My Greatest Strength, Empathy by Arielle

My Greatest Strength, Empathy by Arielle - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Throughout my K–12 years, I’ve been an honors STEM student and a (9-year) member of the Dynamic Mathematical Visionaries National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Chapter. Serving as Team Captain for MathCounts, Try-A-Math-League, and our two-time National Championship FIRST LEGO League Robotics team, #GirlCode, taught me discipline, collaboration, and the power of lifting others. As I grew, my interests evolved. I became drawn to also understanding not just math, robotics, and physical science, but also social science, specifically, how people think, feel, and heal. Now, my interests, passions, and strengths lie at the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and empathy-driven leadership.

My passion for psychology is deeply personal. During the pandemic, I struggled with the tangled mess of my heart. Tough conversations were difficult for me, and I’d choke up. As I entered HS, sensitivity ran through me like my hair down my back. Holding on to others' words and actions detrimentally affected me. Mental health counseling helped relieve my tension, like tight cornrows that loosened up. My newfound support worked like detangling cream, helping me to massage my tenderness into passion. I realized there is strength in overcoming uncomfortable mental pain and discomfort. You need a sense of calmness, knowledge, and most importantly, empathy. Mental health counseling gave me clarity, confidence, and a new sense of purpose, and piqued an interest. This experience transformed my sensitivity into my greatest strength, empathy. It inspired me to pursue psychology and neuroscience as a career path focused on helping others navigate their own challenges.

Academically, I’ve actively pursued this passion and grown my knowledge in the area of Psychology. I earned scholarships to attend: Duke University’s psychology and neuroscience programs; Trinity University's Psychology-101 class; and Georgetown University's pre-college psychology course. I am excited to research the integration of artificial intelligence and wearable biosensing technology into mental health care. I envision ethical, human-centered tools that use AI and biosensors to detect early signs of stress, support preventative care, and personalize treatment while always preserving human judgment, compassion, and accountability.

As I have grown, I have discovered that my strength as an empathetic leader is my superpower. I’ve turned my passion and strength into action through impactful leadership and service. Currently, I serve as High School Volleyball Captain, President of my NSBE Jr. chapter, and President of my HS’s Psychology Club. Losing a volleyball teammate to suicide, I recognized the urgent need for peer-to-peer mental health support. A close friend and I co-founded our Psychology Club, creating a safe space for honest conversations around anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, academic burnout, and sports imposter syndrome. We host weekly discussions, share school resources, and plan to expand our outreach to younger students through mentorship programs.

I am choosing courage over comfort and using curiosity to create impact. I am embracing an unconventional path that blends STEM, psychology, athletics, and service. Whether mentoring student robotics teams, volunteering with youth STEM programs, or supporting teammates during moments of self-doubt, I lead with empathy and authenticity. I challenge stigma, speak openly about mental health, and strive to uplift others, while staying true to my empathetic self.

Through psychology, leadership, and technology, I aim to build stronger, healthier communities, proving that when we believe in ourselves and each other, we truly create a better world.