My Life by Samiyah

My Life by Samiyah - August 2022 Scholarship Essay

Being an African American woman has shaped my life for the past 18 years. On almost every document needed today, it is a requirement to check those little boxes to identify your race and gender. However, many people who fall under the same categories as me get mistreated in the healthcare field. In the past, African Americans and other minorities have been the joke of the story; we faced many trials, and several can still be seen today, for instance, gun violence and police brutality. Our voices have become lost and unspoken for. My goal is to be that voice and make people like me and every other race and gender feel comfortable and safe in their environment when treated. In my case, I have struggled with dyslexia since I was six years old; simple words my peers pronounced and spelled were difficult for me. I felt embarrassed to speak up to anyone, and my teachers would always pull me aside, and I would explain what I was talking about.
As African Americans, a lot of us are told by our parents, or maybe even peers, that nothing is wrong with us we are just lazy. However, I struggled in silence for many years. I was afraid doctors would not understand my previous lifestyle in New York. They might have blamed my mother; she was doing her best to provide for us. School was not a priority to me rather, I helped my biological mother with her job to get extra money before being adopted by my cousin. Living in New York was a trial for my family and me. At the age of four, I witnessed gun violence in my own area. Witnessing someone die in front of me still traumatizes me to this day. However, as African Americans, we deal with the struggle of increased potential gun violence, increased chance of healthcare issues like diabetes, and racial profiling every day.
In an interview, Adrienne Hibbert, an African American woman who was giving birth, stated. "I want someone who understands my background. I want someone who understands the foods that I eat. I want someone who understands my upbringing and things that my grandma used to tell me." Many other patients of my skin tone and other minorities don't feel safe or comfortable being treated by medical professionals who are not like them because they do not understand their background. Being in the medical field is not easy, but I am dedicated to ensuring no patient feels left out or unheard. I will use my knowledge of cultures and different diversities from my past; to go above and beyond for every patient I take care of. I am not controlled by my past; nothing is going to prevent me from reaching this goal, and I thank my mother for my determination. Even if everyone tells me I can't make my dream come true, I will continue to be a voice. People like me are judged and made out to seem like we cannot stature the job titles and positions as white people, but to me, that is just more encouragement to prove everyone wrong. I should be picked for this scholarship because of my determination and long-term goal of being a healthcare worker. I have a passion for speaking for the unspoken, especially people like me. My past of dealing with mental health and gun violence motivates me everyday to keep going and reach my goal.