My name is Amena and I’m currently studying to obtain an Associate’s degree in biology. I’ve worked in the medical field as a CNA in two nursing homes and even though there are women working side by side; I haven’t come across many Muslim sisters while I was there. Other jobs I did in retail industry, CVS pharmacy, tutored underprivileged GED students/undocumented students as well as recently I’ve worked for the US Open 2022 which as people know is an international event and it turns out I was the only ‘hijabi’ employee in the whole facility. So for me at this point when I’m talking or debating about diversity, I’m not only talking about women in general but Muslim women in specific as I feel like we are overlooked most of the times as physically or mentally week. I’d like to present an example where I was discriminated simply by the fact i was wearing a hijab so people assumed I couldn’t carry a 50pounds box but a Latino girl a year younger than could so they hired her for the position. Things like this are so unconscious people can’t even figure it out so I want to be the change for others. I want to create a path that others can step on and make it clearer for the infinite geniuses to come.

I’m majoring in biology to hopefully go to medical school to pursue a career in healthcare. At times like this we need more people passionate about medicine who can tirelessly study and work to reach the goals and most importantly have strong, unbreakable grit. I’ve lost families to cancer and recently I lost my cousin merely because the hospital didn’t have a proper hygiene and some doctors clearly skipped their classes so don’t really deserve to handle patients and play with their lives. I know what poor healthcare system and irresponsibility can do to a family so it enabled me to strengthen the dream I have as a result no other family can go through that. All this; my journey and education is only possible if I can get the funding/scholarships to attain that so hopefully you will see me fit and applicable for it. Thank you

I can relate to Malgorzata’s story as I’m an immigrant here in the USA pursuing in a bachelor degree in biology. The challenges I had to go through started from the moment my family and I got rejected for visa due to our last name - a Muslim name. It was also during the pandemic so nothing seemed to be in our favor but that didn’t make me, us to lose hope. It is the grit at the end of the day, the passion to achieve what I want and how far I’m willing to go that kept us going and even after we came in; the obstacles didn’t stop from financial problems to not being able to pay rent and living expenses. It’s about a year now and I finally got in college and can pursue my dream of becoming a graduate and go for med school; I know this path is going to be worse due to financial difficulties but I’ve come so far to not stop. This scholarship can help me further my path and make the some of the forks disappear and I will really appreciate it. Thank you!!