I chose to study veterinary medicine because of a deep, lifelong passion for animals and a belief in the interconnectedness of all life. As cliché as it may sound, I have always felt that we live in a circle of life, where every being, from the smallest sea creature to the largest mammal, contributes to the delicate balance of our world. Animals, in particular, hold a special place in my heart and in the broader fabric of our existence. From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by the vast diversity of life forms around us and the vital roles they play in sustaining the health of our planet. It always puzzled me why some people failed to see this connection, why they didn’t mind tearing down habitats, hunting animals for sport, or dismissing the well-being of other creatures. To me, animals are not just a part of nature—they are an integral part of our lives, and they deserve care and respect. This realization has guided my desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. I want to be someone who works to keep that life thriving, ensuring that our world remains strong and balanced. While many people focus on the care of common pets like cats, dogs, and small animals, I am especially drawn to exotic animals—the ones that are often overlooked, like tigers, bears, rhinos, and hippos. These majestic creatures need specialized care, and I want to dedicate my life to ensuring their survival and well-being, both in the wild and in rehabilitation settings. My goal is to work in conservation and rehabilitation programs that provide safe spaces for endangered species to thrive once again. The loss of habitats, poaching, and climate change have pushed many species to the brink of extinction, and I believe that veterinary medicine can play a crucial role in reversing these trends. I want to be a part of the solution by using my skills to help these animals recover, flourish, and continue contributing to the biodiversity of our planet. In addition to my passion for animal welfare, I am also motivated by the need for diversity in the field of veterinary medicine. As an African American woman, I am aware that I will be entering a profession where less than 1% of veterinarians look like me. This reality, rather than discouraging me, inspires me to push forward. I see it as an opportunity to break barriers and pave the way for more African Americans, especially African American women, to pursue careers in veterinary medicine. I believe that my presence in this field can help broaden the narrative, showing others that they, too, can excel in areas where they may feel underrepresented. By achieving success in veterinary medicine, I hope to inspire others in my community to consider this path and, in turn, help diversify a field that desperately needs it. Beyond that, I want to raise awareness about the importance of animals—not just to the ecosystem, but to our own well-being. I hope that, through my work and advocacy, I can encourage more people to join me in caring for all creatures, great and small, and in recognizing their intrinsic value. Ultimately, my decision to pursue veterinary medicine is rooted in a love for animals, a commitment to conservation, and a desire to create positive change within my community and the world at large. Through my education and career, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and to inspire others to do the same.

To start of I would like to thank you for giving me, and everyone the opportunity to share our story and dreams! For me, Attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) as an African American woman has presented unique challenges. I have struggled to connect with people from my community and build networks, often feeling isolated and overlooked. Despite these difficulties, my passion for veterinary medicine has remained steadfast. Im currently obtaining my bachelors in Animal Science, plan to get my associates in Vet Tech, and then get my Doctorates in Veterinary Medicine. I aim to make a positive impact on the world through my medical career by addressing the critical need for diversity and representation in veterinary medicine, a field where African Americans make up less than 1%. Veterinary medicine plays a crucial role in society, affecting not only the health and well-being of animals but also the families who consider their pets as integral members. This is especially true in many African American homes where pets, such as pit bulls, are commonly found and hold significant emotional value. Often times African American, minorities in general, connection to their pets are overlooked and not taken serious. When these animals need medical care, it is essential for their owners to feel comfortable and understood by their veterinarian. As an African American veterinarian, I aspire to be that familiar and trusted face for minority families seeking care for their beloved pets. My personal experiences with racism and discrimination have fueled my desire to break barriers and pave the way for other minorities in veterinary medicine. Growing up, I faced numerous instances of prejudice and hurtful remarks, which only strengthened my resolve to succeed and make a difference. Knoeing that i am going into a field seemingly set up against minorities, I know I will face many more forms of microsggressions and racism. I want to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment in veterinary medicine, where people of all backgrounds feel seen, respected, and supported. In my future career as a veterinarian, I plan to make a positive impact on the world by providing high-quality, compassionate care to animals while also addressing the needs of their owners. I want to be a role model and advocate for diversity in the veterinary field, inspiring other minorities to pursue careers in STEM and medicine. Additionally, I aim to contribute to community outreach and education programs, focusing on the importance of animal health and welfare in minority communities. By raising awareness and providing resources, I hope to improve the overall well-being of both animals and their owners. In conclusion, my journey towards becoming a veterinarian has been shaped by significant adversity, but it has also fueled my passion and determination to make a positive impact on the world. Through my medical career, I plan to break barriers, advocate for diversity, and provide compassionate care to animals and their families. By becoming a trusted and familiar face in the veterinary field, I hope to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

My journey towards higher education has been marked by significant adversity, yet these challenges have also fueled my determination to succeed. Growing up in a crowded household with my grandmother, mother, aunt, cousins, and siblings, I often slept on an air mattress in the living room due to lack of space. Financial instability was a constant companion, but my mother’s unwavering dedication ensured I could pursue my education. The loss of my grandmother on January 5th, 2024, further tested my resilience but also deepened my resolve to achieve my goals. Attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) as an African American woman has added another layer of difficulty to my educational journey. The struggle to connect with people from my community and build networks has often left me feeling isolated and overlooked. Despite these challenges, my passion for pursuing a degree in STEM, specifically veterinary medicine, remains undeterred. The underrepresentation of African Americans in this field—making up less than 1%—motivates me to fight even harder to succeed. My experiences with racism and other forms of discrimination have shaped my perspective and strengthened my resolve to make a difference. Growing up, I faced numerous instances of prejudice and hurtful remarks, which only made me more determined to break barriers and pave the way for others. I am passionate about becoming a veterinarian not just because of my love for animals, but also because I want to be a role model for other minorities. I aspire to be the familiar face that provides comfort and inspiration to those who follow. Financially, my journey has been incredibly challenging. Our family’s financial situation has been precarious, exacerbated by my grandmother’s illness and subsequent passing. Living in a cramped motel room and relying on her SSI for rent highlights the extent of our struggles. My mother has made immense sacrifices, often putting my education above her own needs, to ensure I have the opportunity to succeed. However, these financial constraints have made it difficult to focus solely on my studies, as I constantly worry about our living situation and making ends meet. This scholarship would provide much-needed financial relief and allow me to concentrate on my education without the constant stress of financial instability. It would enable me to purchase necessary textbooks, cover tuition fees, and potentially secure better living arrangements, thereby creating a more conducive environment for my studies. Furthermore, the scholarship would validate my hard work and resilience, reinforcing my belief that despite the obstacles, my dreams are attainable. With the support of this scholarship, I am confident that I can achieve my goal of becoming a veterinarian. My educational journey thus far has been a testament to my resilience and determination. Despite the adversity I have faced—financial struggles, personal loss, and racial discrimination—I have remained steadfast in my pursuit of a STEM degree. I am passionate about veterinary medicine not just for the love of the profession, but for the opportunity to be a trailblazer for other minorities. In conclusion, the adversity I have overcome has significantly impacted my educational journey, shaping me into a determined and resilient individual. Financial challenges continue to pose significant obstacles, but this scholarship would provide the support I need to achieve my goals. By investing in my education, you are also investing in the future of underrepresented minorities in STEM, helping to create a more diverse and inclusive profession. Thank you for the consideration and opportunity! Rebecca and Richard sound like beautiful people and thank you for honoring them by helping others!

Well for starters my major is animal science. I am currently attempting to obtain my bachelor's degree. I dream of going to vet school and getting my DVM to then work with exotic animals. So how will I turn something in this field from science fiction to science fact. By proving that animals have rights too. By helping sustain and build their habitats and ecosystems. By giving animals the proper care and medical treatment to keep living on and creating more and more generations. So how is this science fiction to science fact? Well people don't believe that the world can come to an end by lack of animals. It's in the movies, it's in the minds of everyone's crazy uncle, it's in the books etc. Animals no longer existing is something people deem as not possible. But it's is possible and it's possible now. Quite frankly I don't want to see that fiction turned into a fact (as it's doing now). I want to be someone who keeps it as science fiction, because then I'll know I've done my job! I understand I need to make a word count and truthfully I don't have much else to say. That's it. I know my answer is a little different then was asked but it's something I truthfully believe and want in life. I figure there is no real reason to lie or create up a Stephen James story to persuade you. I still do have very strong emotions towards wanting to save the animals and will work towards that goal for as long as I live. I can only hope and ask of you to think about the people who are passionate. I know there are plenty applicants and I know plenty of them gave a protagonist based story for you. Sadly that's not me, I'm completely normal with one dream and one dream only. To save the animals. Oh wow I still have plenty of words to go sooooooo, a little about me! I always wanted to go hiking but haven't been able to yet. I love pizza. I don't really like fries but Checkers fries are the best. I put garlic in almost all my foods it's so good. I like to give the homeless money any chance I get, even if it's 1 dollar, I know it means a lot to them. If you've read this far you may be wondering why I'm doing this. It's because I am tired of creating stories and giving my all just for an applicant who gave the bare minimum to be a winner. So I decided maybe that's the approach I need to take. Thank you for this opportunity and it's completely understandable if I'm not chosen. Thank you!

The one goal that I have been working so hard for is to obtain absolute happiness. I make sure to take care of my mental, physical, and emotional health, never allowing anything to put me down. There are too many people in the world who settle and, in result, detrimine their own well being. I strive for not the less but the greater!

There's this idea stemming from society. The idea of death being by old age, terminal illness, tragic accident, etc. Not many people believe they will pass from something strangely unexpected or comical. There have been five times in my life when I could've died. Although this seems like a sad topic, it's not. My death would be terrible, but how it could've happened is quite interesting. The first time was when I was at Dorney Park, a water park in Pennsylvania. I was with my mom, sister, mom's friend, and his three kids. We were trying to figure out what to do first and decided to go to the wave pool. I was worried at first because I couldn't swim; still can't. I was reassured when life jackets were available. But still, I underestimated the waves in the pool. My sister and I stayed side by side for the most part, but me being a daring child wanted to go in far. I was confident I would be fine because, well, a life jacket. I soon discovered that sometimes life jackets aren't the best, or maybe mine was faulty. As I pushed myself further, the waves got not only large but aggressive. Eventually, I found myself about 5 feet away from the area the waves push out. An area I wasn't supposed to be near. An area where the lifeguards couldn't see me. At this point, is where things went south. It was time for the waves to come out. That's when the panic started. I tried my best to swim away but to no avail. The waves came in, crashing and flipping me around. I was struggling to keep my head above water and remember thinking, my mother is going kill me for doing something so stupid; if I made it out alive. I guess the waves pushed me forward enough for my sister to spot me and help me along the way. I got out of the pool with my mother questioning why my face was beat red. She thought I had a sunburn. Little did she know, I was trying not to drown. Ever since then, I have never been in another wave pool. But you'll think I learned my lesson with waves, but I guess I needed another reality check; at least this time wasn't my fault. A few years later, I went to the beach with my mom, sister, aunt, and cousins. This was a time I was still a little fearful of the ocean. But during my time at the beach, I got more comfortable with the open water. Again I decided to be bold and dive under a wave. The wave toppled over me, but I was tall enough to stand up and not have the water above my head. But my cousin thought I was drowning. She saw me get toppled over and grabbed my arm to pull me up. Instead, her "help" was holding me down as she herself struggled against the waves. I thrashed around thinking she'll get the hint to let go, but thrashing wasn't going to give that idea. Eventually, I was able to snatch my wrist away and stand up. When I asked her why she held onto me her response was, "I was saving you." I'm not sure how she could've thought she was succeeding. I never tried again. I have a few more near-death experiences under my belt, and once again them being at my own avail. But for water-related situations, I no longer try to conquer waves.