I make sure I read the lecture notes before the class if the professor uploaded it by then. This way I don't feel lost during class, especially if it's a long lecture. If the notes were not uploaded, or if I had trouble understanding what the professor taught, I would try to look up videos online that help make things clearer. From there, I try to do some practice questions, make flashcards on Quizlet or Anki, and even make up my own practice questions. Some professors provide questions through homework or past year's exams. The textbook may also have questions too. For standardized tests like SAT, GRE, DAT, MCAT, or LSAT, I like to work through those questions because they will be similar to the questions I would be asked on my exam. On the weekends, especially leading up to a test, I get together with my classmates to work through problems and to test our understanding of the topic. In those sessions we would share mnemonics, draw out diagrams, and share other materials that helped us understand the topic. Some sites have subscriptions that can help with tests such as Kaplan and DAT Bootcamp, while some teach more specific topics such as anatomy with Anatomy Bootcamp and KenHub. There are also some free websites such as the widely known Khan Academy, and some YouTube channels that really help. There are some subjects that are very specific, and it is difficult to find extra help online. For those ones I would strongly recommend working with your classmates, attending the professor's or TA's office hours, and even asking upperclassmen who took the course already for some tips.

Rowing exposed me to a side of nature I never experienced before. There is nothing like shoving off the dock at the crack of dawn and being the first to witness the sunrise. The river is wide and energetic on a breezy day. On calm days when the water is flat and still as glass, it is every rower’s delight. I learned to be fluid and dynamic, to follow the rhythms of the water beneath me. On crisp, quiet mornings I can hear the echo of the oars rotating in the oarlocks, see the steam evaporating from my skin and my teammates working hard around me, and the sound of the wheels rolling up and down the slide. There are different fauna depending on the body of water as well. In New Jersey I witnessed bald eagles, turtles, and water snakes. In Miami, I took strokes alongside the manatees and dolphins. The privilege of experiencing the gift of nature also taught me how important it is to preserve it. There were times when I had to dodge chairs, beer bottles, and tires during my rows. Oftentimes I would see countless fish float to the surface, and I would wonder what is in the water. Every once in a while, there is a large algae bloom that threatens to damage our equipment as well. This taught me to be more careful about recycling and what I dispose in my sewage system.

In the beginning of 2020, I was still struggling with a health problem that manifested in October 2019 and was scheduled for my first colonoscopy at the age of 24. After a failed attempt to make the US Rowing team, I tried to contend for a spot on the Nigerian Olympics rowing team. I eventually found a solution for my health condition, and my training results started to improve. Then March came around, and everything was shut down. At the time, I was training with the collegiate women’s team at my alma mater and shared in their heartbreak over missing out in their season. Although I lost my training partners, I still had hope that the Olympics would still stand. A few weeks later, the IOC made the announcement that the Olympics would be deferred to 2021. Crushed and discouraged, because I was starting to make great progress in training, I shifted to training alone in my backyard for six months. I trusted the gift and talent God gave me as a rower, so I found the motivation to get up and train every day. After the murder of George Floyd in May, I became fascinated with the history of discrimination and racism in the U.S. I also began to do podcasts and interact with other rowers of color to discuss our common experiences and uplift one another. From there I decided that it is not enough to be successful for me, but to inspire those who will follow in my path. In September 2020, I was invited back to the USRowing Training Center in Princeton, NJ to compete for a spot in the postponed 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

My dream is to be a dentist that can provide improved treatment to underserved and underprivileged communities in my area and around the world. Growing up with my brother, who has severe autism, greatly shaped my outlook on life. He needs help doing simple tasks such as getting dressed, taking a shower, and sometimes even opening a box of cereal. One thing I am concerned about is his oral health. He had some traumatizing experiences with dentists at a young age, and hasn't gone back since. It's difficult to even brush his teeth properly at home, so it is highly unlikely he would feel comfortable sitting in a dental chair with drills in his mouth. I know he needs a lot of work done, but the options for adequate dental care for people with special needs seems non-existent. It bothers me to know that he cannot receive the same quality care I do, and hence the desire to take care of my brother’s oral health was the seed that developed into my passion to become a dentist. I grew up in an underprivileged community in Lakewood, NJ, where most residents rely on government subsidies for housing and healthcare. I am also an African American woman, a first generation Nigerian American, and my personal experiences opened my eyes to peoples’ perceptions about healthcare. In Nigeria, most people don’t understand the importance of dentistry, and they are not well-informed on proper oral hygiene. In the African American community, many people are reluctant to meet doctors, or follow up with treatment due to lack of knowledge and means. I hope to be a beacon of light to these and similar communities as a role model and servant to increase their quality of life. I was recently accepted to Meharry Medical College's School of Dentistry and I greatly look forward to fulfilling the school's motto "Worship of God through service to mankind" as a D1 student. There is a strong emphasis on service, and the school's impact on the community is inspiring to take part in. The path to becoming a dentist is a serious investment, and will require funds that I currently don’t have. This scholarship will help cover a piece of my dental education and will give me the freedom to be a little less stressed about finding a part-time job while in school. It would also lessen the amount in loans I would borrow, as I am currently making payments on my 6-figure debt from my undergraduate and graduate education.

What does Dentistry mean to you? Dentistry is the only field that specifically targets the oral cavity. It is a branch of medicine that is largely overlooked, but can provide many answers to problems in healthcare and beyond. I believe dentistry is unique because it is a combination of the sciences and the arts. I need to have the knowledge and understanding when treating patients, but also need to be an artist with a keen eye because each patient I treat will be carrying my masterpiece with them on display for all to see. Why did you choose the profession of Dentistry? I am a compassionate person who loves to help others. A person’s smile is one of the first things I notice when I meet them, and it leaves a long-lasting first impression, whether I realize it or not. It is the gateway to getting to know someone. I enjoy making people happy and making them feel good, and I love the gift of a smile in return. Not everyone is confident in their smile, and sometimes a good joke or a vacation is not enough. I wanted to pursue dentistry so I could acquire the tools I needed to assure people I could give them the smile they want. I majored in biomedical engineering at Rutgers and got the opportunity to create a prototype for a device that would help patients who have cerebral palsy. I was excited to see my efforts potentially give someone a better life and was motivated to pursue more opportunities like this in graduate school. At Rutgers School of Biomedical Health Sciences I participated in research to analyze cost-effective and non-invasive methods to acquire intraoral models of patient’s teeth. At the end of my research, I co-authored a published article titled “New and reliable method to scan oral cavity using smartphone (In-vitro study)” in the journal Physics in Medicine. I believe this could be a potential avenue to reduce dental costs in the future. What would you bring to the field? I am a visual learner and have a keen eye for detail. This goes hand in hand with my pursuit of perfection and excellence in what I set my mind to do. When it comes to giving my patients the best smile, I will do what I can to provide them with quality care, and a plan they can afford. I am patient and compassionate, and my peers would testify that I am selfless, calm, and encouraging, yet a strong and respected person. Having grown up with brothers with special needs, I understand the difficulties families who have loved ones with mental illness face when it comes to healthcare. I hope to find better methods to administer care to increase patient compliance in those with mental illnesses. I am also an African American woman, a first generation Nigerian American, and my personal experiences opened my eyes to peoples’ perceptions about healthcare. In Nigeria, most people don’t understand the importance of dentistry, and they are not well-informed on proper oral hygiene. In the African American community, many people are reluctant to meet doctors, or follow up with treatment due to lack of knowledge and means. I hope to be a beacon of light to these and similar communities as a role model and servant to increase their quality of life. My background in biomedical engineering gives me insight into future devices that can be built to provide healthcare in remote areas, and at a reduced cost such as LED mouth guards to kill bacteria, solar powered toothbrushes, and cheaper methods to manufacture mouth guards and aligners. What are your strengths and weaknesses and how are you planning on using them to matriculate the rigors of dental school? I am tenacious, persevering, compassionate, and relatable. I am detail-oriented and like to tackle the most challenging projects. At Rutgers, I was a D1 athlete all four years while majoring in biomedical engineering, and continued to train as a professional athlete with the United States Rowing Team through graduate school, while working several part-time jobs. In my pursuit of perfection, I can tend to get caught up in the details and miss out on the big picture, which leads to me overextending myself and getting burned out. In dental school, I will make a schedule and stick to it. I need to be fully present in the classroom, clinic, and my studies to absorb as much information as I can and to maximize my time. Studying with my classmates will be a priority, rather than poring over my books alone because I believe they will be able to catch something I missed or see it from a different perspective. It is important to still maintain a balanced life as a student, and I plan to maintain that by continuing to train as a professional rower, make time to get together with friends, and stay involved in the community. How would this scholarship help you reach your goal of becoming a Dentist? The path to becoming a dentist is a serious investment, and will require funds that I currently don’t have. This scholarship will help cover a piece of my dental education and will give me the freedom to be a little less stressed about adding a few more hours a week to my part-time work schedule. It would also lessen the amount in loans I would borrow, as I am still in 6-figure debt from my undergraduate and graduate education. How does your personal code of ethics align with those of Dentistry? My goal as a dentist is to do no harm to my patients, and respect their decisions. I will make sure they can make informed decisions about their health by clearly explaining their current health status, discuss recommended treatments and health habits, and risks if they do or do not decide to make adjustments to their oral health status. If a patient is at risk of compromising their health because of finances, I will make sure they understand the costs related to each visit and procedure, and discuss other options for treatment, as well as less costly and possibly pro bono treatment elsewhere. I want my patients to feel welcome, respected and safe, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, religion, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. Dentists have been given a bad name because they are associated with pain and fear, but I would like to give the profession a new reputation. What does leadership mean to you? Leadership is about setting a pattern for others to follow. Pupils of great leaders take a piece of their legacy with them. They buy into the leader’s purpose and aspirations, and wish to partake in the same goal, whether it’s in the same field, or elsewhere. We are all leaders, and there are people looking up to us for advice and inspiration. I hope to be a great leader and to achieve greatness on this earth that will shape lives in a positive way. I also want to be a pioneer for others who see themselves in me as well as partner with like-minded individuals.

My name is Onyeka Oguagha, and I am a dental candidate as well as an elite rower, senior national team aspirant, and Olympic hopeful. I started rowing in college as a walk-on at Rutgers with minimal experience playing sports in general. I did very well in college, and by my senior year I broke the school 2km record and was invited to the US U23 selection camp. I continued to train throughout grad school and was invited to train with the senior national team in 2018. I am a huge role model to other female rowers in the sport and have fought hard to make it where I am today. Funding for rowing at the elite level is scarce, and many athletes cannot reach their full potential because training full time is not a sustainable lifestyle. With this support, I can continue perform at the highest level and inspire the younger generation of female rowers, especially those of color. Growing up with my brother, who has severe autism, greatly shaped my outlook on life. I learned to make sacrifices to help my parents take care of my brother and have become attuned to his needs and the way he communicates. He needs help doing simple tasks such as maintaining good hygiene, getting dressed, and preparing meals. One thing I am concerned about is his dental hygiene. Brushing his teeth is difficult because he resists the toothbrush using his tongue and tightening his lips. Since he is nonverbal, it is difficult to understand if it is due to pain or discomfort. When he was younger my mother took him to the dentist, and instead of treating the root of the problem, they pulled out his tooth. Since then, my brother hasn’t gone back to the dentist. It bothers me to know that he cannot receive the same quality care I do. My desire to take care of my brother’s oral health was the seed that developed into my passion to become a dentist. I volunteered regularly at Rutgers on Special Friends Day, which is a full day where parents can drop off their kids and they would each be paired with two college students or “buddies” to enjoy a field day of activities set up in the gymnasium. Even though I had experience taking care of my brother, I needed to make sure I could connect with my special friend early on and build trust with them to have an awesome day. I wasn’t always paired with a friend of the same background as I was, or the same personality, yet I made sure I could find some things we had in common. As the day went on, even my shiest friends would open up to engaging in more activities with the other kids. I learned firsthand that people are most receptive to people they can relate to and trust, and am fortunate to have developed these qualities through my life experiences. During my senior year of college, I was admitted as an intern to work with students and staff at Matheny School in Peapack, NJ to build a biomedical device for students with cerebral palsy. My team worked on a headrest for wheelchairs to aid patients improve their head mobility and range of vision. My role in the group was to research similar headrest designs, develop the electrical and power systems that would put the headrest in motion, and communicate with the staff at Matheny to make sure that we tackle the most important needs of their students. During the three day immersion program for all new interns, I got to see the dental office within the school. One of the dentists explained to us how the equipment such as the dental chair and its attachments had to be made differently to accommodate different patients. To successfully treat patients, it is very important to be conscious of each patient’s tolerance levels, and to be alert and ready to adjust at any moment if the patient cannot continue their treatment due to pain, anxiety, or discomfort. I was inspired by the stories of the students, teachers, and healthcare providers to continue to envision more ways I could help improve the oral health of members in my community. In graduate school, I participated in research in the field of digital dentistry. I studied the important features of teeth and investigated ways to model 3D structures of teeth using 2D images using photogrammetry and computer programming. My research helped improve my perceptual ability through analyzing the various structures of teeth, as well as opened my eyes to develop cost-effective ways to create dental prostheses. Providing avenues of accessible, noninvasive dental care to larger populations can increase patient compliance and reduce incidences of oral health diseases. I wish to delve into this field more because I see these applications being able to help my brother, and others who face obstacles in receiving dental care. My relationship with my brother has shaped me into a much more empathetic, selfless, and compassionate person towards others. I learned to try to put myself in other people’s shoes and reflect on ways I can help make their lives better. Whenever I go to the dentist and I learn that I have a cavity or gingivitis, I get worried because I have great dental hygiene. I can’t imagine what the dentist would say about my brother if he could be treated one day. My dream is to be a dentist that can provide improved treatment to underserved and underprivileged communities in my area and around the world. I will begin my studies as a dentist at Meharry School of Dentistry this June, and will continue to train at a local boat club.

Growing up with my brother, who has severe autism, greatly shaped my outlook on life. I learned to make sacrifices to help my parents take care of my brother and have become attuned to his needs and the way he communicates. He needs help doing simple tasks such as maintaining good hygiene, getting dressed, and preparing meals. One thing I am concerned about is his dental hygiene. Brushing his teeth is difficult because he resists the toothbrush using his tongue and tightening his lips. Since he is nonverbal, it is difficult to understand if it is due to pain or discomfort. When he was younger my mother took him to the dentist, and instead of treating the root of the problem, they pulled out his tooth. Since then, my brother hasn’t gone back to the dentist. It bothers me to know that he cannot receive the same quality care I do. My desire to take care of my brother’s oral health was the seed that developed into my passion to become a dentist. I volunteered regularly at Rutgers on Special Friends Day, which is a full day where parents can drop off their kids and they would each be paired with two college students or “buddies” to enjoy a field day of activities set up in the gymnasium. Even though I had experience taking care of my brother, I needed to make sure I could connect with my special friend early on and build trust with them to have an awesome day. I wasn’t always paired with a friend of the same background as I was, or the same personality, yet I made sure I could find some things we had in common. As the day went on, even my shiest friends would open up to engaging in more activities with the other kids. I learned firsthand that people are most receptive to people they can relate to and trust, and am fortunate to have developed these qualities through my life experiences. During my senior year of college, I was admitted as an intern to work with students and staff at Matheny School in Peapack, NJ to build a biomedical device for students with cerebral palsy. My team worked on a headrest for wheelchairs to aid patients improve their head mobility and range of vision. My role in the group was to research similar headrest designs, develop the electrical and power systems that would put the headrest in motion, and communicate with the staff at Matheny to make sure that we tackle the most important needs of their students. During the three day immersion program for all new interns, I got to see the dental office within the school. One of the dentists explained to us how the equipment such as the dental chair and its attachments had to be made differently to accommodate different patients. To successfully treat patients, it is very important to be conscious of each patient’s tolerance levels, and to be alert and ready to adjust at any moment if the patient cannot continue their treatment due to pain, anxiety, or discomfort. I was inspired by the stories of the students, teachers, and healthcare providers to continue to envision more ways I could help improve the oral health of members in my community. In graduate school, I participated in research in the field of digital dentistry. I studied the important features of teeth and investigated ways to model 3D structures of teeth using 2D images using photogrammetry and computer programming. My research helped improve my perceptual ability through analyzing the various structures of teeth, as well as opened my eyes to develop cost-effective ways to create dental prostheses. Providing avenues of accessible, noninvasive dental care to larger populations can increase patient compliance and reduce incidences of oral health diseases. I wish to delve into this field more because I see these applications being able to help my brother, and others who face obstacles in receiving dental care. My relationship with my brother has shaped me into a much more empathetic, selfless, and compassionate person towards others. I learned to try to put myself in other people’s shoes and reflect on ways I can help make their lives better. Whenever I go to the dentist and I learn that I have a cavity or gingivitis, I get worried because I have great dental hygiene. I can’t imagine what the dentist would say about my brother if he could be treated one day. My dream is to be a dentist that can provide improved treatment to underserved and underprivileged communities in my area and around the world. In addition, my goal is to be an Olympian in the sport of rowing, and to win gold in the U.S. Women's 8+ at the summer Olympics. I started rowing as a walk-on in college. As an elite African American rower participating in a predominantly white sport, I serve as a role model and inspiration to other BIPOC rowers who wish to compete at the highest level in the sport. I mentored female high school and collegiate rowers, many of whom were people of color, and talked about my path of starting out as a walk-on in college, to getting invited to train with the U.S. National Team. I participated on two episodes of the Rowing in Color podcast, which amplifies the voices of people of color in the rowing community. I also participated on a panel with other pioneers in the sport of rowing on MLK Day to talk about rowing, why it is a beautiful sport, and how to make it more accessible regardless of socioeconomic status. Currently I am working on setting up a Black Women Rowers Meetup which will serve as a community for African American women rowers from high school, to post collegiate to meet routinely and discuss training, network, and provide support. I plan to continue to train while in dental school, and work with a large support team to make my dreams a reality.

Growing up with my brother, who has severe autism, greatly shaped my outlook on life. I learned to make sacrifices to help my parents take care of my brother and have become attuned to his needs and the way he communicates. He needs help doing simple tasks such as maintaining good hygiene, getting dressed, and preparing meals. One thing I am concerned about is his dental hygiene. Brushing his teeth is difficult because he resists the toothbrush using his tongue and tightening his lips. Since he is nonverbal, it is difficult to understand if it is due to pain or discomfort. When he was younger my mother took him to the dentist, and instead of treating the root of the problem, they pulled out his tooth. Since then, my brother hasn’t gone back to the dentist. It bothers me to know that he cannot receive the same quality care I do. My desire to take care of my brother’s oral health was the seed that developed into my passion to become a dentist. I volunteered regularly at Rutgers on Special Friends Day, which is a full day where parents can drop off their kids and they would each be paired with two college students or “buddies” to enjoy a field day of activities set up in the gymnasium. Even though I had experience taking care of my brother, I needed to make sure I could connect with my special friend early on and build trust with them to have an awesome day. I wasn’t always paired with a friend of the same background as I was, or the same personality, yet I made sure I could find some things we had in common. As the day went on, even my shiest friends would open up to engaging in more activities with the other kids. I learned firsthand that people are most receptive to people they can relate to and trust, and am fortunate to have developed these qualities through my life experiences. During my senior year of college, I was admitted as an intern to work with students and staff at Matheny School in Peapack, NJ to build a biomedical device for students with cerebral palsy. My team worked on a headrest for wheelchairs to aid patients improve their head mobility and range of vision. My role in the group was to research similar headrest designs, develop the electrical and power systems that would put the headrest in motion, and communicate with the staff at Matheny to make sure that we tackle the most important needs of their students. During the three day immersion program for all new interns, I got to see the dental office within the school. One of the dentists explained to us how the equipment such as the dental chair and its attachments had to be made differently to accommodate different patients. To successfully treat patients, it is very important to be conscious of each patient’s tolerance levels, and to be alert and ready to adjust at any moment if the patient cannot continue their treatment due to pain, anxiety, or discomfort. I was inspired by the stories of the students, teachers, and healthcare providers to continue to envision more ways I could help improve the oral health of members in my community. In graduate school, I participated in research in the field of digital dentistry. I studied the important features of teeth and investigated ways to model 3D structures of teeth using 2D images using photogrammetry and computer programming. My research helped improve my perceptual ability through analyzing the various structures of teeth, as well as opened my eyes to develop cost-effective ways to create dental prostheses. Providing avenues of accessible, noninvasive dental care to larger populations can increase patient compliance and reduce incidences of oral health diseases. I wish to delve into this field more because I see these applications being able to help my brother, and others who face obstacles in receiving dental care. My relationship with my brother has shaped me into a much more empathetic, selfless, and compassionate person towards others. I learned to try to put myself in other people’s shoes and reflect on ways I can help make their lives better. Whenever I go to the dentist and I learn that I have a cavity or gingivitis, I get worried because I have great dental hygiene. I can’t imagine what the dentist would say about my brother if he could be treated one day. My dream is to be a dentist that can provide improved treatment to underserved and underprivileged communities in my area and around the world.

I walked on to the Rutgers Women's rowing team my freshman year in college. I had no previous experience, and barely played sports prior. Over the course of 4 years, I went from novice to racing in the top boat, the Varsity 8. I realized I was an exceptionally gifted athlete and was invited to U23 Selection Camp. I didn't make the team but I could not get over that experience and wanted more. I continued to train through grad school and got an invite to train with the US National Rowing team for a shot at the Tokyo Olympics.

Tokyo 2021. Many athletes had to deal with deferred hopes and dreams due to the pandemic postponing the Summer Olympics another year. I was cut in the late fall of 2019 from training to represent the United States National Team in rowing, as I was going for the women's quad. With the postponement, I had a renewed hope to keep training, and I had the opportunity to train full time because I graduated from grad school in May 2020, and took a gap year before dental school. I thoroughly enjoyed taking the full summer to train at home, study for my DAT, and train on the erg in my backyard. I reached out to the head coaches and they invited me back for another shot to train with the team in Princeton! Unfortunately, I did not make the team, but I loved being able to push myself with some of the fastest rowers in the world! I also got to network with former Olympians and other coaches around the country. I appreciate all the support they gave me, and encouragement to not quit now because I am just getting started. I am also very excited because I got into dental school in Tennessee! I can't wait to transition to a new routine and training facility on the next stage of my life.