What motivates me.....

When I am feeling discouraged I like to listen to gospel music. One of my favorite songs, which corresponds with my favorite bible verse, is Thou O Lord by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. I first heard this song in eleventh grade when the concert choir that I was apart of sand it for competition. The song's general message is based off Psalms 3:1-8, "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say on my soul. There is no help for him in God. But thou O Lord art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter of my hear. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me...." This scripture means that despite the people who doubt me and who are against me, the Lord is for me and with him anything is possible. No matter when I call on him, he hears me and answers me.

A book that has motivated me since 5th grade is "Gifted Hands" by Dr. Benjamin Carson, a pediatric Neurosurgeon, credited with being the first neurosurgeon to separate siamese twins conjoined at the head. He was born on September 18, 1951 in Detroit, Michigan. His mother only received a third grade education, marrying at 13. His father left his mother to raise him and his brother. She encouraged them to read at least two books a week and write book reports for her. After very humble beginnings he attended Yale and medical school at the University of Michigan. He is now the Director of Neurosurgery at John Hopkins Medical Center and received the Medal of Honor in 2008 by George Bush. His story shows me that despite his upbringing and his surroundings he became very successful.

Personal Statement

I am Kristin G. Everett from Richmond, Virginia. I love hanging with my friends, listening to music and reading African American fiction and nonfiction. I have four brothers who i love dearly. I have wanted to be a doctor since reading Gifted Hands by Dr. Benjamin Carson, an African American pediatric neurosurgeon. Although I don’t want to be a neurosurgeon I want a career in medicine. I often think about being a traveling doctor working for a nonprofit organization.
Fall semester at UVA was truly a learning experience, socially and academically. I quickly learned that down time could potentially be my downfall. I learned that I was in competition with myself. I learned that going out every weekend isn’t always beneficial to my academic success. I learned that classes with over 100 people are not beneficial to my learning style. Using my time during the day to do homework, to study or go to office hours makes more sense than sleeping between classes. Fall semester I did just okay but I will say it wasn’t my best. I have a lot to improve including my study habits, daily routines and positive attitude towards achievement. One of my highs of the fall semester was meeting some great people that I would not have met without the Transition Program. I have become apart of Black Voices Gospel Choir, which gave me a spiritual family on grounds. One of my lows of my first semester was rooming with someone who doesn’t like me because of the color of my skin. I have experienced prejudice before because of my differences from people of my own race but it became something that I could not deal with. On the outside I seemed unchanged by the behavior she showed me, but on the inside it hurt me to experience this.
For the spring semester I look forward to a strong academic finish. I want to participate in more extracurricular activities and to start community service.