In 1998, my maternal grandmother died from an aggressive form of brain cancer. I never knew her, but feel connected through special baby blankets she made for the grandchildren she would never hold. In elementary school, a classmate was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent a successful experimental treatment. I have always wished there had been such treatment that could have saved my grandmother. Instead of wishing for change, I decided to become instrumental in creating change and situate myself to be on the cutting-edge of research intended to prevent and treat disease.

I was born three weeks premature with a breathing condition and low birth weight, and spent the first two weeks of life in the NICU with excellent medical care. Unfortunately, within my community, I have witnessed the disparity between those that have and do not have access to quality healthcare. An example is the lack of prenatal/neonatal care my adoptive brother’s birth-mother and he received that contributed to his learning, behavioral and emotional disabilities. My own experiences and the trauma that my brother experienced during his birth journey, and the resources lacking after birth are all reasons why I will passionately pursue a career in neonatology. I have found peace and healing from my past by carving-out steps to a medical career that will positively impact young children’s lives and spare them from what my brother and family have endured.

My determination for learning new information, and passion for science has afforded me the opportunity to participate in several unique science-based programs. I participated in Dr. Rubin’s Mini-Medical School which is a competitive program designed for high-school students committed to pursuing a career in medicine. The program covered various specialties, procedures and rotations, using hands-on and lecture experiences to simulate the medical school environment, and I was fully submerged into the medical environment.

Also, in 2020, I attended the University of Massachusetts-Amherst pre-college summer programs in: “Genetics, Genomics, and Evolution” and “Visualizing Cells in Cancer and Disease”. Through these programs, I learned to prioritize academic responsibilities, access on-campus resources, and build relationships with professors while developing a better understanding of genetics, cancer, and disease. Additionally, in summer 2019, Brown University awarded me the Dean’s Scholarship to participate in a lab course (Characterizing C. elegans using Reverse Genetics) researching, developing, and conducting experiments to identify a particular gene target to design therapeutics to treat diseases. Currently, I am conducting a computational/experimental genetics project on pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to support pharmacological advancements under the mentorship of the University of Chicago and Argonne National Lab. These hands-on opportunities have broadened my understanding of human health and the need for research developments that will foster positive changes in the quality of people’s lives.

Harriet Tubman said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Along my journey of reaching for my career goals of becoming a Neonatologist (M.D.) and Molecular Biologist (Ph.D.), I strive to be persistent in the face of challenges; see the good in all people; be authentic and true to myself; be grateful for blessings/opportunities I have received and contribute my time and talents to meaningful endeavors.