Whenever I am feeling bored, I put another infectious disease book on hold through interlibrary loan. Though books can take months to arrive, I am always ecstatic to devour them when they reach me. If I am still waiting for one of these books to arrive, I'll look at the CDC’s website to see how many people have tested positive for H5 Bird Flu this year. Keeping up with the latest disease developments is the main way that I enjoy spending my free time, and I am always excited to discover a new study that gives a unique perspective on a neglected disease. Five years ago, I was a 7th grader reading news stories about an emerging disease called COVID-19, which had affected 37 people in Wuhan. I began tracking the disease and, soon, its deadly effects worldwide. By the time the pandemic waned, I had entered high school. Though I continued tracking new variants, I also read about malaria, Chagas disease, and Lassa fever. I soon found another captivating disease: Ebola. I learned about its symptoms and devastating impact on West Africa. I discovered the stories of Dr. Lina Moses and Dr. Humar Khan, who selflessly saved lives by risking their safety even as others feared interaction with patients. My research taught me not only about the intricacies of these illnesses but also the realities they inflicted. I realized I wanted to provide solutions when others hesitated. Resources at Tulane, my dream school, include the Center for Viral Systems Biology, in which the involvement of Tulane professors, such as Dr. Lina Moses, and students have increased the global understanding of how a person can survive Lassa fever. Resources like these will be foundational contributors to my education. Now, the only stumbling block to my education is monetary. Tulane’s tuition is $65,000 per year, and my family is already fulfilling tuition obligations to my two sister’s respective institutions. My mother lost her job due to the rise of AI in closed captioning and has enrolled in a local technical school to retrain for a new career to help support our family financially. My father, a dedicated high school teacher, values education and has encouraged me to pursue scholarships to help cover the costs of my education. I see this as my challenge, not an obstacle. When I was 5 years old, my family lost everything in a Colorado wildfire. My parents took this disaster and focused on the future. They never wavered in their belief that with hard work and determination, any hardship was surmountable. 12 years later, my family has recovered, yet we are embarking on a new challenge: paying for college. I believe I will achieve my academic dream at Tulane using the same perseverance that my parents instilled in me throughout our long rebuilding process. I am determined to receive the best education possible to ensure that I can contribute to the world of infectious diseases in a meaningful way. Throughout my life, I have achieved great success. I succeeded the day that I realized that I would willingly risk my life if it meant that I could give lifesaving treatment to an individual suffering from a neglected disease. And I have never felt more accomplished than on the day I was accepted into Tulane. The months I spent researching the best way to build a strong application for an extremely selective school did not go to waste. The countless essay drafts I had meticulously crafted, and the hours spent studying for AP chemistry exams and creating presentations for the clubs I lead were not wasted. I am where I am today because I fight every day. This is success. The ability to set a goal, and to relentlessly pursue it. For years, I brainstormed how to become a well-rounded individual. I learned how to calm down traumatized cats through my shy cat training at my local cat shelter, became an expert at working with timid elementary school students as I tutored low-income families, and fell in love with chemistry when I took over as the president of my school's chemistry club. I succeeded not only because I reached my goal, but because I persevered, and grew into a better person along the way. My success stems from the fact that I became more intelligent through my numerous AP classes, more compassionate through my work tutoring students from a variety of backgrounds, and braver as I grew comfortable stepping in front of large groups of people to discuss issues within our community. Success is not simply getting accepted into the dream college or a 4.0 GPA. It is improving as a person, and learning to adapt to changing situations while emerging stronger than ever.

My long-term goal is to confront a different kind of bully: infectious diseases. I plan to major in Molecular Biology or Biochemistry and become an infectious disease doctor, a dream I have had since I was 11. In 7th grade, I studied smallpox for a research project and became fascinated by the world of disease. When my teacher mentioned a new virus in Wuhan, I tracked its spread to my home state, where my uncle, a mortician, was among the first to contract COVID-19. I took proactive steps, like purchasing masks early and educating those around me on prevention. My family avoided hospitalizations, and the pandemic deepened my passion for understanding and combating diseases. Viral hemorrhagic fevers, in particular, captivated me, and I spent countless hours researching at local libraries. I was inspired by doctors like Dr. Lina Moses and Dr. Humarr Khan, who risked their lives during the Ebola outbreak. Their dedication motivates me to pursue a career where I can protect others from diseases like Chagas' disease, Dracunculiasis, or Dengue fever. I also hope to return home to encourage students in my community to follow their dreams. As these Doctors continued to inspire me, I took small steps towards helping my community in the same ways that they did, volunteering regularly at my local cat shelter, the Ronald McDonald House, and tutoring low-income elementary and middle schoolers in mathematics. My financial position is simple: I have my heart set on attending Tulane University. I discovered Tulane during my late nights of reading about tropical diseases like malaria, Chagas’ disease, and Lassa fever. Researchers at Tulane lead the world in these. It prioritizes thoughtful study of real world issues with meaningful service to community members. Tulane costs $80,000 per year. My dad is a high school Spanish teacher, and my mom has stayed home with my sisters and me our whole life. My dad earns just enough, so my sisters and I don’t qualify for any financial aid or grants. He hasn’t earned enough to save any money for college for us. Both of my sisters have worked hard to win scholarships to pay for their education. I’m trying to do the same. My goal, like theirs, is to finish college with no student loans. I am one hundred percent against bullying in any form. It is distressingly common to see students gathered to discuss the life of someone they hardly know and spread lies that quickly become harmful. I constantly remind my friends and classmates that this can inflict irreparable damage, and they must be careful about how they discuss others. There have been multiple occasions where I reprimanded peers for their words. Around school, I am known as the girl who loves everyone. My classmates know I am the last to judge or say a negative word about others. I don’t talk about the lives of others because it’s not my place. I also don’t have social media accounts. After downloading TikTok during the pandemic, I realized I never felt happy using it. Instead, I felt disgusted by how easily people spread misinformation or hate about others. I deleted all my social media and consistently remind my friends to question what they see online. Over time, I’ve noticed a positive shift in my peers’ behavior as they’ve begun to internalize the importance of choosing kindness. Through my passion for medicine and commitment to fostering a safe community, I strive to make a meaningful difference. Whether combating diseases or bullying, I am dedicated to protecting others and inspiring those around me to do the same.

When people talk about pandemics, tales of death, isolation, and panic are common. For me, it ignites passion and intellectual curiosity. In 7th grade, I was randomly selected for a class which involved a semester of individual research about any disease, culminating in a final research paper. I chose to learn about smallpox. For the next five months, I became obsessed with the complex history of the disease. Every day at lunch, my friends were forced to listen to each new fact that I had learned. As my interest in smallpox grew, my teacher began to provide live updates about a new disease called covid 19, which had only affected 37 people in Wuhan. As the months progressed and covid spread extensively, my fascination with smallpox became entwined with my close tracking of covid through whatever means I could find. I read about the Chinese Dr. Li Wenliang, and his warning to the world about the dangers of this new sickness, then read of his untimely death following his public outcry. When the pandemic reached Colorado, I was prepared to protect my family. I asked my mother to purchase masks before they disappeared, and my family was subject to numerous lectures regarding the most effective ways to stop the spread of covid. As a result, we escaped the pandemic unscathed. By the time the pandemic was waning, I had entered high school. Though I continued to track the new variants of coronavirus, I also checked out books through interlibrary loan about Malaria, Chagas disease, and even Lassa fever. I soon found another captivating disease: Ebola. I learned about its symptoms and devastating implications on the people of West Africa. I discovered the stories of Dr. Lina Moses and Dr. Sheik Umar Khan who selflessly saved lives in Africa by risking their own personal safety on a daily basis even as others were terrified to interact with sick patients. I learned about the holes that Dr. Khan left following his death by Ebola, and the people who owed their lives to him. My research taught me not only about the scientific intricacies of the sicknesses that I was so interested in, but also the devastating realities that they inflicted upon all that they touched. I began to understand that I wanted to be one of the individuals who provides solutions when others feel hesitant. I knew that in order to combat deadly pathological threats, I would need to commit my life to the treatment and research of these diseases. It was decided. I would do everything I could to become as educated as possible so that I could contribute to the understanding of neglected tropical diseases. I intend to pursue my passion for infectious disease through a biochemistry or molecular biology degree. This will be followed up by a graduate degree in research or medicine. I have been accepted into Tulane, a leading university in tropical medicine programs. Following my acceptance, I had the chance to meet with multiple professors face to face to learn about the distinct opportunities that make Tulane so strong in tropical medicine. I am convinced that this school is the one for me because it will propel me into my future with unmatched possibilities I will be unable to find anywhere else. My education is pivotal to my future, and I hope that your consideration for this scholarship will help me achieve my goals.

I aspire to major in Molecular Biology or Biochemistry and use my degree to become an Infectious Disease Doctor. This has been the goal guiding my actions and research for the past five years. In the fall of 2019, I was a 7th grader randomly selected for a class to study various diseases, culminating in a six page research paper about a disease of our choice. I picked Smallpox. I quickly spiraled into a rabbit hole of knowledge on the subject as I read countless research papers, listened to podcasts, and checked out stacks of books from my local library. I was infatuated, and when my teacher brought up a new virus that was becoming increasingly prominent in China, I began to meticulously track its progression until it eventually reached my hometown. By that time, I had already instructed my friends and family (and anyone who would listen, really) on the best ways to avoid this novel infection. Our mask stockpile was respectable, yet not so high as to qualify as hoarding from others who needed them just as much. I instructed family members on the necessity of thorough and frequent hand washing, and we escaped the pandemic with zero hospitalizations. During the pandemic, I not only had time to read about Covid but also a myriad of other diseases. I became fixated on viral hemorrhagic fevers, the most famous being Ebola. As I continued to research Ebola at the local libraries, I learned about the incredible work of doctors and researchers from around the world who spend their days fighting outbreaks of these terrifying diseases. Two such heroic doctors were Dr. Lina Moses, and Dr. Humarr S. Khan, who worked tirelessly to fight the 2013-2016 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa. As I read about their sacrifices on behalf of people of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali, I began to understand how powerful it can be for an educated individual with fierce determination to protect global health. The heroic actions of Dr. Moses and Dr. Khan have inspired me to pursue a degree in medicine/infectious diseases. I dream of learning all that I can so that I can contribute positively to the lives of others currently suffering through horrific outbreaks. Without a complete understanding of diseases this simply will not be possible. A college education will take me there as it has others before me. My dream is to be living in a tropical place treating Chagas’ disease, Dracunculiasis, or Dengue fever, promoting world health. I dream of returning to my hometown to share my experiences to inspire others to pursue a career in world health. I dream of being the Dr. Moses/Dr. Khan inspiration to future scientists of the global community.