There are many reasons why people pursue STEM majors. I see a degree in biology as a great path to take toward medical school and beyond. Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. I grew up in the Bronx, New York, which is predominantly occupied by minorities such as myself. When I graduate from medical school, I want to return to my hometown and work as an OB/GYN to serve other women who are critically and statistically underserved in healthcare. When I was about 4 years old, my pediatrician, Dr. Mindy, a black woman like me, was kind, loving, and nurturing. Most children dread going to the doctor, but she made me look forward to every visit. I’d ask her questions about what she was doing and how it would help me, and she was never annoyed or frustrated by these endless inquiries. My curiosity in medicine and how it worked grew by the day, and everyone around me nurtured my curiosity into a genuine interest in a medical career. I decided to devote myself to helping other children stay happy and healthy. While my desired concentration has changed since then, my goal of a medical career has never wavered. The health rates of black women are typically worse when compared to any other race’s female population. For these reasons, I have decided to not only pursue a career as an OB/GYN but to gain experience in minority health research. Learning how people of color and people in the lower class deal with epidemics and health issues will equip me with the knowledge that I need to close the gap between them and those who do not have these issues.

Ever since I was little, I’ve wanted to be a doctor. I’m one step closer to achieving my goals now that I'm in college. I grew up in the Bronx, New York, which is mainly occupied by minorities such as myself. When I graduate from medical school, I want to return to my hometown and work as an OB/GYN to serve other POC women who are critically and statistically underserved in healthcare. When I was about 4 years old, my pediatrician, Dr. Mindy, a black woman like me, was kind, loving, and nurturing. Most children dread going to the doctor, but she made me look forward to every visit. During these visits, I’d ask her questions about what she was doing and how it would help me, and she was never annoyed or frustrated by these endless inquiries. My curiosity in medicine and how it worked grew by the day, and everyone around me nurtured my curiosity into a genuine interest in a medical career. Health is something that’s largely disregarded in the black community, as we’ve been conditioned to be “strong” and “resilient”. Black women in particular need special attention. Our health rates are typically worse when compared to any other race’s female population. For example, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic black women in 2020 was 55.3% according to usafacts.org, and the gap between them and other women in the data was horrifying. Seeing facts like this presented regularly has increased my motivation to help close that gap. As an OB/GYN who specializes in minority feminine/maternal health, I can do my part in eliminating racial discrepancies one patient at a time. Through my drive to educate, help, and serve my community, I reflect the ARCHES values of bridge, build, and be bold. To be a scholar, one must be willing to help others no matter what circumstances have been dealt to them or how disadvantaged they may be compared to others. Daily, the world is confronted with horror stories from black women on the internet about their traumatic deliveries, check-ups, and experiences during pregnancy, and this has led to people, myself especially, asking a vital question: why are black women treated so poorly when we seek medical attention? As a doctor, I’ll be able to serve the same community that raised me and improve it in vital ways. This scholarship would aid me in reaching my goals and dealing with the many problems within my community, the surrounding area, and the medical field as a whole.