Discovering My Future by Zoey

Discovering My Future by Zoey - April 2025 Scholarship Essay

Choosing my major wasn’t a difficult process for me because I’ve known for many years that I wanted to pursue something in STEM. From an early age, I found myself drawn to science and math in ways that my classmates didn’t. I’ve always been a hands-on learner, and I loved engaging in labs and projects during science classes, which made me excel even when others struggled. Initially, I didn’t think much of it, but as I got to high school, I began to hear comments from my peers like, "How do you understand this?" or "Of course, you get it, you love math." It was then that I realized how easily I grasped concepts in math and science compared to many of my classmates.
As the conversation around college started to happen with my parents, they suggested engineering might be the perfect fit for my interests. At first, I didn’t give it much thought beyond their suggestion, but when I reached my junior year of high school and the college search became more real, I decided to dive deeper into the field. During that process, I visited Embry-Riddle and the University of Central Florida with my mom. On the tour at Embry-Riddle, we passed a lab where students were working on robotic limbs and projects in the medical field. This immediately sparked my interest, especially since I had loved my biology class in freshman year, and the idea of combining engineering with the medical field seemed like the perfect blend of my passions.
It was during that visit that I found my calling: biomedical engineering. Since then, I’ve been certain that this is the path for me. The idea of using my passion for STEM to not only help advance technology but also to make a tangible difference in healthcare is incredibly inspiring. My personal connection to the field also plays a huge role in my decision. When I was two years old, my father was diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes irregular heartbeats. He has a defibrillator implanted in his chest, and when he was diagnosed, there was limited knowledge about the disease. Although we know more today, there is still no clear way to diagnose patients who haven't experienced a life-threatening episode.
Because Brugada syndrome is genetic, both my brother and I have been monitored by Johns Hopkins since my dad’s diagnosis. The idea that I could one day help develop technology to improve diagnosis and treatment for conditions like this is deeply meaningful to me. Even if it’s not specifically Brugada syndrome, the possibility of contributing to medical advancements that could help people in similar situations is truly inspiring.
Choosing biomedical engineering as my major means a great deal to me, and I’m eager to begin this journey. I can’t wait to contribute to the world in a way that blends my love for science and technology with my desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives.