I chose to study Biology because I desire to be a biomedical researcher as my career. Growing up, I knew I always wanted to be a doctor, just like my mom. What I didn't always know was how difficult it could be to be a black person in the STEM field. As time went on, I learned about health disparities, such as higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, as well as ethical wrongdoings that black people were subject to; most infamously, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment.

Studying biology at an HBCU, I have learned things that I would not have learned directly from a textbook. While our curriculum contains the typical topics, such as the parts of a cell and formulas, it also places emphasis on historical context. The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment is a key example of how black men were deceived and then denied treatment by medical professionals who took an oath to do no harm. This experiment led to long- lasting physical, emotional, and generational harm that can still be felt in black communities to this day. Historically, black people have been underrepresented in the medical field, both as patients and as doctors. Medical trials have often been completed with racially biased samples or carried out unethically, which deepens the already present mistrust between the black community and healthcare providers. This is just another example of why representation is so important for health outcomes, accurate treatment, and combating health disparities.

Through coursework and peer discussion, we not only examine and understand what we study, but also who is affected by what we study, as well as how they are affected. This approach has changed how I view biology; it is more than the topics we learn in class, its also how those topics apply to different people in different scenarios. Getting my education in a black-centered environment has instilled a desire to pursue research that is ethical and correct. As a biology major,

I hope to contribute to a future of equality and serve the diverse world as it continues to change.