I was 9 years old when I knew that I wanted to become a dermatologist. My mother wanted to find a dermatologist in our area -- specifically a dermatologist of color. As a Connecticut resident, it was very hard to find a highly recommended dermatologist in our area, a person of color, to help treat a rash on my arm. We then found a dermatologist, who was caucasian, who is located about an hour and a half away from my home. This doctor took a biopsy of my arm and later reported to my mother that he could not identify the problem on my arm. My mother who was still concerned took me to another dermatologist whose practice is located approximately 45 minutes from my home, and there, the doctor opened a textbook that had pictures of similar rashes on other caucasian people claiming that “It was easier to identify the rashes in the book rather than looking directly at my skin.” My story serves as an example of why racial diversity in healthcare is essential. The field of healthcare must have doctors, nurses, physician assistants, patient care technicians, and other health professionals that are people of color because they tend to offer better care to their patients compared to healthcare workers of other races. This will also increase the amount and quality of care that can be provided to minorities, especially in low-income areas where healthcare is less accessible. In the field of dermatology, it is important to recognize the fact that people of darker tones are not able to use potent topicals, chemical exfoliants, and other skincare products because they can oftentimes become damaging to the skin, causing hyperpigmentation and other skin issues. Representation has always been one of the larger contributing factors to my interest in becoming involved in the medical field. Both of my parents are immigrants from Jamaica. I am a first-generation student, and my goal is to contribute to the increase of black, West Indian women in the field of dermatology in my area. With my career goals in mind, I participated in a research program at Fairfield University. My research project was related to the characterization of enzyme and substrate interactions. When I entered the campus, I realized that I was one of 4 black students, who happened to be the only people of color participating in the research program. I immediately recognized the need for more people of color in STEM. Working in a lab for over two weeks, interacting with a college professor, and exercising my scientific knowledge and skills allowed me to further develop my interest in pursuing a degree in Biochemistry. Biochemistry is the laboratory-based branch of science that explores the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. This field of science is especially important in its relation to medicine because it helps to understand the biochemical changes and related physiological alterations in the body during infection or disease. Based on the symptoms described by the patient, the physician can get a clue about the biochemical changes and the associated disorders. Small biochemical changes can significantly affect how the body operates. Similarly, small changes in the number of people of color that are working in the healthcare industry can change the quality and amount of care that is provided to those of similar backgrounds and other disadvantaged groups to then positively impact the operation of the healthcare field.

Have you ever wondered where wisdom comes from? Wisdom is merely the accumulated memories of our mistakes and the pain we experience after we make them. Experience, trial, and error lead to wisdom. As someone who is of Jamaican descent, wisdom has been passed down from generation to generation. My people have suffered a great deal of pain because of many historical events that have taken place. My family has also experienced a range of different events, including the first visit of the Queen of England to Jamaica as well as the efforts to achieve independence for the island. It is through these kinds of experiences that we gain wisdom. “In the abundance of water, a fool is thirsty.” I find this quotation by Bob Marley to be the wisest I have ever heard. Resources abound in the modern world, but few of them are used by those in need. In my experience as a student about to embark on the college application process, there are a variety of resources that I can utilize. These resources can ease some of the stress that comes with it. This includes scholarships, internships, community service, and even people around me who have been through the process. The wisdom contained in these words of wisdom continually reminds me to never take what is available to me for granted - I should appreciate and seek out that which will benefit me now and in the future.

I was 9 years old when I knew that I wanted to become a dermatologist. My mother wanted to find a dermatologist in our area -- specifically a dermatologist of color. As a Connecticut resident, it was very hard to find a highly recommended dermatologist in our area, that was a person of color, to help treat a rash that was on my arm. We then found a dermatologist, who was caucasian, who is located about an hour and a half away from my home. This doctor took a biopsy of my arm and later reported to my mother that he could not identify the problem on my arm. My mother who was still concerned took me to another dermatologist whose practice is located approximately 45 minutes from my home, and there, the doctor opened a textbook that had pictures of similar rashes on other caucasian people claiming that “It was easier to identify the rashes in the book rather than looking directly at my skin.” My story serves as an example of why racial diversity in healthcare is important. It is necessary for the field of healthcare to have doctors, nurses, physician assistants, patient care technicians, and other health professionals that are people of color because they tend to offer better care to their patients compared to healthcare workers of other races. This will also increase the amount and quality of care that can be provided to minorities, especially in low-income areas where healthcare is less accessible. In the field of dermatology, it is important to recognize the fact that people of darker tones are not able to use strong topicals, chemical exfoliants, and other skincare products because they can oftentimes become damaging to the skin, causing hyperpigmentation and other skin issues. It is also perceived that because some people have a darker skin tone, it is harder to diagnose and treat conditions because of one’s complexion and the way in which some skin conditions appear. This reasoning is rooted in history. For example, enslaved black women are formally known as Lucky, Betsey, and Anarcha were used to study gynecology against their will, and because it was perceived that black people do not experience pain. This then causes a modern problem of unequal treatment in women of color who experience childbirth, and who also seek other forms of treatment in gynecology. Representation has always been one of the larger contributing factors of my wanting to become involved in the medical field. Both of my parents are immigrants from Jamaica, and my mother is currently working as a Patient Care Technician. I am a first-generation student, and my goal is to contribute to the increase of black, West Indian women in the field of nursing in my area. This year as a junior in high school, I will began my International Baccalaureate Biomedical Science program at my high school, along with continuing to volunteer at hospitals and serving as a member of HOSA -- Future Healthcare Professionals. My goal is to attend Fairfield University and complete their nursing program. My ultimate goal for the medical field is to treat all patients from all racial backgrounds by being attentive to their needs and promoting health and wellness through skincare to allow people to recognize that health is important both inside and out, and I can execute that in a position like nursing. While physical appearance isn't everything, there are times when people can be insecure due to their physical appearance, and I would like to help them make those adjustments so that they could feel better about themselves.

Creating educational goals is an essential part of measuring your progress in the process of becoming who you want to be. During this journey, it is also essential for you to reflect on the goals that you have created for yourself. One of my goals is to excel academically. If possible, that means aiming for an A, but not beating myself up if I don't get it, as long as you display your best work. My goal is to be a well-rounded student as well. While I intend to focus primarily on my academic career, I also want to ensure that I am involved in my school community through various clubs and activities, so that I can develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that can be applied to the classroom. Last but not least, I would like to be reflective. As I progress, I always want to make adjustments so that I can ultimately achieve my goal of becoming a dermatologist. To achieve these goals, I am currently taking a combination of honors, International Baccalaureate, and biomedical science classes at my school. I am also a member of four extracurricular activities including the National Honor Society, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), China Club, and the Upward Bound program at Fairfield University. Furthermore, I serve as a school ambassador at my high school.

My parents are both from Jamaica, where their parents taught them the value of education. Since I was born into a Caribbean family, I have learned the importance of education in our culture. I recall that my dad's mother had been a teacher herself for many years. She had taught young children from age three to adults who never had access to school while she lived in Jamaica. Both of my grandfathers never had access to school, so they made sure that my parents “took their bookwork seriously.” I lost three grandparents within two weeks this year. My mother's parents passed away from COVID-19 in Jamaica, and my father's mother died from breast cancer here in the US. This has been a difficult time for my family and me. In light of given circumstances, I had only been able to attend my dad's mother's funeral. While there, I heard many people give testimonials about my grandmother and the main theme amongst those she influenced was education. There was no end to what my grandmother taught. Whether it was basic life lessons like how to wash clothes or boil rice, or teaching young people and adults how to read the Bible and write their takeaways, my grandmother always taught. I have heard many people express their gratitude for my grandmother's persistence in motivating them to go to higher educational levels in America. She also offered advice on the different educational opportunities available to them. While listening to their stories and reading their memoranda, one question that my grandmother loved to ask stuck in my head, "You tek up your morning book?" I realized she didn't want to have a bad morning but she saw the value in her knowing what was ahead of me. My grandmother wanted me to be diligent in my studies and ensure that my educational pursuits were worthwhile. As a result of considering all of these factors, I was able to reflect on my educational goals. One of my goals is to excel academically. If possible, that means aiming for an A, but not beating myself up if I don't get it, as long as you display your best work. My goal is to be a well-rounded student as well. While I intend to focus primarily on my academic career, I also want to ensure that I am involved in my school community through various clubs and activities, so that I can develop leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that can be applied to the classroom. Last but not least, I would like to be reflective. As I progress, I always want to make adjustments so that I can ultimately achieve my goal of becoming a dermatologist. In order to achieve these goals, I am currently taking a combination of honors, International Baccalaureate, and biomedical science classes at my school. I am also a member of four extracurricular activities including the National Honor Society, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), China Club, and the Upward Bound program at Fairfield University. Furthermore, I serve as a school ambassador at my high school. My grandmother made this profound statement that will remain with me forever. She said, “People can tek anything from you, but one thing dem cyaa tek from you is yuh education.” That means that as long as I follow this educational path, no one will be able to stop me from following it.

I was 9 years old when I knew that I wanted to become a dermatologist. My mother wanted to find a dermatologist in our area -- specifically a dermatologist of color. As a Connecticut resident, it was very hard to find a highly recommended dermatologist in our area, that was a person of color, to help treat a rash that was on my arm. We then found a dermatologist, who was caucasian, who is located about an hour and a half away from my home. This doctor took a biopsy of my arm and later reported to my mother that he could not identify the problem on my arm. My mother who was still concerned took me to another dermatologist whose practice is located approximately 45 minutes from my home, and there, the doctor opened a textbook that had pictures of similar rashes on other caucasian people claiming that “It was easier to identify the rashes in the book rather than looking directly at my skin.” My story serves as an example of why racial diversity in healthcare is important. It is necessary for the field of healthcare to have doctors, nurses, physician assistants, patient care technicians, and other health professionals that are people of color because they tend to offer better care to their patients compared to healthcare workers of other races. This will also increase the amount and quality of care that can be provided to minorities, especially in low-income areas where healthcare is less accessible. In the field of dermatology, it is important to recognize the fact that people of darker tones are not able to use strong topicals, chemical exfoliants, and other skincare products because they can oftentimes become damaging to the skin, causing hyperpigmentation and other skin issues. It is also perceived that because some people have a darker skin tone, it is harder to diagnose and treat conditions because of one’s complexion and the way in which some skin conditions appear. This reasoning is rooted in history. For example, enslaved black women are formally known as Lucky, Betsey, and Anarcha were used to study gynecology against their will, and because it was perceived that black people do not experience pain. This then causes a modern problem of unequal treatment in women of color who experience childbirth, and who also seek other forms of treatment in gynecology. Representation has always been one of the larger contributing factors of my wanting to become involved in the medical field. Both of my parents are immigrants from Jamaica. I am a first-generation student, and my goal is to contribute to the increase of black, West Indian women in the field of dermatology in my area. This year as a rising junior in high school, I will begin my International Baccalaureate Biomedical Science program at my high school, along with continuing to volunteer at hospitals and serving as a member of HOSA -- Future Healthcare Professionals. My goal is to attend a B.S./M.D. program at the University of South Florida and their Morsani College of Medicine, and hopefully return to the northeast to complete my residency, and open my practice. My ultimate goal for the medical field is to treat all patients from all racial backgrounds by being attentive to their needs and promote health and wellness through skincare to allow people to recognize that health is important both inside and out. While physical appearance isn't everything, there are times where people can be insecure due to their physical appearance, and I would like to help them make those adjustments so that they could feel better about themselves.