The Human Brain - A Modern Marvel by Kaleigh

The Human Brain - A Modern Marvel by Kaleigh - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

Understanding the brain, the tissue and electrical currents that form our perception of the world, is the most exciting question of our time. I want to be the kind of learner, researcher, that seeks to understand it; more importantly, I want to be the kind of person to be excited to share it.

I want to build myself a foundation to explore neuroscience, bioelectricity, and medical ethics as a professional and develop the community, mindset, and communication skills to be the best colleague and physician in my field. By pursuing biomedical engineering, I set myself up to bring those elements together and give myself an exciting avenue to explore research and medical opportunities. A more in-depth understanding of academic research and an emphasis in medicine align with my personal and professional interests, and support me as I continue on into medical school, neurosurgery, and neurological research.

As a research-focused surgeon, I want to develop a deeper understanding of the tissue that makes up the physical and chemical structures of the body and mind. As a physician I want to excel not for my sake, but the sake of my patients - untangling the brain’s complexities and working towards solutions for unfixable, life-altering problems. While research is the avenue I want to prioritize in working toward that goal, solving problems for people is what matters to me, and I want to keep that at the center of my work and my life. The niche I find exciting is a narrow, academically and professionally rigorous one, but I believe that pushing towards understanding the brain and helping those impacted by neurological disorders is one of the most exciting ways I can work to better the world.

The brain and nervous system as a whole is a marvel that humans will likely never understand. Within my life I want to make an ethical contribution towards deepening the understanding of our bodies and its mechanics by extension furthering the understanding of mankind.