Deitra L. King Memorial Scholarship

My academic journey has been decidedly unique. I began my time at Duke University in 2013 as a part of the Class of 2017. However, significant mental health challenges led me to take time off from my studies. Although I struggled to shed the shame attached to this perceived failure, I've grown to be immensely grateful for these medical leaves and appreciative of the personal growth that they have afforded me. I had the opportunity to truly understand myself and the time to develop coping mechanisms best suited to overcome my adversities. This period of mental and spiritual healing gave me an extraordinary and layered view of the world. I grew to see beauty in a reality I was once so desperate to escape and learned to actually cherish and be thankful for my existence. It seems like a simple outlook, but happiness was never truly something I thought tangible in my future. I believe that this journey to improve my mental health also gave me a deep sense of empathy. A desire to connect and understand others that I hope to carry with me into my career. I am currently majoring in psychology as well as fulfilling my pre-medical requirements. I aspire to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology, through which I intend to provide care to under-served communities. I hope to incorporate my psychology training into my future treatment practices, providing exceptional patient care is an essential part of my philosophy. I want to offer a safe and welcoming environment in which patients feel comfortable to voice their needs. Mental and physical health often go hand-in-hand. My experience with mental health has also expanded the different avenues to providing care. I am an advocate for holistic medicine and seek to combine its benefits with traditional Western medicine. I've had incredible experiences with acupuncture, breath work, and meditation in particular. I am excited to continue my academic journey and eager to absorb all the knowledge and experiences that this world has to offer. I am so very grateful to still be here.