Chicken noodle soup. For Americans it is more than just a meal. Growing up in a Middle Eastern household, American cuisine was a rare sight in the kitchen. The idea of chicken noodle soup, particularly as a remedy for illness, was foreign to me until my sophomore year of high school, when it unexpectedly became a symbol of comfort and strength during one of the most challenging periods of my life. In the summer of my sophomore year, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. For the entire school year, the hospital became my second home. As my father’s health declined, the hospital staff would bring him a bowl of chicken noodle soup—a dish he, like me, had initially been skeptical about. Each bowl of that savory soup represented more than just nourishment; it embodied warmth, and care, mirroring my own transformation into a caregiver. It was during this time that I developed an emotional connection to the dish, associating it with the attachment I had to maturity. On May 20, 2023, as I stayed by his side alone, the presence of chicken noodle soup became a bittersweet reminder of personal growth. The soup— a symbol of strength— helped me grow emotionally stronger through my dark days. The morning of May 26, 2023: As the day progressed the harsh reality of my father's situation set in, his daytime nurse rushing in with the doctor on the phone stating “comfort the daughter”. I felt a rush of panic but also a deep sense of responsibility. In those moments, I realized that I was alone by his side. The weight of that responsibility felt immense, yet it revealed something profound about me: I was stronger than I thought. Next thing I knew the entire nurse unit rushed and performed CPR. Enduring my father's dying moments alone made me wonder: Why was I the outlier in a family of 10? Was I the strongest? My father believed I was strong enough to handle his passing at 16…that belief ignited a fire. Navigating my journey had taken an unexpected turn when I became my father’s primary caregiver at just 15. In a family of ten, I often wondered why the older siblings didn’t step in to help. I did not mind it…but why me? This responsibility weighed heavily on me, but it also illuminated my capacity for resilience. Through this challenge, I learned that true strength lies in supporting others, even when it feels overwhelming. This lesson has shaped my perspective and will undoubtedly influence my future endeavors. May 26th, 2023 was the last stop I made to the hospital cafeteria to obtain my last dish of chicken noodle soup, once a symbol of comfort, now serving as a reminder of finding my identity. In the wake of my father’s death, the soup became more than just a memory; it symbolized the inner strength I discovered within myself. This strength fuels my passion to become an oncologist, driven by my father to treat others facing the same battle he did. Being a caregiver forged a deep understanding within me: each challenge I face, no matter how painful, can be a stepping stone toward growth. Just like the warm bowls of chicken noodle soup that pushed me through my dark days. One ordinary dish reminded me that pushing through the darkness is essential for reaching my goals and becoming the person I aspire to be. Thus, chicken noodle soup, a seemingly ordinary dish, has become a powerful emblem of my journey towards personal growth —- reminder of when faced with hardship there’s ease.

During my sophomore year of high school, I faced moment that significantly shaped my future aspirations. At just 15 years old, I became the primary caregiver for my father as he battled stage 4 cancer. While my family provided support, it was me who my father relied upon the most for his day-to-day care. This experience was both challenging and transformative, teaching me invaluable lessons about resilience, compassion, and the importance of making a meaningful difference in someone's life. Being with my father during his final moments in the hospital was an incredibly profound experience. It was difficult to witness his suffering the disease took on him, but it also brought me a deep sense of purpose. My father was the one who cared about my speech disability. He was eager to help through my struggle with my speech impediment, making sure I was enrolled in speech therapy and providing the best accommodations he was able to find. Hence, I was giving 10x back to him. One of the most impactful aspects of this experience was the realization of the importance of compassionate and dedicated medical care. My father's oncologist, who had been a constant presence throughout his treatment, seemed to vanish during his final days. This absence was heartbreaking and left a lasting impression on me. It made me aware of the critical role that healthcare professionals play in the lives of their patients and their families. This experience fueled my determination to pursue a career in medical biology, with the ultimate goal of becoming a medical oncologist. I am driven by the desire to be the kind of oncologist my father wished he had—one who treats patients with the utmost care, respect, and compassion. I want to ensure that no family has to feel the sense of abandonment that we experienced. My goal is to provide exceptional care to patients and their families, treating them with the same love and dedication that I showed my father. I believe that by doing so, I can make a significant impact in the field of oncology. Studying medical biology is the first step towards achieving this goal. This field is not only fascinating but also essential in understanding cancer. I am eager to delve into cellular biology and biochemistry. Through my studies, I hope to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to advancements in cancer research and treatment. In addition to my academic pursuits, I am committed to gaining more experience in the medical field. As of now I am volunteering at my local hospitals and hopefully by December I will be volunteering at a Cancer clinic providing experience in the healthcare system. Furthermore, I have a long-term vision of opening my own chemotherapy clinic. This clinic would work in close collaboration with the hospital that cared for my father, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive and continuous care. By establishing a personal chemo clinic, I aim to create an environment where patients feel supported and valued throughout their treatment journey. This clinic would embody the principles of compassion, dedication, and excellence that I hold dear. In conclusion, my experience as my father's caregiver has profoundly influenced my career aspirations. It has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and a commitment in oncology. By pursuing a career in medical biology and ultimately becoming a medical oncologist, I hope to honor my father's memory and make a meaningful impact in the lives of cancer patients and their families. My dream of opening a personal chemotherapy clinic furthers my dedication to this cause.

My field of interest that I long to pursue a career in is medical oncology to which stems from losing a loved one, my father. My father’s battle with stage 4 small cell lung cancer my sophomore year of high school and his subsequent passing marked a permanent marking in my heart. A hole that will never be closed. As my attachment issues worsen to leave his side, it resulted in my only presence to be the only one by his side as he departed from this world. Witnessing my father’s struggle with cancer by going to his doctor appointments, chemotherapy, radiation, and sleeping at the hospital exposed me to the harsh realities of this devastating disease. It is a heart-wrenching reminder to observe the medical treatments and the emotional and physical toll it took on him. Seeing how the medication changed him drastically both mentally and physically is not as easy as it sounds. This personal experience ignited a fervent desire within me to contribute to the field of medical oncology, hoping to make a meaningful difference for other patients and their families facing similar challenges. Having a first hand experience of what it is like to have a loved one battling cancer takes a lot of energy to fight for. Especially when you are a baba girl. Never did i think would i lose my father before ai graduated or got married, but life is always unexpected. My goal is to become an oncologist is to help not only the patients but their family battling cancer. It is a dying wish I promised my father, to help others that had to go through what he did. Provide advanced medical care but also again offering compassionate support to patients and their families. One thing i noticed from my father oncologist was her giving up and ghosting my father at his last moments, and to this day a year later it hurts. I am motivated by my father passing to improve patient outcomes. Hoping to focus on a wide range of treatment options, top notch care, and developing new therapies, I hope to contribute to extending lives and enhancing the quality of care for individuals battling cancer. Building strong relationships with patients and offering them the best support during their treatment journey will be a cornerstone of my professional approach. The emotional strength I gained from caring for my father, combined with my commitment to continuous learning and professional development, will drive me to excel in this challenging field that requires a lot of patience and time to their patience. I am prepared to face the rigorous demands of oncology training and practice, driven by a deeply personal mission to honor my father’s memory. In summary, my choice to enter medical oncology stems from a deeply personal place of loss and a desire to improve the lives of others facing similar challenges like my father, I aspire to make a significant impact in the field and honor my father’s legacy.

Salamalaikum, my name is Lamia H. and I am muslim Palestinian who is very attached to her identity of being a Muslim Palestinian. Having busy parents did give me the responsibility of learning the religion my self at the age of 13. At the same time I was teaching my self another language (turkish) I find the creation of languages to be very beautiful. As of now I can speak english, arabic, turkish, and spanish! My future feels like it is about to start in a blink of an eye, and financial situations are a major concern for me when I go to college. The last thing I want to do is to create my family more worry and burden upon paying for college. My major in sha Allah is to pursue biology as life goes more in depth than we think. As a muslim my strength is to have sabr. Have sabr for the time that’s right. Patience is a huge important factor that we tend to lack upon in this dunya. And as I may say I was extremely impatient at one point but as my father started to get sick the only thing I had to resort to was sabr. To wait for my father to improve until Allah wills. When the day my father passed infront of my eyes one important lesson was taught that sticked to me to this day, and it was to have sabr and to never forget that Allah swt will grant you the answer with the call of sabr. Although if i’m being honest i do have many weaknesses, when it comes to school primarily it would be procrastinating. Alhamduillah I work on fixing it 24/7, I never let my problems get the best of me. My favorite movie at this moment would have to be Chicago med, my interest in the future is to pursue a job in the medical field and this show gives me a glimpse of cases and how these “doctors” respond to it. Being a muslim has many achievements to it, being a muslim is already one huge one going to school with non muslims made me open my eyes in how this world is very immodest. Truthfully speaking going to school and seeing these kids flex on things that should be the last thing to flex on is disturbing, being muslim creates that sudden barrier to all those conflicts. Being heart broken, revealing clothing and so much more are all haram for a reason. Allah swt made the quran so perfect to keep us safe from the wrong in this Dunya.

My father was the person who was the dearest male figure in my life. Always on the lookout for me towards education. Every day of my father's life he strived and strived to make sure we were safe and prepped. He always checked on us, and told me and my siblings everything would be okay! He is my inspiration to keep trying my hardest in my school, even if he isn’t no longer with me in this life anymore he will never leave me in my heart. My heart will always have a hole missing his presence, but it was time to learn to grow on my own. My father always knew how to correctly set me back on track. Always checking up on us, and figuring out if anything was bothering us without even having to say a word to him. This man always knew. My father working from 6 am to 10 pm nearly 7 days a week to support his family and keeping his kids on track at the same time is the ultimate game changer of what the definition of hard-working without recognition can even mean. Without my father, it feels wrong to continue my goals in my education, but it’s the only thing to make him proud from above. I’ll never forget how I opened up to my father when bullying was getting bad for me, he walked and talked to me with an angelic voice that I’ll never seem to forget. May 26, 2023, his passing was the day I assumed the worst had come and my decline in life would start. But I realize if I were to decline all that hard work and sacrifice my father done would have been for nothing. I took my father's death as a use of motivation to keep going for my goals and to never stop my dreams from not coming true. My father battled a year of cancer all the pain and fought and fought til the end, who am I to give up and make him upset because he isn’t with me physically anymore? As much as I wish my inspiration was with me physically, I can not change the fact that he is looking after me in this world! Everything I do is for him, to represent the motivation I shall continue to accomplish my goals cause of my beloved father who would do anything in the world for his family. -Lamia Hammad

What does this the term “Muslim” mean, a term that nearly 1.8billion followers use on a day to day basis to describe who they are with this one word. Being a muslim impacted me in so many ways in america, seeing a more broader prospect of why Allah swt made us muslims to be protected from the traps this dunya has to give. America seems to be so caught up in the traps (clubbing, drinking, etc) they fail to believe in a god at this day and age. But with being taught the rulings of islam since day one, it gives me a sort of sense to back off from the haram since day one it’s as it’s an automatic generated response. “Wanna get drinks”—“No I am muslim it is forbidden to drink”. Being a muslim in my academic life lifts some pressure off my shoulder, Salam (Prayer) helps students like me to fight through the battles of school with the call to god to make this journey easy. For my future career, in sha allah i hope to become a thoracic oncologist. Treating the sickness of the ill, as this has a personal background to me with my father allah yerhamu recently passing from lung cancer I had always had the momentum and passion to take care of the ill. With all the advice Allah swt gives us in the quran the sick is always one of the most precious to talk upon, as they are sick they are in a process of having their sins being removed as they fight this illness with all the momentum and strangers they got. Which brings another stand to the table, in Islam we are told it is forbidden to reject any sort of medication that is here to help us, muslims are driven to fight fight fight til our soul returns to the most merciful creator. With being a muslim having the moral of saving a singular life is as saving mankind influences my career goal tremendously. Seeing the strong turn to weak hurts, and as a muslim the sympathy i crave to go to these patients and wish to cure them is so high on the scale. I come from a poor family where money is tight and with this i find scholarships to be one of my main communication to help achieve this goal of going to college and having a relief of debt paid off. My father had always taught me how to care for others and that is one major goal i have in this life, to save others with the pain they have to go through with cancer.

Well as usual, with being raised by an immigrant mother and father (who I have recently lost to cancer) they install moreover traditional rulings over me. In the future will update a bit for my kids as life does not run as it did 30 years back. I believe America is very caught up in the wrong and the mindset our immigrant parents teach us helps us stay guided to not turn or shift to the wrong. As I come from an Arab immigrant household i’d prefer to keep the value of learning to love where you come from and never forget about it. Values I hope to instill in my children aren’t those stereotypes that one hears online, but values in learning the Arabic language and having worth especially as women knowing your are precious and deserve the best protection of it all. And another which has some controversy is religion and maintaining a good education. Religion gets pulled away in America hoping to instill the will of faith and pursuing a good education and career is very traditional but so worth it in the end when you grow old. Appreciating a culture of your own is such a big thing to also appreciate, each country has its own culture representing your own makes you so unique in your world having your representation of diversity helps teach others about diversity America for example has. When it comes to money, any money the girl owns is hers of her own she spends on whom she wants and how she wants, if she has a significant other now their money is also hers which sounds greedy but with a positive mindset, it is a norm that should be known. Advantage though, is not at all to be used if so the girl is seen as a lady that wants money over love in her significant other. I would also like to teach my kids, especially daughters that if you are with your friends you fight for that bill to pay, and if you are with your significant other let him pay. sounds crazy but they must know to not take advantage of anyone and know their high value that they are worthy of capable of. These are known as Arab traditions, more than just what my parents decided to in a sense magically create. America is a tuff place to raise these traditions in, but the reason most immigrants come here is for their kids to uphold a high future instead of suffering in their country. Big future must stay in tact!

Hello, my name is Lamia Hammad and I am a 16-year-old high school student who participates in sports such as color guard, golf, and weightlifting. A bit about myself is a never-ending topic not in a show-off Bragg way but in a way of how I took my life and used it. I am a student who is fluent in 5 languages and semi-fluent in 2, I taught myself these languages to better understand the diversity of my peers. I tend to use this skill in my future in the medical field greatly to help patients who struggle with English to have a comfort spot to know that yes someone understands them. I am a first gen arab american who deeply appreciates where she comes from and her faith. But recently I would like to say at the end of my 9th-grade year during exam seasons I was revealed to come across that my father who was my all-time inspiration has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Cancer is such a jaw-dropping word on its own, instead of slacking on the school work I used this opportunity to better up on myself and use this as motivation. Come across my sophomore year, I was faced with challenges upon challenges taking my father to chemo at a young age and his doctors, don’t get me wrong I loved the experience to learn. but missing school was my fear, month of May 2023 was the worst by far my father's health declined rapidly, and once again exam season. I took exams while doctors told me my father had days. this has not stopped me one bit I went to school and hospital all at once and managed to pass all my exams and be in the room alone in my father's last moments. I would like to say I’m very passionate when it comes to the anatomy of our body and have the motivation to present this in my future years as I would like to be a thoracic oncologist or a surgical oncologist. From a first-person perspective, I describe myself as a caring, and fair person who will help anyone anytime to see them better, my heart is open to everyone, and has a love for everyone. When I put my mind to something best believe it will be completed. Now enough of my rant, how will I use the money to create a better life? As I struggle financially with losing my father and everything I have a passion to figure out an in-depth view of cancer. And my number one fear when going to college is of course money. I had made a wish to my dad and told him that I will help figure out a cure for his cancer or treat others that had to suffer like him. and with the help of money my fear of being financially in debt would be a problem solved. Money Is scarce, my mother is unemployed and taking care of 8 kids. With a scholarship like this, I hope to solve my future biggest problem which is being in significant debt. As I hope to receive this scholarship I hope to make this life a better place by curing patients with cancer and making a difference to not just the patient fighting the cancer but healing the pain the cancer patient's family experiences. I hope to bring an impact on the second leading cause of death in America to decrease. In America nearly 70% of us struggle financially, and we have to work as a team to help each other.