I am a first-generation student who came from Ghana to the United States five years ago to join my family and pursue my education. My mother, a single parent supporting three children in college, has sacrificed constantly for us. I am the oldest of the three, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. I always strive to do my best with any task assigned, as I aim to set an example for everyone. By everyone, I mean myself, my younger siblings, my cousins still in Ghana, my grandparents who raised me, and all the relatives and friends who continue to support and pray for my well-being while I am here. I developed an interest in neuroscience after watching a movie about Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon whose life story resonated with me. His humble beginnings and accomplishments inspired me to pursue neuroscience, a field where I’ve excelled. Now a senior at Binghamton University, I am majoring in neuroscience and following the pre-med track. Through hard work and God’s grace, I’ve made meaningful strides toward fulfilling medical school requirements while pursuing my passion. In the Chapman Lab, I study age and hypertension-induced hippocampal vascular dysfunction and its impact on learning and memory. My work includes behavioral experiments like the Morris water maze to assess spatial memory in rats and manage tasks such as rat tail banding and weighing procedures. I have always cared for people, and I have a special place in my heart for the elderly, whom I view as very wise. Since childhood, I’ve felt deeply connected to their well-being, from crying whenever I saw my grandmother in pain to helping elderly strangers cross the street, even when they might not have needed assistance. Joining the American Red Cross at Binghamton University allowed me to extend this care to more people while accruing volunteering hours. I currently serve as the Health Initiative Coordinator where I organize volunteer efforts at the Johnson Senior Center to provide health and wellness presentations. I enjoy the bingo and Jeopardy games we play afterward and have made great friends there. Recently, I volunteered at an elementary school’s Harvest Dinner, where serving food and sharing in laughter reinforced my desire to bring joy to others through service. This summer, I was blessed to serve as an intern for an internal medicine specialist, where I gained shadowing experience. I learned so much from my doctor and the advice shared by his patients not only enriched my understanding of medicine but also strengthened my relationship with God. I will always be grateful for these moments of wisdom and growth. No matter the financial burdens my family has faced, God has delivered us time and again. My family recently faced the possibility of eviction and is relocating to Long Island. My brother, unable to secure a loan for college, had to drop out, and my sister’s dream of boarding was compromised for similar reasons. My mother suggested transferring to a local community college in my senior year, but I know I cannot give up. I remain motivated to find ways to fund my education and even more so for my MCAT preparation. I am applying for scholarships and pursuing a CNA position to care for people while saving for my future. Funds from the Charles Cheeseman Student Debt Reduction Scholarship will ease my family’s financial burden, keep me in school for my last semester, and keep me focused on MCAT preparation. I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I’m determined to continue moving forward with faith that things will eventually fall into place.

As I focused on the presentation my biology teacher was giving about cells, I could not help but reflect on the parallels between these units of life and myself, my family, and my community. I realized we are just like the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the platelets. It’s incredible that these units are going through the same processes as me, my family, my community. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. They transport oxygen to all the tissues in the body for carbon dioxide which they transport to the lungs to be eliminated. These red blood cells represent my passion/drive to complete my goals, my hard work, and my perseverance to strive for a better life for my family. I am pumped with the courage to face any challenge. Society reminds me every day that I am not the same as the ‘privileged’ or whites. It is undeniable that society is cruel to people like me. Recent events, such as the case of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, are solid proof. My skin tone bothers others who are unfortunately in control, and therefore I have to work harder. I am always reminded of where I come from and encouraged to study hard if I want to succeed in a white man’s land. My courage is sometimes beaten down. When I feel there is no hope for me, I blame my skin, my features, thinking they will just change color one day so I finally will not have to deal with the burden of being stigmatized. This is where the white blood cells come in. These cells fight to protect the body against intruders. As a Black man in today’s society, I am like these cells, fighting every day to achieve a common goal: survival. If these cells are fighting for me every day, why then should I give up on my society? I realize I have always been a fighter like these cells. I am a fighter whenever I walk by racists who yell out at me down the street to school; I am a fighter whenever I stand up for myself after being called the n-word; I am a fighter whenever I get perfect scores on tests after having failed countlessly in practice; I am a fighter when I answered the question who do you want to stay with between your divorced parents?, and I am a fighter ready to face any problem life throws at me. Every time I heal from a scar, whether family or personal, platelets responsible for blood clotting are just like me. Regardless of the minor differences between these cells, they come together to perform their functions to keep the body alive, making me wonder, “Why can’t humans put aside their differences and come together to work like these cells?” Whether white, Black, or Latino, we are all one people. Seeing the world turn on people like me, I cannot help but question life, Will I make it?. But no matter what, I want the world to know that I am a fighter. Life is a race, some give up in the middle not because they want to but because they do not have the wherewithal to complete it. Others are able to complete it with great support and advantage like a headstart. And there are also others like me, the ones that persevere regardless of the situation. Like Albert Einstein said, "You never fail unless you stop trying".