Who is Alena Analeigh Wicker? Prodigy, 13, becomes youngest Black student to get into medical school
A 13-year-old Texas girl recently became the youngest black applicant to medical school in history. Despite being over ten years younger than a typical medical student, Alena Analeigh Wicker was admitted to the University of Alabama's Heersink School of Medicine class of 2024 in June.
While still pursuing her biological sciences degrees at Arizona State University and Oakwood University, she recently received a letter of acceptance.
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"What is age? You're not too young to do anything. I feel like I have proven to myself that I can do anything that I put my heart and mind to," Alena told The Washington Post.
Alena, who resides outside of Fort Worth, Texas, completed the majority of her education online. Aiming to encourage girls of color to choose careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, she also founded the Brown STEM Girl group.
Regarding the program, Alena said, "We're showing the world that there's other girls out there that are just like me, and they deserve an opportunity and a chance."
There are now 460 members of Brown STEM Girl and over 2,000 girls on the waitlist. It offers academic resources, financial assistance, and connections between girls and supervisors.
Alena was adopted by her mother, Daphne McQuarter, who claimed to have recognized her daughter's abilities at a young age. "Alena was gifted. It was just how she did things and how advanced she was. She was reading chapter books," her mother said.
She was so brilliant in her early years that her mother had to homeschool her in order to protect her from bullies who called her names like "smart pants." She went back to school in the fifth grade, but this time she studied advanced high school material. Alena said she was "bored" and that high school studies were so easy for her that she graduated at the age of 12.
After reading a news article about Alena in which she spoke about her dream job at NASA, Clayton Turner, the director of NASA's Langley Research Center, decided to hire her. While still deciding whether or not to pursue engineering, Alena made history by becoming NASA's youngest intern last summer. Turner said, "Alena is one of those exceptional intellects. What's in her is wanting to help others, wanting to lift up others. "
Turner also assisted in presenting Alena's diploma on stage during her high school graduation.
Alena revealed to Ebony magazine that she dropped engineering just after one term and was motivated to major in medicine after a trip she took to Jordan with Brown STEM Girl.
"It actually took one class in engineering, for me to say this is kind of not where I wanted to go. I think viral immunology really came from my passion for volunteering and going out there engaging with the world," Alena said.
"What I want from healthcare is to really show these underrepresented communities that we can help, that we can find cures for these viruses," she added.
According to her interview with the Washington Post, after just one lesson, she realized biology was the career for her. "I wasted no time. I dropped a class, changed my major, and when I took my first biological class, I knew at that moment that this is what I'm supposed to be doing, "she said.
Elaine Vanterpool, the chair of the biology department at Oakwood University, became a personal friend of hers. Elena views Vanterpool as a mentor, noting that she and her other instructors have played a significant role in her life.
"She has a lot of talent. I really saw the drive and grit. She did well. She didn't settle for less than what she knows she's capable of," Vanterpool said of Alena.
Alena shared an appreciation post for her mentor on Instagram:
Alena declared to the Washington Post that she intends to concentrate on viral immunology and work to improve access to healthcare for people who currently lack it.
She was admitted to the Early Assurance Program at the Heersink School of Medicine. It is known to be a rigorous and extremely selective early admittance program, open to those who show a strong commitment to entering the medical sector.
She is scheduled to finish her undergraduate studies in the spring of 2024 and start medical school the following autumn. By the age of 18, she wants to be a doctor.
She acknowledged her mom for her efforts in an Instagram post announcing her acceptance. "A little black girl adopted from Fontana California. I've worked so hard to reach my goals and live my dreams. Mama, I made it. I couldn't have done it without you," she said in the post.
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Alena is a huge lover of Lego and frequently shares her creations on Instagram. She also likes singing, cooking, playing soccer, visiting arcades with friends, and going to the movies. Alena claims that concentration is the key to her success, despite her growing list of degrees. "I just have extremely good time management skills and I'm very disciplined."