Hobbies and interests
Singing
Acting And Theater
Crocheting
Sewing
Music
Cooking
Reading
Academic
Biography
Novels
I read books multiple times per month
Ja’Lah Griffin
915
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FinalistJa’Lah Griffin
915
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FinalistBio
Hello! My name is Ja'Lah Griffin and I am striving toward Neuro-oncology or Cardiology. I am not only passionate about the variety of sciences that the world has to offer, but I am also an avid Musical Theatre Connoisseur. I love to perform and be onstage!
I am a great candidate because I am driven and motivated to reach my goals. I am also aware that I am still learning and will make mistakes along the way. At the end of the day, what matters is how I learn from those mistakes and how I apply the lessons I learned to move forward in life.
Education
Howard University
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Biology, General
Minors:
- Chemistry
Miscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
Career
Dream career field:
Medicine
Dream career goals:
Research
Biology, General
Howard University — Independent Investigator2024 – Present
Arts
After School Matters
Performance ArtIn the Heights, Once on this Island, Ragtime2015 – 2020
Public services
Volunteering
National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) — Inducted NSLS Member2023 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Volunteering
Entrepreneurship
She Rose in STEAM Scholarship
There is a phrase that states, "What you don't know won't hurt you". This saying has become prevalent throughout multiple communities. It is also a myth that has yet to be debunked. Hopefully, I can debunk this belief.
African Americans are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to medicine, science, or general knowledge about their health. Some Black people are currently living with a disease that could potentially cost them their lives, yet they do not know what to look out for in terms of symptoms. In the past, Black people were seen as individuals who couldn't experience pain, so clinical trials and operations were done on them in the absence of any type of anesthetic. One could only imagine how inhumane and morbid that must've been. The generational trauma that is associated with this is unimaginable. Clinical trials were catered more toward the white demographic. As a result, this led to the creation of texts, such as medical textbooks, that showcased the symptoms of most conditions in white people. This is a major downside to the Black community because certain diseases, especially visible ones, have the possibility of presenting themselves differently in those who are Black.
I am a Biology major, Chemistry minor currently studying at Howard University and I strive to become a Neuro-oncologist or Cardiologist. I hope to reverse the system by bringing awareness of the possible conditions and how to recognize them to the Black community. I will begin with researching the genetic differences between the Black and White demographic, which I am sure are drastically different. With these findings in mind, I will then transfer them to either neurology or cardiology. Not only are these two branches of medicine in need of more Black doctors, but they are also two of the most prevalent branches of medicine that have the possibility of negatively impacting the Black community as a whole. This can be explored in a myriad of ways.
A lot of minorities are extremely unknowledgeable about the various neurological diseases that they could be at risk for. For example, I desire for my research to be catered toward Multiple Sclerosis within the Black community and I hope to reach a great multitude of Black people with this information. However, whenever I mention this to one of my African-American peers, I am always approached with the question "what's multiple sclerosis?". Black people may know about some heart conditions such as high cholesterol leading to heart failure, but they may not know how to identify them before it's too late to reverse the damage that has already taken place within their temple.
With my degree and career goals, I hope to improve minorities' health by bringing awareness of conditions that may present themselves differently in Black people. Since the majority of symptoms are based on the findings in white people, bringing awareness to the Black community will hopefully motivate them to take control of their health. What you don't know could hurt you, and I seek to educate my people.