FOSSI: Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Nia Morgan and I grew up on the South Side of Chicago. I recently graduated from Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep where I maintained a 4.2 GPA and participated in several extracurricular activities. These include Student Ambassadors, French National Honors Society and being one of the Founders of our Brooks Art and Literary Magazine.
I aspire to become a cardio thoracic surgeon with the hopes of contributing to the growing representation of black women in the medical field. Since discovering my true passion at a younger age than most, I was given the opportunity to participate in medical driven programs such as the Health Leaders Program at Northwestern and the Discovering Health Careers Cohort at Lurie's Children Hospital, which I'm currently participating in.
Some of my favorite hobbies include shopping, painting, drawing and baking. I would describe myself as a very outgoing, collaborative and determined young woman.
FOSSI: Why are you passionate about pursuing a degree in a STEM-related field?
Pursuing a degree in the STEM field has always been a passion of mine because I fell in love with medicine from a young age. My love for medicine stemmed from my love of learning about the periodic table, and learning about our bodies and the way they work.
I became increasingly interested in science because there was never one way to look at it and I enjoyed the act of learning something new and figuring out how it worked in the real world.
I took pre-college biology classes and I have remained curious throughout my entire educational career thus far. I always knew that my calling was to help people feel better and to save lives for a living. Now I want to use my resources and take the necessary steps to make my dreams become a reality.
FOSSI: Why is receiving the FOSSI scholarship important for you?
Receiving this scholarship means absolutely the world to me because it was just the blessing I needed to ensure that the financial burden of seeking a higher education would be minimized for me and my family. I understand that I am pursuing a very lengthy/costly profession, so it is important that I work hard and remain focused so that I am able to continue receiving aid in my journey.
FOSSI: Fast forward – where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself halfway into my surgical residency after completing medical school. I see myself being matched with the best program for me and one that will benefit me in more ways than one. I also see myself as more financially literate than I am currently, as in having more self control with shopping and fast fashion intake. At this stage in my life, I am also capable of maintaining my overall happiness and well being, whether that is via reading or exercising. I know I will be exactly where I want to be.
FOSSI: Share a few fun facts about yourself.
- I'm left-handed.
- I love baking.
- I am the middle child in my family.
- I will be the first person in my family to pursue and complete my journey of becoming a surgeon.