On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

On March 10, 2022, I felt time stood still. I cried as I sat on my knees at the foot of my bed, alone in my pitch-black room. I asked God to help me. Why did my heart ache, and why did I suffer so much pain? Despite being a good person, I wanted to end my life to free myself from the pain I felt inside my heart and my head. The weight of terrible relationships with my boyfriend, older sister, and father held me down like an anchor sinking to the ocean floor. I felt there was no escape other than death. I felt hopeless because I saw no positive outcome in my situation. Hopelessness caused me to feel pain and numbness. I felt agony because I believed everything was going wrong in my life. My boyfriend was manipulative, said hurtful things, and always gaslighted me. My older sister constantly made me feel dumb in front of others, which increased my insecurities. My father was generally unavailable and constantly lectured me on the rare times he did come around. I wanted to believe that enduring these hardships would strengthen me and that things would one day be okay. These negative emotions slowly killed me; I felt numb and in a state of despair. My feelings of hopelessness led to despondency. I started to not care about myself anymore. I lacked the motivation to do simple things like get out of bed in the morning, brush my teeth, shower, and go to school. I also began to imagine a world where the people I love carried on without me being present. I believed my friends and family would be just as happy without me and would not notice I was gone. I woke up many mornings before the sun rose, disappointed that I was still alive. I carried on many days acting like I was okay around people so they would not ask questions or get worried. The burden of pretending to be okay was a constant day-to-day battle. The light that kept me from taking my own life was my mother. I could not bare to sacrifice her happiness to make myself feel better by taking my own life. In addition, by sharing my feelings with her, I realized that the people who hurt me do not hold the key to my happiness. I am talented and can achieve my dreams regardless of negative situations and people. Sharing my feelings with my mother pushed me in a positive direction. Opening up to others enabled me to overcome depression and foster a sense of happiness. Talking about my feelings with someone who did not judge my situation was helpful. Spending lots of time with my friends and family outside the house gave me something to look forward to and kept my mind off negative thoughts. I also learned to set boundaries to protect myself and not push away the people who love me. I am incredibly grateful for my journey because, as it turns out, I am a stronger person, and my future is full of possibilities.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Once said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." Dr. King stated these words more than 50 years ago. You would think healthcare would be significantly better by now, but sadly it is not. Despite gaining their civil rights and advances in medical technology, minorities disproportionately suffer from adverse health conditions and inequalities in health care. After pursuing my four-year health sciences degree, I plan on attending a physician assistant program where post-graduation, I will prioritize people of color by fighting against racial disparities in healthcare and making healthcare more accessible. As an African American, I feel a sense of familiarity when I walk into a room and see someone that looks like me. Cultural familiarity allows people to connect and feel more comfortable based on shared backgrounds and experiences. So let us talk about why that is important in healthcare. Being open with your physician is essential; it allows them to understand your habits and health conditions. Opening up also builds trust between you and your physician, giving your physician a better opportunity to optimize your health. As an African American woman, I understand how important healthcare is for people of color, and I want to do everything I can to provide better healthcare within our community. Systemic racism and oppression have contributed to health disparities in the U.S. People of color have less access to good healthcare because of higher unemployment rates and lower representation in good-paying jobs. In addition, minority communities receive less commercial development, particularly hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics. Lack of access to affordable insurance and medical facilities negatively affects the healthcare of people of color. African Americans are at higher risk for several health conditions and diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans have three times the morbidity rate for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes than white people. Also, although Black women have three times the maternal mortality rate of white women, 84% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. As a future physician's assistant in obstetrics and gynecology, I can play a vital role in the education and care given to Black women before, during, and after pregnancy, saving lives and reducing health disparities. Culturally sensitive patient education and better-targeted health care can improve most African American health outcomes. As a result, I want to inspire my male and female peers and the younger generation to join the healthcare field. I also want to inspire people of color to make changes for themselves and make everyone around them aware of our health's importance. Everyone deserves excellent healthcare, no matter their race or income. Healthcare should be a fundamental human right. Through my degree and as a woman of color, I will help change those negative statistics so that people of color can lead healthy, productive lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Once said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." Dr. King stated these words more than 50 years ago. You would think healthcare would be significantly better by now, but sadly it is not. Despite gaining their civil rights and advances in medical technology, minorities disproportionately suffer from adverse health conditions and inequalities in health care. With my degree in health sciences, I will prioritize people of color by fighting against racial disparities in healthcare and making healthcare more accessible. As an African American, I feel a sense of familiarity when I walk into a room and see someone that looks like me. Cultural familiarity allows people to connect and feel more comfortable based on shared backgrounds and experiences. So let us talk about why that is important in healthcare. Being open with your physician is essential; it allows them to understand your habits and health conditions. Opening up also builds trust between you and your physician, giving your physician a better opportunity to optimize your health. As an African American woman, I understand how important healthcare is for people of color, and I want to do everything I can to provide better healthcare within our community. Systemic racism and oppression have contributed to health disparities in the U.S. People of color have less access to good healthcare because of higher unemployment rates and lower representation in good-paying jobs. In addition, minority communities receive less commercial development, particularly hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics. Lack of access to affordable insurance and medical facilities negatively affects the healthcare of people of color. African Americans are at higher risk for several health conditions and diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans have three times the morbidity rate for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes than white people. Also, although Black women have three times the maternal mortality rate of white women, 84% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. As a future physician's assistant in obstetrics and gynecology, I can play a vital role in the education and care given to Black women before, during, and after pregnancy, saving lives and reducing health disparities. Culturally sensitive patient education and better-targeted health care can improve most African American health outcomes. As a result, I want to inspire my male and female peers and the younger generation to join the healthcare field. I also want to inspire people of color to make changes for themselves and make everyone around them aware of our health's importance. Everyone deserves excellent healthcare, no matter their race or income. Healthcare should be a fundamental human right. Through my degree and as a woman of color, I will help change those negative statistics so that people of color can lead healthy, productive lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Once said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." Dr. King stated these words more than 50 years ago. You would think healthcare would be significantly better by now, but sadly it is not. Despite gaining their civil rights and advances in medical technology, minorities disproportionately suffer from adverse health conditions and inequalities in health care. With my degree in health sciences, I will prioritize people of color by fighting against racial disparities in healthcare and making healthcare more accessible. As an African American, I feel a sense of familiarity when I walk into a room and see someone that looks like me. Cultural familiarity allows people to connect and feel more comfortable based on shared backgrounds and experiences. So let us talk about why that is important in healthcare. Being open with your physician is essential; it allows them to understand your habits and health conditions. Opening up also builds trust between you and your physician, giving your physician a better opportunity to optimize your health. As an African American woman, I understand how important healthcare is for people of color, and I want to do everything I can to provide better healthcare within our community. Systemic racism and oppression have contributed to health disparities in the U.S. People of color have less access to good healthcare because of higher unemployment rates and lower representation in good-paying jobs. In addition, minority communities receive less commercial development, particularly hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics. Lack of access to affordable insurance and medical facilities negatively affects the healthcare of people of color. African Americans are at higher risk for several health conditions and diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans have three times the morbidity rate for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes than white people. Also, although Black women have three times the maternal mortality rate of white women, 84% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. As a future physician's assistant in obstetrics and gynecology, I can play a vital role in the education and care given to Black women before, during, and after pregnancy, saving lives and reducing health disparities. Culturally sensitive patient education and better-targeted health care can improve most African American health outcomes. As a result, I want to inspire my male and female peers and the younger generation to join the healthcare field. I also want to inspire people of color to make changes for themselves and make everyone around them aware of our health's importance. Everyone deserves excellent healthcare, no matter their race or income. Healthcare should be a fundamental human right. Through my degree and as a woman of color, I will help change those negative statistics so that people of color can lead healthy, productive lives.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Once said, "Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane." Dr. King stated these words more than 50 years ago. You would think healthcare would be significantly better by now, but sadly it is not. Despite gaining their civil rights and advances in medical technology, minorities disproportionately suffer from adverse health conditions and inequalities in health care. With my degree in health sciences, I will prioritize people of color by fighting against racial disparities in healthcare and making healthcare more accessible. As an African American, I feel a sense of familiarity when I walk into a room and see someone that looks like me. Cultural familiarity allows people to connect and feel more comfortable based on shared backgrounds and experiences. So let us talk about why that is important in healthcare. Being open with your physician is essential; it allows them to understand your habits and health conditions. Opening up also builds trust between you and your physician, giving your physician a better opportunity to optimize your health. As an African American woman, I understand how important healthcare is for people of color, and I want to do everything I can to provide better healthcare within our community. Systemic racism and oppression have contributed to health disparities in the U.S. People of color have less access to good healthcare because of higher unemployment rates and lower representation in good-paying jobs. In addition, minority communities receive less commercial development, particularly hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics. Lack of access to affordable insurance and medical facilities negatively affects the healthcare of people of color. African Americans are at higher risk for several health conditions and diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African Americans have three times the morbidity rate for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes than white people. Also, although Black women have three times the maternal mortality rate of white women, 84% of these pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. As a future physician's assistant in obstetrics and gynecology, I can play a vital role in the education and care given to Black women before, during, and after pregnancy, saving lives and reducing health disparities. Culturally sensitive patient education and better-targeted health care can improve most African American health outcomes. As a result, I want to inspire my male and female peers and the younger generation to join the healthcare field. I also want to inspire people of color to make changes for themselves and make everyone around them aware of our health's importance. Everyone deserves excellent healthcare, no matter their race or income. Healthcare should be a fundamental human right. Through my degree and as a woman of color, I will help change those negative statistics so that people of color can lead healthy, productive lives.