From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. I've always had a keen interest in science, but the ocean captivated me in a way nothing else could. I have never faltered in my wanting to rehabilitate marine life and preserve coral, never given a second thought to my career path, but I have grappled with the issue of actually picturing myself in said career. Although I don't have many challenges holding me back from pursuing my dreams, a lack of representation in my field makes me stand in my own way of success. When I was younger, I used to call Georgia Aquarium my second home. I would visit so often, that it almost felt like one. As much as I liked to gaze at the whale sharks, anemones, and other marine life thriving in those glowing tanks, I found myself longing for something. Constantly looking around for someone I knew I would probably rarely see. As a child and even now as a young adult, I would constantly be on the lookout for an aquarium worker who looked like me. Being a black young woman in a predominantly white stem field, it's nerve-wracking knowing you might be the only black woman in a room. Growing up, I never had the representation I so desperately sought out even now, which is where the fear of being alone started to take root. I tried to seek out marine biologists of color to be my role models as a child, which made me feel less alone. It was nice to see people of different nationalities thriving in a field I wanted to venture into, but it's different than wanting to see someone who actually looks like you fit into that field as well. Grappling with this ultimate worry of being the only black woman in my area of study, has taken away from the excitement of wanting to enter the field and work to preserve marine life. I have come to realize these seeds of doubt are only hindering my chances of achieving my dreams and aren't benefiting me at all. I have to acknowledge that this is a growing field with increasing numbers of people of color entering it and that things will get better in terms of representing normally underrepresented groups in science fields. Even with more people of color pursuing a career in marine science, we are still a minority. The isolating feeling that may come with being the only black woman present is one I will have to work through to fulfill my goal of helping the ocean and all life within it. By pushing through the possibility of being the person who looks like me in a room, I become one more person for young black girls to look up to when they search for black female marine biologists. Being able to be the representation for young black girls that I never got to have, would make it all worth it.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. I've always had a keen interest in science, but the ocean captivated me in a way nothing else could. I have never faltered in my wanting to rehabilitate marine life and preserve coral, never given a second thought to my career path, but I have grappled with the issue of actually picturing myself in said career. Although I don't have many challenges holding me back from pursuing my dreams, a lack of representation in my field makes me stand in my own way of success. When I was younger, I used to call Georgia Aquarium my second home. I would visit so often, that it almost felt like one. As much as I liked to gaze at the whale sharks, anemones, and other marine life thriving in those glowing tanks, I found myself longing for something. Constantly looking around for someone I knew I would probably rarely see. As a child and even now as a young adult, I would constantly be on the lookout for an aquarium worker who looked like me. Being a black young woman in a predominantly white stem field, it's nerve-wracking knowing you might be the only black woman in a room. Growing up, I never had the representation I so desperately sought out even now, which is where the fear of being alone started to take root. I tried to seek out marine biologists of color to be my role models as a child, which made me feel less alone. It was nice to see people of different nationalities thriving in a field I wanted to venture into, but it's different than wanting to see someone who actually looks like you fit into that field as well. Grappling with this ultimate worry of being the only black woman in my area of study, has taken away from the excitement of wanting to enter the field and work to preserve marine life. I have come to realize these seeds of doubt are only hindering my chances of achieving my dreams and aren't benefiting me at all. I have to acknowledge that this is a growing field with increasing numbers of people of color entering it and that things will get better in terms of representing normally underrepresented groups in science fields. Even with more people of color pursuing a career in marine science, we are still a minority. The isolating feeling that may come with being the only black woman present is one I will have to work through to fulfill my goal of helping the ocean and all life within it. By pushing through the possibility of being the person who looks like me in a room, I become one more person for young black girls to look up to when they search for black female marine biologists. Being able to be the representation for young black girls that I never got to have, would make it all worth it.

As a newborn, I wasn’t able to keep formula down and retain nutrients, causing me to be severely underweight and labeled failure to thrive. My adoptive mother sought out a diagnosis for me, and after several visits with a gastroenterologist, I was hospitalized and tests were performed, which led to me being diagnosed with EoE. I have been able to pronounce Eosinophilic Esophagitis since I was 2 years old when most adults can’t even pronounce it. EoE is a rare and incurable gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 700 people in the United States, but the diagnosis has become more common in recent years. People with EoE, like me, are known to have many severe food allergies which makes living with EoE so difficult. The biggest challenge I face is being allergic to very common foods like dairy, soy, nuts, pork, and shellfish, which makes shopping for food and going out to eat a daily struggle. When I ingest any of my allergens, eosinophils will respond by building up in the esophagus to attack the allergen. Unfortunately, everything in life revolves around food, so I have to constantly try to navigate that with my severe food allergies. Some would think with my food allergies I live in fear of food, which I once did, but I overcame this ongoing challenge by being careful, being informed, and advocating for myself. When grocery shopping, I spend lots of time reading the ingredients multiple times and I stay up to date with recalls and/or warnings when there is contamination in certain food products. Before I go out to eat at a restaurant, I view their allergen menu online so I can plan my meal safely ahead of time. I advocate for myself by notifying the server and making sure the chefs are aware of the severity of my food allergies. This has been a life-long journey of self-advocacy, encouraged by my single mother, that led me to an amazing opportunity to visit the U.S. Capitol on two different occasions to speak to Senators, Congressmen, and their aides about EoE. Additionally I spoke above the importance of insurance coverage for nutritional medical formulas which I was on for about ten years. The sole reason I have been successful in life is because of my adoption. Not so much the actual process itself, but rather the person who adopted me. My mother never planned on adopting a newborn, but when she received an emergency call after I was born and that I needed a home, she took me in within a week without knowing what she was getting into. She did not have any experience raising a baby, yet with support from family and friends, she quickly figured it out, and I owe everything to her. When I began showing signs of health issues and remained consistently underweight, she started searching for answers and never stopped even when there wasn't a clear answer. She never gave up advocating for me when I was younger and still hasn't given up trying to give me the best quality of life possible. My mom did everything in her power to give me as normal a childhood as I could have, making sure I never felt left out. I often think if I hadn't been adopted by her, what my life would be like and I doubt any other scenario would have given me as good of a chance to be successful, healthy, and happy. If I could choose anyone in the world to be my mom, I would choose her every time.

As a newborn, I wasn’t able to keep formula down and retain nutrients, causing me to be severely underweight and labeled failure to thrive. My adoptive mother sought out a diagnosis for me, and after several visits with a gastroenterologist, I was hospitalized and tests were performed, which led to me being diagnosed with EoE. I have been able to pronounce Eosinophilic Esophagitis since I was 2 years old when most adults can’t even pronounce it. EoE is a rare and incurable gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 700 people in the United States, but the diagnosis has become more common in recent years. People with EoE, like me, are known to have many severe food allergies which makes living with EoE so difficult. The biggest challenge I face is being allergic to very common foods like dairy, soy, nuts, pork, and shellfish, which makes shopping for food and going out to eat a daily struggle. When I ingest any of my allergens, eosinophils will respond by building up in the esophagus to attack the allergen. This build-up of white blood cells causes inflammation and extreme pain, which over time can cause the esophagus to close. Unfortunately, everything in life revolves around food, so I have to constantly try to navigate that with my severe food allergies. Some would think with my food allergies I live in fear of food, which I once did, but I overcame this ongoing challenge by being careful, being informed, and advocating for myself. When grocery shopping, I spend lots of time reading the ingredients multiple times and I stay up to date with recalls and/or warnings when there is contamination in certain food products. Before I go out to eat at a restaurant, I view their allergen menu online so I can plan my meal safely ahead of time. I advocate for myself by notifying the server and making sure the chefs are aware of the severity of my food allergies. This has been a life-long journey of self-advocacy that led me to an amazing opportunity to visit the U.S. Capitol on two different occasions to speak to Senators, Congressmen, and their aides about EoE, food allergies, and the importance of insurance coverage for nutritional medical formulas which I was on for about ten years. With the help of this scholarship opportunity, I would be able to achieve my dream of going to St. Mary's College of Maryland and pursuing my major of Marine Science, whilst minoring in Biology. Once I graduate in 2029, I will work towards my goal of collaborating with NOAA to help restore our coral reefs. Though I was given a scholarship, I still need to come up with $30,000 in tuiton fees. Earning this scholarship could truly ease the ever-looming financial burden of college itself, and allow me to focus on my future without a large amount of debt holding me back.

On August 2, 2007, a homeless woman gave birth to a baby girl whom she named Emma Adelokiki. Later, my name would change to that of Zuri Emma Lancaster once I was adopted, but my heredity remains unchanged. You see, my birth mother had a plethora of diagnosed mental diseases, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the whole works, but one major condition Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) remained undiagnosed and ironically is the only disease that is inherited by her biological daughter, me. As a newborn, I wasn’t able to keep formula down and retain nutrients, causing me to be severely underweight and labeled failure to thrive. My adoptive mother sought out a diagnosis for me, and after several visits with a gastroenterologist, I was hospitalized and tests were performed, which led to me being diagnosed with EoE. I have been able to pronounce Eosinophilic Esophagitis since I was 2 years old when most adults can’t even pronounce it. EoE is a rare and incurable gastrointestinal disorder that affects 1 in 700 people in the United States, but the diagnosis has become more common in recent years. People with EoE, like me, are known to have many severe food allergies which makes living with EoE so difficult. The biggest challenge I face is being allergic to very common foods like dairy, soy, nuts, pork, and shellfish, which makes shopping for food and going out to eat a daily struggle. When I ingest any of my allergens, eosinophils will respond by building up in the esophagus to attack the allergen. This build-up of white blood cells causes inflammation and extreme pain, which over time can cause the esophagus to close, making it hard to swallow. Unfortunately, everything in life revolves around food, so I have to constantly try to navigate that with my severe food allergies. Some would think with my food allergies I live in fear of food, which I once did, but I overcame this ongoing challenge by being careful, being informed, and advocating for myself. When grocery shopping, I spend lots of time reading the ingredients multiple times and stay up to date with recalls and/or warnings when there is contamination in certain food products. Before I go out to eat at a restaurant, I view their allergen menu online so I can plan my meal safely ahead of time. I advocate for myself by notifying the server and making sure the chefs are aware of the severity of my food allergies. This has been a life-long journey of self-advocacy that led me to an amazing opportunity to visit the U.S. Capitol on two different occasions to speak to Senators and Congressmen about EoE, food allergies, and the importance of insurance coverage for nutritional medical formulas which I was on for ten years. Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to be a marine biologist. I was always fascinated by the ocean. Recently, I have been accepted to my first choice of college, St. Mary's College of Maryland and if my financial situation improves, I will attend as they have an excellent marine biology program. I will major in Marine Biology and Minor in Biology. I look forward to specializing in marine life rehabilitation and coral reef restoration. As food allergies have played a vital role in planning for the future, I have had to tour colleges specifically to see what food choices are offered around campus and the area. This has greatly influenced my top college choices, but by learning to advocate for myself I am feeling more confident going anywhere.

On August 2, 2007, a homeless woman gave birth to a baby girl who later became Zuri Lancaster after being adopted. The main reason I have been successful is because of my adoption. Not so much the actual process itself, but rather the person who adopted me. When I was born, my adoptive mother got an emergency phone call that I needed a home, but she hesitated as she had never raised a newborn before. Her friends and family rallied around her and gave her everything she needed to raise me. The philosophy of “people helping people” is the entire reason I am where I am today and was instilled into me before I was old enough to realize it. My mother’s dedication to her church and community inspired my desire to help others. From a young age, I assisted my mother in preparing bagged meals and feeding the homeless, which instilled in me a deep sense of compassion. All people need is a little help in hard times to turn their life around, so it did not feel like a chore or cost me anything to make these bags. During the school year, I actively participate in community projects including the annual food, sock, and toiletry drives that support those in need. I participated in our school’s UNICEF club where I participated in a book drive that would send books to students at a school in Mombasa, Kenya. For several years, I volunteered as a backstage crew member, and was promoted to lead Backstage Crew my senior year, at our semi-annual ‘Coffee House’ talent exhibition. I helped the talents into their correct location. I was available whenever someone needed help, like when someone’s guitar string broke on stage, I helped them quickly exchange it in a timely manner so they could perform. I also stayed after school numerous times to assist with social events and activities for students, teachers, and their families. Last year, I had the opportunity to volunteer as an administrative assistant for the EmpowHER Women’s Business Retreat. While there I supported staff and participants by organizing supplies and coordinating activities. During the summer, I volunteered at a STEM camp where I led a youth-centered microscope lab. I led the group on a nature walk to collect water samples from a nearby body of water and taught them how to use microscopes. By using the water as a sample, we put water drops on a slide and observed all the microscopic bacteria swimming around. From there I led a guided discussion about the dangers of unseen microorganisms and amoebas and how water isn’t clean just because it looks ‘clear’. By the end of the lab, the kids were now familiar with how to operate a microscope and the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water. I thoroughly believe that by helping others we better ourselves as individuals. It’s easy to write someone off or deny their circumstances because we’ve never been in their situation, but it's important to put yourself in other people's shoes. I find it beneficial to turn the situation around on myself and think ‘if this was me, I would want someone to lend a hand and help me out.’ Embracing, even more so, the idea of ‘people helping people’ has helped me expand my mind and become more empathetic. I believe that in order to make this world a better place for all, we must band together and open our hearts to more empathy and realize that we cannot do everything on our own.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. I've always had a keen interest in science, but the ocean captivated me in a way nothing else could. I have never faltered in my wanting to rehabilitate marine life and preserve coral, never given a second thought to my career path, but I have grappled with the issue of actually picturing myself in said career. My biggest challenge isn’t my wanting to pursue my dreams, but rather a lack of representation in my field that makes me stand in my own way of success. When I was younger, I used to call Georgia Aquarium my second home. I would visit so often, that it almost felt like one. As much as I liked to gaze at the whale sharks, anemones, and other marine life thriving in those glowing tanks, I found myself longing for something. Constantly looking around for someone I knew I would probably rarely see. As a child and even now as a young adult, I would constantly be on the lookout for an aquarium worker who looked like me. Grappling with this ultimate worry of being the only black woman in my area of study, has taken away from the excitement of wanting to enter the field and work to preserve marine life. I have come to realize these seeds of doubt are only hindering my chances of achieving my dreams and aren't benefiting me at all. I have to acknowledge that this is a growing field with increasing numbers of people of color entering it and that things will get better in terms of representing normally underrepresented groups in science fields. Even with more people of color pursuing a career in marine science, we are still a minority. The isolating feeling that may come with being the only black woman present is one I will have to work through to fulfill my goal of helping the ocean and all life within it. I hope that by pushing through the possibility of being the person who looks like me in a room, I become one more person for young black girls to look up to when they search for black female marine biologists. With the help of this scholarship opportunity, I would be able to achieve my dream of going to St. Mary's College of Maryland and pursuing my major of Marine Science, whilst minoring in Biology. Once I graduate in 2029, I will work towards my goal of collaborating with NOAA to help restore our coral reefs. Earning this scholarship could truly ease the ever-looming financial burden of college itself, and allow me to focus on my future of being yet another person of color helping to expand representation in our field. On a smaller scale success for me looks like being able to achieve my dreams of helping our oceans but on a larger scale my success would be bigger than me. I hope to change the world for children of color, specifically black girls, who seek out people who look like them in science fields. Being able to be the representation for young black girls that I never got to have, would make it all worth it.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a marine biologist. I've always had a keen interest in science, but the ocean captivated me in a way nothing else could. I have never faltered in my wanting to rehabilitate marine life and preserve coral, never given a second thought to my career path, but I have grappled with the issue of actually picturing myself in said career. Although I don't have many challenges holding me back from pursuing my dreams, a lack of representation in my field makes me stand in my own way of success. When I was younger, I used to call Georgia Aquarium my second home. I would visit so often, that it almost felt like one. As much as I liked to gaze at the whale sharks, anemones, and other marine life thriving in those glowing tanks, I found myself longing for something. Constantly looking around for someone I knew I would probably rarely see. As a child and even now as a young adult, I would constantly be on the lookout for an aquarium worker who looked like me. Being a black young woman in a predominantly white stem field, it's nerve-wracking knowing you might be the only black woman in a room. Growing up, I never had the representation I so desperately sought out even now, which is where the fear of being alone started to take root. I tried to seek out marine biologists of color to be my role models as a child, which made me feel less alone. It was nice to see people of different nationalities thriving in a field I wanted to venture into, but it's different than wanting to see someone who actually looks like you fit into that field as well. Grappling with this ultimate worry of being the only black woman in my area of study, has taken away from the excitement of wanting to enter the field and work to preserve marine life. I have come to realize these seeds of doubt are only hindering my chances of achieving my dreams and aren't benefiting me at all. I have to acknowledge that this is a growing field with increasing numbers of people of color entering it and that things will get better in terms of representing normally underrepresented groups in science fields. Even with more people of color pursuing a career in marine science, we are still a minority. The isolating feeling that may come with being the only black woman present is one I will have to work through to fulfill my goal of helping the ocean and all life within it. By pushing through the possibility of being the person who looks like me in a room, I become one more person for young black girls to look up to when they search for black female marine biologists. Being able to be the representation for young black girls that I never got to have, would make it all worth it.

I have always wanted to be a marine biologist. I decided to pursue this STEM field because although I've always had a keen interest in science, the ocean captivated me in a way nothing else could. I have never faltered in my wanting to rehabilitate marine life and preserve coral, never given a second thought to my career path, but I have grappled with the issue of actually picturing myself in said career. Although I don't have many challenges holding me back from pursuing my dreams, a lack of representation in my field makes me stand in my own way of success. When I was younger, I used to call Georgia Aquarium my second home. I would visit so often, that it almost felt like one. As much as I liked to gaze at the whale sharks, anemones, and other marine life thriving in those glowing tanks, I found myself longing for something. Constantly looking around for someone I knew I would probably rarely see. As a child and even now as a young adult, I would constantly be on the lookout for an aquarium worker who looked like me. Being a black young woman in a predominantly white STEM field, it's nerve-wracking knowing you might be the only black woman in a room. Growing up, I never had the representation I so desperately sought out even now, which is where the fear of being alone started to take root. I tried to seek out marine biologists of color to be my role models as a child, which made me feel less alone. It was nice to see people of different nationalities thriving in a field I wanted to venture into, but it's different than wanting to see someone who actually looks like you fit into that field as well. Grappling with this ultimate worry of being the only black woman in my area of study, has taken away from the excitement of wanting to enter the field and work to preserve marine life. I have come to realize these seeds of doubt are only hindering my chances of achieving my dreams and aren't benefiting me at all. I have to acknowledge that this is a growing field with increasing numbers of people of color entering it and that things will get better in terms of representing normally underrepresented groups in science fields. Even with more people of color pursuing a career in marine science, we are still a minority. The isolating feeling that may come with being the only black woman present is one I will have to work through to fulfill my goal of helping the ocean and all life within it. I hope that by pushing through the possibility of being the person who looks like me in a room, I become one more person for young black girls to look up to when they search for black female marine biologists. I hope the 'difference' I make is one that gives women of color, specifically black women, more hope, drive, and a sense of bravery to pursue their dreams even if it takes being the only women of color in the room. Being able to be the representation for young black girls that I never got to have, would make it all worth it.