I have always noticed a lack of diversity in my everyday life. Most Afro-Latinas, including
myself, have not seen much in the way of Black and Hispanic representation, especially in health professions. Because of this, I want to both prove myself and provide inspiration to other young Afro-Latina girls by going into a white male-dominated field, Dentistry. Ever since I was young, I loved going to the dentist. I liked the feeling that my teeth were clean and pretty afterward, this gave me more confidence about my smile, but, that all changed as I got older. The adult teeth that replaced my perfectly straight baby teeth were too big for my mouth which resulted in them coming in crooked, leading me to get braces so I could regain the confidence I once had. When I look back, I realize that both of my doctors were white men and that I lacked the representation of women of color. This resounding realization encouraged my pursuit of a career in the dental field.
Like my dentist, I want to make people feel more confident in not just their smile, but also in themselves. I am a very cheerful and happy-go-lucky kind of person and I project that happiness onto others. I want to make people smile and feel comfortable when they are around me, so I aim to be an approachable orthodontist that girls of color can look up to. I plan on practicing this idea for the years to come, even before becoming an orthodontist. I started by putting myself in positions of leadership that I had never seen someone like me in before. Like a Teaching Assistant for a Biology class, and a Community Assistant for Honors housing. I also joined a program called Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation which provides STEM support for minority students. I look forward to using the lessons I have acquired from these opportunities to devise a plan to reach my career goals. After graduation from college, I aspire to take on a job with Americore so I can give back and work within low-income communities. When a year from then passes, I expect to be starting dental school in hopes of becoming a dentist, focusing on working in public health. Then after dental school, I intend to work with the National Health Service Corps where I can work in public health in underrepresented and low-income areas.
Dental school is a prominent stepping stone in achieving that goal, and it is hard to get admitted into and equally as hard to obtain the funding for. I hopefully plan to take part in the government program that I mentioned, NHSC, to pay back dental school costs, and in return, I work in underprivileged areas. I would be able to show underprivileged kids that there is someone who looks like them that can achieve their dreams. With the assistance of this amazing scholarship, I would be able to use it in one of two ways. I would use the scholarship funding to pay off the cost of dental school applications and the purchasing of books to study for the DCAT or use the scholarship as a backup savings if I am unable to be a part of NHSC. With the scholarship, I hope to help more than just myself, but also those children that need a boost of confidence from their fixed smile and who need someone who looks like them in the dental field.
I grew up in a struggling household where my mother was living check to check, working at three different jobs, and raising three kids by herself. The oldest child has ADHD, the middle child with significant anger issues, and the youngest has PTSD. I am the oldest child with ADHD. This disorder made learning very challenging because it came with a reading disability, dyslexia, and extra energy, which made it hard to focus. Towards the end of 1st grade, I was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia, which led to the school's approval of my IEP. Through my IEP and medication, I obtained resources, tools, and skills to overcome challenges I faced in the classroom, such as focusing and fully understanding the information being taught to me or reading. These skills and tools gave me better control over how I focused and assisted me with understanding the information. In 5th grade, I was reading at a 3rd-grade level, and by the time I finished 8th grade, I was finally reading at a grade level. I did not let this disorder stop me from succeeding or defining who I am or going to be. Step by step, I have pushed beyond my limits to show my inner strength. No obstacle is too great. I am determined to prove that my disability cannot defeat me.
As I grew up, I faced numerous life struggles that brought me down. However, I never gave up and with unwavering passion and dedication, I embraced the very essence of Merkai. I persevered through all obstacles and was strengthened by the empowering force of Merkai. My transformative experience inspired me to establish Merkai with a vision to empower others and invite them to embody the spirit that propelled me, an African American man, to pursue and achieve my entrepreneurial aspirations. I have decided to pursue higher education at a university college to broaden my knowledge, skills, experiences, and connections. To achieve this goal, I have chosen to study Business Administration, which will equip me with the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to succeed. During my studies, I hope to develop critical thinking abilities, improve my business communication skills, gain expertise in data analytics, understand the legal and ethical aspects of business operations, and acquire a values-driven approach to business.
I have founded a company named Merkai. My company mission is to guide individuals to embrace, embody, and become empowered by the meaning of Merkai. Within this company, I have created a clothing line. I want to turn my company logo into a symbol of inspiration and motivation, this symbol represents that the person who wears it has no limits and can break through all barriers that stand in their way. Awarding me with this scholarship will be a significant boost in my entrepreneurial journey towards becoming a successful businessman. It will enable me to lay a strong foundation to achieve my mission at Merkai, which is to empower others never to give up on their dreams and aspirations. I am determined to complete college with great success and become an example of my company, proving that the color of your skin, the challenges you face, and your background do not matter. I believe that anything is possible if you put in the work, time, and effort into something you are passionate about. With this determination, I am eager to win this scholarship as it will aid my funding to pursue my desired career in inspiring, motivating, and encouraging people.
