A Lost Mountain in the Gums by Glory

A Lost Mountain in the Gums by Glory - August 2025 Scholarship Essay

If life were a movie, I’d be the character who trips in the first scene, spills coffee on their shirt, then somehow ends up leading the charge to victory by the final act. I’m not perfect.but I’m persistent, passionate, and powered by an unshakable belief that growth comes from grit (and a little bit of caffeine).
I come from a family where ambition was often whispered, not shouted. We did not have a map, but much heart and duct tape. I held jobs that humbled me, learned in environments that tested my persistence, and faced barriers that questioned whether I belonged in rooms where dreams were known as a native tongue. And yet, I stayed. I learned. I grew. And now I stand before you, asking for your help—not because I am undeserving, but because I'm ready to jump further and I won't allow economic limitations clip my wings.
As a pre-dental public health major, I've found my calling at the intersection of science, service, and storytelling. I'm attracted to how oral health (so frequently overlooked) can be a portal into more widespread issues. Gum disease isn't flossing; it's access, education, equity. I want to be the kind of dentist who not only treats teeth, but transforms lives, especially in those communities where oral health is seen as a luxury, not a necessity.
Being Nigerian-American has given me a unique lens through which I view health. I have seen firsthand how cultural assumptions, resource shortages, and health illiteracy can affect outcomes that textbooks are not fully able to describe. My long-term vision is to return to Nigeria and help improve oral and overall health literacy through outreach, education, and sustainable care practices. I want to build bridges between science and society, between what we know and what we share.
Academically, I've pushed myself harder than anticipated. I've led projects, mentored fellow classmates, and used failures as launch pads for comeback triumphs. I've volunteered in the local community, not for the résumé builder, but because I know that we all elevate by lifting one another. I'm not earning a degree, I'm seeking impact. This upcoming school year I want to branch further out into the dental field and gain more experience. I plan on volunteering at elementary schools to teach kids the importance of oral health and hygiene. I want to leave an impact on my community one step at a time.