[Student Profile]
GPA: 3.8
SAT/ACT: 1300
Academic focus/Extracurricular activities: summer research, medicine, neuroscience, alzheimer's club, HOSA
[Prompt & Essay]
“Dehko lambu aa gaye,”—”Look, the tall one is here!” my Nani (grandmother) enthusiastically shouted, characteristically clapping her hands as she would during traditional Hindi music. Though my Nani has trouble remembering my name, her joy- lled eyes brightened as she saw me. I sensed her shift in mood, and felt as if I had the power to turn people’s frowns upside down. She used the green again, but Nani often repeats information. She was diagnosed with moderate Alzheimer’s disease three years ago, and I have been caring for her several times a week ever since.
My Nani has lost the ability to perform daily tasks, most notably showering as she resorts to yelling when her neurological fear of bathing kicks in. When I directed her to shower, she insisted that I shower instead, I knew I had to put myself in her shoes to understand what was really bothering her. When she demanded that I shower, she called me “bachche”—child in Hindi—so I sensed that Nani was reminiscing about babysitting me as a toddler, the foundation of our strong emotional connection. Instead of forcing her to bathe, I brought her favorite leather chair to the bathroom and played clips of toddlers taking baths on her iPad.
Suddenly, the violent cries died down and she burst into laughter. I gently lifted her head into a water bowl and began shampooing her as she pretended to bathe the babies in the video—just as used to bathe me as a child. Afterward, I observed her newfound independence and handed her baby wipes to wash her upper body. By helping Nani bathe, I learned the balance between “babying” Alzheimer’s patients and allowing them to exercise independence to keep their brains acve.
Through helping my Nani, I realized that I wanted to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s in my community. I stumbled across Youth Movement Against Alzheimer’s (YMAA), a national nonprofit that combats the social stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. As president and founder of the YMAA chapter at my high school, I helped my peers understand that the bale against Alzheimer’s is intergenerational.
With my radiant smile I began planning our Ball 4 Alz basketball charity event. Juggling forms and funds every day during lunch, I worked hard to make this fundraiser as big and memorable as possible. For those who weren’t excited about basketball, I arranged a #CuretheCloud advocacy week during which students and sta wrote their favorite memories down on a massive cloud in our school cafeteria. To explore the neuroscience behind the disease, I formed partnerships with other advocacy chapters to host our own Town Hall with neurologists, caretakers, professors, and activists educating the crowd about cure research.
After my successful ventures, I expanded my advocacy efforts on a national level as Regional Director. In this new position, I manage outreach to hundreds of high schools and universities to start YMAA chapters on their campuses. Interacting with diverse individuals from all over the country not only helped me strengthen my communication and public speaking skills, but allowed me to serve as the voice of the organization. In response to the isolation and depression among seniors caused by COVID-19, I helped launch the [name] program, which pairs millennials and seniors to share a meal via Zoom.
My ability to understand and creatively address my Nani’s needs has sparked my interest in neurology and gerontology. I have learned the language of Alzheimer’s and will use my skills to continue learning, contributing, and advocating for the care and treatment that parents deserve. My college experiences will help me expand on these skills and gain a solid academic foundation for my life’s work— eliminating the decline that accompany Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The wholesome feeling I get when collaborating with individuals who share my passions and goals, especially when they involve helping others, is what motivates me to excel.