Malcom X: Overcoming Confinement by Kate

Malcom X: Overcoming Confinement by Kate - March 2021 Scholarship Essay

An academic role model of mine is Malcom X. When I first learned about Malcom X in middle school, I was a little bit scared of him because the nature of his work was extremely controversial. That aside, I think a lot can be learned about the way X conducted himself in a time when it seemed there was no other choice than to give up. When Malcom X was in prison, he had every reason to lose hope for life and sink into listlessness and apathy. But instead, Malcom X spent every waking hour reading books in his jail cell, staying up past the jail curfew with nothing but a candle to light his intellectual pursuits. It was these relentless months that caused Malcolm X to come out of jail with eloquent speaking and writing skills, and to this day his words and actions impact our society.
I certainly do not plan on going to jail any time soon, but I do plan on pursuing an education during a time of challenge and confinement presented by Covid-19. Resources may not be as readily available for us, and it may be necessary to come up with new, innovative ways to work on projects and pursue skills. Like Malcom X, I hope to let my passion for learning and understanding drive me to jump over any hurdle that would keep me from obtaining my goal.
I am passionate about Public Health in a global context, and I’m going to Baylor for Public Health and International Relations so that I can tackle Public Health issues in the future. To improve the health of an entire population is a messy endeavor, no doubt filled with setbacks and retries. If I can endure through these obstacles, I know I can achieve my dream of helping people through Public Health. That starts with funding my education, so I hope that you will choose to support me and my academic pursuits!