Oftentimes, adversity is something that has hindered us from being the best versions of ourselves. However, in my eyes, I see it as a tool guide that is necessary for survival. This guide allows you to persevere, and become resilient when in distress that allows you to overcome those situations. My life has had many ups and downs. From moving from home to home, state to state, and school to school. I have never been able to live comfortably, even in my skin. I have been treated unfairly based on my skin color, my looks have been discussed amongst other people, my abilities have been questioned because of my gender, and I have been judged before I came out of the womb. As a child, I never understood how these things could affect my growth, my social, emotional, and psychological health. As I got older I realized how abundant and powerful my mother has been to sustain the economic/systemic hardships she went through while taking care of three children alone. The nights we would have eating frozen meals or seeing my mother gone at work most of the day, and yet still not be able to make ends meet. It was what I thought was normal but what occurred is that I became accustomed to this lifestyle. The low-income black child. Overcoming this mentality of being a low-income black child allowed me to reinvent myself. Understanding that I did not have as many opportunities as others because of the social class of my family, only made me want to work harder to overcome such a fallacy. Now as I continue to grow and develop into the black woman that I was made to be, I have taken my knowledge into a university filled with mostly white students in which I will have to work 10x as hard to prove I am worthy to be here. Now as a black student going into medicine, in which medical school's primary applicant is a legacy, I will once again have to prove that I belong there too. But this is where I persevere. Being an academically well student, being president of BSU, actively being involved on campus, and making a difference for other black and brown students like me. When I graduate from college in 2024, I believe in giving back to communities that have truly helped and led me to success. I plan to give back in a way I can’t even imagine. I have been in situations of not being able to have money to pay for food, books, tuition, and more. I want to be able to show others and future generations that they are not alone, and that there are people that want to help and see them succeed beyond degrees. Being able to be an asset to a community is how we come closer to becoming a united country. Not by separation of class, but by helping everyone, and implementing equality for all, not just some. I hope to provide opportunities that I once did not have because as they say black is black excellence.

My name is Victoria Jefferson. I am in my 3rd year at Oregon State University studying Biohealth Science with an option in Pre-medicine. This year I will be taking the MCAT for the enrollment of fall 2024. Since I was about 14 years old, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor. My mother, a nurse for 18 years is one of my inspirations. Her dedication to her patients every night, and the connection she formed sparked an interest in my young mind. The school I attended health and science introduced me to a whole aspect of healthcare I had not seen. It opened my eyes to the many possibilities that I had to pursue a life in medicine. Since high school, I have had a passion for medicine, specifically as a doctor. I did not know what type of doctor I wanted to be, I just knew I wanted to help people in the best way that I could. Learning about medicine opened my eyes to the many disparities low-income families face. For example, rising healthcare costs in America, mortality rates are highest in minority populations, the lack of insurance, the lack of access to care, and more. Many of these inequalities are socially driven to a point where it affects those that are at the bottom of the hill. I plan to become a doctor because the healthcare system needs more black doctors who can provide care to people from different backgrounds. I want to incorporate inclusion in everything I do. I have always had a passion for helping people in undeveloped places. I strive every day to become a better me so that I can pass this trilogy to the next generation in hopes of changing the healthcare system. I want to become a doctor because I want to help people in all circumstances who have no access to medical care or can afford to pay for medical care. I also have come to love interacting with people and empathizing with those that have had hardships. Hence, I come from a low-income family, and I want to help those who need help. Being able to be an asset to a community is how we come closer to becoming a united country. Not by separation of class, but by helping everyone, and implementing equality for all, not just some. I hope to be the change. A change that will allow the voiceless to be heard, a change that isn't going to sit back and let things happen, but one that will do what it takes to achieve equality.

My name is Victoria Jefferson. I am in my 3rd year at Oregon State University studying Biohealth Science with an option in Pre-medicine. This year I will be taking the MCAT for the enrollment of fall 2024. Since I was about 14 years old, I knew that I wanted to become a doctor. My mother, a nurse for 18 years was one of my inspirations. Her dedication to her patients every night, and the connection she formed sparked an interest in my young mind. The school I attended 'Health and Science' introduced me to a whole aspect of healthcare I had not seen. It opened my eyes to the many possibilities that I had to pursue a life in medicine. Since high school, I have had a passion for medicine, specifically as a doctor. I did not know what type of doctor I wanted to be, I just knew I wanted to help people in the best way that I could. Learning about medicine opened my eyes to the many disparities low-income families face. For example, rising healthcare costs in America, mortality rates are highest in minority populations, the lack of insurance, the lack of access to care, and more. Many of these inequalities are socially driven to a point where it affects those that are at the bottom of the hill. Throughout my life, I have volunteered at homeless shelters, food banks, and even attended mission trips to other states with my church, helping people in need of food, housing, and more. I also have had the privilege of being a part of a nonprofit organization(Rooted2serve) founded by my mother that focuses on ending poverty in America, and all over the world. Many of these have made an impact on someone's life. As I have been in college, I have been a part of many events helping out the community. In several clubs such as the Black Student Union, and Society for Scholarly Sisters that I am a part of, the sole purpose is to provide an enrichment of opportunities to the public. Some of these things are food drives, providing clothing drives, and even establishing a safe space for those on campus, especially for black students. Being part of a low-income family opened my eyes to the many opportunities that I would not have because of my race, my status, and the disadvantages waiting for me due to stereotypes. This journey to becoming a doctor is hard, but I realized that my life was harder, and I was able to achieve things that some would say I should not have been able to do. Loans are the many things that students dread the most, though it is the one thing that we must rely on oftentimes when there are no other options. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to pay my student loans back so that I am not further in debt, it will also help me finish college, and allow me to give back to my community.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Black Americans make up 5.8% of the physicians in America(AAMC, 2018). Why do Black Americans represent only 13% of the population and roughly 5.8% of the physicians' workforce? I find this very intriguing. Black people have a higher risk for chronic diseases, and higher maternal mortality rates, along with infant mortality. Most of these events are because of systemic racism, poverty, stress, food insecurity, and so much more. How can we fix this? That is the real question scientists should contribute to research too. Instead, these problems go unnoticed, while black Americans are left untreated, misdiagnosed, or succumbed to thousands in medical bills. Notably, black people have had maltreatment for years. For example, the Tuskegee Study is a study where they experimented and injected black men with syphilis and left them untreated to die. Following Henrietta Lacks, a black woman whose cells got abstracted from her body without her consent was used and experimented in the lab. Her cells became a medical intervention that paved the way for biomedical research. Nonetheless, these countless mishaps have altered what we have come to think of as medicine entirely. My goal in becoming a black doctor is to represent the community, to suppress the systemic nature that prevails within the hospitals. I want to become a doctor because I want to help people in all circumstances who have no access to medical care or can afford to pay for medical care. I also have come to love interacting with people and empathizing with those that have had hardships. Hence, I come from a low-income family I want to help those who need help. It is crucial as a doctor to understand your patients, diagnose them, and treat them. As a white doctor treating black patients, it is nearly illogical to say that they know what it is like being in that person's shoes because the reality is they have no idea. In addition, black patients face the distress of doctor mistreatment because of the doctors' unwillingness to sympathize and empathize with the patient or listen. Black patients are well taken care of by black doctors because, in a cultural aspect, we can communicate, understand, learn, and apply those skills when conversing with black patients or other people of color to best take care of them. For this reason, this country must achieve racial diversity in all career fields because it can create social awareness, racial awareness, empathy for people of different backgrounds, and resistance against discrimination in the workforce. Racial diversity in the healthcare field is significantly critical because lives are at stake if doctors are not held accountable for the quality of care used towards non-white patients. We need more doctors from different elements who can improve the quality of care for patients. In other words, patients who see doctors of similar influences are more likely to have better health outcomes than being with a white doctor. We can achieve this is by pushing Stem research and funding into public schools for children to expand their thinking. Getting rid of segregated schools, so children can have equal access to quality education and lowering the cost of obtaining a higher education. In essence, we must establish leaders that can represent and fight for undermined communities to achieve equity.

One day in my Spanish class, my professor Villalobos lectured us on the meaning of culture. He verbalized his days living in Spain and traveling to different parts of South America with his family. I will never forget when he said, "if you ever want to expand your knowledge, travel to other countries and learn about their culture. You will thank me." At first, I had no thoughts of traveling but, in my first year of college, I decided I would plan to study abroad when I am a junior. In this unit, we had just begun our discussion about different cultures in Latin America. For example, Mexican culture is prominently based on family, where families are typically larger than an average American family, and extended families usually live with them. Similarly, In South America, the country is remarkably diverse that it stems from different ethnic backgrounds to form cultural traditions, many dating back to pre- Colombian times and indigenous tribes. Part of this culture is telenovelas or also known as soap operas. The Latin Culture in itself is vastly representative of both formal and informal expressions of people. The language and the history of Latin people pulled me into this utopia of wanting to experience this feeling in person. Following high school, I developed a courageous path to continue my studies in Spanish, pursuing a Spanish minor alongside my Biohealth Science major. In my journey to becoming a doctor, I thought of my culture, and how it was ripped away from me because of racism. This longing to be a part of a culture group and have a culture like many other countries is my reason for broadening my view and looking outside the walls of America. As I have continued learning the language, my dream is to study abroad and communicate with native Spanish speakers. Cultural immersion is surrounding yourself in an unfamiliar culture and dwelling in it in hopes to experience and understand it. It is my ever-dying wish and goal to travel and learn in the streets of Brazil or the Dominican Republic. I believe this experience will challenge how I see things. It will also bring me closer to socializing better with those who do not speak English. For me, cultural immersion allows you to educate those who have no idea what other cultures are outside America. It also can aid in reducing stereotypes made towards people of color and gaining more trust within cultures and around the world to want to share their culture with everyone. We have all heard and seen people disrespect culture in ways that mean no harm or possibly did mean harm. Social awareness and cultural awareness play a huge role in solving many world issues and helping to mend societal stereotypes and biases.

I remember as a kid watching "Gifted Hands", and being astounded by Ben Carson's work. A Pediatric Neurosurgeon saving babies. The most profound surgery of all time was when Doctor Ben Carson performed a 22-hour separation surgery of two conjoined craniopagus twins at the head.

Half of the choir started on 6th street by CityTeam, a place in San Francisco made to serve the homeless. We came across an elder man lying on the sidewalk. The smell that came from his bag knocked me off, so I froze. I felt guilty because not everyone has access to clean clothes. Then I said to the old man, "Would you like a sandwich?" The man looked up and took it away very gently, with no questions asked of what we brought him, and laid back down. He replied, “Thank you." I went closer to his blanket and said, “If you come to the City Team around noon, we will be serving lunch, along with a concert at 2 pm.” This concert was opened to the public, more so to the homeless. I smiled with satisfaction. From the joy in his eyes, he seemed relieved that he would be getting a hot meal in just a few hours. To what seemed like it would be the only meal he would be receiving on this day, he packed his bags and stood up. Before he looked down, as we passed by, I saw a smile cover his demeanor. The thought of knowing that I am helping people obtain access to food and shelter is crucial to their well-being. I was lending a helping hand. I want to help people that need it the most. I volunteer all the time at my church and through non-profit organizations. I have always been the type to serve, from the time that I was a little girl passing out cookies to being a teenager going to homeless shelters and cleaning up garbage on the sidewalks to now an adult serving just about anywhere. I have to help people and care for them in the best possible way that I can. Fortunately enough, I got to experience sitting and talking with homeless friends in the community of San Francisco. My mother who has been a nurse since I was born would grant me the opportunity by taking me with her to work and showing me the various things she did during her shifts. She explained to me how nice it is to work in hospitals, the daily interactions with patients, shared comments from physicians, delivering babies, and more. Though she courageously applied to a magnet school that I disapproved of at first, I found a home where I could learn all the best attributes of becoming a doctor and working in the healthcare field. Before, I always wanted to be a teacher but, since my experiences with needy people who came from all backgrounds, I wanted to be at the forefront of it, working in medicine. Seeing my mother work hard day and night inspired me to want to do the same. Her many stories of her elderly patients and her times caring for sweet little ladies in their homes made me want to take my skills to the next level. After many internships and shadows throughout my high school career, I knew my goals in life when I entered college, as I became more and more consciously aware that this is what I want to do.

From the time that I was in the 9th grade at Health and Science school now known as Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering, I always stood out from the others being that I was the only black girl in my graduating class, and one of thirty-five black students in the entire school. My days at this articulate science school allowed me to see what the world thinks about me, and black people. Especially those wanting to achieve higher education, and statuses, such as becoming a doctor, engineer, president, lawyer, mathematician, physicist, and any other great ordeal that defies the stereotypes of black people, black women in general. For example, the time my white professor called me out intentionally stating that my gender would be the reason I wouldn't become a doctor and because I was black, or the many times my counselor has persuaded me to become anything but an Anesthesiologist and to consider something that wasn’t as time-consuming and holds such responsibility. The many times from my peers who have belittled the idea of a black girl going to medical school, and obtaining her MD. Yes, black women go through harder challenges that put us at a disadvantage, a horrendous complication that succeeds and feeds into our minds. As time went on I wouldn’t do my best, I would only do just enough as the other students. I thought that if I was just average, then I would get by. The expectation that society holds over black women is bombarding. Society puts this pillar where black women are at the bottom and everyone else floats above us waiting for us to catch up. When reality is, we are the blueprint. Racism and discrimination are far ingrained into this American society that people don’t realize the bias that they hold against black women. Even our black men have shown bias against us based on monomaniacal moments of their lives, to what then allows them to show self-hate. I have come to understand that to debunk those stereotypes, black women have to go above and beyond. I think the best way to start is by ignoring those who have biases against us. Instead, working together as a community can be a powerful conjoining to show this biased society that we are not what they say we are. Black women are the blueprint, we are powerful, and we are resilient. We can quickly recover when things go wrong. Since slavery times, to civil rights movement, to women rights movement, to Black Lives Matter. We have always been mending trauma and leading. Black excellence starts at home, to procreate this message it starts in our children. My mother always told me “ Remember who you are, embrace your heritage, and where you come from.” That was the one thing keeping the outside views of me separate from my view of myself.