A Future Rooted In Purpose by Ivey

A Future Rooted In Purpose by Ivey - March 2025 Scholarship Essay

Ten years from now, I see myself in a white coat, but not just any white coat. It is not stiff and alien like the ones I tried to wear during my job shadowing at UF Health. It is well-worn, a little frayed, a reminder of years of schooling, growth, and the lives that I have touched. By the time I get there, I will be a women's health physician assistant working in an underserved community where quality care is out of reach. But I have a way to go before that.

Now, I am a high school senior balancing leadership duties, coursework, and my small cosmetology business. In a few months' time, I will be opening the doors to Florida International University, ready to immerse myself in the Pre-Physician Assistant Program, the Black Student Union, and community service clubs like Girl Power. My education will not only be textbook and classroom-based but from experiences that are tangible such as internships, clinical rotations, and the countless tales of patients who put their trust in me to mend them.

But I will not leave cosmetology behind. What I have learned as a licensed cosmetologist will stay with me, guiding the practice of patient care that I will perform. I will specialize in working with women suffering from hair loss due to ailments like alopecia and chemotherapy, bridging the gap between medicine and beauty.

In ten years, I will not just be practicing medicine. I will be restoring confidence, battling for expanded access to healthcare, and living the mission that I have spent years cultivating.