Lekasia Riley
Quick Facts
Major: Nursing, 2024
Transfer Institution: Highline College, Associate of Arts Pre-Nursing
“To be an Alfie scholar means to be a civility leader dedicated to resolving social injustices through conversation and action. An Alfie scholar is a person who is a modeled leader for everyone. Making a change in the world can be a big or small contribution. ”
Service & Work:
Certified Nurse’s Assistant, Talbot Rehabilitation Center
Camp Counselor, Seattle Children’s Hospital Stanley Stamm Camp
Volunteer Math Tutor
Camp Supervisor, Y-Scholars Summer Program
Mentor, Trailblazers Mentorship at Washington Middle School
Community Service, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Awards & Honors:
Alfie Scholars Cohort 7, 2022–2024
President's Honor Roll, September 2020–December 2021
Dean's List, March 2020–June 2021
Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, September 2019–June 2024
Fred G. Zahn Scholarship, November 2020–June 2021
Links Incorporated Scholarship, September 2019–June 2020
Lekasia’s Story
Can you imagine your kidneys only functioning at 5%- 10%; taking 34 pills every day, only for them to function at 90%? Imagining it is one thing, but living it is another. Have you ever heard of a disease called cystinosis? Cystinosis is "a metabolic disease characterized by an abnormal accumulation of the amino acid cystine in various organs of the body, such as the kidneys, eyes, muscles, pancreas, and brain." It is a lifelong disorder, and there is no cure. I have cystinosis, but cystinosis doesn't have me. In addition, I also have to take four eye drops per day. If I do not take my medicine, my kidneys will fail, and I could die. In addition, cystine crystals build in my kidneys and eyes, and I could go blind. I was born with this disorder, which has played a significant role in my life.
Although it has been challenging as a college student to take medicine every day while taking a full schedule and extracurricular activities, I have chosen to embrace the challenge. Having cystinosis has taught me to be tenacious, and it taught me how to turn a negative into a positive. My medical condition has taught me how to have grit, overcome obstacles, and not allow my hardships to be barriers. Although having cystinosis puts me at a disadvantage, I refuse to be a victim. I continue to challenge myself by taking rigorous classes; when I experience academic obstacles, I am determined to find solutions that will remove the obstacles. Being a student with severe disease, taking challenging classes, and experiencing family hardships has taught me to always strive for excellence- regardless of my circumstances. I will not allow my disease to define who I am. My most recent ordeal with cystinosis solidified the role I want to play as a nurse. Just recently, in January, I was hospitalized because my kidneys started failing, and I had acidosis in my blood, and now I am on dialysis. My hemoglobin levels were low at the end of January, so I had to get a blood transfusion. While I was in the hospital, I received mediocre and exceptional care, and as a nurse, my number one goal is to be a reflection of the exceptional care I received.
In addition to me having cystinosis, I experienced my parents being absent for a certain amount of time in my life. Although it was challenging not having my parents in my life, it taught me how to have strength in the face of adversity. My mother was sentenced to five years in prison, and my father was deported. It was devastating to be nine years old and not have a father or mother. However, I learned from their mistakes, forcing me to do my best in life. I don't want prison to be in my future; I want college in my future. I will be the one who breaks the cycle of despair in my family. My family has always been at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Unlike my parents, I am proud to be a first-generation college student and aspire to become a nurse. I desire to have the opportunity to help and support people with illnesses. Having cystinosis motivates me to work in healthcare, which will provide me the opportunity to support others with similar medical conditions. I refuse to let my disease and external circumstances stop me from being all I can be.
I am a leader at heart and use my voice for social justice and to improve the problems within different systems. I use my voice for people of color who are voiceless. As an African American woman, I envision myself advocating for the BIPOC patients in healthcare who are disproportionally underserved. While envisioning myself as a future nurse, I learned that I want to give back to my community, especially those of color who are less fortunate and not cared for properly in the health care system. Therefore, I want to build a hospital that caters to people of color and provides adequate healthcare.
Advice:
My advice to high school and community college students who aspire to attend a university would be never to give up and never be derailed from your goals of getting into a university if you are not accepted! Instead, apply for a lot of scholarships and apply to all the universities you are interested in.
Goals:
My mission in life is to advocate for the voiceless patients in the healthcare system, and I want to foster racial equity in the healthcare system through advocacy. Second, I want to empower people to know about their health and teach them how to advocate for adequate healthcare. Third, I want to teach patients the power in valuing their health and provide education and quality healthcare to every patient. I want to change the healthcare system because people of color do not receive adequate healthcare due to the practices performed in the healthcare system and because it is difficult for people of color to navigate the healthcare system. I want to transform the healthcare system because of my experience as a patient in the healthcare system. I have firsthand experience in adequate and poor healthcare, and I know the significant impact both have on patients. I will use my nursing degree to gain skills and knowledge to ensure all patients receive an equitable healthcare experience. I believe racial justice in the healthcare system is necessary and can be accomplished with effective education.
On Civility:
Civility first starts with yourself. Civility is about becoming your true authentic self and treating yourself and others with respect. Second, it means being open to learning from others to broaden your ideas on different topics. Third, it means being a leader, supporting others, and working with your community to create change. Finally, civility is about helping the voiceless and doing the right thing. Civility matters because respecting one another is necessary for efficient communication, forming communities, and discovering common ground. Without civility, we miss chances to genuinely hear, appreciate, and comprehend others' viewpoints.
