From a young age, I have always been interested in a career in healthcare, so I can be able to help others. Throughout high school, I have had the opportunity to volunteer through my church, National Honor Society (NHS), and in Science National Honor Society (SNHS). It has been very fulfilling to see how I can impact the community, and it inspires me to continue volunteer work for my entire life. Ever since I was in middle school, I have been volunteering at my church's children's ministry. I get to teach elementary school students and assist with activities and crafts. I am also responsible for the safety of the children while their parents attend the church service in a separate building. Volunteering with elementary school students has not only been a fun experience, but it also made me develop a strong belief in the investment of the younger generation. Therefore, I want to be a pediatrician and preserve the health of our future, young children. This scholarship will help me pay for college, so I can participate in groundbreaking research on methods to prevent illness in children well before a cure is needed. In my sophomore year of high school, I was inducted into the National Honor Society for holding a GPA above 3.75 out of the 4.0 grading scale. National Honor Society has been a great experience to get out into the community and participate in numerous service projects. Personally, I have enjoyed volunteering at other schools and community events since I get to meet new people, other high schoolers from other schools and see the smiles on people's faces who are able to just relax and have fun. It feels amazing to know that I can induce enjoyment just by showing up and setting up outdoor games for kids, or cooking a meal for a resident in temporary housing, or selling concessions at high school games. National Honor Society has also been fun since I get to volunteer in the community with my friends and watch our relationships grow, while benefitting others. National Honor Society has prepared me to make a meaningful impact in the future by encouraging me to always practice selfless service to make other people happy, without expecting anything in return. In my junior year of high school, I joined the Science National Honor Society in my school due to my high cumulative science GPA and my general interest in the STEM field. Being a Science National Honor Society member allowed me to participate in shower flush events in the science teacher's classrooms. I was responsible for testing showers in a group to make sure the water is clean, and the showers are well maintained. It gave me a renewed importance of safety in science and the chance to give back to my science teachers. I have enjoyed being able to give back to the community and the chance to help others as an aspiring physician. I look forward to continuing to volunteer in college and discover new ways to enhance the health of our world.

I recall fond memories of playing doctor and using a Fisher Price stethoscope on my stuffed animals. It was these fun little play times that sparked my interest in a healthcare career. This dream started to become a reality as I enrolled in medical terminology, the first healthcare-related class I took in high school. Soon after, I joined the Healthcare Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club and purchased my first scrubs to compete in a First Aid and CPR competition. And in my senior year of high school, I intend to partake in clinical rotations at a career center. Every single new healthcare thing I get to physically see and try further expands my excitement in the field. With all my experiences and education, I hope to achieve an impactful career as a pediatrician. One of the reasons I can pursue a career in medicine is that I’ve seen inspiring doctors who look like me achieve extremely successful careers. The talented black doctor that I most look up to is Doctor Ben Carson. Countless times, I’ve watched the movie “Gifted Hands” which follows Dr. Carson’s dramatic transformation from a troublesome young man to a remarkable pediatric surgeon who expertly invented the medical breakthrough in separating conjoined twins. I aim to become a great pediatrician like him and possibly even uncover an impressive new medical discovery. If it weren’t for him, I may not have been inspired to approach such a feat. This is why children of all races need this type of inspiration. Children learn by what they see, and are more inclined to attempt something that the people who look like them do. With a career in pediatrics, I would function as a role model for black children to know that if I can achieve a career in medicine, so can they if they wish. Besides the fact that racial diversity in healthcare can inspire children to pursue the career, it also is important on the subject of racial inequality. A more diverse healthcare team will lead to improvements in making healthcare more accessible for minorities and underrepresented communities in the lack of decent healthcare. People of these races will finally be able to be seen and realize that healthcare is for them as well. Minorities will be able to speak with physicians who represent them and are dedicated to enhancing their well-being. In conclusion, racial diversity in healthcare is crucial for inspiring children and addressing racial inequality in the field. By having diverse healthcare teams, we can encourage more children from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in medicine and ensure that healthcare is accessible to all. Creating diverse healthcare teams will promote beneficial healthcare for everyone.

College is the step that most high school students work tirelessly to prepare for. From SATs to college visits, great effort is put in to ensure a comfortable and fulfilling next four years of life. It is not easy to get that 4.0 grade point average, balance various extracurriculars with academic responsibilities, and simultaneously keep up with your social circle. However, this challenge is necessary to go to college while remaining a happy, well-rounded individual. College is important to me because it will help me achieve my goal of becoming a pediatrician, equip me with lifelong skills, and inspire others. Getting into your desired college is a huge milestone. People throw extravagant graduation parties just to celebrate this huge leap into their next stage in life. This success radiates throughout the people you love, and especially in the graduating student. Fortunately, the benefits of this achievement do not have to stop there. Throughout college, students have the chance to learn more skills to help them in the workforce and navigate their newfound adulthood. College will establish not only the knowledge I need for a successful career in medicine but also the skills to become a person to look up to. I am the eldest of my cousins and an older sister, so I am responsible for setting up a good example. Furthermore, I often volunteer with elementary school kids at my church, so there are even more younger eyes looking up to me. If they find out I went to college and led a successful life, I will have inspired generations to come. Therefore, college is not just a plus for me to fulfill my dreams of becoming a physician. It is who I will influence, those who look at my journey and aspire to be great too, that will also make the experience worthwhile. Independence can be scary at first but can eventually become a beautiful thing. College is a huge step toward independence since you must learn to live without constant parental supervision. I have experienced this personally by competing through Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). I’ve tried to advance to the area competition since my freshman year of high school, and I finally was successful in my junior year. My partner and I advanced to state, and before I knew it, I was on a trip out of town without my parents for the first time. It was inspiring to accomplish so much without being dependent on others. I want to do so much more in extracurriculars like HOSA in college and potentially hold a leadership position. It would be amazing to do great things on my own, so I can feel proud of myself for being strong and independent. In conclusion, college is bound to be a completely different but rewarding experience for me. I hope to learn skills I can tangibly use for the rest of my life, be an inspiration to others, and become a better leader, effectively being independent and successful.

The reason the way things are the way they are is due to the very idea that older generations are fossilized in their beliefs. We are now stuck in a broken world with violence, economic crisis, and disagreements. As the world continues battling these challenges, today's young people are determined to make a difference. Generation Z specifically is growing up in a world that is very different from that of today’s adults, which allows us to be more tech-savvy, inclusive, and socially aware. With the increase in accessibility to technology that wasn’t as prominent a few decades ago, Generation Z has been able to be the truly first digital natives. While it may be true that technological devices are mostly used for entertainment and mindlessly scrolling social media for today’s teens, we have a huge opportunity to make the world better with our personal devices. This trend helped us even during the COVID-19 pandemic since we could communicate, even without seeing each other face to face. Furthermore, we love to share important causes through social media that raise awareness, like mental health and racial issues that spark important worldwide movements. With the help of technology, and awareness Generation Z possesses, we are inclined to be more inclusive. With a broader range of information, we have become more aware of different lifestyles, cultures, and identities. In contrast to past generations, we have learned to celebrate diversity and know that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and equality, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or any other difference since we are all human and deserve to be treated as such. This inclusiveness is reflected in the way Gen Z communicates with each other, the way we interact with people from different backgrounds, and the way we approach social and political issues. The important knowledge of knowing the differences between each other ironically unifies us and pushes us to speak out when we realize that other people are not being treated equally and fair. Other generations may keep quiet or allow for this injustice to occur, but Gen Z will make it their goal to put it to an end. In conclusion, Generation Z has the potential to be one of the greatest generations in history. We possess the tools and the mindset to tackle the challenges we face and make the world a better place. Yes, our current circumstances may not be ideal, but we can make the world a better place to live by utilizing our newfound empathy for one another and new technology to repair the broken world we inherited.

It baffles me how little people who invest in children get paid. Teachers, pediatric doctors, and even parents don't get many material benefits for the impact they have on children. It's strange how this is since we always claim that children are our future generations, and we must support them in the best way we can. Working with children may not offer many financial rewards, but it is a deeply gratifying experience. One of my main goals in life is to improve the lives of children younger than me through volunteering now, and also becoming a pediatrician to benefit them further medically. Currently, I volunteer at my church, Grace Fellowship Methodist Church, with elementary students from grades 1st through 5th grade. I do this about every other Sunday and it's extremely fun! Not only do we teach them scriptures and biblical principles, but we also do activities and get to learn more about them as a person. I’ve learned about some kids’ fears and joys. For example, one girl shared her feelings about not fulfilling the high expectations put on her. In contrast, one boy shared his love for baseball and how his team won a game. My role in hearing these things is to show that I care by sympathizing with their struggles and creating a safe and loving environment for them at church and also rejoicing with their successes and interests in their lives. By doing this, I am becoming a better person myself and also showing a good example by displaying good character. These children can then grow into compassionate people themselves if we display empathy, love, and patience. When I was younger, I always knew that I wanted a career where I could help people. I thought about becoming a teacher, but as I got older, I realized that medicine could be a fulfilling career path. I didn’t research ideas long before I decided that being a pediatrician, or a doctor specializing in the health of children, would be perfect for me. I have been subtly criticized about this choice since out of all the many jobs you can have in medicine, a career in pediatrics is one of the least-paying ones. Despite this, my decision hasn’t wavered as I’d observed how my pediatricians asked many questions to make sure that I was feeling okay, both emotionally and physically. This caused me to strongly believe that they truly care about my well-being. They’ve inspired me to want to become a pediatrician that provides children with the right support and care to contribute to their happiness and health and most importantly, invest in the world’s future adults. To sum up, I am motivated by the positive influence I can have on younger generations, both presently and in the future. My goal is to continue volunteering with children for as long as possible and attend college, so that I may pursue a career in pediatrics and make a difference in the world. I believe that by dedicating myself to their improvement, the world will see significant positive changes since they are the future.