HOW I CAN USE MY DEGREE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF MINORITIES Despite notable advances in technology, there is still an alarmingly disproportionate burden of illness among racial and ethnic minorities. Currently, I'm a Computer Science major, and my career goal is to become a Software Engineer. I'm passionate about computer programming, and I'm also committed to historically disadvantaged communities, and I hope to use my education to improve minority health. By educating communities and using innovative software, I believe technology has the potential to create positive change and increase access to quality healthcare for underserved and marginalized communities. To improve the health of minorities, I plan to use technology to educate and support them. I believe that technology can play a significant role in addressing mental health disparities in minority communities. With the creation of accessible and interactive digital platforms, I hope to provide people with educational resources and tools that will assist them in better understanding and managing their mental health. Beyond this, I hope to make mental health professionals and resources more accessible to people, reducing barriers to care. Understanding Health Disparities: The Role of Race and Socioeconomic Status in Children’s Health (written by Edith Chen, Ph.D., Andrew D. Martin, Ph.D., and Karen A. Matthews, Ph.D.) examined the impact of race and socioeconomic status (SES) on childhood health disparities by analyzing data from 33911 US children. Low parental education was associated with poor health outcomes in White and Black children, while the relationship was weaker or nonexistent in Hispanic and Asian children. In the future, I will be able to create innovative software, tools, and technology, such as curriculum materials, interactive teaching aids, classroom models, and classroom instruction for students in grades K-12 and undergraduates, as well as the general public, using my skill sets as a Software Engineer. By providing Minority communities with health IT tools, such as patient portals, chronic disease patients can gain a greater understanding of their conditions, become more engaged in their treatment, and become more empowered. Mobile health and telemedicine technologies and apps can be used to communicate, diagnose, monitor, evaluate, manage medical care, and track, and treat patients in rural and underserved communities. I aim to increase awareness and access to resources that can lead to better health outcomes for minorities using technology. The goal of this project goes beyond ensuring equity in health care to ensure that everyone has access to the resources and information they need for a healthy life. Using my education and expertise, I hope to develop technologies and solutions that assist minority communities with their health challenges. I aim to use my education to make a meaningful impact and improve health outcomes for all, whether it is through the development of innovative health technology tools or by serving as a role model and mentor to other BIPOC students. This scholarship would not only alleviate some of the financial stress, but it would also serve as an inspiration for me to keep pushing forward.