Kirk I. Woods Memorial Scholarship

Nearly sixty-one years ago, Martin Luther King spoke his dreams for people across America. He desired for youth of all backgrounds to congregate and a bridge to be built across the divisions injustice enforced in American society. Though the Civil Rights Movement tried to clear the way of opportunity for all kinds, in 2024, the path to one’s own success is still marred by inequities. One of these issues being the financial burden of higher education. Unfortunately, up until my generation, the cost of college was an unthinkable obstacle for my family members. My mother, most impacted by such issues, had a dream to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing yet was unable to pay and attend college. Instead, seeking to make her way into the medical field, she attended technical school to get her nursing license. Today, she is regarded a great asset to the school and students she aids as a high school nurse, for she never lets a student’s complaints, no matter the severity, go unaddressed. Looking up to her great sense of compassion and care, I share a similar goal of medicine. Through the educational opportunity my parents have provided, I look forward to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a medical professional and caring for the rural region I call home. A dream for equality: life, liberty, and happiness, yet not mentioned is the right to health. Inspired by my mother’s dedication to such a right, I have chosen to look towards the University of Tennessee for my own sense of advocacy in the world of healthcare. As I wrap up my first semester as a microbiology student, I notice how my love for people has grown. I appreciate their lives and stories as unique pieces of life’s puzzle, making each person a leader in their own path. Attending my local BCM, a club meant to unite a diverse group of Christian college students, I have further delved into how each person has a gift crucial to share to the world. What is my gift? I have asked myself. Am I a leader? A creator? Not resonating with either entirely, I looked to my interest in preserving the dreams of others and found that I am a server. With a love for medicine and compassion for people, I look to mending the wounds of leaders and healing the hearts of trailblazers. All in all, my goal in college is not only to gain more knowledge about the body itself, but to find out how to cure the spirits of those around me. Being raised in Appalachia, time and time again I have witnessed the aspirations of many individuals be taken by the lack of opportunity in the region. In an area where disparities run deep, it is important to acknowledge the necessities needed to grow the dreams of many into reality. Historically, rural areas have struggled in the realm of healthcare as many do not have access to medical facilities. Without the right to health, individuals cannot reach the potential they need to change the world, placing areas like my hometown in a constant cycle of need. Through my education, I seek to provide rural populations with the healthcare they need in ways like Rural Area Medical (RAM) opportunities, which provide basic medical and dental services to underrepresented individuals. The dreams of a population could carry it to a world of new possibilities, yet to open those doors, we must first provide the seed of basic care. With compassion and the opportunity to higher education, I pledge to serve in such cultivation.

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt. This quote, although admittedly confusing to me at first, finally makes sense after realizing exactly what my dream is and what impact I ultimately want to make. Back in high school, I read a surprising statistic that 67% of America’s healthcare providers are white, while Hispanic, Black, and Asian healthcare providers each make up about 10%. As a Hispanic, such data made it clear to me that something had to be done to improve this disparity in representation, and I was more than ready to take action. I am a First-Generation Hispanic student at the University of Florida (UF) in the Honors Program. After graduating with my Bachelor’s in Nutritional Sciences, I plan to attend the UF College of Dentistry to earn my dental degree. My ultimate goal is to mitigate the detrimental effects of health disparities as a dentist. Health disparities have largely shaped my motivation in pursuing dentistry, where my goals include bridging the gap between healthcare and those in need. As a Hispanic, I know that minorities such as mine are often underserved when it comes to meeting proper healthcare needs. The fact that an overwhelming majority of America’s healthcare providers are white and only speak English is incredibly harmful to minority citizens whose first language is not English. This results in millions of citizens suffering every year from language barriers and other components of health disparities. To counter this challenge, my dream is to serve as a representative and advocate in dentistry for disadvantaged minorities like mine to reduce the suffering born from these issues. I worked to remedy this problem at the Equal Access Clinic Network as a Health Outreach and Quality Improvement volunteer. This clinic network is a free student-run clinic that provides healthcare services to families in need. I took vitals, performed data entry, and completed other crucial tasks to deliver care. I also coordinated patient intake and follow-up with prescriptions, test results, and referrals to specialty services to educate and link patients to beneficial community resources. To specifically combat language barriers, I also served as a Spanish translator for Hispanic patients at the clinic. From this experience, I learned that I want to dedicate my future to serving and supporting underprivileged communities to make a positive, meaningful difference. In terms of academic excellence, I was awarded the President’s Honor Roll and the Dean's List recognition at my university for multiple semesters while maintaining a high collegiate GPA of 3.93 in the prestigious Honors Program. Moreover, I graduated from high school at the top of my class as the Valedictorian with a Class Rank of 1 out of 363 students. From my various leadership experiences in community service and extracurriculars, I developed and strengthened numerous skills that illuminated my commitment to helping disadvantaged individuals in need. Because I come from a low-income Hispanic family, helping these underprivileged communities is incredibly significant to me. The patients I serve face the same problems my parents faced when immigrating to America. The combination of language barriers and the stresses of being alone can be overwhelming, and I have seen how this has negatively impacted my own family. I hope that having more dentists like me who speak Spanish and understand the problems that underserved communities face can provide comfort and support to those in need. Therefore, this scholarship delivers an opportunity that will tremendously help me utilize my passions and skills to accomplish my dream of helping underprivileged individuals as an aspiring Hispanic dentist.

How many dreams become legacies through education? As a first-generation Hispanic college student, I think that education serves as a bridge between aspiration and transformation rather than only a means of obtaining a degree. Resilience, tenacity, and a strong desire to use my degree to better my community and myself are all evident throughout my journey. Motivated by my desire for justice and the sacrifices made by my immigrant parents, I believe that education will be the key to determining my destiny and enabling me to make a significant contribution to society. The pursuit of higher education was not only a goal but also a difficulty for someone growing up in a low-income family. I learned the value of patience and hard work from my parents, who put forth a lot of effort to support our family. I was inspired to succeed academically despite the obstacles by their sacrifices and my desire to recognize their efforts. Taking difficult classes like honors, AP, IB, and dual enrollment, I graduated with exceptional marks and was committed to building a better future for myself and others. More than just a professional decision, earning a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice is a personal goal to comprehend and tackle the intricacies of crime, law enforcement, and the societal forces that shape them. My multidisciplinary education in political science, sociology, and psychology has enabled me to grasp the wider picture and how structural problems fuel the injustices that many people experience. I am getting ready to speak up for victims, interact with communities, and bring about significant change by incorporating critical thinking and public speaking into my skill set. High school was a testing ground for personal development. Being the first person in my family to attend college and juggling demanding courses taught me how to be resilient and adaptable. My perspective of what it means to fight for a better future—not just for myself, but also for those who look up to me as an example—was influenced by these struggles. I'm committed to leaving a legacy that shows how education can end cycles of adversity and enable people to contribute to society in meaningful ways. Being a voice for compassion and justice in my community is my ultimate ambition. I intend to use my degree to engage directly with marginalized groups, attending to their social needs and promoting structural adjustments that advance accountability and fairness. I want to rebuild trust in a system that frequently seems remote to the people it serves by assisting victims' families in finding closure and making sure the legal system functions honorably. I'm dedicated to giving back by mentoring other first-generation students in addition to pursuing my career goals. By telling my story and helping others with their academic endeavors, I hope to inspire others to keep going and achieve. My experience serves as evidence that education benefits entire communities and is not only a means of achieving individual success. By seizing this chance, I will not only change my own life but also help create a more compassionate and just society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, no matter what their circumstances.

Throughout my academic journey, I have faced numerous challenges as a first-generation college student. One defining moment that showcased my leadership skills was when I took the initiative to apply for scholarships and push myself to excel in my studies despite lacking parental support. Growing up in a household marked by divorce and financial instability, I often felt like an imposter among my peers, who came from more supportive backgrounds. The absence of guidance from my parents, who struggled with their own issues, left me feeling isolated and unsure about my future. While my classmates discussed college applications and academic opportunities, I initially thought such paths were beyond my reach. However, I refused to let my circumstances dictate my potential. Determined to break the cycle of instability, I sought out the dual enrollment program at my high school, which allowed me to earn college credits while still in school. This decision required exceptional self-leadership. I had to research scholarship opportunities, navigate the financial aid process, and push myself to enroll in honors and AP courses. Without the benefit of my parents’ involvement or resources, I developed strategies to succeed: I reached out to teachers for guidance, formed study groups with peers, and dedicated extra hours to my studies. The challenges were daunting, but my determination fueled my efforts. As I submitted scholarship applications, I learned to articulate my unique experiences and aspirations. This process not only highlighted my resilience but also allowed me to advocate for myself in a way I had never done before. The impact of this work was profound; not only did I secure financial assistance, but I also gained a deeper sense of belonging and self-worth. Looking ahead, I plan to apply these leadership skills in my future career. My experiences have instilled in me a passion for helping others navigate similar challenges, particularly in educational settings. I aspire to work in education policy, advocating for resources and support systems for first-generation college students. By sharing my story and the strategies that worked for me, I hope to empower others to pursue their dreams, regardless of their background. This is why I have chosen journalism as my future career interest. I’m determined to advocate for those who come from unusual life experiences — such as socioeconomic struggles and lack of parental guidance and educational support— as well as different racial backgrounds. In conclusion, my journey as a first-generation college student has been marked by significant challenges that required exceptional leadership and self-advocacy. The skills I developed through this experience will not only help me in my academic pursuits but will also enable me to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

“Wa? Where’s that?” I am asked anytime I tell people where I am from. I hail from a small town in Northern Ghana called Wa, meaning “come” in Wali. My family immigrated to the U.S. in 2005 in search of better opportunities for a quality education in America. During the summer before high school, my mother announced that we were returning to Ghana to visit our family. I was excited at the prospect of immersing myself within my culture, enjoying the delectable food. The thought of Ghanaian Fufu, Fanyogo strawberry yogurt, and Kenkey made my mouth drool. Visiting my family, despite the language barrier, also proved rewarding, and I was happy to be in a country where my skin color did not distinguish me. But when I went to Ghana I also listened to their stories. My parent’s village, Wa, was filled with toddlers in ragged clothing, walking barefoot on the dirt. Some people were crippled, without arms or legs, begging for money. My mother’s old home was humid, cramped and mosquitoes were rampant. I met one of my distant cousins and I saw her wearing one of my old dresses. It was a white lace dress with a blue overskirt. But this time it looked overworn, filled with holes and permanent black stains. The stories my mother told me of walking long distances to fetch water and working barefoot on the farm so they could have dinner were now so real to me. But this trip brought me more than just delicious food. My stay with my cousins in Wa was filled with conversations about their lives and the lack of educational resources in their school like technology, books, and desks. They often teased me saying, “Bring me to America, I can fit in your suitcase,” and insisted that I should work hard because they were depending on me. Expanding upon my perspective on life, while learning more about my culture and family history, I felt a pang in my heart hearing that my Grandfather was forced to work for British people transporting mail from village to village. I not only gained a deeper gratitude for my culture and my family but I realized that my relatives rely on me. I gained a new found motivation for my education. I hope to bring my family out of a cycle of poverty by pursuing the things I am passionate about like medicine and advocacy. I hope to provide better access to a quality education in rural communities in Ghana. Schools in rural villages often lack basic educational resources like libraries, textbooks, computers, proper furniture and much more. I hope to create a non profit that can build computer labs, libraries, and provide textbooks in rural village schools. Through education people will have a chance to break the cycle of poverty. Through education Ghana can become a country of innovation. It is through education my aunts, uncles, and cousins will finally be able to feed their families.

ducation has always been a transformative force in my life, opening doors to opportunities and shaping my future aspirations. Growing up as a first-generation Hispanic student in the United States, I witnessed firsthand the sacrifices my parents made to provide me with a better life. Their journey from Mexico to America, driven by the pursuit of better opportunities, instilled in me a profound appreciation for education. Their unwavering support and hard work have motivated me to strive for academic excellence and to leverage my education as a means of making a significant impact in my community and beyond. Pursuing a college degree in psychology, with a minor in biology on a pre-med track, has set the foundation for my future goals. This academic path is not just a career choice but a personal mission to address the mental health disparities that plague underserved communities, particularly within Hispanic populations. My education will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and tackle these complex issues. It will enable me to contribute to the field of pediatric psychiatry, where I aspire to provide culturally competent mental health care to children and adolescents who often suffer in silence due to stigma and lack of resources. Education will change my path forward by providing me with the tools to break down barriers and create a ripple effect of positive change. By pursuing an MD/PhD program, I will gain deeper insights into the biological and psychological aspects of mental health. This dual-degree program will allow me to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, ensuring that evidence-based interventions are accessible to those who need them most. The critical thinking, research skills, and clinical expertise I acquire will empower me to develop innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of my community. Giving back to society is an integral part of my educational journey. My ultimate goal is to establish a practice that not only provides high-quality mental health services but also collaborates with local organizations to address broader social determinants of health. I envision working with schools, community centers, and non-profit organizations to implement preventive measures and early intervention programs. By fostering a supportive environment and promoting mental health awareness, I aim to break the cycle of stigma and silence that surrounds mental health issues in Hispanic communities. Additionally, I am committed to mentoring and supporting future generations of students from similar backgrounds. By sharing my experiences and knowledge, I hope to inspire others to pursue their educational dreams and to contribute to the betterment of society. Education has the power to transform lives, and I am determined to use mine to create a more equitable and inclusive world. Through my dedication to mental health care and community engagement, I will strive to make a lasting impact and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy, fulfilling life.