My choice to practice medicine for underprivileged people began before I was even born. It really began in 1967. In 1967, Colonel Ojukwu, a political leader of our Igbo tribe in eastern Nigeria, declared independence to form a new state named Biafra. My family’s financial and personal losses were minor compared to the breakdown of Nigeria’s economic, political and social fabric that soon unraveled afterwards. Those bitter ashes of the war became a fertile ground for the formation of Médecins sans Frontières (MSF), a small cadre of doctors bonded by a guiding principle: to protest human rights violations and provide medical care to the afflicted. Through public protests against government-sanctioned civilian abuses, these doctors spoke out on behalf of my family and other Biafran civilians suffering in the shadows of war. I owe the memory of those doctors and my deceased relatives true respect.

My professional path should reflect my reverence for my past and emulate the socially conscious work of those doctors who volunteered in Biafra. Yet, stories by former field workers told in person and published in print have slashed my romantic illusions of emergency aid. An inherently unpredictable and demanding field, it will be more difficult than I can possibly imagine. Thus, I have dedicated significant time and study to ensure sufficient preparation.

From an early age, my interest in medicine motivated a serious work ethic towards learning about recent advances in the medical field. Receiving an Outstanding Student Award in Medicine at Cambridge University during a high school summer program convinced me that my enthusiasm about the medical field could carry me far as long as I dedicated sincere work towards it.

Most recently I was accepted to a dual Bachelor of Arts/Master’s of Public Health program that enables me to pursue both degrees while in college. While a dual degree program requires following a rigorous academic schedule, a master’s degree in epidemiology will give me the skills to better understand the patient demographic and inform me to organize appropriate responses to outbreaks in inner city neighborhoods or disaster areas. Apart from my academic preparation, two volunteer positions in inner city hospitals at the Friend Family Health Center in Chicago and the Boston Medical Center have allowed me to gain a personal perspective of the health care system.

Because I grew up in several locations, I sought a home at an early age in books and libraries. During the past summer, doing research on mast cells with my Physiology Professor introduced me to a new kind of library—the laboratory. For me, the laboratory is a land of possibilities where the microscope is my telescope. The laboratory is a comforting space where all that matters is a person’s desire to learn. It has become my second home. While attending medical school, I intend to continue researching the cellular physiology of mast cells. Fortunately, the National Institute of Health sponsors programs that encourage medical students to engage in clinical research during medical training and beyond.

This Mensa scholarship would allow me to take additional laboratory-centered classes to learn more about immunology and gain additional technical skills. I hope the committee grants me the opportunity to embark on a challenging and rewarding experience in a place I have come to consider my second home.