When I was twelve, I stood frozen as ambulance sirens pierced the air and chaos surrounded my uncle’s lifeless body. My Uncle Gary’s death from addiction changed my life forever. Once a promising high school athlete, he suffered a devastating ACL injury that ended his scholarship dreams. The pain medication prescribed to him became both his comfort and his curse, leading to addiction, incarceration, and ultimately his untimely death. That day, I promised myself I would dedicate my life to helping others avoid the same fate. My mother’s resilience during that tragedy taught me lessons of perseverance, empathy, and faith in the power of education. She never stopped trying to save her brother, and through her example I learned that compassion and persistence can create meaningful change. Those experiences molded my aspiration to become a licensed pharmacist; someone who can not only dispense medication but also educate, counsel, and prevent harm. Through my education at Wayne State University’s College of Pharmacy, I am gaining the scientific knowledge and clinical training to understand how drugs work, how they heal, and how they harm when misused. My goal is to specialize in community or clinical pharmacy practice, where I can work directly with patients, advocate for safe medication use, and help those struggling with substance dependency find a path toward recovery. In communities like Detroit, where I grew up, prescription drug misuse and opioid addiction remain devastatingly common. I want to be a pharmacist who serves as both a healthcare professional and a voice for awareness, someone who helps patients understand that healing is possible without falling victim to addiction. Winning this scholarship would not only relieve the financial burden that comes with pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree but would also allow me to fully immerse myself in my education and community service. Balancing tuition, housing, and clinical expenses can be overwhelming, but financial assistance would enable me to dedicate more time to research, mentorship, and outreach programs that address addiction prevention and health literacy. This support would bring me one step closer to becoming the pharmacist my community needs; one who empowers others to make informed decisions about their health and medication. Ultimately, I want to honor my uncle’s final words to me: “Stay in school and continue your education.” His life may have been cut short, but his message fuels my purpose. By earning my PharmD and serving Detroit, I can transform my family’s pain into progress for others. This scholarship would not just support my education, it would help me fulfill a promise, break cycles of addiction, and bring healing and hope to those who need it most.