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Brooke DuRussel

2x

Finalist

General information

Location
Munger, MI
Gender
Female
US Citizenship
US Citizen
Ethnicity
Caucasian
Religion
Christian

Hobbies & Interests

  • Swimming
  • Calligraphy
  • Knitting
  • Horseback Riding
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Baking
  • Exercise And Fitness
  • Dance
  • Weightlifting

Reading

  • Academic
  • Christianity
  • Cookbooks
  • Novels
  • Romance

I read books daily.

Bio

I am a college sophomore at Michigan State University double majoring in Physiology and Human Biology with a minor in Health Promotion. I am a highly dedicated and motivated student motivated to dedicate my life to my community as a doctor with an exemplary medical education and compassionate heart. Growing up with a twin sister with physical disabilities, I learned early on how to help those in need. My passion for helping those in pain grew immensely from our sisterly bond. Helping people recover and overcome their illnesses is very gratifying to me. I volunteer at a hospital to care for patients recovering from surgery where I love to share smiles and restore their sense of hope. My sister has inspired me to join the MSU Adaptive Sports Club where I can help people with disabilities have a safe and welcoming environment to participate in sports accessible for their fun and enjoyment. I try to make the world a better place because all people deserve love, dignity, hope, and respect. I am always very eager to learn and ask questions when I do not understand. Learning is a fun and positive challenge for me to grow. Discovering all of the knowledge that the great scholars and researchers have uncovered before me is an opportunity I am immensely grateful for. I work hard to continue their legacy of knowledge and never back down from an academic pursuit. I am immensely grateful for all the donors willing to help students pursue their dreams. I truly appreciate your time and consideration.

Education

Michigan State University

Bachelor's degree program

2022 – 2026

Majors:
  • Human Biology
  • Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences
Minors:
  • Nutrition Sciences
GPA4.0 GPA

Millington High School

High School

2018 – 2021

GPA4.0 GPA

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Medicine
Medical school interest:
Yes
Test scores:
  • SAT1450

Career

  • I am an optometry technician and injection room assistant. I prepared patients and assisted the doctors in injections, laser treatments, documentation, and sterilization.

    Medicine · Great Lakes Eye Institute

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • I am a volunteer caretaker for patients recovering from surgery and trauma. I clean patients' rooms and offer them any non-medical supplies they need.

    Hospital & Health Care · Sparrow Hospital

    Jan 2023 – Present

  • I was a seasonal farm hand who picked rocks and stones out of fields, hoed weeds in pickle and bean fields, cooked in the kitchen for the farmers, and performed lawn maintenance at multiple houses owned by the farm.

    Farming · W & K Hecht Farms

    Jan 2017 – Jan 2021

  • I was the head baker and founder of Blue Lake Butterhorns. I founded a small business with my sister to sell pastries called butterhorns to the community. I prepared the dough and was involved in the filling and baking processes.

    Food Production · Blue Lake Butterhorns (personal entrepreneurship)

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

  • I was hired to build a life sized replica of a cross by my church. I handcrafted it in my woodshop class at school.

    Building Materials · Blessed Trinity Catholic Church

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2022

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Ophthalmologist
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Eden Alaine Memorial Scholarship
Loss, be it knowingly inevitable or tragically unexpected, is never a welcome guest. Losing my grandma was unexpected, and a day never passes when I do not reflect on my love for her. Two days after Christmas in 2021, my mom received a call that my grandma had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. I could not believe that something so tragic could happen so suddenly. Days before, my grandma was laughing in her Christmas sweater. I heard about life-threatening heart attacks happening in other families, but I never thought that family would one day be mine. After hospital care for a month for congestive heart failure, my grandma needed to have life-saving open heart surgeries. The doctors discussed that my grandma might not make it out alive and asked her if she was ready to die. Hearing my grandma had answered with a humble nod, reality hit my heart like a brick. Until that point, I had faith that my grandma would survive. During the operation, my grandma suffered another massive heart attack and passed away with my grandfather and her children at her side. Shock set in as I always believed my loving, sweet grandma would be there to do puzzles, cook, and share special moments with me. I refused to imagine her life could end so quickly, and I could not process my feelings. My grandma was admitted to the hospital in January of 2022 when hospitals were closed to visitors unless death was certain. I contracted COVID-19 the night after my grandma passed and was alone without my family's comfort during the hardest week of my life. I felt the painful, crushing grief for my grandma while lost in loneliness. Without being able to visit my grandma in the hospital, mourn with my family, or attend her funeral, my grandmother’s passing never seemed real as I isolated for my family's health. As time passed, I understood I needed to focus on being in my grandpa’s life as her passing was too real for him. While I recovered from my illness and was able to return to my parents and sister at home, his home never had the life it once did. His magnitude of pain was greater than I could comprehend. At eighty-seven years old with no cooking, cleaning, or shopping experience, I took a larger role in his life. I never pass a precious opportunity to stop by my grandpa’s house. Making memories filled with laughter is what my grandma modeled best, and I will continue her spirit because time with family is what matters most. My premedical classes teach heart health and warning sign symptoms of cardiovascular disease. I remember instances when my grandma would stop and rest because of chest pain. Looking back, she was probably suffering a heart attack, and I should have called 911. My grandma never wanted to cause concern and convinced me she was okay. As a future physician, I advocate for symptom awareness and prevention so other families do not lose a loved one who did not want to cause worry or did not understand the gravity of symptoms. Inspired by my grandma, I am a hospital volunteer where I seek to bring joy into my patients' lives. I may be the only visitor they have that day, and I desire to give them the love that my grandma missed. My heart will never heal from losing the most magnificent, beautiful, and compassionate lady I have ever known. However, I will continue her legacy by bringing my family and patients joy and health.
Your Health Journey Scholarship
Live a healthy life. As a child, I always thought this meant drinking milk and brushing my teeth. My perspective changed when my sister was diagnosed with scoliosis. Almost immediately after her diagnosis, my twin learned of her allergies to gluten and dairy. The food on the table was now just as important to her healthy living as her daily care, physical therapy exercises, and pain management. As I dove into research for pain management and foods that met her dietary restrictions, I began examining my health. I realized that I could improve my health as well. Exercise, sensible eating, and understanding healthy and unhealthy choices inspired my resolution to live a healthy life. Science has always been my favorite subject. The simple fact that the human body can breathe has always captivated me. When I stumbled upon a Pamela Reif workout on Youtube in May of 2020, I was shocked to learn how intentional and targeted exercise exhausted my muscles so quickly. I thought I was “in shape,” but five minutes felt like an eternity. Why was I sweating like I had just run a mile? I committed myself to improving my body and well-being through exercise. I expected it would be grueling; however, it turned out to be something I looked forward to each day. As my workouts grew longer, the time invested felt shorter. One day turned into a week and a week into a month. I first started exercising for health, but I continue because it is time to solely focus on challenging my mind and muscles, clearing my head, and having fun. I have always been told to “eat a sandwich” due to my small frame. The lunchtime peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were simply being worn off running around at recess. As I became more interested in health, I learned that my lunchtime staple was not giving me the nutrients my body needs to retain muscle and healthy fats. Additionally, I was limiting my body on the amount of energy it needed to stay healthy. After being told my whole life that being thin was good, I had to question whether I was not eating enough to support my body's needs. With my new exercise routine, sacrificing my performance was not an option. I started incorporating higher energy-density foods like nut butter and dried fruits that provided healthy sources of calories. I learned not to limit myself anymore because they were hurting my body instead of making it healthy. Though hard at first, I have come to accept my body in its nourished state to become a healed and healthy version of itself. Three years ago, my health journey has been running a race ever since. My desire to advance my knowledge of how physical activity and food choices affect the body has influenced the courses I am currently taking as a college student. I have had the opportunity to have a minor in Health Promotion where I have taken classes in nutrition and exercise physiology. These will benefit and guide my pursuit of a career in medicine. While my health journey started because of my twin sister, it continues because it fills my life with a purpose to be in my best physical and mental health.
Dr. William and Jo Sherwood Family Scholarship
As a college student at Michigan State University, the opportunities offered to advance my academic education have helped me experience many new cultures, volunteer opportunities, and leadership positions. With the generous help from this scholarship, I will be able to afford my college education with time in my schedule to volunteer in my community instead of working to pay for my education. This scholarship will provide me with the financial stability to focus on being a student and volunteer without holding a job to pay for my education. With my future career in ophthalmology, I have a deep focus on improving the health of my community and sharing my time to care for those in need. Knowing that my career is centered on treating the most vulnerable in my community, I followed my passion this year to become a volunteer on the surgery floor at a hospital near campus. On my weekly rounds on Thursday nights, my character grew immensely as I solidified medicine as my true career. There is no better place than a hospital to meet people from various walks of life, ages, and backgrounds. Being immersed in an environment where I was the person offering my services to others instead of someone else helping me was invigorating and refreshing. As a student, my professors, dining hall chefs, and parents were my support systems who were always there to help me; however, being the uniformed volunteer at the hospital offered me a position to give back to the community that had built up the town and campus that served me every day. I had the privilege to meet and treat many patients who were former professors and faculty members at Michigan State University, and hearing their stories and memories of their time on campus taught me what a united family we Spartans are. My time volunteering at my local campus hospital taught me just as much as my schooling in the classroom. The healing in my soul as I wrapped patients in warm blankets and offered them smiles of hope solidified my passion for a career in medicine and grew my sympathy for the sick. The altruistic gift of this scholarship will help me continue to volunteer my time for the benefit of the community that I am so fortunate to be a part of. I am so blessed to have shared many special moments and laughs with my patients, and the kindness of this scholarship will allow me many more in the future. With a long road of schooling ahead and the need to have hours at patient bedsides, this scholarship benefits my future endeavors to pursue a field in medicine. Being a doctor is about establishing true connections with patients instead of seeing as many as possible to pay off student loans at the sacrifice of a profound relationship with the patient. With this scholarship, my career in medicine, academics, and service to my present and future communities will benefit and flourish.
Maverick Grill and Saloon Scholarship
The perseverance, patience, and optimism of a tiny seed transform it into a beautiful plant that can flower and bear fruit. In my academic and personal life, I push through the dirt and never quit until the job is carefully and thoroughly completed. I am unique in always seeing the bright side and looking forward to the sunshine above when obstacles arise. It takes a lot to break my optimism, and my daily curiosity and problem-solving help my family and community flourish. I care deeply about growing myself by pursuing a quality education through long hours of studying and engaged dedication. I do not just desire knowledge in my coursework; I long for a deep understanding and profound wisdom in the subjects I am taught. I am not afraid to admit when I do not understand a concept; however, I am afraid to not attempt learning at my highest potential. For example, I attend my professors' weekly office hours to ask for help when my understanding is not complete. I give myself extra homework and make problems for myself so I can achieve challenging concepts to avoid mistakes on exams and homework. Learning is my opportunity to break forth from the surface and dedicate myself to higher understanding. I strive not only to be knowledgeable in mind but also to share my compassionate heart with the most vulnerable in my community. Growing up, my twin sister suffered from scoliosis and daily back pain. Watching her endure hardship and close herself off from activities she was no longer physically capable of broke my heart. However, it stirred within me the importance of patiently supporting those struggling with afflictions. Being a hospital volunteer allows me the opportunity to give back the lessons I learned while taking care of my sister to patients recovering from surgery. Providing patience, kindness, sympathy, and positivity to those who are without hope restores their feelings that they matter as a person in their community. I love to share laughs, stories, and smiles with those who are struggling because it tells them they are not forgotten. Those who are physically disabled and face health adversity each day cannot go through life alone, and I have seen firsthand how transformative offering my hope and a smile is to patients before and after my visits. It fills my heart to be able to care for the sick, share my love with those suffering in my community, and restore patients’ health in the largest and smallest of ways. As a person with a lifelong love of learning, I adore planting this seed of passion in the youth in my community. Helping children see the wonderful opportunity that schooling provides for their life encourages a strong future for my neighborhood. I love to change students’ perspectives that learning is fun and instill a sense of accomplishment when they give learning their all. As a past tutor and future volunteer at a school next fall, I will be guiding students on their academic journeys where I hope to inspire in them the drive and motivation to ask questions and discover their highest potential to learn. When students find learning challenging, I do not see this as a roadblock in teaching them. Instead, I patiently open up possibilities to broaden their understanding, reduce their frustrations, and walk them through concepts step by step to show them that learning is achievable. The reward of seeing children’s eyes light up when a concept clicks or when they find great pleasure in their mastery fills my heart that I may have changed the trajectory of their lives.
G.A. Johnston Memorial Scholarship
Dabbing the water onto my palate, envisioning the smiles of people I am painting for, and blending brushstrokes together make time stop. Yet, hours pass by in an instant. It never ceases to amaze me how a blank piece of paper, water, paint, and a brush can bring to life the love in my heart when I sit down to paint. I love to dive into the flow and tranquility that comes with how my imagination and hand carry out the movements of painting a picture. Watercolor painting has taught me important life lessons to overcome my perfectionism and fear of making mistakes. With ophthalmology as my intended career path, I hold myself to rigorous and oftentimes unhealthy standards. Ophthalmology requires precise manual dexterity to protect a patient’s vision. Watercolor painting is an area of my life where I learned not to hold myself to such extreme expectations. I feel the creativity stream onto the paper while subconsciously working on my hand-eye coordination. Watercolor painting dramatically increased my self-forgiveness for the tiny missteps that do not sacrifice the overall beauty of the painting. My forgiveness and patience with others have also increased as I learned that we all make mistakes, and it is how we create beauty from our mistakes that makes life exquisite. I love that I no longer stress when the painting does not turn out as I intended. In the end, I have a work of art made with love to make someone feel special. Before watercolor painting, I never had an avenue to express my love through homemade art. I love any occasion when I can create a highly personalized painting for a loved one. My parents and twin sister now receive Christmas and birthday presents that I plan out months in advance. My pen pal in Tennessee frequently receives envelopes embellished with watercolor paintings to brighten her day. It brings me great joy while making the paintings while pouring my heart onto a sheet of paper. I especially love giving away my paintings because the picture tells them better than words how much I appreciate them. The first painting is of slot canyons and was a present for my dad. We took a family vacation to Arizona five years ago and went on a slot canyon tour. My dad talks a lot about how he hopes to go back someday to see their magnificence again. I was inspired by one of the photos we took of the canyon with its beautiful blend of colors looking at a thin patch of blue sky. I wanted him to remember the fun memories and travel across the country through a painting. The second painting is an envelope I made for my pen pal in Tennessee during the springtime. She has an immense passion for watching her mountainside meadow off her patio where bees love to visit her flowers. I wanted her to smile opening her mailbox filled with the springtime beauty just like her patio view was.
@normandiealise #GenWealth Scholarship
Leaving a legacy of generational wealth is a selfless, admirable, and altruistic endeavor that allows others to reap the benefits someone has worked tirelessly for and built over the course of a carefully planned and savvy lifetime. Building generational wealth is like a growing season with each new generation preparing for the approaching harvest. The bounty gathered in one generation is saved for the security and aid utilized by the next generation for another great crop. Many generations ago, my great-great-grandfather moved from Switzerland to start a farm in Michigan. As the years passed, he acquired more land, cleared trees, and farmed fields with horses. With twelve children to feed, his hard work went directly towards providing for the family and making land investments for their futures. As each child married, my great-great-grandfather gifted sixty acres of land to each child as a wedding present. He did not profit from selling the land he worked painstakingly for and dreamed of his entire life. Instead, he altruistically gave his children an asset and potential farming career. Generations later, the effects are still profound in my family today. While my parents are not farmers, I see my great-great-grandfather’s beliefs instilled in them as they work each day, sacrifice new clothes, and skip dinners out to support my sister and my education. Their careers should provide them with a better life they have worked hard for instead funding their children and restricting their purchases. My father has also taught me how to invest and keep up with the stock market to save for retirement and my children’s inheritance. Their selflessness, restraint, and daily investment choices role model what true career goals should be. I am inspired through gratitude to make my career well worth their investment. As Vitor Belfort once said, “Legacy is not what I did for myself. It’s what I’m doing for the next generation.” I will work hard and place the needs of future generations first so they can experience a bountiful growing season as well. In carrying on the family legacy of generational wealth passed down from my great-great-grandfather, I will whole-heartedly invest in my children’s futures, save early, and place my unessential wants and desires below my future family's financial security. Foregoing unnecessary new clothes and a fancy coffee on the way to class are savvy choices that can reshape my daily life and my children’s futures. I understand that having the nicest car, largest house, and massive amounts of debt is not worth leaving little to pass on to my children, grandchildren, and beyond. The pennies and thousands of dollars saved by choices big and small will help me grow the crop of future financial security. Generational wealth is not my foremost thought as I drive to work and attend university lectures. However, generational wealth's embodiment of goodwill lies in the front of my heart when I think about my children, build their future, and give up desires like my family has done for me. Generously shaping my life to provide generational wealth is infinitely impactful in promoting an enriched life with comfort, security, and dreams for my future family. Watching the stock market every day does not seem like a big deal, but it is. Skipping a fancy restaurant on Friday night does not appear to save thousands of dollars, but it does. Amassing generational wealth involves my daily selfless choices that add up to future savings. I am honored to plant the next seed in my family’s great legacy of generational wealth for centuries to come.
Analtha Parr Pell Memorial Scholarship
The perseverance, dedication, and resilience of a tiny seed transform it into a beautiful plant that can flower and bear fruit. In my academic and personal life, I push through the dirt and never quit until the job is carefully and thoroughly completed. Whenever obstacles arise, I look forward to the sunshine above and find a way to problem-solve so my life can help my family and community flourish. I care deeply about growing myself by pursuing a quality education and giving back to my community. When the COVID-19 pandemic cut my sophomore year of high school short, I knew not to stunt my educational growth. I persevered to complete my Algebra II, chemistry, and biology textbooks myself over the spring and summer semesters. I persevere today in my undergraduate curriculum to achieve challenging higher learning by dedicating time to my studies, reaching out to my professors for help, and learning from my mistakes. I strive not only to be knowledgeable in mind but also compassionate in my heart to assist my community. Outside academic commitments, I am committed to my neighborhood and extracurricular programs. I find great joy in being a volunteer at my local hospital when I chat with patients, restore their hope, and tend to their needs. The stories and smiles that we share fill the hospital with happiness, life, and light. It fills my heart to be able to care for the sick, share my love with those who are suffering, and be grateful for my health. My career goal is to become an intelligent and empathetic ophthalmologist. Vision is one of the greatest gifts given to humans. I am passionate about helping others fully experience life through sight because my mother is legally blind and may lose her vision someday. I strive to open up all people’s lives to the possibility of seeing clearly and not taking the little things for granted. I will never forget the first time I could clearly see the tree leaves when I put my glasses on for the first time. Years later, I dissected a sheep's eye in my high school anatomy and physiology class and was thrilled throughout the entire experience. Eye surgery has captivated me ever since. The gratification and humility I would have each day watching people walk out of my office with their vision restored is such a gift. If I could save my mom’s sight in the future, I would be so grateful and honored to perform surgery on her after all that she has done raising and teaching me. Being unable to see properly truly affects people’s quality of life. When I was young, I experienced this as I had amblyopia with one eye weaker than the other. I depended on my stronger eye to see, and any amount of bright light made my vision poor. Luckily, I had a wonderful ophthalmologist who treated me with patch therapy. In less than a year, my weak eye had grown just as effective as my other. Inspired by his help, I too want to treat patients throughout their lives. Everyone from young children with pediatric eye conditions to older patients with cataracts and glaucoma deserves to be able to see, and I look forward to the day when I can help people experience the beautiful and miraculous world around them. Incorporating my passion for academics, vision, and caring for those who are suffering would help me bear fruit in my community and fulfill my calling.
Ginny Biada Memorial Scholarship
Self-sacrifice, tenderness, and active role modeling are treasured and unparalleled in their ability to form a closely knit family. I am blessed to have a mother who embodies these ineffable qualities. When I was born, my mom chose to put on hold her professional teaching career and found a new purpose as a full-time mom. She chose to place her children first and become my greatest teacher. In an act of self-sacrifice and altruism, she became a loving, patient caretaker for my twin sister and me, fully devoting her life to providing for our needs and raising us as polite young people. She taught the invaluable lessons of placing family first, loving with my whole heart, being a child of Jesus, and the value of caring for others. She has raised me to be courteous, strong, and compassionate. Each day, she raised me in a nurturing household with traditions at mealtime and nightly prayers, asking God for help in carrying my crosses, and establishing how to be a friend to others. The importance of apologizing, offering a helping hand to those in need, and caring for others before myself were fostered by my mom. She encouraged playing with my sister, learning from my mistakes, and understanding how my actions were impactful. Her benevolent care and patience cemented my love and respect for her and how my life should be guided by the teachings of Jesus. My favorite memory is cuddling up on the couch with my mom reading Little House on the Prairie. Although I could not yet read, my desire to understand as her soothing voice transported me to another time and place promoted my imagination and inquisitive learning. As a secondary mathematics and English teacher, she understood the importance and wonders of learning. As I approached kindergarten, my mother decided to send me to a Christian grade school. The faith-based academic environment strengthened my commitment to my faith and motivation to grow as a student. Before I left home for school, she always gave me a farewell kiss and the promise of seeing me after school which instilled in me a sense of calm that my day would lead me back to my mom’s tender embrace. My mom has inspired in me a lifelong pursuit of learning and encourages me to reach my highest potential. As I entered high school, I was lucky enough to officially have my mom as my teacher. Many years had passed since she started reading to me on the couch, but now I was stepping into her classroom for the first time as a student in her English, Geometry, and Algebra II classes. Without a doubt, this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Not many children can watch their parents work every day, but watching her commitment to improving her students’ lives was inspirational as she expanded my horizons and inquisitiveness for the wonders of mathematics and the spectacular world of Shakespeare. Both in and out of the classroom, she has been my number one supporter and teacher. She is my role model, and learning from her dedication to her students taught me how I can impact others as well. My mother’s altruism and care for my family inspires me to be the best daughter and sister I can be, pursuing my dreams, and growing as a student and Child of God at the same time. I strive to be a young lady who wholeheartedly loves my family and is devoted to being a religious "light" in the world. My mom’s love and faith in me are unquestionable and unshakable.
Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship
Loss, be it knowingly inevitable or tragically unexpected, is never a welcome guest. Losing my grandma in January of 2022 was neither a pleasant visitor nor an easy one to keep from knocking again. Much like Cat, the loss seemed to take over my home and kick me out into the winter night, alone and without the warmth of my grandmother’s love. Two days after Christmas in 2021, my mother received a call that my grandma had suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. I could not and would not believe that something so tragic could happen in the blink of an eye. Just days before, my grandma had been at Christmas dinner eating, laughing, and playing cards. I had always heard about life-threatening heart attacks happening in other families, but I never thought that family would one day be mine. After staying in the hospital for almost a month for heart failure, it was determined that my grandmother would need to have two open heart surgeries now or never. The doctors discussed with my grandparents that my grandma might not make it out alive and asked if my grandma was ready to die. When I was told that my grandma had answered with a confident nod, reality hit my heart like a brick. Until that point, I had faith that my grandmother would survive. Her first surgery went exceedingly well, so the second was scheduled. During the operation, my grandmother suffered a massive heart attack and passed away with my grandfather and her children at her side. Never did I think that my grandmother would pass away. I thought that my loving, sweet grandma would always be there to do puzzles, cook, and chat with me. I refused to imagine that her life could come to an end so quickly. When it did, I could not process what I was feeling. My grandma had gone into the hospital in January of 2022, so hospitals were shut down to visitors unless death was certain. To make matters worse, I contracted COVID-19 the night after my grandma passed and was alone without the comfort of my family during the hardest week of my life. All I wanted was a hug, but no one could hug me at all. I felt the painful, crushing grief for my grandma while lost in loneliness. Without being able to visit my grandma in the hospital, mourn with my family, or attend her funeral, my grandmother’s passing never seemed real. It was more like hearing a different family’s story. As time went on, I came to understand I needed to focus on being in my grandpa’s life as it was too shockingly real for him. While I recovered from my illness and was able to return to my parents and sister at home, his home would never have the life it once had. I realized his magnitude of pain was greater than I could comprehend. At eighty-six years old with no cooking, cleaning, or shopping experience, I fought to be there for him. My family has him over at least twice a week, and I used to cook for him before I moved to college. I fight to never pass an opportunity to stop by my grandpa’s house since time is so precious and fleeting. Making memories filled with laughter is what my grandma did best, and I will continue her spirit because time with family is what matters most. My classes as a pre-medicine student have units that teach heart health and warning sign symptoms. I remember times, one notably a month before her massive heart attack, when my grandma would stop and rest because of chest pain from acid reflux. Looking back, she was probably suffering a heart attack, and I should have fought to call 911. My grandma was humble and never wanted to cause concern. As a future physician, I will fight for symptom openness and advocacy so other families do not have to lose a loved one that did not want to cause worry. I will also fight to promote a nutritious diet and plenty of physical activity and exercise in my patients' lifestyles to improve and maintain their heart health. I want to fight for them because I did not fight hard enough to save my grandma. Losing my grandma taught me that welcoming the ones we love most into our homes and spending time with them are the most important moments to be treasured. I do not think my heart will ever heal from losing the most magnificent, beautiful, and compassionate lady I have ever known. However, I will continue her legacy by spending time with those I love most and fighting to achieve heart health to keep the love flowing from my patients’ hearts.
Bold Wisdom Scholarship
The one sentence that I would share with the world is one that I try to live by on a daily basis: see the world not as it is, but as it could be. Seeing our family, friends, and situations as what they could be opens up the door to possibilities to change the future to be a better and more loving world than what appears on the surface. Dreams can grow into reality when people put their powerful minds to being the visionaries that shape the clay of the world into a masterpiece that promotes happiness and progress in the world. Seeing the good in the surroundings makes people crave more of it, leading to a positive outlook on life and the future. Ruby Bridges imagined school not as it was, but as it could have been. Even as a young girl, she had the gift to see beyond the barriers and conformities that society had in place. If humankind could see the possibilities in each and every person, insurmountable progress could be made each and every day to make the world as it could be.
Bold Love Yourself Scholarship
Going with the flow is easy. I suppose I choose to swim upstream. I love my determination to be who I am instead of who people want me to be. Throughout my high school experience, I have remained true to myself and not folded to peer pressure to act in ways and speak in ways that are not a representation of who I am. I would prefer to be an upright person instead of lower my standards for my language and thoughts in order to elevate my social status. While it may be hard at times to be the better person, lying to others and myself has never been an option for me. Trying to love a deception of myself would be lying to my heart. By choice, I love the person that I have grown up to be. If others cannot love me for who I am, it is not my job to fake myself into a person that they would rather have me be. It was hard at first to not cave in order to fit into a social circle centered on motives and actions that were not upright with my foundations, but I realized that the long term morals and values that I hold myself to throughout my life would give me more confidence and eventually surround me with people who think and act in ways similar to me. My strong row against the flow and staying on the course to be my true, chosen self through inner strength and perseverance is what I love most about me.
Bold Great Books Scholarship
Ever since I learned how to read, my head has been glued to a book. I have completed many chapters over the years, but the book with the best chapters is in the most read book of all time. Unfortunately this book is probably the most unfinished book of all time as well. This book being the Holy Bible. My New Year's resolution was to read the entire Bible in three hundred and sixty-five days. It seemed daunting at first, but I was not giving up hope that early. I knew that if I read four pages a day, I would be able to complete it by the end of the year. Not only did I underestimate the tiny print that takes a while to read, but I also underestimated the strength that each minute word held. As I read deeper and deeper into the stories, the more I found I could relate the events and conflicts to my daily life. Not only that, but I could take what each lesson had to offer and apply the teachings to my life as a means of self improvement. When I skip a day of reading, I find that I am lost without the verses there to guide me each and every day. Making a habit out of reading the Bible is something that I have found has had profound impacts on my attitude towards others and how I see myself. Every little gift from God is a blessing, and every little struggle from God is a way to grow closer to him. I did not realize back in January how much one book could influence how I see the world, but I am so grateful that the Bible has given me the pathway for a profound life in God.
3Wishes Women’s Empowerment Scholarship
Rosie the Riveter is a symbol of inner strength and inspiration for women of yesterday and today, and with her iconic encouragement, women with their fiery spirits and quiet determination have become incorporated into almost every area of society compared to the women of one hundred years ago. Society has already done so much to improve women's status in American society, but we have failed in regards to the women of the world, specifically the Middle East. While it is wonderful to focus on how far women in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere have come, it is important to realize how grave of circumstances Middle Eastern women are treated. No progress can be made here at home without facing the truth about the way these woman are treated. By choosing not to overlook these underprivileged women, both men and women can make an impact on their lives. Giving attention, care, and help to these women may seem hard at first; however, a collective effort may pressure these countries to see the true wondrous qualities of women. Women's abilities to transform societies into complex working systems focused on the greater good of humankind instead of the greater good of mankind is important in modern society's view of inclusiveness and embracing each individual purpose. In order to achieve these goals of equal opportunity for women across the globe, societies should focus on helping these women escape their unjust situations and give them the opportunities to flourish. How to help them escape these prejudices against them is difficult, and countries must come together in order to ensure that no one is harmed on either side. Outstanding women like Malala Yousafzai have shaped perspectives on how women are truly treated in some places of the world. The more women are given a voice to fight the bias attitude towards them, the more likely they are to cause influential change so that the women and young girls of tomorrow will not have to face such difficult walls blocking them from being true members of society. Exposing the truth is a crucial step towards breaking down these walls against women. It is easy to overlook reality when it is kept in a quiet bubble somewhere else in the world. News organizations should cover the stories and expose the discrimination facing Middle Eastern women. In this way, the public will be given the opportunity to have the knowledge and motivation to make the right choice to create positive change for these women. Though women of today have icons like Rosie and Malala, they are already intelligent, strong, and courageous regardless of race or ethnicity. Showcasing this on a global scale to all men and women will help the women held in the dark come into the light of a new day, one filled with possibilities and opportunities. Each women is outstanding in their own way, but handing them the freedom to harness their gifts for the world to see must be done in order to empower the women of today and tomorrow.
Brooke DuRussel Student Profile | Bold.org