Growing up as a child is where my love for the medical field started. I suffered from severe asthma. My limitations were sometimes devastating. Even living in my home, we had to be cautious of what chemicals were used as I was sensitive to most everything. My pediatrician was wonderful and taught me and my mother traditional remedies to care for my needs so I could participate in more activities. We also, along the way, developed holistic ways of helping me cope and treat my illness. These circumstances showed me that there are many ways to deal with an illness and not all illnesses and treatments are created equal. I was always very comfortable and loved going to my doctor’s office. Just being in the atmosphere made me feel safe, like I was home. At one of my appointments one of the medical staff who was caring for me before the doctor came in, told me that I could someday go into this type of work too, when I get older. I knew right then that is what I would do! When my grandmother received the unfortunate diagnosis of stage 2 colorectal cancer we were all in shock. This was another account that collaborated my decision to follow my dream of being a Physician’s Assistant. I helped care for my grandmother as she helped care for me growing up. I was her primary caregiver for 6 years prior to her passing. I scheduled and assisted in taking her to and from medical appointments. I kept organization of her medical records. I learned many medical terms and how to translate them into laymen’s terms. After her colostomy surgery I took on more responsibility. I monitored her vital signs. I learned how to do her wound care and ostomy care. When there were nurses that came to check on my grandmother, I would help assist them with what they needed. I learned what pain management is. I learned that staying on top of the pain is essential, and that it is harder to control pain if you are not consistent. I administered pain medication and other medication as prescribed by the doctor. I provided my grandmother with activities of daily living which included, showers and dressing. I planned her meals, shopped, and cooked for her. The more she declined the more I did for her from preventative care until hospice care. I organized a support team of family, friends, and members of her religious congregation to come by daily to spend time with her, so she was not alone. By the end my grandmother’s cancer had metastasized to her kidneys and lungs. I held her had the whole way. I feel honored to have been there for her through her illness and at the end of her life. I have taken steps to follow my dream and in addition to my above experiences, I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, from California State University in 2018 (Deans Lists). I keep a current certificate in basic life support. I also hold a certificate in Mental Health First Aid, “Adult,” through National Council for Behavioral Health. I received a certificate of completion from Touro University in Naloxone Training. I also am currently a volunteer at Brighter Beginnings in Antioch as a Scribe for the Doctors and Nurse Practitioner’s, in person and through telehealth. My other duties include assisting and updating medical records as well as office duties Having a scholarship will help me to continue pursuing the necessary steps and opportunities to achieve my dreams such as pursuing tutoring, reducing debt, etc.

Healthy eating is very important for physical, biochemical and mental health. It's obvious after eating junk food how groggy I feel; bloating, stomach pains, and bad gas quickly occurs and lasts for days. When I eat healthy feel more alert, better energy and motivation, and my mood tends to be a lot happier. I also noticed that better eating habits improve my sleep tremendously. Both eating and drinking the right foods and fluids, and with a decent schedule, I tend to fall asleep faster and avoid the typical interruptions in my sleep. I'm personally working on learning more about my food groups and patterns, what my body responds to negatively and considering allergy tests to learn about possible intolerances. I've also been learning about important food swaps and foods/cooking products that could affecting my hormones and leading to painful periods. I'm hoping that as I continue my education that I'll have the opportunity to take functional medicine and nutrition courses so I can better understand the science behind food and continue improving the eating and healthy living habits for myself and my household

I wish to get accepted into med school and get my degree as an MD or DO, practicing both Western and Holistic/Functional medicine in a clinic dedicated to BIPOC and people in need. I also have an interest in studying abroad to learn holistic medicinal practices that smaller culturally riched communities use today in order to help builder education and awareness in the interrelationships of communities. My hope that with my medical practices and education applied to the community, low income, minority and other less represented communities can learn how to live a more happy healthier life without great sacrifice

Clean living is important not only for your individual health and mental wellness, but am opportunity to reduce the negative impact on the environment by reducing your daily carbon footprint. I try to apply small but practice methods of clean living such as choosing packaging that doesn't use plastic, finding eco-friendly brands to purchase for our food and household products. I also make a number of our more simple household cleaning products, use old rags to clean rather than paper towels, and have been learning to use as much of our produce as possible for meals, broths and juices/ infusions. When safe and applicable, I enjoying walking to local destinations to save the miles and gas in my car, which in turn reduces my CO2 emissions. My household is enrolled in OhmConnect, so during peak electricity and gas use periods, we turn as many of our appliances off to help reduce the impact on the powerplants in our community. I continue to look for additional clean living practices in news articles, DIY tutorials and social media groups

Growing up I was always in the hospital or doctor's office for asthma, pneumonia, and anemia. I suffered for years having to endure breathing treatments, blood work, and the fear that this would be my life forever. It took my mom finding a black doctor power couple in Oakland who were both Pediatricians and Allergists before my health and daily functioning improved. Having the proper attention to detail, education and support allowed my family to learn what we needed to do to keep me safe. They also guided me on how to combat my allergies and make healthy life habits to make daily life easier. Ever since, I've strived to find ethnic providers who are able to relate to me on an educational and cultural standpoint, which is unfortunately still a struggle with most of the medical community being predominantly white males. I wish to join the medical community to add bricks to the bridge between the medical field and the ethnically device community of our population. I want to contribute to the voice the minority is still building to be heard, and help encourage other ethnicities to aspire to join the medical and healthcare field.

I am a non-traditional pre-med student who twice applied but was not successful in getting into medical school. As a wife and daughter, I support my household by working full time while trying to attend graduate studies to help improve my chances to reapply for medical school. Since the pandemic, my husband's employment has been sporadic which leads me to bare a lot of the financial responsibility for our household and support for my family members individually. In turn I've struggled to return to school, including last year where I had to drop from a Masters program within the first semester. Using free financial counseling resources, having long conversations with my family over our genuine needs and budgeting, And finding a program that was more self paced but still applicable to my goal of increasing my science GPA, I am currently in a better circumstance mentally and academically with a start date for 11/17/2022. This journey has put me behind on my goals by nearly 3 years, but I finally feel I am back on track with a better foundation to reach my goals

In order to maintain a growth mindset, I remind myself that the tasks and challenges I experience each day can be a small or large stepping stone to improving myself. To reinforce this thought I try to identify a skill, personality trait, or accomplishment (big or small) that can be achieved by resolving the task or problem. Sometimes there are so many things we experience in a given day. A helpful mindfulness strategy that I try to apply at the end of my day is to reflect on events and give myself a positive remark, highlighting things I did very well first and then admitting to things that I can improve or seek to work on the next time a similar experience occurs. Another way that I try to keep a growth mindset is feeling confident and comfortable in admitting a mistake. I remind myself that mistakes are opportunities to learn or refresh my knowledge whether in regards to school or life experience.

The best financial advise I ever received was to take time to determine what is a priority or personal goal, the things needed to achieve it and where I am at the moment. This has helped me countless times map out my immediate and long term financial goals, kept me practical in my spending, and pay attention to the debt I have and what accounts should be a focus to take care of. It also had helped me save money so that I can enjoy fun activities here and there without any fear that I'm taking money away from my goals. I routinely check my account history online, ensure my accounts are in good standing, and then explore resources from my bank or lender that may help me to pay off my balances sooner or reduce my interest rates

My favorite Scientific Discovery is the Double Helix structure of DNA. I chose this topic as it was the first scientist discovery that I learned in grade school involving a female scientist (Rosalind Franklin). Her research in x-ray crystallography has greatly contributed to the vast knowledge that mankind now knows about the structure of DNA, RNA and graphite. She was a first of the many female scientist I have come to learn more about as women in STEM has grown to becoming a focus in primary education in order to encourage women to pursue careers in science

In 2018 my uncle disappeared. He was last seen with a relative at a gas station where he walked away from the car and couldn't be found. My uncle was missing for 3 months. He has a diagnosis of bipolar schizophrenia, but when on medication he is completely fine. While visiting family in California he ran out of his medication and had to go through hoops and hurdles to get his prescription refilled. The medication took a month to be approved and received, by then my uncle had already been missing and eventually located in a jail in Utah. Family had to drive out of state and wait two days just to see him, then get him bail and find a provider to complete a Psych exam so that he could return home. This in turn cost over $2,000.00. While in jail my uncle lost 15-20 pounds, and while in jail had reduced to a catatonic state, barely eating. It took several weeks to get him back to his normal state. This was a horrific experience for my family, a result of insurance taking several weeks to provide a refill for a medication he had been taking for years. Having personally dealt with misfortune that can result from the negligence in the country's mental health care and my current job working for a not for profit mental health clinic I clearly see that mental health needs to become a new priority or focus in our routine exams, in emergency assessments, and there needs to be reform in insurance standard policies to make treatment and medication more accessible when a provider can provide clear proof of an existing condition. This is why I am pursuing a DO in medicine where my career will focus on the whole individual (mind, body, spirit) versus the symptoms that are present. I want to provide care where I consider a person's genetics, environment, experience, and present symptoms in order to diagnose, treat and educate an individual in order to assist them in preventing reoccurrence in illness and reduce severity or impairment of other disorders

Going out of your way or beyond necessity to help another individual regardless of the task itself. Or to choose to doing something with a goal of having a positive and/or helpful impact on another party out of your own desire

I visualize a future where the stigmas and embarrassment towards mental health are abolished. Individuals can not only voice their problems but gain available and affordable help focused on teaching coping skills, distress tolerance, development and change in habits, psych education and safe clinically proven holistic approaches to help address emotional and chemical imbalances before considering pharmaceutical measures. Many individuals who struggle today in the black community are likely to have mental health disabling symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, trauma and Disordered eating (especially obesity) that are largely due to generational habits, ways of think, and environmental oppression. By providing better mental health and psycho education we can simultaneously address health issues while teaching the black community how to identify and quickly address sources of stress, avoid unhealthy habits and association, and also give them a strong voice of self advocation because they can now identify something as injustice, inappropriate or self sabotaging. They can also learn what sources of help and support are available through compassionate providers and what specific sources of help would be most appropriate towards a specific situation. This then gives then both a sense of independence, strength, and support to deal with every day struggles on top of unfortunate and unforseen events. As time progresses we can train the younger and upcoming generations these same skills, eventually diminishing stigmas and years of poor habits that have enslaved the black community nationwide. While this essay uses the black community as a specific example, the same strategies can be applied to other ethnicities nationwide in which oppression and stigmas have been engrained into the culture to the degree causing similar generational sabotage. If countries began putting greater focus into health and education, sharing their progress and methods, we could potentially see a global progression.

Growing up as a young black female, I have experienced poor customer service, lack of support and in some cases possible misdiagnosis or mistreatment for my personal health. This is especially true in emergency hospitals. Fortunately, because my mom was a traveling nurse I had to move frequently and this lead to changing providers. This made me develop a strong voice of self advocacy and to not be afraid to ask questions in order to ensure my personal health. At the same time this exposed me to multiple providers of different styles for treatment, communication and focus (treat the symptoms vs treat the person). With certain doctors I build an association with that allowed me to ask questions on an educational standpoint for multiple topics, and this general basic heath information I was then able to share with members of my community who shared similar affliction. Seeing the positive impact small yet significant changes in hygiene, diet and activity lead me to be curious about pursuing a career in medicine. Speaking with my doctor's and their colleagues over time helped to sharpen my understanding of the needs and neglect of the black community, how certain ethnicities (white, asian and pacific islander specifically) were able to have better access to medical and healthcare compared to black and hispanic/latino communities in parts of California, which in turn encouraged my aspiration to pursue a medical career in which I could both treat, support and educate my community on how to improve their overall quality of life. Growing up in the Bay Area, it's become a dream and hope to one day contribute to the growing medical and mental health needs of the community. As the growing number of homeless individuals and families rise (especially minority numbers) I see a growing need to provide the needed skills, education and resources to this community with the hope that this in turn will open doors for these individuals to pursue better quality of life in the sense of housing and finances.

I visualize a future where the stigmas and embarrassment towards mental health are abolished. Individuals can not only voice their problems but gain available and affordable help focused on teaching coping skills, distress tolerance, development and change in habits, psych education and safe clinically proven holistic approaches to help address emotional and chemical imbalances before considering pharmaceutical measures. Many individuals who struggle today in the black community are likely to have mental health disabling symptoms associated with anxiety, depression, trauma and Disordered eating (especially obesity) that are largely due to generational habits, ways of think, and environmental oppression. By providing better mental health and psycho education we can simultaneously address health issues while teaching the black community how to identify and quickly address sources of stress, avoid unhealthy habits and association, and also give them a strong voice of self advocation because they can now identify something as injustice, inappropriate or self sabotaging. They can also learn what sources of help and support are available through compassionate providers and what specific sources of help would be most appropriate towards a specific situation. This then gives then both a sense of independence, strength, and support to deal with every day struggles on top of unfortunate and unforseen events. As time progresses we can train the younger and upcoming generations these same skills, eventually diminishing stigmas and years of poor habits that have enslaved the black community nationwide.

Putting more focus on life skills so growing generations are more prepared for daily life responsibilities and functioning. We have many young adults who don't know how to budget or build a savings, are not building skills in communication, can't maintain bills or chores, etc. Having life skills, job training or vocational learning opportunities for age appropriate ventures, mentoring throughout school to college and better support and resources for students in lower economic standing whose families can't afford tutoring, sports and extracurricular activities so these bright individuals have a chance to be just as competitive as their fellow students.

Despite the continuous damage done to the planet by the growing population of man kind we are still making amazing scientific discoveries proving the strength and tenacity of our planet and the animals we share with it. Knowing that my current generation shares in this appreciation gives me hope that we will truly make an impact in reducing the damage done for decades and begin restoring our plant and ecosystems back to a more stable state, while still being able to benefit from the different resources that the planet offers all life, eventually beginning the genuine path to a more balanced existence

I am working towards establishing my own black business focused on mentoring and life coaching. My services would include assisting individuals with building resumes, finding volunteer experience and extracurricular activity to make them more competitive in the work field, mentoring/coaching individuals on building healthy basic habits to improve quality of life, efficiency and communication skills. I intend to also network with community service locations that cater to the homeless and low income so that I can assist these individuals in finding employment based on their current skills, help pursue higher education, and eventually expand into grant writer for non and not for profits focused on helping minorities, disabled and homeless individuals. The funds from this scholarship will contribute to the overall costs of establishing my LLC, business permit for the county and/or state, and pay for grant writing certification courses.

I believe free education and basic resources to help communities and individuals to come to understand what mental health is, how everyone can be affected by it, practical ways to help reduce stress, and signs to look out for that may indicate they need to see a provider for additional support. Having these topics discussed in schools, during doctor exams, and having free resources could be a great contribution to the community

My goal is to become a doctor ideally in the Osteopathic field so that I may serve and educate my community, focusing on the minority, women and elderly. As a biracial young woman I've grown to see many individuals suffer due to poor health, neglect to personal hygiene and lifestyle. My little cousin, who suffered a 3 day coma due to diabetes, is a personal example proving the need for educating our family and neighbors on how to be cautious of their diet, exercise, and particular life habits that should be avoided or carefully balanced. It is my hope that by sharing such knowledge freely, that this will encourage other individuals to expand and make routine such charity

Society needs to come to appreciate the different qualities of a woman beyond the surface. Our intelligence, our internal and physical strength, courage, and compassion needs to be valued. Once these qualities are genuinely appreciated by society there can be a greater chance that the stereotypes and limitations placed on women for decades can be deemed irrational, allowing and encouraging women to pursue careers and personal opportunities beyond the current standards of today. Education on equality, ethics, and historical women less known needs to become a standard in our schools right now to help combat the current ideology of our Patriarchy.

I am a non traditional female student of the black community striving to pursue my higher education in the medical field while still doing everything in my power to support my household. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Medical Health Sciences starting August 1, 2021 at Touro University with the hopes that upon graduating I will have gained valuable experience in research and qualify to Pursue the Touro Osteopathic Medicine program the following year. This scholarship would help me to pay for the cost of my continuing education and help alleviate some of the financial burden on my household. I Aspire to pursue medicine so that students from the black Eastbay and Contra Costa communities can be inspired to pursue high dreams no matter their circumstances.

If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. -Emily Dickinson I have always loved science and poetry. While not a phrase, this poem reminds me of the joy that comes from helping and healing others, strengthening my conviction to help others when I can, to be patient with those who may be dealing with unknown troubles, and reminding me to never give up on my aspirations to become a doctor, because no matter how hard the journey it shall not be in vain

As a young child I possessed a fondness and fascination for science, particularly the science behind the body's innate ability to heal after illness and injury. Having a mother who was a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), I was able to obtain answers to many questions: where do babies come from, can the mind really heal the body, how does medicine affect the world from the individual to the community, etc. This ignited my interest in medicine and I placed great focus in building the foundational knowledge in science and math. My mother instilled in me to always lend a helping hand through facilitating improvement of their psyche, their bodies, and their quality of life. I began learning about the different fields of science and medicine as well as their corresponding career paths. I observed my mother continuously learning, often with many resources on the table. This helped me realize that not only would medicine provide me with the opportunity to heal those in need, but also grant me the ability to remain a life-long learner. I recall the first moment I had to put the skills observed from my mother (a CNA) into use. I was approximately 10 years old, and during one hot day my mother allowed me and my 8 year old sister to spend the day with our neighbors while she ran errands. We were supposed to play outside in front of the apartment, only to go back to our unit to bring snacks to share. However as the day got later my sister and I got into an argument with one of the kids and we decided to go home. As we ran inside, the child tried to barge his way in our home. We tried to push back to close the door but another bigger kid joined the opposite team and pushed the door with enough force that the door swung open and over my sister's foot, slicing the skin. The other kids screamed and ran. My sister in shock just stared at the blood coming out of her foot. My first thought was " is the metal thing at the bottom of the door old, rusted? Will she have to get that shot mom hates?" I ran to our bathroom and yanked out everything that could allow me to clean and seal the gash. We were out of gauze so I used tissue paper to put pressure on her foot. I then held her hand as I poured peroxide, all the while telling my sister she was ok. By the time my mom got home my sister's foot was bandaged. After we told her what happened my mom rushed us to the hospital to have a nurse inspect the wound. Thankfully, the laceration wasn't deep and my sister was able to go home without stitches. What motivates me to learn more about medicine? One of the most important people in my life was diagnosed with stage III colon-rectal cancer. Her diagnosis came in her late sixties, and by the time of diagnosis there wasn't a lot of hope for remission. Due to her lack of knowledge of medicine and disease, there became a barrier to understand what the diagnosis and prognosis meant, let alone the actions and advise being suddenly proposed. Without hesitation, I chose to her translator and advocate so that her words and wishes could be made known to her growing medical team, while making sure she understood the medical jargon being said and the options she had. Just as my grandmother had helped take care of me and provide me the opportunity to pursue my dreams, I took care of her, translating the dialogue from her providers and researching with her the things neither of us could comprehend. My grandmother had a general sense of curiosity, and when she heard new words or was scheduled for a specific test she wanted to understand what it entailed and its purpose. With time my grandmother's cancer turned metastatic and a choice between fighting for time or fighting for comfort came into question. My grandmother decided her finally wish was to live her last days in comfort at home, without any additional testing, sticking of needles and exams beyond necessity. We suddenly switched gears and turned to focusing from oncology and labs, to palliative care, pain management and entertainment. The experience working with the palliative care nurses and staff opened my eyes to an industry that is in need, that lacks the same dedication and bodies as other common fields, which is why I am now considering a DO/MD degree in Family medicine and Geriatric Care. So I can help other families give their loved ones the best of their last days.