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Breanna Riley

13,895

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Finalist

Bio

I want to become an obstetric sonographer because I love helping parents discover the joys that come along with the prospect of expanding their families. I also have an affinity for babies.

Education

Georgia Southern University

Bachelor's degree program
2022 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other

Martha Ellen Stilwell School For The Performing Arts

High School
2017 - 2021

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Bachelor's degree program

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

    • Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
    • Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Hospital & Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

      Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

    • Cashier

      Hobby Lobby
      2023 – 20241 year
    • Restaurant Team Member

      Chipotle
      2023 – 2023
    • Cashier

      Panera Bread
      2022 – 2022
    • Cashier

      Sprouts Farmers Market
      2020 – 20211 year
    • Retail Sales Associate

      Clothes Mentor
      2019 – 20201 year
    • Style Consultant

      Target
      2021 – 20221 year

    Sports

    Cheerleading

    Varsity
    2020 – 20211 year

    Awards

    • 1st place in cheerleading competition

    Arts

    • Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts

      Dance
      Fall and Spring Recitals 2017-2019
      2017 – 2021

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses — I was involved with decorating our meeting place and making gifts for the international visitors.
      2019 – 2020
    Natalie Joy Poremski Scholarship
    The love of a grandmother is something that almost everyone can relate to but no one can replace once that special lady is gone from your life. The stories, the inside jokes, the crying times, and the numerous pictures in the scrapbooks just could never do Ms. Mary Alexander any justice. She survived a total of four strokes and two heart attacks over her seventy-six years of life. While her body was paralyzed, her mind and heart were never restricted. She made sure to reassure me of her love and God's love. Towards the end of her earthly course, she smiled at me so sweetly even when she felt her death coming. Now, every time I look in the mirror or my camera lens and I smile, I see her within myself and my heart instantly feels warm. Sometime after my grandmother's funeral, my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. All of this--coupled with my being in high school and dealing with my problems of teenage depression--put a strain on my mental and emotional health. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems at home so I bottled them up and kept trying to ignore it all. I felt like I had no one to turn to that could relate to what I was going through. Overall, I felt alone. However, I was encouraged to pick up the Bible and read the Book of Job. He felt plagued with family issues, his loss of livestock, and his change of appearance among other things. Despite all that he went through, he never turned his back on God nor did he blame Him for all that he experienced. Rather, he kept the faith and prayed constantly for endurance and courage. As a result, he gained way more than he had lost because of God's generosity and blessings. Reading that Bible account assured me that as long as I put God first and remain grateful for all I still have, I will lack nothing; nothing Satan has or does will prosper against me. With this in mind, I have resolved to keep fighting to achieve my goal of being in the medical field as a prenatal sonographer. I consider myself as a person who enjoys helping others. Thanks to the way I was raised in terms of how to be respectful and hospitable towards all people who are in need, I have become people-oriented and I experience personal satisfaction from knowing that I can have a direct positive effect on the health and well-being of others. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing.
    Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship
    The love of a grandmother is something that almost everyone can relate to but no one can replace once that special lady is gone from your life. The stories, the inside jokes, the crying times, and the numerous pictures in the scrapbooks just could never do Ms. Mary Alexander any justice. She survived a total of four strokes and two heart attacks over her seventy-six years of life. While her body was paralyzed, her mind and heart were never restricted. She made sure to reassure me of her love and God's love. Towards the end of her earthly course, she smiled at me so sweetly even when she felt her death coming. Now, every time I look in the mirror or my camera lens and I smile, I see her within myself and my heart instantly feels warm. Sometime after my grandmother's funeral, my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. All of this--coupled with my being in high school and dealing with my problems of teenage depression--put a strain on my mental and emotional health. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems at home so I bottled them up and kept trying to ignore it all. I felt like I had no one to turn to that could relate to what I was going through. Overall, I felt alone. However, I was encouraged to pick up the Bible and read the Book of Job. He felt plagued with family issues, his loss of livestock, and his change of appearance among other things. Despite all that he went through, he never turned his back on God nor did he blame Him for all that he experienced. Rather, he kept the faith and prayed constantly for endurance and courage. As a result, he gained way more than he had lost because of God's generosity and blessings. Reading that Bible account assured me that as long as I put God first and remain grateful for all I still have, I will lack nothing; nothing Satan has or does will prosper against me. With this in mind, I have resolved to keep fighting to achieve my goal of being in the medical field as a prenatal sonographer. I consider myself as a person who enjoys helping others. Thanks to the way I was raised in terms of how to be respectful and hospitable towards all people who are in need, I have become people-oriented and I experience personal satisfaction from knowing that I can have a direct positive effect on the health and well-being of others. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing.
    Rev. and Mrs. E B Dunbar Scholarship
    The love of a grandmother is something that mostly everyone can relate to but no one can replace once that special lady is gone from your life. The stories, the inside jokes, the crying times, and the numerous pictures in the scrapbooks just could never do Ms. Mary Alexander any justice. She survived a total of four strokes and two heart attacks over the course of her seventy-six years of life. While her body was paralyzed, her mind and heart were never restricted. She made sure to reassure me of her love and God's love. Towards the end of her earthly course, she smiled at me so sweetly even when she felt her death coming. Now, everytime I look in the mirror or my camera lens and I smile, I see her within myself and my heart instantly feels warm. Sometime after my grandmother's funeral, my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. All of this--coupled with my being in high school and dealing with my personal problems of teenage depression--really put a strain on my mental and emotional health. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems at home so I bottled them up and kept trying to ignore it all. I felt like I had no one to turn to that could possibly relate to what I was going through. Overall, I felt alone. However, I was encouraged to pick up the Bible and read the book of Job. He felt plagued with family issues, his loss of livestock, and his change of appearance among other things. Despite all that he went through, he never turned his back on God nor did he blame Him for all that he experienced. Rather, he kept the faith and prayed constantly for endurance and courage. As a result, he gained way more than he had lost because of God's generosity and bountiful blessings. Reading that Bible account assured me that as long as I put God first and remain grateful for all that I still have, I will lack nothing; nothing Satan has or does will prosper against me. With this in mind, I have resolved to keep fighting to achieve my goals of being in the medical field as a prenatal sonographer. I consider myself as a person who enjoys helping others. Thanks to the way I was raised in terms of how to be respectful and hospitable towards all people who are in need, I have become people-oriented and I experience personal satisfaction from knowing that I can have a direct positive affect on the health and well-being of others. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing.
    Maxwell Tuan Nguyen Memorial Scholarship
    Initially, I wanted to be an OBGYN/midwife but I kind of shyed away from the idea after one of my teachers in high school was walking down the hallway when I heard her yell for help because her water broke and she was in pain. My school didn't have a lot of resources that were suitable for childbirth so I did what I could. I ran to the computer lab and called the principal's office, grabbed a chair for the teacher to sit in, wheeled her to the elevator, and got her down to the first floor where the ambulance was waiting for her. She succesfully brought a new life into this world and I felt honored to have been able to assist. While that was a happy and thrilling moment, I realized I didn't want to be in the labor and delivery department because it was so graphic. Instead, I decided to focus on using my health professions major to become a prenatal sonographer. This field is lucrative and sustainable because everyone is having babies and many families need help along their journey to bringing about new life to the world in the healthiest way possible. With this in mind, I understand that my job plays a crucial role in the lives of those who are trying to expand their families and I want to help as much as I can possible with my 3 ideas. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. As a prenatal sonographer, I will be a crucial part of ensuring the mother and fetus's health. I may aid in ensuring that the mother and child receive the proper treatment by giving the necessary information to healthcare professionals in a timely manner. I may also assist in identifying potential health issues early by offering diagnostic images of the fetus and enabling prompt treatment and management. This could lead to better maternal and fetal health results. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. I will communicate with patients while doing ultrasound treatments as a prenatal sonographer. Patients will have the chance to learn more about their pregnancy and the value of prenatal care through this. I can assist patients in making knowledgeable decisions about their health by supplying information and responding to inquiries. Prenatal sonographers can fight for patient rights, such as the right to quality healthcare and the right to give informed consent. I can support the advancement of patient autonomy and empowerment by making sure that patients are aware of their options and that their desires are honored. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing. With time, there also comes changes in technology that increases in innovative power and helps humans on a grand scale. However, I don't want for robots to take over all the jobs in mankind. Hence, I've decided to add my contribution to research and innovation by taking part in research studies. By doing so, I feel that I can extend our knowledge of fetal development and enhance prenatal diagnostic methods. Better health outcomes for moms and newborns may result from this. In conclusion, I believe that aspiring prenatal sonographers like myself can improve maternal and fetal health and make the world a better place by pursuing these ideas and other projects.
    William Griggs Memorial Scholarship for Science and Math
    I am a health professions major and I plan on using my degree to become a prenatal sonographer. I chose this field because I love babies and kids but I didn't want to be in the labor and delivery department. This field is also lucrative and sustainable because everyone is having babies and many families need help along their journey to bringing about new life to the world in the healthiest way possible. With this in mind, I understand that my job plays a crucial role in the lives of those who are trying to expand their families and I want to help as much as I can possible with my 3 ideas. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. As a prenatal sonographer, I will be a crucial part of ensuring the mother and fetus's health. I may aid in ensuring that the mother and child receive the proper treatment by giving the necessary information to healthcare professionals in a timely manner. I may also assist in identifying potential health issues early by offering diagnostic images of the fetus and enabling prompt treatment and management. This could lead to better maternal and fetal health results. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. I will communicate with patients while doing ultrasound treatments as a prenatal sonographer. Patients will have the chance to learn more about their pregnancy and the value of prenatal care through this. I can assist patients in making knowledgeable decisions about their health by supplying information and responding to inquiries. Prenatal sonographers can fight for patient rights, such as the right to quality healthcare and the right to give informed consent. I can support the advancement of patient autonomy and empowerment by making sure that patients are aware of their options and that their desires are honored. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing. With time, there also comes changes in technology that increases in innovative power and helps humans on a grand scale. However, I don't want for robots to take over all the jobs in mankind. Hence, I've decided to add my contribution to research and innovation by taking part in research studies. By doing so, I feel that I can extend our knowledge of fetal development and enhance prenatal diagnostic methods. Better health outcomes for moms and newborns may result from this. In conclusion, I believe that aspiring prenatal sonographers like myself can improve maternal and fetal health and make the world a better place by pursuing these ideas and other projects.
    Trees for Tuition Scholarship Fund
    I am a health professions major and I plan on using my degree to become a prenatal sonographer. I chose this field because I love babies and kids but I didn't want to be in the labor and delivery department. This field is also lucrative and sustainable because everyone is having babies and many families need help along their journey to bringing about new life to the world in the healthiest way possible. With this in mind, I understand that my job plays a crucial role in the lives of those who are trying to expand their families and I want to help as much as I can possible with my 3 ideas. First, I want to ensure proper care for both the soon-to-be mother and the fetus. As a prenatal sonographer, I will be a crucial part of ensuring the mother and fetus's health. I may aid in ensuring that the mother and child receive the proper treatment by giving the necessary information to healthcare professionals in a timely manner. I may also assist in identifying potential health issues early by offering diagnostic images of the fetus and enabling prompt treatment and management. This could lead to better maternal and fetal health results. Secondly, I want to keep the patient abreast of their pregnancy updates, the importance of their care, and how to obtain quality healthcare for both themselves and their babies. I will communicate with patients while doing ultrasound treatments as a prenatal sonographer. Patients will have the chance to learn more about their pregnancy and the value of prenatal care through this. I can assist patients in making knowledgeable decisions about their health by supplying information and responding to inquiries. Prenatal sonographers can fight for patient rights, such as the right to quality healthcare and the right to give informed consent. I can support the advancement of patient autonomy and empowerment by making sure that patients are aware of their options and that their desires are honored. Lastly, I want to help contribute to the innovation that occurs in the field of health professions that I am pursuing. With time, there also comes changes in technology that increases in innovative power and helps humans on a grand scale. However, I don't want for robots to take over all the jobs in mankind. Hence, I've decided to add my contribution to research and innovation by taking part in research studies. By doing so, I feel that I can extend our knowledge of fetal development and enhance prenatal diagnostic methods. Better health outcomes for moms and newborns may result from this. In conclusion, I believe that aspiring prenatal sonographers like myself can improve maternal and fetal health and make the world a better place by pursuing these ideas and other projects.
    @Carle100 National Scholarship Month Scholarship
    Your Dream Music Scholarship
    I would say that "Keep Ya Head Up" by Tupac Shakur has the most important message to me. Tupac was a feminist. Tupac tells his listeners that women should be respected and not abused. Not only does he argue that men should be loyal to women, protect them and be there for them and their children, but he also warns of the consequences of not doing so. He argues that if men do not accept responsibility for women and their children, new generations will inherit the same culture and worse, continue the cycle of single parenthood and the aversion to continue the further struggles black families experience. It will produce adults with feelings of hate for the women that brought them into this world at the risk of their own death. His 'Keep Ya Head Up' lyrics are all about what women deserve, what undermines patriarchal societies, and what governments are trying to control. Today, we live in a society where women are still underappreciated and discriminated against. Everywhere in the world, women face social, cultural, and economic barriers in society. There is a significant ratio of men to women in office. Women make less money than men do for the same job. There are more female victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and rape than male victims, whether at work or at home. Even recently, women's rights to abortion have been challenged and taken away from them by the Supreme Court (majority male justices) unless the abortion is for medical reasons. Although this song is of the old school era, it is still relevant and carries some weight. Women contribute to society just as much as men do, if not even more so. It is important that women feel appreciated and safe, not overlooked and overruled.
    Collaboration & Diversity in Healthcare Scholarship
    For a plethora of years up into modern-day times, minorities have been discriminated against and denied equal opportunities. This has occurred in the employment sector, the financial sector, the religious field, and the gender identity arena just to name a few. Although improvements in legislation have been made, it's still not enough. Minorities are still being plagued with stereotypes of being suicide bombers, thieves, even murderers. This is unfair because those in power judge off of a person's appearance and skin color, instead of how helpful they can be in society. As a result, families suffer from financial inequity and instability, windering how they'll survive if no one gives them a chance to prove themselves. Fortunately, the government has recently created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under all job applications to indicate that no job applicant will be denied any opportunity of employment due to their race, sexual identity, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Additionally, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal agency that enforces laws against harassment in the workplace. The federal law that makes it illegal to pay women and men differently if they are doing essentially the same work in the same workplace. This agency is a step in the right direction if the nation truly wants to pursue true equality and justice for all of its citizens. Thanks to this agency, collaboration and diversity is made an important factor to the overall playing field of employment, especially in the medical field. Through diverse professional teams, collaboration and diversity can be used to improve overall quality of care, access to health care and health equity, especially in nursing. This will also help reduce the health inequalities that can affect the country's population. Diversity allows for patients to be able to communicate more effectively with their native language-speaking health care providers and receive better care. It increases the trust of the patients in the healthcare providers, especially if the patient and the healthcare provider are of the same race. A more diverse group of healthcare professionals will have a better understanding of colleagues’ and patients’ different belief systems. This can be imperative especially when dealing with patients that refuse blood transfusions or organ donations and want to exercise their right to deny that sort of care. Overall, collaboration and diversity in the advancing healthcare and medical field establish a sense of pride within the faculty. The medical facility gains an excellent repore with the public, which brings more business and funds. The employees are more likely to be happier and more loyal to their jobs when they have supervisors and colleagues that support them and empathize with them.
    Linda Hicks Memorial Scholarship
    My grandmother, Mary Alexander, had been a victim of domestic violence for a number of years while she was married to her second husband. I was very young at the time that this was occurring so I have a vague memory. However, from my parents' recollection, he was very demeaning with his words, he didn't contribute much to the upkeep of the house, and he put his hands on her when there were petty disagreements. I'm not sure what his reasoning was behind what he had done. Perhaps he felt justified in doing this because she had low self-esteem and a strong attachment to him despite his lack of respect and self-control. Or it could have been because in older Southern African American households, domestic abuse was a part of upbringing that their children witnessed occurring between their parents when it came to disagreements in which they'd rather physically beat each other down instead of listening to one another's grievances and building one another up. Either way, the abuse that my poor grandmother endured while she was married to her second husband was downright heinous and inexcusable. It negatively impacted her physical health along with her mental and emotional health. The wear and tear from this abuse caused her to have a heart attack and a stroke so my family was in and out of the hospital trying to get her the care that she needed. After her marriage finally ended, we had to take her to the nursing home where we lived so that she could continue to receive 24-hour care, as the stroke that she had paralyzed her whole right side of her body. While she was there, she would often reflect on how her health deteriorated and she would become depressed and self-deprecating. It broke my heart to see her that way and I couldn't stand to see her cry. Even while she was crying tears of her own, she always managed to wipe mine and cheer me up. She was a strong woman even into her death, she was one of the few in my life that I look up to. I want to emulate her strength as I get older. I am going to be attending Georgia Southern University in the fall of this year and I am majoring in Health Professions and Radiologic Sciences in the hopes of becoming an obstetric/prenatal sonographer. My grandmother helped raise me to become people-oriented and I experience personal satisfaction from knowing that I can have a direct positive effect on the health and well-being of others. I have the utmost respect for people like my grandmother who have always kept the faith and saw the good in others even when their whole world came crashing down with their personal circumstances. I chose this career because unfortunately, some women have become unintentionally pregnant due to rape or sexual assault from either a stranger or someone they thought they could trust. Other women have had ectopic pregnancies that cause harm to the fetus as well as to the mother herself. Then, too, with the ROEv.WADE ruling it's a lot of stress and anxiety that goes into whether or not the parents decide to keep the baby because of the potential fines and jail time that come as a consequence of their choice to abort the baby. So, as an obstetric sonographer, I feel obligated to assist parents in making ethical decisions that can be the most efficient and safe options in regards to child birth without forcing them to compromise their livelihood or that of their unborn child.
    Cat Zingano Overcoming Loss Scholarship
    The love of a grandmother is something that mostly everyone can relate to but no one can replace once that special lady is gone from your life. The stories, the inside jokes, the crying times, and the numerous pictures in the scrapbooks just could never do Ms. Mary Alexander any justice. She survived a total of four strokes and two heart attacks over the course of her seventy-six years of life. While her body was paralyzed, her mind and heart were never restricted. She made sure to reassure me of her love and God's love. She always told me I was beautiful and that she was so proud of me for my accomplishments in school as well as my baptism. Towards the end of her earthly course, she looked at me and smiled so sweetly even when she felt her death becoming increasingly imminent. Now, everytime I look in the mirror or my camera lens and I smile, I see her within myself and my heart instantly feels warm. That wasn't the only death in my family that I have experienced recently. Over the course of this whole pandemic, I have attended at least 15 funerals of family members that have passed away either at the hands of COVID-19 or old age. It got to a point that whenever I received news that another person I loved passed away, I was feeling numb during the funeral services and I even couldn't bring myself to cry. During the time of attending funeral after funeral, my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. All of this--coupled with my being in high school and dealing with my personal problems of teenage depression--really put a strain on my mental and emotional health. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems at home so I bottled them up and kept trying to ignore it all. I felt like I had no one to turn to that could possibly relate to what I was going through. Overall, I felt alone. However, I was encouraged to pick up the Bible and read the book of Job. He felt plagued with family issues, his loss of livestock, and his change of appearance among other things. Despite all that he went through, he never turned his back on God nor did he blame Him for all that he experienced. Rather, he kept the faith and prayed constantly for endurance and courage. As a result, he gained way more than he had lost because of God's generosity and bountiful blessings. Reading that Bible account assured me that as long as I put God first and remain grateful for all that I still have, I will lack nothing that God can't replace or rectify on my behalf. It helped me to realize that with God in my life, nothing Satan has or does will prosper against me. With this in mind, I have resolved to keep fighting to achieve my goals of being in the medical field. I consider myself as a person who enjoys helping others. Thanks to the way I was raised in terms of how to be respectful and hospitable towards all people who are in need, I have become people-oriented and I experience personal satisfaction from knowing that I can have a direct positive affect on the health and well-being of others. I have the utmost respect for people like my mother and my grandmother who have always kept the faith and saw the good in others even when their whole world came crashing down with their personal circumstances. They never stopped giving, they never stopped loving, they never stopped smiling, they never stopped being beautiful, and they never stopped laughing no matter how hard times got. I am determined to make that my resolve in life as well. I want to love like I have never lost, laugh like I have never frowned, and keep my head up despite Satan's antics to keep me down. I want to do all of this with the optimism and belief that I have not only made my grandmother proud while she is in a better place but I have brought joy to my mother's heart while I still have her here with me.
    Bold Optimist Scholarship
    During this whole pandemic, I have attended at least 15 funerals of family members that have passed away either at the hands of COVID-19 or old age. It got to a point that whenever I received news that another person I loved passed away, I was feeling numb during the funeral services and I even couldn't bring myself to cry. During the time of attending funeral after funeral, my mother had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and breast cancer. All of this--coupled with my being in high school and dealing with my personal problems of teenage depression--really put a strain on my mental and emotional health. I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems at home so I bottled them up and kept trying to ignore it all. I felt like I had no one to turn to that could possibly relate to what I was going through. Overall, I felt alone. However, one of my close friends encouraged me to pick up the bible and read the book of Job. He felt plagued with family issues, his loss of livestock, and his change of appearance among other things. Despite all that he went through, he never turned his back on God nor did he blame Him for all that he experienced. Rather, he kept the faith and prayed constantly for endurance and courage. As a result, he gained way more than he had lost because of God's generosity and bountiful blessings. Reading that Bible account assured me that as long as I put God first and remain grateful for all that I still have, I will lack nothing that God can't replace or rectify on my behalf. It helped me to realize that with God in my life, nothing Satan has or does will prosper against me.
    First-Year College Students: Jennie Gilbert Daigre Education Scholarship
    My parents have always instilled in me the importance of not just working for what you want but loving the job that you have. After all, working a job that you hate would be futile because your happiness and mental health are at stake every time you punch in for work. With that being said, I have aspired to become an obstetric sonographer. The reason being is that I have an affinity for babies. Babies are small, soft, precious gifts from God and I share the joy when I attend baby showers for my friends and family members. I enjoy helping out the new parents by babysitting and purchasing supplies for the baby, ranging from diapers to baby clothes. At Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts, I was a dance major that was known in the school for not only performing during the performance hour but also helping a member of staff that used to work at my high school prepare for giving birth to her baby. Of course, the experience was graphic and shocking but thanks to dance, I was able to use my athleticism to move rapidly so that she could receive assistance. Just being there for her in her time of need was something wonderful. After the birth of her son, Bryson, I received monthly letters with pictures and updates on how she and her family are doing. That alone has inspired me to pursue a career that involves assisting pregnant women on their journey to motherhood. I came across the OB/GYN occupation and I thought about participating in that field. However, after how graphic the experience was with one of the staff members whose water broke at the school and seeing how much pain she was in, I didn’t think I could bear to see or hear a woman cry out like that. Not to mention the fact that when it comes to delivering babies, it’s a 50/50 chance that the mother survives because it takes a lot of power and energy out of you to push through the pain and contractions. If a mother was to pass away in front of me during labor, I wouldn’t be the same for a while because my empathy and anxiety would take over. I would wonder how the family would cope with their loss and how they would break it down to the child why their mother is no longer living without them feeling like their mother’s death is in their hands. Thankfully, however, I came across the diagnostic medical sonography bachelor's degree programs offered at Georgia Southern University. After doing my research, I learned that I can not only accomplish my dream but I can also help expecting parents along their way to their journey to parenthood without being in such a gruesome setting. Unfortunately, some women have become unintentionally pregnant due to rape or sexual assault from either a stranger or someone they thought they could trust. Other women have had ectopic pregnancies that cause harm to the fetus as well as to the mother herself. Then, too, with the ROEv.WADE ruling it's a lot of stress and anxiety that goes into whether or not the parents decide to keep the baby because of the potential fines and jail time that come as a consequence of their choice to abort the baby. So, as a obstetric sonographer, I feel obligated to assist parents in making ethical decisions that can be the most efficient and safe options in regards to child birth without forcing them to compromise their livelihood or that of their unborn child.
    Amelia Boynton and S.W. Boynton Scholarship
    In the 1930s, Samuel William Boynton and Amelia Boynton Robinson founded the Dallas County's Voter League. Additionally, during the 1960s, Boynton and his wife supported the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Their work collectively helped make Selma out to be one of the main centers of the Civil Rights Movement. Amelia Boynton Robinson was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and led in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery protest marches that carried a message for equal voting rights. She was the first African American woman to ever pursue getting a seat in Congress from Alabama. She was also the first woman to run for this office in Alabama and won ten percent of the vote. I am deeply moved by their stories because quite a few Caucasians in office have found ways to further oppress and deter the minority races from genuinely being successful like the Caucasian race and obtaining a higher standard of living. The Boyntons recognized this to be true when it came down to African Americans being denied having equal rights in terms of political affairs. So, they resolved to boldly yet nonviolently take a stand in the face of police brutality and the gross disrespect that came from the caucasian civilians that harbored a strong resentment for their bravery. Today, we have heard news broadcasts about the senseless shootings of innocent, unarmed African American men. Statistics have shown African American citizens working twice as hard as the white race to get a suitable job, only to lose the job opportunity to a caucasian that is under-qualified for the position. Some caucasian politicians in Texas are looking to the Supreme Court to reverse the Plessy v. Ferguson case as well as the Brown v. Board case in the hopes of bringing back segregation in education. These are just a few modern-day examples of how society has made repeated attempts to break the souls and spirits belonging to those of African American descent. I am currently planning to attend Georgia Southern University in the fall of this year in the hopes of becoming an obstetric sonographer. It is often considered absurd that African Americans have gone the extra mile to be successful in one of the most challenging fields of employment, the medical field. I want to use my opportunity as a further testament to the fact that I can be whatever I aspire to be despite the opposition from racist and sexist politicians that purposely make it difficult for minorities to succeed the same way that Caucasians do. I am determined to use my employment to help all of my patients explore their options in terms of healthcare for themselves as well as their families. As far as voting is concerned, I view it as a vital ability to have a voice in choosing elected officials whose decisions impact our lives, our family lives, and our communities as a whole. When the United States was initially founded, voting was made only for educated white men with land. It took more than one hundred years for voting rights to extend to people of color, women, people with disabilities, people who are impoverished, and Native Americans. Voting is a racial justice issue and a civil rights issue that is overdue for change. I can legally vote so I am resolved to use my voting rights to vote for politicians that give their ear to the oppressed minorities and offer effective solutions for what they currently face. I am willing to protest against government corruption and the unethical politics that exist within the medical field.