More Than A Major by Ta-neya

More Than A Major by Ta-neya - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

Ever since I was young, I have always liked science. It might not have been something that I was always good at, but I definitely tried my hardest in it and enjoyed the subject. Once getting into highschool, and really exploring the different sciences more in depth, I started to really enjoy biology and chemistry. While I did really enjoy both, my favorite by far was biology. Being able to learn about what goes on inside the body really intrigued me. Biology made my dream of being a pediatrician feel more real. It was like I was getting a preview on the life that I have wanted for so long. I remember one day we had a lesson on different types of diseases and syndromes. We were taught how certain chromosomes relate to an able bodied human. For example, if a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21, it will lead to down syndrome. Also, if there is a mutation in the copies of a person's HBB gene, it will cause Sickle Cell Disease. It didn't even feel like a lesson that day. We had a few assignments on this lesson and I recall turning them all in early. After leaving class that day it kind of just clicked. Like I really want to study this further and be able to actually apply it in my life. This experience also made me realize that I want to pursue medicine as well. It really sparked my interest in this subject. I’m aware that biology is not a fan favorite by most, but my 9th grade biology class made it such an enjoyable and interesting experience and it made me really want to explore it further.
Outside of school experience that sparked an interest in biology for me, I have also had many personal experiences that contributed to this as well. There are plenty of doctors and nurses in my family and hearing stories about them makes it seem more possible for me. Although there is a lot of medical professions in my family, I’ve never once felt pressure to study biology. Biology and science has been something that I have always just enjoyed. My grandma is certainly one of the main reasons why I became interested in biology and being a doctor as well. She is an immigrant from Nigeria and she came to the US to study medicine and become a nurse. I remember when my family and I were living with her and I would wake up in the middle of the night to see her studying for tests, highlighting notes, or asking me to help her type an essay. One of my cousins who resides in the UK is also studying to become a doctor. She is majoring in biology as well and she will always call and text me on updates on her classes. When she comes here on break sometimes I will help her memorize a few terms with flash cards, or test her on definitions. There are times that she may get a little busy and we won't talk to each other for a few weeks, but she always contacts me back after some time. Those two ladies further interested me in the field of biology. Seeing them work through stuff and preserve made me excited to try it out for myself.
I know that it won't be easy- majoring in biology, but I am also aware that it will be so worth it when I can begin my life as a pediatrician. All of the labs, all nighters, study sessions, and more will be worth it. This is because to me, biology is not just a major. It’s not just something to take because I have no other choices, it's not because I feel pressured into it by family or friends, it's something that I get lost in. Something that I genuinely enjoy. Something that I want to master in my lifetime. Something that may be tough, something that I may want to quit at times, but something that I know I will truly love. Although this major will not be easy, this is the first step that I can take into my life. Biology is almost like a sort of escape for me and I wouldn't trade my future major for anything else.