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A 13-year-old girl has made history as the youngest Black person in the country to be accepted to a medical school.
Alena Analeigh Wicker was only 12 years old when she graduated high school last year, and now she can add this stellar accomplishment to her resume. The young prodigy will be attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine with half of her undergrad done within a year at Arizona State University and Oakwood University.
"Statistics would have said I never would have made it. A little black girl adopted from Fontana California," according to an Instagram post announcing her acceptance into medical school. "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. You gave me every opportunity possible to be successful. You cheered me on, wiped my tears, gave me oreos when I needed comfort, you never allowed me to settle, disciplined me when I needed. You are the best mother a kid could ever ask for. MAMA I MADE IT!"
Alena says she wants to become a doctor while helping underrepresented communities, a task that's already underway thanks to the program she founded: the Brown STEM Girl foundation. The program aims to provide resources to extraordinary minority students through scholarships and mentoring during the transition from college life into their careers.
“I really want to leave my mark on the world. And lead a group of girls that know what they can do," Alena told 12 News last week. "I want them to see that there are no limits."