Just recently, Alena Analeigh Wicker, a 13-year-old prodigy, made History by becoming the youngest Black person in the United States to be accepted into a medical school.
Alena hopes to become a doctor after capturing the attention of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine. Alena, who’s almost done with her undergraduate studies at both Arizona State University and Oakwood University in just one year, expects to reach her goal at 18.
“I really want to leave my mark on the world. And lead a group of girls that know what they can do,” Alena said.
Last year, she spoke with 12 News shortly after being accepted into ASU’s engineering program and expressed her desire to work with NASA. She quickly realized, however, that she was more interested in a different type of science.
“It actually took one class in engineering, for me to say this is kind of not where I wanted to go,” she said. “I think viral immunology really came from my passion for volunteering and going out there engaging with the world.”
A trip to Jordan and the Brown STEM Girl foundation, which she founded at the age of 12, inspired the child genius. The foundation provides resources to exceptional minority students through scholarships and mentoring as they transition from college to career life.
“What I want from healthcare is to really show these underrepresented communities that we can help, that we can find cures for these viruses,” Alena said.
“I want to inspire the girls. I want them to see that there are no limits,” she proclaimed.
She took to Instagram last week after receiving her acceptance letter to express her joy and gratitude for her mother.