inspired me to contribute to the field, particularly in finding ways to prevent the onset of mental illnesses and improve the lives of those already affected. My personal goal is to be at the forefront of discovering and implementing preventive measures for mental health disorders. By studying the brain and its connection to behavior, I hope to find the early warning signs of mental illnesses and develop strategies to intervene before these conditions fully manifest. Prevention is crucial because it can save individuals and their families from the profound challenges, costs, and suffering that often accompany mental health disorders. Additionally, I am passionate about helping those who are currently dealing with mental illnesses. I believe that by understanding the neurological roots of these conditions, we can develop more effective treatments that go beyond managing symptoms and aim for a genuine improvement in quality of life. This involves not only clinical work but also research that can lead to new therapies and approaches to care. I want to be part of the next generation of professionals who push the boundaries of what we know about the brain and mental health, and who work tirelessly to make a positive difference in the lives of others. In summary, my choice to pursue neuropsychology stems from a combination of academic interest, personal passion, and a strong desire to contribute to the betterment of mental health care. I am committed to finding ways to prevent mental illnesses and to helping those who are currently suffering, and I believe that with dedication and perseverance, I can make a meaningful impact in this field.

I am the proud daughter of Nigerian immigrants, but it was not always so. The Nigerian customs and food I was raised with, and the color of my skin, set me apart, and I was bullied from the age of four by kids twice my age. I was told that I should go back to my country and that since I am in America I should have an American name. At the time, I just wanted the cruelty to stop so that I could be like all the other kids, and so I wished for lighter skin, straight hair, and light eyes. I begged my mom to let me straighten my hair, but she refused. Now, I’m grateful for her insight and the values she raised me with. She taught me to love myself, and that my worth was intrinsic and could not be defined by others. Growing up, I struggled to internalize this lesson, but with work and courage, I am confident now, and believe in my value and strength and the beauty of my culture. Community is very important to me, a source of strength and identity, and a means of serving something bigger than myself. I volunteer at my church on Sundays taking care of children in the nursery, babysitting for friends and family, and volunteer at a hospital where I attend to the needs of patients and nurses gaining experience in the medical world, for example, by helping patients call nurses when they need medical equipment and restocking medical supplies for the nurses. In school, I am an honors student, taking AP and honors classes, and am heavily involved in school activities. I am a board member of a club called Black Onyx which is about serving diversity, equity, and inclusion in my school by sharing our experiences of race and racism with teachers and student bodies in order to implement positive changes and help make the school a more just and welcoming place. I was a student senator for 2 years during which time I represented my class helping to plan and implement programming and activities, and have participated in sports throughout high school, playing volleyball and flag football. I am going to study psychology with a focus on neurology in college. I plan to obtain a doctorate to become a neuropsychologist. I was inspired by the TV show Grey's Anatomy to become a neuropsychologist because the main character, Meredith Grey’s mother, has Alzheimer's. The psychological suffering that Alheizmer’s patients endure brought to my attention the many ways people with Alzheimer’s and other heartbreaking illnesses suffer. I hope to dedicate my professional life to alleviating their suffering by conducting clinical research and providing therapeutic treatment. Learning about the brain and different mental diseases in my psychology class interested me. Seeing how different diseases can affect different parts of the brain and how psychology is relatively new, people have new findings in the field of psychology. In that class, we watched a movie called Shutter Island. It's about a man who has schizophrenia and believes he’s a cop and that a man on the island killed his wife, it’s a cycle that has happened so many times. By the end of the movie, the cycle ends but he can’t live with himself knowing that he’s the one who killed his wife and pretends that he is back in the cycle to get a lobotomy so he can forget. This movie also showed me how people can get stuck in their own minds and how hard it can be to go back into reality. It pushed me to want to be on a side of history that fought trying to prevent and treat that disease. I aspire to become a neuropsychologist and work with other neuropsychologists treating patients with mental diseases and researching ways to cure, treat, and prevent them. In the POC community, mental health is demonized and seen as something for the weak. I want to help people to know that mental health is not something that they have to be ashamed of and getting help is a strong thing to do. I am committed to my personal growth, both mentally and physically. The journey of becoming a neuropsychologist is not an easy one. It requires a lot of strength, study time, and focus. I will use my time wisely to study and get good grades in school to get to my goals. While also maintaining a healthy mental health by learning to take breaks when needed. One change I would like to see in the field of psychology is the way mental health is seen, some people don’t see it as important but I want it to be understood that it is. I would also like to get people aware of signs of poor mental health and how to find help. In neurology, I would like to be able to help find ways to eventually prevent mental diseases and help people who are dealing with them to live normal lives.