At 14 years old, most girls are not quite even yet thinking about college, nevertheless, getting ready to graduate. Well, one Texas girl, Alena McQuarter, is proving that #blackgirlmagic is truly real as she is not only a current NASA intern, but she’s about to graduate college. Additionally, this talented teen has already made history as the youngest person of color in the U.S. to get accepted into medical school.
“In the future, I want to look into health care and underrepresented communities,” she said in a recent interview with USA Today. “I just want to learn more and be able to develop different things to help … increase health care in underrepresented communities and advocate for people.”
Although she has already been admitted to the University of Alabama’s Heersink School of Medicine to pursue her degree, she said that she is more interested in research. McQuarter plans to apply elsewhere to in order to obtain a doctorate and study viral immunology with a focus on infectious diseases.
Despite her brilliant success, the young scholar has met with naysayers. One such individual, shockingly enough was supposed to be in her corner no matter what as an educator. McQuarter’s fifth grade school principal, who was a woman of color, told her that young girls of color can’t get good grades or pass state tests.
McQuarter told the popular news magazine in regards to her teacher that, “It did kind of hurt because I worked hard to get the grades that I go. Someone comes and tells you, ‘You can’t do this because you’re too young or you’re a girl of color.’ I really wanted to show her that I can get good grades and I can go on and do amazing things. So I’m proving that.”
We think that McQuarter has unquestionably proven her wrong and will continue to do so!
Yet, McQuarter isn’t just books and research. She does love to let her hair down when she has free time. In her free time, the gifted scholar loves playing sports, swimming and singing, particularly jazz and pop.
Congratulations, Alena. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for you. We have no doubt that it is going to be amazingly groundbreaking!
Photo Credit(s)/Featured Image: Alena McQuarter Instagram
