Natalie Jackson-nixon

 For as long as I can remember, college has been the goal for me after high school. As time passed and I got closer to figuring out where I wanted to go next, I asked myself a million questions every day. “Is this really what you want to do with your life? Will this make you happy in 10 years? Are you only interested in this because of the salary?” I knew I did not want to be someone who made a decision based on what others saw as exceptional then ended up hating their life and having to start over. With that in mind, I decided to “dig a little deeper” as Mama Odie from The Princess and the Frog would say. After having a few conversations and doing some research, I concluded that I really enjoy science, especially anatomy and physiology. I realized that it is actually something I love and am knowledgeable about after taking an anatomy and physiology class at both the high school and college levels. I especially enjoyed engaging with the nervous system and the functions of the brain. My interest in the nervous system was no coincidence because of my personal connection to it. At an early age, I developed absence seizures. They began around the age of three and progressed up until about seven or eight. I was afraid of what was happening at first, but later I was more intrigued by the tests that were run to examine my brain and what kinds of people I would meet in the process. Despite having to spend days and sometimes weeks in the hospital away from friends and school, I always stayed on top of my studies and kept a high spirit. Since then, my fascination with the brain and how it works has expanded and sparked interest in a potential career. 

My ultimate goal is to become a neurologist to continue working with the nervous system and to potentially prevent other families from having to bear the hardship that my family and I have endured. Studying at Howard University’s college of arts and sciences will allow me to not only receive a higher education but also to connect with and be a significant part of the next generation of black doctors and scientists. Most importantly, I will be a black doctor who was educated at ‘The Mecca’. Additionally, studying at the College of Arts and Sciences at Howard University would set me apart from the numerous other candidates at competitive medical schools across the country with the accelerated dual-degree programs. It is would also expose me to a network of alumni who could mentor me throughout the process and beyond. My love for science is something that I recently discovered, but my love for Howard University has been consistent since I discovered it in eighth grade. Therefore, having the opportunity to finally be admitted is a dream come true.