Studying The Mind To Better Understand The World by Taylor

Studying The Mind To Better Understand The World by Taylor - February 2025 Scholarship Essay

A course of study I hope to continue to explore is neuroscience. A quote that resonates with me regarding the brain is from Robert Sapolsky’s novel, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. The book states, “[The brain stands as] the final common pathway, [the] conduit that mediates the influences of all the distal factors”. As I completed Intro. To Neuroscience at UW Parkside last semester, I began to understand how interconnected the brain and nervous system truly is to our entire being. From the way we act, think, speak, and interact with the world, neuroscience stands at the forefront of each and every possible explanation. The brain is the beginning and the end of each intentional and unconscious behavior. I like to view neuroscience as the discipline that holds weight and affiliation for every other area of medicine. A quality of this study that draws me to pursuing it, is its vastness. The complexity of the human body as a whole is truly indescribable, and when narrowing to a view of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system alone, you are met with a constant shift in perspective and an unending opportunity to make a difference in the field. As the study of neuroscience continues to grow and advance, I envision a future for myself that breaks barriers within the work field as a woman, while also fulfilling a promise to always interact with patients and other medical professionals with compassion. I have come to learn, any career or educational path in medicine, especially within neuroscience, is truly never-ending. As individuals pursue healthcare, they are making a commitment to become a life-long learner. I could not be more grateful for that standard. Medicine, specifically this study, offers a promise of innovation and advancement along with a constant opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others.