“To be young, gifted, and Black”—a phrase that has always resonated with me. To be young - often a blessing taken for granted or dismissed; To be gifted - a blessing that extends beyond natural abilities and high aptitude above the norm; To be Black - a blessing that transcends beyond skin color and is an incessantly evolving experience that is so personal, diverse, and exceptionally dynamic. Being young, gifted and Black has molded me to be disciplined and focused while striving for academic excellence, personal growth, and especially as a minority woman navigating my path into STEM. I am a first-year Public Health major with plans to attend dental school to become a Doctor of Dental Medicine, then continue along the path to become an Orthodontist. My interest in orthodontics began years ago simply watching videos on YouTube, but it truly grew when I experienced braces firsthand and had to wear them for 3 years. My braces journey did more than rejuvenate my smile. It amplified my confidence and whetted my appetite on the science of orthodontia. What started as only a random interest has now evolved into a long-term passion and career goal. As a double minority, female and African American, with an upbringing in a “low-income” and single-parent household, my perspective on healthcare and access to resources has been curated by situations I’ve experienced. Over the years, I have undergone different seasons of financial hardships, which highlighted how access to care can create barriers that many families may face. I have also withstood unfair treatment(s), increasing my desire to make sure equality and respect are prioritized on my journey to becoming an Orthodontist. As I navigated being young, gifted, and Black while attending a predominantly white institution, my goal is no longer just about becoming an Orthodontist. I’ve started to research and learn how overlooked dental care is within the broader healthcare system, especially in uninsured and underinsured populations. Dental services are typically viewed as a separate entity and less essential, even though oral health is largely connected to an individual’s overall well-being. Attending an institution where the university's housing facilities, i.e. their Women’s Quad, is named after J. Marion Sims, who is known for practicing medical procedures on minority women without anesthesia, has greatly influenced how I view the history of healthcare within minority communities. This knowledge has strengthened my desire to bring about a more inclusive future in oral healthcare. Beyond insurance, I’ve researched how socioeconomic factors such as income, geographic location, and access to providers play a major role in determining who receives proper dental care. My upbringing and background has provided me the privilege of understanding how easy it is for dental care to become less of a priority when access is limited and education on its importance is minimized. These factors have led to my decision to pursue a career in STEM, as I want to not only understand the science behind dentistry, but also help address disparities within dentistry. As a minority woman, young, Black, and gifted, pursuing a career in STEM, I want to represent and help contribute to growth and push for change. My goal is to not only become an Orthodontist, but also become an advocate for better access to dental care. Receiving this scholarship would help with the heavy financial burden my educational path entails and allow me to focus solely on my academics and advocacy efforts while continuing my journey into dentistry and encouraging the next wave of young, gifted, and Black students of excellence towards a career in STEM.

Access to proper dental care is an important social issue that continues to affect many communities– yet it is often overlooked within the broader healthcare system. As a first-year Public Health major and aspiring orthodontist, I am working to address this issue by using my education, personal experiences, and career goals to advocate for more accessible and fair dental care. My passion for orthodontics began years ago, but it grew significantly after experiencing braces myself. I took on an interest, not only for the science behind orthodontics– but also for the confidence that a healthy smile can bring. As I have begun to do additional research, I have learned more and more about how overlooked dental care is within the broader healthcare system. Unlike overall health care, dental services are typically viewed as a separate issue and less essential. For example, dental insurance is usually separate from health insurance. The separation between dental insurance and overall health insurance left me curious as to why oral health is treated differently–even though it's connected to an individual’s overall well-being. Beyond insurance, I’ve researched other socioeconomic factors–such as income, geographic location, and access/availability to providers–play a major role in determining who receives proper dental care and who does not. These disparities have helped decide my purpose and allowed me to figure out the kind of impact I hope to make throughout my career. My motivation to make a difference in the oral health setting is also very personal. I come from a low-income, single-parent household, and I have experienced firsthand how financial circumstances can affect the quality of care a patient receives. Once when my mother was late on a payment for my braces, I noticed a change in the type of care I received. The usual thoroughness and conversation I had typically experienced at every other appointment–disappeared after a singular late payment and it left quite an impact on me. It made me want to ensure that quality care isn’t just dependent on a person’s financial situation. As a future orthodontist, I plan to address these disparities. My goal is to not only provide proper dental care, but also fight for more accessible and fair options within dental health. In addition to this, I want to help low-income individuals and families by offering affordable treatment options, participate in discussions that oversee oral healthcare policies, and educate patients about the importance of oral health due to its relation to overall health. Poor oral health can lead to serious conditions, including infections such as sepsis, gingivitis, periodontitis, etc. Overall, I plan to use my career as a platform to support communities that are often overlooked. With my passion for orthodontics and my desire to help others, I aim to address these barriers and promote proper care. My experiences have not only helped shape my career path, but also amplified my commitment to making a meaningful difference. I want to ensure that every patient I come across, regardless of their background, does not experience a situation like mine and they feel respected, and cared for–because everyone deserves access to proper care and a healthy smile.

Many kids face the struggle of losing a parent. Some never start off with two parents, while others witness their parents' divorce. However, that was not my story. My parents never had a relationship, but I was fortunate enough to have two figures in my life. For fourteen years, I had two people to depend on, until one day, communication just ended. With no remorse or regard, the second person I depended on moved across the country and began a new life. That's when life became serious for me, and I learned what real independence means. I didn't gain independence by reading tips online; I gained it by witnessing life unfold in front of me. There is no guidebook for recovering from a parent ghosting you. You grieve the person they once were, but there's no time to linger in grief because they made their choice. Life goes on, and it will continue to do so. I could have let this experience break me, but instead, I chose to overcome and persevere. It wasn't easy and involved lots of hardship, but it shaped me into the person I am today and made me grateful for the one person I can depend on. I don't want this single experience to define me or be the main focus of my story. While it has had a significant impact, it is not the only thing that has shaped me. Over time, I began to understand what real independence is and realized I had to navigate this new chapter on my own. This experience pushed me to develop a newfound sense of independence. My academic responsibilities, once supported by his encouragement, became a personal challenge I needed to meet with determination. I set high goals and standards for myself, managing my time and resources more efficiently. I became more self-aware and the absence of my father, while initially a source of pain, became a spark for my personal growth. This experience has prepared me for future challenges and instilled in me the belief that no matter how tough the challenge or big the struggle, I will overcome it. My experiences have steered me towards pursuing a degree in healthcare, specifically in orthodontics. Navigating these challenges with my father left us not only as a single-parent household but also in a financially precarious situation. We faced numerous hardships, including late payments, eviction notices, and just constant stress. It was a difficult period that no one should have to endure. During this time, I had braces, which deepened my interest in dentistry and solidified my decision to pursue this career path. Braces are quite a significant expense, and my mother, shouldering this burden alone, often struggled to make payments on time. As a result, I experienced delays in my treatment and less attention to my dental needs. This frustrating experience sparked my desire to help others in similar situations. I am committed to becoming an orthodontist to support low-income families and single parents, ensuring that no one is disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control. The journey to becoming an orthodontist takes between ten and twelve years, but I am determined to achieve my goals. I am driven to contribute to the healthcare field not only as a woman but also as an African American woman, and I am dedicated to making a meaningful impact.

The person who has supported me the most in reaching my educational goals is my mother. I had two parents for fourteen years, but then I only had one. My parents were never together, so my mom was always my main guardian, but my father was still involved in my life and there for me. However, he stopped communicating with me when I was 14, and from then on, I only had my mom. Having just one parent is extremely challenging, especially when they're on the lower income side. My mom has to work two jobs to provide for us and that still isn't enough all the time. Most nights she doesn't get home til eleven o'clock at night and leaves around eight o'clock in the morning. However, my mom still supports me and cheers me on in any and everything that I do, whether it be sports or academics, she's always proud of me. I've always been a hard-working and high-achieving student since the second grade. I have always wanted to do the very best I possibly could and perform the best I could in class. From elementary school to middle school to high school, my strong work ethic and discipline carried each year. In elementary school was when I originally started performing well and wanted to get good grades, I will never forget when I had all A's on my first report card and I was so proud of myself. From then on, my determination for good grades stuck with me through every grade. In middle school, I still performed well and wanted to do well, however, COVID-19 did cause me to hit a bit of a roadblock and my determination wasn't quite there like it used to be. Nevertheless, I still tried my very best and when it was time to go back to school freshman year, I performed well. I set high expectations for myself freshman year because I wanted to start with a high GPA. I am currently in the top ten percent of my class with a 4.5 GPA and I was a junior scholar last year due to my academics. My mom has supported me every step of the way, she may take off work to come see my achievements, and she'll text me asking for updates If she is unable to attend, she always helps and supports me all on her own. No matter the circumstance, I know my mother is always proud of me and I am so appreciative to have such a strong support system.