I’ve always found comfort in Punnett squares and chemical compounds, engaging with physicians over summers and researching countless medical conditions online. My Merck Manual is my compass, always by my side and directing me to new ailments and symptoms. I knew I wanted to be a physician, as human anatomy and medicine fascinated me at a young age. To complement this, I fostered a deep love for another field in high school. I became captivated with politics, chasing after the next story and observing the scale of democracy and principles. I feverishly studied the orchestration of political fabric, discovering the song of American politics and the importance of upholding this melody today. My extracurricular volunteering through high school heightened my interest in medicine and policy. At Adventist Medical Center, I collaborated with nurses in the pediatric division, receiving shift assignments and interacting with new patients. In speaking with these diverse patients, I gained insight into the social issues that affect different regions, affecting how I view the weight of government policy on populations. Additionally, I learned the importance of standing up for equal opportunity for everyone through my service in Girl Scouts, speaking with female legislators through the pandemic to see how access to medical care is influenced at the federal and local levels. These experiences proved how integral these disciplines are to each other. With a passion for care, I’m set on becoming a pediatrician, but I also enjoy studying legislation to improve human life. The depth of each field individually enhances the intersection between the two, making these distinct concentrations crucial to the betterment of healthcare and society. Through pediatrics, I hope to be a friendly face in children’s lives as they prepare to take on the world. Education isn’t just what we learn on paper, but what we do to enhance the human experience. In my undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I plan to grow my role in Philadelphia by volunteering with the Children’s Hospital, giving me the shadowing experience necessary to develop the kind of nurse I aspire to be. In addition, my curriculum is centered around health policy in the United States, investigating different healthcare systems and medical sociology. I hope to make an impact by addressing the systemic barriers in American society and how they affect the quality of care an individual receives. Furthermore, I desire to alleviate the burden on underrepresented communities and provide care to those who need it the most, tackling healthcare ethics as a future physician. Everything is the culmination of history and decisions, so I’m dedicated to making an impact on my surroundings that will be amplified through my career. Blood gives us life, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells. It makes us who we are, pumping through our veins every second of every day. Blood and heart disorders disproportionately impact the black community, so as an African-American woman with iron deficiency, I understand the reverberations of United States history myself. Through my service in healthcare, I hope to prevent these conditions in children while relieving frequently affected communities to diminish the healthcare gap. Studying health and societies will allow me to find a junction between medicine and policy, providing care while championing a just system. This scholarship will feed my ambition, funding my pediatric studies as I progress through college. Further, it will help me attain these career goals by providing me with the funds to pay for tuition, alleviating the financial burden of undergraduate and medical school. I would be ever so grateful for the opportunity provided, not wasting a single penny of this investment.

I’ve always found comfort in Punnett squares and chemical compounds, engaging with physicians over summers and researching countless medical conditions online. My Merck Manual is my compass, always by my side and directing me to new ailments and symptoms. I knew that I wanted to be a physician, as human anatomy and medicine fascinated me at a young age, and I hope to investigate the legacy of the most novel science experiments while creating some of my own. Though one of my aspirations has always been to become a doctor, I found a deep love for a vastly different field during my first year of high school. I became captivated with politics, chasing after the next story and observing the scale of democracy and principles. I feverishly studied the orchestration of political fabric, discovering the song of American politics and the importance of upholding this melody today. My extracurricular volunteering through high school heightened my interest in medicine and policy. At Adventist Medical Center, I worked closely with nurses in the pediatric division, receiving shift assignments and interacting with new patients. In speaking with these diverse patients, I gained insight into the common social issues that affect different regions, affecting how I view the weight of government policy on populations. Additionally, I learned the importance of standing up for equal opportunity for everyone through my service in Girl Scouts, speaking with female legislators through the pandemic to see how access to medical care is influenced at the federal and local levels. These experiences proved how integral these disciplines are to each other. With a passion for care, I’m set on becoming a pediatrician, but I also enjoy studying legislation to improve human life. The depth of each field individually enhances the intersection between the two, making studies in these distinct concentrations crucial to the betterment of healthcare and society. I’m determined to begin my positive impact through my career as soon as I enter my college campus. In my undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, I plan to grow my role in Philadelphia by volunteering with the Children’s Hospital, which will give me the shadowing experience necessary to develop the kind of doctor I aspire to be. In addition, I am taking courses to expand my knowledge of health policy in the United States, investigating different healthcare systems and medical sociology. Education isn’t just what we learn on paper, but what we do to enhance the human experience, so these opportunities will allow me to engage with the new generation front-on. I hope to make an impact in this area by addressing the systemic barriers in American society and how they affect the quality of care an individual receives. Furthermore, I desire to alleviate the burden on underrepresented communities and provide care to those who need it the most, tackling healthcare ethics as a future physician. Everything is the culmination of history and decisions, so I’m dedicated to making a positive impact on my surroundings that will be amplified through my career. Blood gives us life, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells. It makes us who we are, pumping through our veins every second of every day. Blood and heart disorders disproportionately impact the black community, so as an African-American woman with iron deficiency, I understand the reverberations of United States history myself. Through my service in healthcare, I hope to prevent these conditions in children while relieving frequently affected communities to diminish the healthcare gap. Studying health and societies will allow me to find a junction between medicine and policy, providing care while championing a just system.

My fondest memories stem from community engagement as I become eager to uncover where I fit into the world. These entangle me in the web of my environments, resulting in a heightened appreciation for the world around me. Each of these experiences has taught me a core lesson that will resonate with me for the rest of my life. Since starting flute in fourth grade, I’ve been mesmerized by lines of black dots and sticks, working to bring out the color within these notes. Music binds moments together, whether that's in baking brownies, showing the chemistry and orchestration of human life. I decided to share this appreciation with others, challenging them to find meaning between the ledger lines. To do so, I tutored elementary-school flute players with reduced instrument access through the pandemic, revitalizing my county's band program. I plan to continue this effort in college through music outreach programs, providing lessons for kids in Philadelphia. Because I have learned that one note is enough to change a life, much like it did to mine. One of my many aspirations has always been to become a doctor. During the pandemic, I searched for a way to give back to medical staff and contribute to my community’s healthcare system in this time of need. Volunteering at Adventist Medical Center heightened my interest in pediatric medicine as I worked closely with nurses, receiving shift assignments and interacting with new patients. In speaking with these patients, I got to learn about common sociopolitical ailments, affecting how I view the weight of government policy on medicine. I'll continue this volunteering at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, advocating for a just system for all. So, even though I have not entered my profession yet, I learned that there’s always a way to help. My most extensive community service has been through my participation in the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital since sixth grade. When people think of Girl Scouts, they envision the delicate crunch of a chocolate and peppermint cookie, but it’s so much more to me and my community. My troop and I completed numerous projects, from volunteering at soup kitchens to building music walls at preschool nature centers. My final project was an after-school science club at my old elementary school to incite exploration within the STEM field for young girls, addressing the gender gap. I’ve always found comfort in Punnett squares and chemical compounds, and I’ll pursue similar projects through my university's service organizations to make an impact in West Philadelphia. The center provides opportunities to teach subjects that appear mundane, but that can bring a world of discovery when explained interactively. We’re much more than units of carbon bound to each other through simple interactions and weighing expectations, and through this project, I hope to have brought attention to the capabilities of scientific discovery. I learned that teaching this way is the catalyst to excite young minds and makes volunteering even more rewarding. Education isn’t just what we learn on paper, but what we do to enhance the human experience. Volunteering with children allows me to care for the world’s brightest lights and I’m grateful for these opportunities to step outside of myself and into a new generation. In college, I’ll continue my service, as I do not want to leave these experiences behind as I move toward my career goals. Everything is the culmination of history and decisions, so I’m dedicated to making a positive impact on my surroundings that will be amplified through my career.

Barbie was one of the most artistic movies of the year, and one aspect of Barbie Land that I admire is the ambition and sisterhood demonstrated there. I wish to bring these fantasy features into my life because Barbie Land shouldn’t just be an ideal, but a standard that we as women strive for. So please, take a step inside my Barbie Dream House! You look up to see a gorgeous, elegant white house, surrounded by a black gate and a beautiful garden. There’s even an American flag atop it! As you look closer, this structure seems awfully familiar. One of my many aspirations is to work in the White House, whether that’s as a congressional correspondent or as a cabinet member, so why not shoot for the stars? As President, I’d implore the values of Barbie Land, fighting for gender equality and equal opportunity for all. The Oval Office is perhaps the most important (and iconic) room in the White House, so I’d strive to make this an inviting place for diplomacy and discussion. Here lie blue accents around the room that complement the United States seal on the rug, enhancing features of American democracy. Illustrations of my favorite presidents hang on the walls, inspiring progress through their values and showing that history lives within our environments. Purple and gold flash through my mind as a thousand basketballs swish flawlessly through hoops. I’ve been a Lakers fan for my whole life, my jaw dropping from the pure captivation of Kobe’s mentality and technique. Because of this integral part of my life, my dream house has a basketball court for family and friends to play on and a pool beside it for guests to relax. There’s also a basement with plenty of room to display a jersey collection from my favorite teams and a large television to invite guests to enjoy games with me. Community building is essential to my house, bringing purpose to my own life and connecting me to the valuable lives around me. You’re hit with the scent of comfort food, eager to take a bite. You hear bubbles erupting at the surface of a steel pot as flavor convects through, crafting perfection as the gumbo simmers. This powerful concoction of authentic ingredients deepens in flavor as the bubbles continue, giving each element a chance to shine. Soul food such as this originated in the Deep South with roots in slavery and oppression, requiring cheap ingredients to get by. This food became a staple in my household to grow closer to my history. So, as I mix the rice with the carrots and the onions with the peppers, I am reminded of all the fond memories I’ve had in the kitchen. Every Sunday, my mom and I ponder recipe books, searching for a meal we haven't yet enjoyed. Adding these foods to our rotation allowed our family to taste vibrant cultures, taking us on a journey through our selections. Before I cooked real food, I cooked with my miniature children’s kitchenette, a red checkered apron tied around me, preparing countless plastic meals in my “bakery.” Today, I enjoy baking to foster connections, whether that’s with cupcakes for teachers or brownies for friends, cherishing these intimate networks. Barbie Land is somewhere where all of the Barbie dolls can find connection, even with their many variations in color and career. All of these features are essential to my Barbie Dream House, promoting the ideals of strength through its walls and becoming an inviting space for everyone.

My parents paint tales about how as a little girl I would dance in my living room in California with a twinkle in my eye, listening to Zapp and Run-DMC for hours on end, like I’ve always had this musical chip embedded in my body and soul. This love of musical expression sticks with me, from my first tap rehearsal in kindergarten to my instrumental side. Ever since I picked up the flute in 4th grade, I’ve been mesmerized by lines of black dots and sticks. By bringing out the color in these notes, I’ve found joy in playing without boundaries. Today, I use music as a solvent that breaks down emotional tension, using this language to find my harmony and make sense of my surroundings. My deep appreciation for music through choreography and concertos is exactly why I promote art outside of myself. Through high school, I participated in state solo festivals and various ensembles, enjoying each of them uniquely. My impacts from each are different as well. With my solo renditions, I’ve brought positive impact by conveying inner conflict and resolution between the ledger lines, allowing audiences to feel how the piece resonates in them. Each song may be interpreted in complex manners, and through my selections over the years, I’ve followed the arcs of the music to put on my best shows. During my senior year of high school, I led my school’s Wind Ensemble as first chair flute, and in doing so I had the opportunity to nurture our flute section that had recently expanded from one member (myself) to five. In doing so, I hoped to guide my section in ways that brought out their inner musician, making our section more cohesive in the process and leaving an echo of my influence behind. In addition to my instrumentals, I have participated in dance since I was three. My favorite form quickly became tap, which I am still continuing with today. Through high school, I was a part of the Take 2 Tap Company, which performs in the DC region, often for charity events and with live musicians. Through my experience in this group, I’ve choreographed pieces to tap into my inner story as well and directly benefited organizations. The arts are one of our most powerful weapons that are often taken for granted, and I’m happy that my love for them still carries on today.