My educational and career goals are not merely by coincidence but have been born out of passion and inner instinct. Dermatology has always been my career goal thus resulting in my return to the United States of America to achieve said goal. This has intertwined with my educational goal to successfully complete my studies at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition, I intend to use my success as a platform to encourage young girls to dream dreams of change and success. It is my belief that a dermatologist should not only treat the physical symptoms of diseases linked to the skin, but she should also aim to treat the deeper issues that cannot be touched, excised, or healed with Neutrogena. A dermatologist I believe must have an appreciation of the past history, and the treatment of skin, within a certain context. She must see the skin not merely as the largest organ, but understand that in some parts of the world, it is seen as a symbol. She must appreciate the differences in tone and know for instance that the shade of the skin was used to justify the enslavement of people by another and is still seen that way by some patients she will treat. It is my belief, that only with this understanding of the root caused issues of some practices that are harmful to the skin, that a dermatologist starts to find solutions that go beyond the surface of the skin. She must aim to find solutions that take into consideration historical and ethnic realities as much as they do scientific and biological ones. She must find solutions that treat not only acne and eczema but also treat low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, solutions that eradicate blackheads whilst simultaneously embracing blackness, whiteness, and all colors in between. I aim to be that dermatologist. Being awarded this scholarship will further spur my educational goals of being an outstanding woman of color whose career goals were manifested by being an Honor student who intends to graduate Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Pre-medicine with a minor in African American Studies from the Florida A&M University. It would also further encourage me to continue my education at a medical school where I will spend four years working to gain and harness the knowledge imparted to me. By being awarded an enrollment, it would not only further my educational journey but would also give me the opportunity to inspire young girls who have been subjected to a vicious generational cycle of teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, poverty, and low self-esteem to see that there are opportunities available to them if they think big, look with seeking eyes and hard-working hands and remain focused. I intend to use my platform to make contributions wherever possible and necessary. The Mohamed Magdi Taha Memorial Scholarship is geared to encourage me to work assiduously, to ensure that all patients that I treat, all persons that I speak to, all skin types touched by me, would now know to place importance and value on the skin as part of the self to be loved and nurtured. I would make every effort to be that dermatologist who treats beauty, who teaches beauty, and who heals beauty, as being that which is more than skin deep. I leave with you this quote by Marcus Garvey, “The black skin is not a badge of shame but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.”

I have traveled some 937 kilometers from Jamaica to America to attain a degree at Florida A&M University in Biology/Pre-medicine with a focus on entering medical school and leaving as a dermatologist because, it is with a deep understanding of the skin and the determination to delve beyond its surface, threading through premises and pre-conceived notions of skincare, especially for minorities that I seek to unlock secrets which the skin has held for centuries to the health of humanity as a dermatologist. Because I am fully aware that for some, the issues of beauty stop at blackheads and pimples but for others, the problem is not that simple, but goes much deeper than the skin. I believe that a dermatologist should not only treat the physical symptoms of diseases linked to the skin, but she should also aim to treat the deeper issues that cannot be touched, excised or healed with Neutrogena. A dermatologist I believe must have an appreciation of the past, history and the treatment of skin, within a certain context. She must see skin not merely as an organ, but understand that in some parts of the world, it is seen as a symbol. She must appreciate the differences in tone and know for instance that the shade of the skin was used to justify the enslavement of one person by another and is still seen that way by some patients she will treat. She must understand or at least try to understand that some persons see their skin as clothes to be changed and not part of the body to be nurtured. It is my belief, that only with this understanding, of the root-caused issues of some practices that are harmful to the skin, that a dermatologist starts to find solutions that go beyond the surface of the skin. If I were to be granted this scholarship, it would not only give me the financial assistance but the added confidence of knowing I got your support. The support needed to help spur me along to fulfill, what I believe is my purpose in this life. It would have shown me that you recognized not only my financial need but perhaps, more importantly, the need of others, that is, my patients-to-be. I can assure you, that during my studies, I will bring my experiences and understanding of the skin and issues surrounding the skin to the field of dermatology. I will aim to find solutions that take into consideration historical and ethnic realities as much as they do scientific and biological ones. I will find solutions that treat not only acne and eczema but also treat low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, solutions that eradicate blackheads whilst simultaneously embracing blackness, whiteness and all colors in between. If granted this scholarship, I would work assiduously, to ensure that all patients that I treat, all persons that I speak to, all skin types touched by me, would know to place importance and value on the skin as a protective organ and as a part of the self to which we were born in, to be loved and nurtured. But I would also let them know, to place no more significance on its color, than to the color of a woman's eyes, or her hair or her nails. I would make every effort to be that dermatologist who treats beauty, who teaches beauty and who heals beauty, as being that which is more than skin deep. Thank you for considering me as a recipient of this scholarship.

I have traveled some 937 kilometers from Jamaica to America to attain a degree at Florida A&M University in Biology/Pre-medicine with a focus on entering medical school and leaving as a dermatologist because, it is with a deep understanding of the skin and the determination to delve beyond its surface, threading through premises and pre-conceived notions of skincare, especially for minorities that I seek to unlock secrets which the skin has held for centuries to the health of humanity as a dermatologist. Because I am fully aware that for some, the issues of beauty stop at blackheads and pimples but for others, the problem is not that simple, but goes much deeper than the skin. I believe that a dermatologist should not only treat the physical symptoms of diseases linked to the skin, but she should also aim to treat the deeper issues that cannot be touched, excised or healed with Neutrogena. A dermatologist I believe must have an appreciation of the past, history and the treatment of skin, within a certain context. She must see skin not merely as an organ, but understand that in some parts of the world, it is seen as a symbol. She must appreciate the differences in tone and know for instance that the shade of the skin was used to justify the enslavement of one person by another and is still seen that way by some patients she will treat. She must understand or at least try to understand that some persons see their skin as clothes to be changed and not part of the body to be nurtured. It is my belief, that only with this understanding, of the root-caused issues of some practices that are harmful to the skin, that a dermatologist starts to find solutions that go beyond the surface of the skin. If I were to be granted this scholarship, it would not only give me the financial assistance but the added confidence of knowing I got your support. The support needed to help spur me along to fulfill, what I believe is my purpose in this life. It would have shown me that you recognized not only my financial need but perhaps, more importantly, the need of others, that is, my patients-to-be. I can assure you, that during my studies, I will bring my experiences and understanding of the skin and issues surrounding the skin to the field of dermatology. I will aim to find solutions that take into consideration historical and ethnic realities as much as they do scientific and biological ones. I will find solutions that treat not only acne and eczema but also treat low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence, solutions that eradicate blackheads whilst simultaneously embracing blackness, whiteness and all colors in between. If granted this scholarship, I would work assiduously, to ensure that all patients that I treat, all persons that I speak to, all skin types touched by me, would know to place importance and value on the skin as a protective organ and as a part of the self to which we were born in, to be loved and nurtured. But I would also let them know, to place no more significance on its color, than to the color of a woman's eyes, or her hair or her nails. I would make every effort to be that dermatologist who treats beauty, who teaches beauty and who heals beauty, as being that which is more than skin deep. Thank you for considering me as a recipient of this scholarship.