Thariwat Umar
345
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FinalistThariwat Umar
345
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FinalistBio
I'm Thariwat, a passionate and determined young woman from Nigeria. I am passionate about faith, culture and family. Growing up in Nigeria has taught me that giving up is never an option, pushing me to be the best version of myself. I aim to invest my time in learning more about the intersection of healthcare and technology and am always striving to make a meaningful impact. I believe you only fail if you stop trying, so no matter the circumstance, I always pick myself up and try again. I'm a goal-getter, committed to excellence and creating a better future.
Education
University of Illinois at Springfield
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Computer Science
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:
Health Information technology
Dream career goals:
Social Prefect
International School University Of Lagos2020 – 20211 yearIntern
Univelcity2023 – 2023
Pierson Family Scholarship for U.S. Studies
I often describe the two years following high school as the worst years of life. Yet, if given the chance, I wouldn't trade those years for anything. My journey to leaving my country and study in the United States has been long but rewarding—from underperforming on my SAT and having to endure an unexpected gap year to ultimately finding my path and gaining admission to a university in the United States.
I graduated from high school in 2021, and in a country that holds education in high esteem, I was expected to go to university immediately, like the rest of my peers. This was not the case for me, as I had developed an interest in the world of tech and was determined to study Computer Science in the United States—something I knew I would not be able to achieve in Nigeria. As an Art Student in high school, I had only taken Art subjects. Deciding to study Computer Science, which required science subjects, seemed daunting, but I was not ready to let that stop me.
I began to prepare for my SAT right after graduating and writing all of the exams required for final-year high school students in my country. Unfortunately, I did not take the SAT as seriously as I should have, considering the curriculum was very different from what I was used to. As expected, I did not do as well as I hoped. I was devastated when I saw the result; I wasn’t used to failing exams and rarely had any academic setbacks in school. The aim was to excel on my SAT to secure scholarships, knowing that studying in the U.S. without one was nearly impossible.
In typical Nigerian households, this mistake of mine would have been held over my head, but my family was different. They were my backbone as usual. I was never shamed or made to feel less of myself. I was instead encouraged to utilize my time and make the best of my situation. I decided to develop healthy habits to help me cope with my mental stress and grow. I became more inclined with my faith, I journaled and learned skills that I would not have been able to if I had been busy with school. I learned more about Computer Science and, by doing this, developed a keen interest in health informatics due to the fact that it combines two things that I believe are important to the growth of the world: health care and technology. I hope to pursue my Master's in health informatics after my undergraduate studies and see more of how technology has been used to modify the health care sector.
The “worst years” of my life taught me invaluable lessons that might have eluded me had I entered university immediately after graduating. Among the many insights I gained, two stand out as crucial: never allowing my mistakes to define me and committing wholehearted effort to every project I undertake.
God has been a great inspiration to me throughout this journey. My faith has always guided me and provided me with the strength to overcome obstacles. Turning to God during my challenging times kept me focused and determined, showing me that with faith and the right mindset, I could overcome any obstacle.
This scholarship will provide me with the financial support I need to continue my education and achieve my goal of contributing to the intersection of technology and healthcare. I am driven by a deep-seated ambition to make a positive impact and am confident that this scholarship will help me realize my potential.