Cancer had been pushed to the back of my mind for years until my phone rang during my first lecture of freshman year. My dad, stumbling over his words, finally delivered the news that my grandmother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In that moment, I was transported back to 2016, when my parents told me my grandfather had received the same diagnosis and would not recover. It was devastating to realize that, nearly a decade later, his wife would face the same prognosis. I was fortunate to visit my grandmother earlier this year in her rural Pennsylvania home, where access to resources is limited to a couple of grocery stores, one hospital, and a close-knit community. She had become thinner and looked like a different person from when I saw her just a year before. As we spoke, she began naming friends and neighbors—people she had known for years—who had also recently died from cancer. She believed it was not a coincidence and that there could be underlying factors affecting her community. That day, I helped her write letters to her representatives, urging them to investigate the county’s cancer rates. This experience and my relationship with my grandmother inspired me to pursue a career in cancer epidemiology. I am currently on the path to complete a 3+2 program in environmental public health and epidemiology through the Ohio State Honors Program. I have also developed a strong interest in improving access to cancer treatment after witnessing the financial and emotional burden it places on families. This goal was solidified last summer during my work at The James Cancer Center, where I conducted research on equitable access to cancer clinical trials in high-mortality regions. Through this experience, I have come to understand that my path is not in treating individual patients, but in addressing the systemic gaps that affect entire populations. Both of my grandparents have taught me the importance of compassion and resilience, which are qualities I will carry with me as I work to make a meaningful impact. I have learned that there is more to cancer research than developing treatments. Understanding inequities in cancer incidence and outcomes and ensuring all communities have access to quality care is essential to advancing public health outcomes. This scholarship would greatly relieve the financial burden associated with higher education and ongoing family expenses. This support would allow me to continue working toward my goals with less stress on my family and greater focus on my academic and research pursuits. My exposure to cancer has reshaped my career path, and I hope to honor my grandparents by dedicating myself to this work. Thank you for your consideration.