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Olivia Tate

745

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Finalist

Bio

My life goal is to become a surgeon and prove to my peers and the younger generation that women of color can be in the STEM field. I also want to provide job opportunities for those who are not typically hired for positions because they have a criminal record, they are female, or are a person of color. I am paying for college out of pocket independently and I need scholarships to continue my education.

Education

University of Illinois at Springfield

Bachelor's degree program
2021 - 2025
  • Majors:
    • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
  • Minors:
    • Business Administration, Management and Operations

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Medicine

    • Dream career goals:

      Orthopedic Surgeon

    • Teacher’s Assistant

      YMCA Daycare
      2021 – 2021
    • Cashier

      Buffalo Wild Wings
      2019 – 20212 years

    Sports

    Cheerleading

    Varsity
    2018 – 20213 years

    Future Interests

    Volunteering

    Entrepreneurship

    Filipino-American Scholarship
    I’ve heard countless stories of struggles my mother experienced in the Philippines. From her mother passing away because they couldn’t afford proper healthcare to not having enough food to feed her siblings. When my mother came to America she took on all of the hardships that came with being a foreigner in a racially ignorant country. I am inspired by her so I pursed an education and a career that I do not see people that have the same background as me in. I am an African-American and Filipino women. I’ve struggled with being accepted by African Americans as well as Filipinos. Through this process I can understand what my mother experienced. So, I want to educate others on career opportunities that they should not be fearful of pursuing. As Filipinos we attempt to play it safe and become nurses to tend to our family and be financially stable. However, there are careers that we should make our mark in such as television, entertainment, STEM, and education. I am currently pursuing an education in biological science and on my campus I have yet to run into a Filipino, our presence on college campuses are slimming and I feel it’s because of the lack of representation that we see in careers that we truly have a passion for. Being a first generation Filipino and African American women has many challenges. The lack of representation in the career that I want to pursue embedded fear into my mind that it wasn’t designed for me. I want to be able to start the conversation with others that pursuing your aspirations should happen more often. It first starts with encouraging Filipinos to get a college education in a subject that they are passionate about to show the hesitant that they can too. It’s our mission and obligation to provide opportunities for Filipinos to become educated on what college can offer and the benefits of it. It’s imperative for this generation and the next generation to demonstrate that colleges and other careers that lack Asian- Americans, African- Americans, and other people of color to become more colorful.