Satisfactory health indicates adequate education; if privileged enough to have both, a person can live a happy and healthy life. If given the opportunity to improve my community, I would make all medically necessary healthcare free and accessible. Black Americans have been denied many “rights” that are supposed to be assured to all people in the United States, but because of our origins in this country, we have been denied that access. Throughout all of American history, we learn about the common atrocities done amongst us: Jim Crow, enslavement, abuse, and more. However, there is more that our community has suffered that we are not taught about, and that is the poor healthcare we deal with. When I was in 10th grade, we lost my aunt suddenly to what we think was a heart attack; we got the call the morning they found her, and I was so confused. It was painful to lose someone so close to me, especially since I knew if she had been educated and treated for cardiovascular issues, she might still be here with us. My aunt’s story is a prevalent one for black people: limited access to healthcare and limited funding for doctors to practice medicine in poor neighborhoods. When you couple poor healthcare with food deserts, you are bound to find problems that will become generational. The lack of good health is one thing, but the financial burden that families go through when they do need medical attention is profoundly saddening. A visit to the Emergency Room can set people back thousands of dollars, plus however much money it costs to treat the illness and transport themselves, people can wrack up tremendous amounts of medical debt. It becomes a repetitive cycle of financial and physical destruction that people just don't have the means to keep up with and it causes Black Americans to continue to be less educated, less likely to pursue high education, etc. Black Americans have deserved to live long and healthy lives like their white counterparts throughout all of history, but we are reaching a turning point in American politics where any possibility of that is being wiped away. If I had the opportunity to change one thing, it would one-hundred percent be changing the way Black Americans receive and pay for healthcare. Insurance would be more flexible and attainable, there would be immediate care offices in poor neighborhoods, there would be alternatives to using ambulances for transportation in emergencies, education on what proper care looks like, and doctors willing to work in less fortunate neighborhoods. I want to see my community win for years and years to come, but how can we do that if we continue to be untreated by doctors? Thank you for your consideration.

With life comes challenges, with experience comes wisdom. I learned this the hard way in 11th grade, after the world had been shut down by COVID-19. I was excited to be a true high school student, not a face on a Zoom call or an email in someone’s inbox. At 15 years old, I knew I had every opportunity ahead of me; I was beginning to think about college, potential jobs, even countries I could study in. I walked into junior year of high school a blank page that I was ecstatic to begin writing on. That all changed when I got my first boyfriend. I first knew something was wrong when my being was all he could concern himself with, if I was free, he had to be free also, if I wanted to go on vacation, he wanted to go also. I wasn’t even 16 and was expected to maintain a relationship that was scarily overwhelming. At school he would follow me around, and at home he would call me when I did not want to speak. I felt guilty for resenting him so much; I mean he liked me, what kind of person would I be if I didn’t appreciate it? I began to shrink into a shell of the person who I used to be and simple tasks became daunting and overwhelming because I was always so sad. My relationship with this boy only became more volatile as he would eventually begin to imply I was not worth anything, that my life carried less value than his and I began to believe it. I entered his house one day we had off of school, the day consisted of Popeyes and Netflix movies, a much needed rest day. But as the night crept upon us, something sinister fell upon him and I became the unknowing victim of that. A 7-minute assault would change my perception on life, shatter my confidence, and destroy any lasting signs of the Sydney everyone knew and loved. As a result, I went psychiatric in-patient with suicidal ideations and no clue on how to move on from what had happened. He took away the last bit of hope I had for myself. Some time passed and I knew I wanted to go to college. With that knowledge came the feeling of hope, I hadn’t felt in a long time. Acceptances began to roll in and I realized the potential that people began to see within me from only an essay and transcript, so I sought to see it in myself. I knew I wanted to change the way women who have experienced abuse are treated on a pharmaceutical and therapeutic level. It has now been 2.5 years since the assault and I am now a rising sophomore at Spelman College; my major is Chemistry with intention to pursue Neuroscience as a career. Anti-depressants were and still are an important component of my treatment and a lot of my symptoms were extended by ineffectiveness from different medications doctors prescribed me. I decided I want to research the chemical makeup of the human brain and design a truly effective antidepressant for women. Ultimately my struggle is not over until there is an active and effective treatment for black women’s mental health in doctor’s hands. My resilience is representative of the black women who came before me, who dealt with the worst but made me my best. My HBCU has shown me how black women carry each other through everything and that legacy will not break with me; I will change the world.

You can live without many things, but hope is not one. I contracted the coronavirus, and the isolation caused me to suffer a severe bout of depression and anxiety—things I had never experienced. I felt hopeless, questioned my intelligence, and lost my ability to concentrate. The girl I built and the image I fought hard to portray were shattered. I was a shadow of myself, afraid to be alone and unable to focus my attention. There were days when I literally could not lift my head. The virus slaughtered my confidence and, in the process, almost killed me and every dream for my future. As a result of my life experiences and illness, I have a deep curiosity to study the universe and our biology. I want my work to prepare us for the uncertain future. As a Black girl challenged by the heaviness of how the world works and how we carry the burdens of a society that does not always see the value of our education or the burden of our miseducation, I want to add more light to the universe. I desire to be positioned to help us navigate the complexities of our existence and the power we have to change, impact, or alter the state of our reality. There is nothing worse than the brain’s betrayal, particularly for a person who is so cerebral. I look back now and wonder if there was a day I just woke up as a different person or if the death of my persona was slow and grueling. When did I lose the person I counted on? How do you mourn the loss of you? Fortunately, these are questions never answered because I fought my way back. I took the time to allow my mind to heal during my junior year, and after 90 days of absences, I slowly worked up the confidence to walk back into the school building. I am proud to say, I made up every assignment and exam. My teachers rallied to help, and my classmates were supportive. When my GPA slipped from a 4.2 to a 3.9, I reminded myself that perfection was never a requirement. I went back to tutoring middle school students and completed 50 hours of service. I earned the right to participate in the National Academy of Future Physicians and was even elected Prom Queen! I slayed the stigma of mental illness. I even ran to reclaim my previously held title of class president. Suffice it to say my run was fun but unsuccessful. And yet, I found balance in my failure. I know researchers fail sometimes, and I will find balance and value in every trial along the way. If “he who has health has hope,” one without health could be seen as hopeless. Mine is a generation more impacted by mental health concerns than any before and hopefully after. I want to make a career solving for the challenges that lie ahead as we learn more about the impact of the disease and its required isolation. I want to use my education to do research that helps understand and explain the science of our minds and how we can heal them. I will achieve my goals because I know what to tap into when hope is lost. I know how to climb back to the top of the mountain, and I understand the challenges of those in the valley who will be better served because of my experience and resolve to see them healed. When I was sick, parts of me died, but my determination and desire to be of service to others got stronger. My future is in medical research and service to our community because we must work to understand the nature of our universe and where we are situated in it. I want to study and understand more about the chemistry of mindfulness and how it can help underserved and underrepresented communities suffering through the challenges of mental health. I think this is an important self-medication tool. I believe science can save us if we have ambassadors who can connect the injured to the repairs that nature and science provide. My future is beautiful, bright, and full of possibility and hope. Please help me secure the scholarships I need to ensure I have the resources to bear the financial burden of the stellar education I desire. I am worth it, and so is the future. Thank you for being so considerate.

I have always been a strong student. That changed when I contracted COVID during my junior year. The isolation almost killed me. My depression was so unrelenting that I considered suicide. There were days when I could not lift my head. I slept with my mother, I held her hand as we crossed the street. I went from strong and independent to someone who couldn’t be left alone. My family and doctors realized I needed to prioritize my health so I took some time away from school. I missed more than 90 days of my junior year of school. During my absences, on my good days, I worked to control how I felt. When the time came to return to school, I was nervous and concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. I was relieved to find that my teachers were incredibly understanding, and they allowed me to make up most of my work. I dedicated most of the spring to make-up work and preparing for the start of senior year. Despite not having perfect grades, I finished the year with A’s and B’s, over 50 service hours, was elected Prom Queen by my peers, and was accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians. While I missed more than 90 days of school, I learned valuable lessons about myself, and my own needs that will help me be a better student, professional, and person. And although I watched my GPA fall from 4.2 to 3.9 I learned that perfection isn’t required. This experience also further inspired me to pursue a Chemistry/Pharmacy degree. I want to be a beacon for black patients who feel there is no understanding or representation for them. I’ve done the research and it was hard to accept how often people who look like me suffer due to illegitimate medical information and biases of doctors and researchers. I believe that when I enter the medical industry, I will be an incredibly valuable asset because I will have the perspective of a black woman, and will also have the motivation that other non-black professionals may not have to fairly and accurately treat all patients. This is not to say that medical professionals are intentionally harming others, but every profession should have a good representation of all in our society. There is so much work to be done to improve the livelihoods of Americans, to improve the relationships that black people have with the medical industry, and to develop our minds. I still suffer from anxiety but I look forward to my future and my impact on the world. Even sharing my story will be impactful. The world needs more of us to tell the truth about our mental health challenges. Our stories will save lives.

The quality I value most in myself is forgiveness. This has helped me to survive my darkest day and to forgive my mind for betraying me. I have always been a strong student. That changed when I contracted COVID during my junior year. The isolation almost killed me. My depression was so unrelenting that I considered suicide. There were days when I could not find the physical strength to lift my head. I slept with my mother, I held her hand as we crossed streets. I went from strong and independent to someone who couldn’t be left alone. My family and doctors realized I needed to prioritize my health and allowed me to take time away from school. I missed more than 90 days of my junior year of school. During my absences, on my good days, I worked to control how I felt. The weight of the world seemed to be on my shoulders and I was angry because I couldn't understand how somehow who seemed to have it all couldn't climb out of this hole. My self-talk was defeating. When the time came to return to school, I was nervous and concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. I was relieved to find that my teachers were incredibly understanding, allowing me to make up most of my work. I dedicated most of the spring to make-up work and preparing for the start of senior year. Despite not having perfect grades, I finished the year with A’s and B’s, over 50 service hours, without running was voted to serve as Prom Queen by my peers, and was accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians. While I missed more than 90 days of school, I learned valuable lessons about myself, and my own needs that will help me be a better student, professional, and person. And although I watched my GPA fall from 4.2 to 3.9 I learned that perfection isn’t required. I forgave myself in order to clear my path to success. This experience also further inspired me to pursue a Chemistry/Pharmacy degree. I want to be a beacon for black patients who feel as though there is no understanding or representation for them. I’ve done the research and it was hard to accept how often people who look like me suffer due to illegitimate medical information and biases of doctors and researchers. I believe that when I enter the medical industry, I will be a precious asset because I will have the perspective of a black woman, and will also have the motivation that other non-black professionals may not have to fairly and accurately treat all patients. This is not to say that medical professionals are intentionally harming others, but every profession should have a good representation of all in our society. My journey will help remove the stigma around mental health and will show others the power of forgiveness, medicine, and balance. My journey showed me that I am resilient, courageous, and internally motivated. Knowing this about myself will give me the courage and conviction to push through obstacles as they arise.

I have always been a strong student. That changed when I contracted COVID during my junior year. The isolation almost killed me. My depression was so unrelenting that I considered suicide. There were days when I could not lift my head. I slept with my mother, I held her hand as we crossed the street. I went from strong and independent to someone who couldn’t be left alone. My family and doctors realized I needed to prioritize my health so I took some time away from school. I missed more than 90 days of my junior year of school. During my absences, on my good days, I worked to control how I felt. When the time came to return to school, I was nervous and concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch up. I was relieved to find that my teachers were incredibly understanding, and they allowed me to make up most of my work. I dedicated most of the spring to make-up work and preparing for the start of senior year. Despite not having perfect grades, I finished the year with A’s and B’s, over 50 service hours, was elected Prom Queen by my peers, and was accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians. While I missed more than 90 days of school, I learned valuable lessons about myself, and my own needs that will help me be a better student, professional, and person. And although I watched my GPA fall from 4.2 to 3.9 I learned that perfection isn’t required. This experience also further inspired me to pursue a Chemistry/Pharmacy degree. I want to be a beacon for black patients who feel there is no understanding or representation for them. I’ve done the research and it was hard to accept how often people who look like me suffer due to illegitimate medical information and biases of doctors and researchers. I believe that when I enter the medical industry, I will be an incredibly valuable asset because I will have the perspective of a black woman, and will also have the motivation that other non-black professionals may not have to fairly and accurately treat all patients. This is not to say that medical professionals are intentionally harming others, but every profession should have a good representation of all in our society. There is so much work to be done to improve the livelihoods of Americans, to improve the relationships that black people have with the medical industry, and to develop our minds. I still suffer from anxiety but I look forward to my future and my impact on the world. Even sharing my story will be impactful.

My dream goals in life are to create a society more sustainable for black women. I want girls who look like me to be more than a stereotype that men have written for us.

My name is Sydney Iman Reynolds, and during the year 2021, I contracted COVID-19. Most people would assume that the illness would be the thing that killed me, but it was actually the isolation that took the largest toll on my mental health. My depression was so deep and unrelenting that I considered suicide. There were days when I could not lift my head. I slept with my mother, I held her hand as we crossed the street. I went from strong and independent to someone who couldn’t be left alone. My family and doctors realized I needed to prioritize my health so I took some time away from school. In fact, I missed more than 90 days of my junior year of school. During my absences, on my good days I worked to be in control of how I feel. When the time came to return, I was nervous about going back to school, and concerned that I wouldn’t be able to catch-up. I was relieved to find that my teachers were incredibly understanding, and they allowed me to make-up most of my work. I dedicated most of the spring to make-up work and preparing for the start of senior year. Despite not having perfect grades, I finished the year with A’s and B’s, over 50 service hours, being voted in as Prom Queen by my peers, and being accepted into the National Academy of Future Physicians. While I missed a lot of school, I learned valuable lessons about myself, and my own needs that will help me be a better student, professional, and person. I watched my GPA fall from a 4.2 to a 3.9 but I learned that perfection isn’t required. Even after returning, I struggled with paying attention in class, feeling like I wasn’t capable of being a good student, and maintaining a healthy balance between fun and doing schoolwork. I suffer from anxiety, so the stress of everyday activities causes me more stress than a typical student would experience. I didn’t know that until my junior year and I am proud to have overcome every obstacle in my way. I am thankful for my parents and my doctors, but most of all I am proud that I let them know that I needed help. In the future I plan to work in the area of medical research to help other children end their suffering. Thank you for your consideration.

I am in my fourth year of tutoring with Educational Justice, an organization that works to equalize the playing field for underprivileged students. I spend 2 hours per week communicating with and tutoring an academically challenged student. Each year program leaders have tapped me to tutor another black girl. It is a privilege to be able to work with other young black girls, because of the opportunity to help change circumstances in my own community. My tutoring helps instill confidence and advocate for social change by empowering the minds of the people most impacted by the shortcomings in our society. I spent many hours working with another nonprofit considering how to expand the programming of Educational Justice. The pandemic put a stop to their plans but it was exciting to lead the teen work that took place and being trusted with such an important project in our community. As a member of the Norton Children’s Hospital Teen Board, meeting monthly for one year, I volunteered where useful. I served as a greeter and also assisted children during epilepsy awareness events. This service helped me understand board work and the importance of medicine in improving our lives. As the only student board member appointed to the Aspire Higher Committee at Atherton. I serve as aid for our academic leader on the board, assist with organizing announcements and technology for the meeting. Our work helps to support Black students enrolled in advanced classes. I also participate in Louisville Girls Leadership, we met once a week for 2 hours to discuss challenges in the Louisville community and to consider ways to make improvements. Public service matters to me and that is why I am proud to have been inducted as member of Rho Kappa, a social studies honor society. I received the recognition because my teacher believed I exhibited distinguished work in social studies. I also served on the mascot review committee an hour a month for an entire year and served on the counselor review committee, representing student voice. During my sophomore year, I also had the amazing honor of being elected class president. As President, I helped to inform our school leaders of how NTI impacted students in our school among other things. Recognizing the importance of my identity doesn’t stop when the bell rings at school. The greatest gift we can give to those who come after us is our minds. I hope I am leaving a good trail for others to follow as I plan to continue on giving back to my community by ensuring I advocate for those of us who cannot speak for themselves. I want to be a research scientist that works to solve the most troubling problems that Americans struggle with. Kentucky has some of the highest rates of chronic disease in the country and I want to be the one to fix that. As a high-schooler my effect on my community has been limited, but as I grow into a stronger and more well-rounded student, the things I will do for Kentucky will be immeasurable. I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky and this city has shaped me into who I am today, and I want to shape some other little girl from Kentucky into something even more amazing than myself.

I love math because I love the immediate reward of getting the question right, and the discovery after getting a question wrong and working to correct it. I love math because there is always one right answer but often a million different ways to get to the correct answer. I love math because I am a Black girl in a world that doesn't often see me or believe in me, but math does not discriminate. Numbers don't change, they always represent the same thing. Math is fair. Math does not care where you live or what your religion is. Math does not care what your background is. Math is personal. It serves as its own inspiration and motivation. It is an equalizer. I love math because there is a right and wrong and many ways to get there. In 2021 I contraccted COVID. I felt worse than I have ever felt in my life. The isolation caused me to fall into a deep depression and I suffered from anxiety. I missed 90 days of school. I didn’t know how I would make it. And then, I started doing my homework again. It was getting the math right that reminded me of who I was and how smart I was and how necessary it was for me to fight my way back. Math is the only subject that validates your calculation, even when you are alone in a room. Math helps us think critically and to analyze. It helps us to compare. Math is an individual sport where you are judged based only on your particular ability. I love math because math returns love by affirming your effort, regardless of race, creed, or, in my case last year, wellness.

Stitch knew I was sick. Before the doctor, my parents, and I even understood that I was feeling bad, my sweet dog knew something was wrong. Stitch has always been a loving companion but I will never forget the day he refused to leave my side. I contracted COVID in December of 2021. I went from being an active and happy scholar to being depressed and anxiety-ridden. Even after testing negative for the COVID antigen, there were so many mental health challenges that lingered. Through it all, Stitch never left me. He was the ultimate comforter. Fourteen days of isolation caused me to suffer severe depression and anxiety, things I had never experienced. I questioned my intelligence and lost my ability to concentrate. The girl I built and the image I fought so hard to portray were shattered. I wasn’t myself. Once I left my bedroom, I didn’t want to go back. I was afraid to be alone, I had no focus. There were days when I literally could not lift my head. The coronavirus slaughtered my confidence and tried to kill me and every dream for my future. Parts of me did die. But Stitch held on to me. He remembered who I was and he pushed me to come back to myself. My mom and I walked him together and I was reminded that before I got sick, I loved being outside and I loved walking Stitch. He was our ambassador. All the other families in our building loved petting Stitich and would stop us as we walked. When we were at home, he cuddled with me and reminded me that I enjoyed being cuddled. Stitch was my lifeline. He was and remains a hero in my eyes. My mother was thankful for the day Stitch returned to sleep in her room because she knew that meant I had fully recovered. I love Stitch because I don't know how to not love him and also because he saved my life. I was suicidal and he knew. He found me and he brought me back to myself. I love the saying that dogs are man's best friend. They also are the best friends of little Black girls who contract COVID and as a result, suffer anxiety and depression. Dogs have the insight to go into the dark and bring you back into the light. Stitch did that for me. My dog. My hero.

According to the Mayo Clinic, one in five women have migraine disorders and one in sixteen men have migraine disorders. Women can develop migraine disorders that relate to their menstrual cycles, mental health, etc. Because of the high rates of women developing migraines and the severity of the condition, it was hard for me to not take interest in them. Migraines are such debilitating conditions, but most people don’t even understand the seriousness of them due to a lack of research about them. During my junior year I created a research project that discussed what migraines are, and the lack of information available on what causes them. The topic of migraines opened my eyes to other problems within healthcare and in medical research, particularly the research and information we have on black women and their perception of pain. There is an accepted belief that black women and men don’t perceive pain in the same ways that people from other race groups experience it. While I presented my project on migraines, the information I’d learned about the preconceived notion that doctors have when treating black women was at the top of my head. How do women balance their everyday duties while being forced to have the reality of their health status denied, solely based on their sex? Historically women have constantly been forced to prove themselves; this became even more apparent when I realized that we are more susceptible to health complications because of prejudiced information about female biology. Healthcare racial and gender biases have led to a lack of resources for black women and men. It was hard to accept how often people who look like me suffer due to illegitimate medical information that has become the notion that many doctors and researchers have been taught. I believe that when I enter the medical industry, I will be an incredibly valuable asset because I will have the perspective of the black woman, and I will also have the motivation that other non-black professionals may not have to fairly and accurately treat all patients. While my initial inspiration to pursue a Chemistry/Pharmacy degree stemmed from the lack of research and treatment for migraines, my motivation to contribute to this profession doesn’t stop there. I want to be a beacon for black patients who feel as though there is no understanding or representation for them. There is so much work to be done to improve the livelihoods of Americans, to improve the relationships that black people have with the medical industry, and to develop our own minds so we can be better professionals and individuals.