Dear Family and Friends,

My name is Thaya Lawshea. I am a 10th grade student at Columbus Alternative High School (CAHS) in Columbus, Ohio. I am an Advanced Placement student, currently studying Anatomy/Physiology, the most exhilarating subject in my high school experience thus far. Ms. Sheets is the teacher of this subject and I believe it is because of her, with the support and prestige of my school, that I was nominated for and, ultimately, invited to attend this summer’s National Youth Leadership Forum for Medicine and Health Care. So I want to first thank Ms. Sheets and CAHS for identifying my enthusiasm for science, creating a safe space for me to share my career dreams, and supporting my aspiration of one day becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon.

Orthopedic surgery is the field of medicine that interests me most. I have an older sister who was born premature and has been through several surgeries and medical procedures, and receives ongoing treatments addressing delayed development of her mind and body, along with deformities of her bones and muscles. Because of her, the subject of Medicine has always been a part of my life although I may not have been old enough to fully understand.

At age nine years old, my curiosity on how the human body functions on the inside inspired me to begin conducting internet research on various physical ailments communicated in my home. Sometimes, with minor medical matters, such as ringworm, my mother would describe or have me look up symptoms, and ask me to diagnose the issue, identify recommended treatment and ways to address the medical issue, and determine the right course of action to take based on my research. This excited me and made me proclaim my desire to be a doctor.

When I received the book Encyclopedia of Body by Miles Kelly at age eleven, I immediately began studying and taking notes from the book on the different body systems. And, the more I learned, the more I knew that I wanted to be a doctor. I also became more interested in TV shows that were based on the medical professions, took place in hospital environments, and involved Paramedics and surgical procedures. Though I knew the shows were fictional, the surgical procedures still fascinated me. Already wanting to be a doctor, I began to see the possibility that I could be a real surgeon in the field of Medicine, capable of performing real surgical procedures and, more importantly, capable of saving real human lives. I began to understand that becoming a surgeon would be a perfect collaboration of my passion for science and medicine and my love for helping people in need.

In June 2022, my sister, suffering from progressive scoliosis, underwent an 8-hour spinal fusion surgery to prevent permanent curvation of her spine. She couldn’t sit straight for many years, having to view the world from nearly a 45 degree angle. It was recommended by her Orthopedic team that spinal fusion would correct this. My mother showed me the x-rays of my sister's spine before and after surgery. I was awestruck by the images of the rod and screws that were literally inside of my sister’s body, and I understood that they were put there to help her to sit more comfortably and to see more accurately to improve her life. And once I saw the incision that went along her entire spine and saw how much of a difference the spinal fusion had made in her sitting in her wheelchair, I knew the type of surgeon I wanted to be.

Becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon is important to me because it will allow me to continue doing what is currently inspiring me to pursue a career in Medicine: Learning about human anatomy and physiology, and being granted access to this prestigious NYLF event to gain further understanding of the specialization of orthopedics and surgery. These experiences positively influence my aspirations to one day work with people in need of orthopedic corrections and to perform the surgical procedures that can and will improve human lives.

The invitation to this summer's National Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine and Health Care came unexpected, but it would be awesome if I am able to attend. My mother supports me in EVERYTHING that I do and is always sacrificing financially so that I can experience things in life that will, in her words, "help me to become a good citizen". This is the reason why I decided to take this important step in reaching out to my community for support. This is my plan.

Upon receipt of the invitation, Mom and I researched the website and found a scholarship offer. I was responsible for writing a 300-500 word essay to complete the application. The deadline was 2/28/24. We submitted our application 2/25/24 and will get a response in 3-4 weeks.

We decided that I will attend the forum at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri as it will allow us to drive, saving money on travel costs.

With help from my Dad, I am selling candy for $1 during school and after-school activities to get my classmates and friends to support my fundraising efforts.

I WISH TO REACH MY FUNDRAISING GOAL AMOUNT OF $4,689 BY MAY 30, 2024!

All funds graciously donated will be used to pay for:

I want to thank God for those who have it in your hearts to contribute but are unable to do so. And, thank God to those who are able to commit to my fundraising event. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your thoughts and prayers, love, and support have a huge impact on who I am today. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.