My academic studies have been the driving force behind my personal and professional goals. I have always been passionate about learning and gaining knowledge. My major is in Health Sciences, and I double minor in Biology and Chemistry, which has enabled me to develop a solid foundation in the sciences. The rigorous coursework combined with lab components has helped me develop the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant specializing in dermatology. As a child, I had severe eczema that erased all pigment on the right side of my nose and spread well underneath my eye. My first dermatologist told my parents that the color would never return to this portion of my face. My second dermatologist, Dr. Johnson, shared my dark skin tone. He developed a course of treatment that cleared my eczema and restored my color. A wide range of skin conditions exists that disproportionately affect people of color, such as hyperpigmentation, keloid scarring, and discoloration due to eczema. With proper training, I will be well-equipped to handle the challenges of treating patients with diverse skin types. I grew up in a predominantly White area, so all of my friends were White, and the University I first chose to attend had a similar demographic. I had what I thought was a solid group of friends that would eat in the dining hall, study, and go to parties, never without the others. Our group dynamic shifted as we grew accustomed to our new surroundings and met new people. When we went to parties, I noticed that it was easy for other people to ignore me while they introduced themselves to my friends with nothing but kind regard. I noticed that the people I sat next to in class and even my lab partners would ignore me if I saw them at other places on campus. I noticed the looks I would get from handfuls of people while simply hanging out with my friends that suggested that there was no reason for me to be with the girls I had known since sophomore year of high school, simply because I was Black. When I voiced my concerns to my friends, they told me that I was just “in my head,” and “overthinking,” “meaningless” social interactions. At this time, I realized how ignorant they were to ignore the presence of skin color bias. I also understood how uninformed I was to think I would receive the same treatment as my White peers. This experience left me feeling humiliated and powerless. It was a stark reminder of the systemic racism that plagues our society. However, instead of letting this experience defeat me, it only fueled my determination to succeed. I decided to transfer to Howard University a few days later. It was essential for personal growth and development to surround myself with other young Black intelligent people to escape a world where I constantly faced judgment based on my skin color. Since transferring, my cost of attendance has more than doubled, and tuition prices are increasing for the 2023-2024 school year. I have plans to continue my education and enter a master’s program to become a Physician Assistant who specializes in dermatology. Receiving this scholarship would provide financial assistance and also validate my experiences as a Black woman trying to make headway into the medical field. It would serve as a reminder that the microaggressions and constant judgment I faced were just what I needed to reach the top and obtain a successful career as a Physician Assistant and gain a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

My academic studies have been the driving force behind my personal and professional goals. I have always been passionate about learning and gaining knowledge, and through my academic pursuits, I have developed the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve my aspirations. My major is in Health Sciences, and I double minor in Biology and Chemistry, which has enabled me to develop a solid foundation in the sciences. The rigorous coursework and research involved in my studies have equipped me with the tools and knowledge necessary to pursue my goal of becoming a Physician Assistant specializing in dermatology. As a child, I had severe eczema that erased all pigment on the right side of my nose and spread well underneath my eye. The first two dermatologists I had told my parents and me that the area ravaged by eczema would never regain the color my face had lost. It was not until I met with a third dermatologist, Mr. Johnson, who shared my dark skin tone. Dr. Johnson developed a course of treatment that cleared eczema on my face while also ensuring that all of the melanin returned. A wide range of skin conditions exists that disproportionately affect people of color, such as hyperpigmentation, keloid scarring, and discoloration due to eczema. With proper training, I will be well-equipped to handle the challenges of treating patients with diverse skin types. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have also sought out practical experience in the healthcare field. Recently I have begun volunteering with One Tent Health, a program that provides on-the-spot free services such as rapid HIV screening, COVID-19 PCR testing, and voter registration. The program aims to extend the lives of people living in communities where HIV is prevalent by providing easier access to knowledge about HIV status to members of the District of Columbia. This upcoming summer, I will work with the Lehigh Valley Health Network as a Nursing Assistant in the Inpatient Rehabilitation section at their location in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. These opportunities either have or will further improve my knowledge of community-based healthcare needs, and I have learned to appreciate that everyone has their own stories, with different interests and various needs. All of which will be beneficial as I hope to provide people with the best healthcare based on each person’s individual needs. Overall, I am confident that my academic studies and practical experience have prepared me to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant specializing in dermatology. I am excited to continue to engage with my studies, gain further practical experience, and contribute to the healthcare field meaningfully.