Ayanna Prather, a junior psychology premedical major at Xavier University of Louisiana, is making Black girls’ mental health a priority with the help of Tampax. She was awarded the Flow it Forward Scholarship in conjunction with the J.W. Carmichael program through Xavier’s pre-med office.  

The Tampax Flow it Forward project strives to end health misinformation by ensuring equal representation and resources in the medical field. Tampax, the well-known tampon and feminine hygiene brand owned by Procter & Gamble, has committed to investing in education to increase the number of Black female physicians and healthcare workers. The Flow it Forward project specifically supports The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Girlology Period Program, and Black Women’s Health Imperative by providing annual scholarships.  

Prather, an Atlanta native and youngest in her family, left home to attend Xavier to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician or a child psychiatrist. One of Prather’s most significant challenges was affording tuition.  

“It’s been many semesters that I thought I wasn’t going to be able to afford [my education], but now I have this scholarship which ensures that I stay at Xavier, and I’ll graduate debt-free,” said Prather. She applied for the J.W. Carmichael Scholarship but, unfortunately was not selected as one of the recipients. Still, she didn’t let it hold her back.  

“The scholarship committee emailed me back and said we saw something in you, and we believe in you,” said Prather. Her opportunity came while working with the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) program at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; She received an email that she was being considered for the Tampax Flow it Forward scholarship. 

“I found out that I [got the scholarship], and I was so ecstatic because it was such a hard semester, and it was a step to keep me going. It was a reminder that all these things [I want] are aligning, and I need to stay on this journey,” Prather said.  

Prather, who recently lost a close family member, expressed that receiving this scholarship renewed her spirit and re-established the importance of having people of color in the healthcare field. Receiving the Tampax scholarship reassured her of her goals and gave her confidence that people were willing to invest in her future. 

“There are so many barriers for people of color, like affording education and resources. To have a scholarship that not only invests in female future Black physicians but encourages and connects them to other resources- it is amazing to have a scholarship that stands for that,” said Prather.   

Prather said that when she received the scholarship solidified the fact that knowledge is power. She further expressed how this phrase continuously highlights the importance of her goal to make a difference in mental health access for the Black community.  

“I am very aware of the stigma of mental health in the Black community and how easy it is for Black women, men and children to go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed altogether,” said Prather. “I truly believe that if we are able to get the resources we need to feel better mentally our knowledge and what we will know will elevate us beyond medicine.”  

The scholarship will cover Prather’s tuition and any expenses related to applying to medical school during her last two years at Xavier. Prather proudly attests to the dedication Xavier University has for all its students.  

“Xavier is a great school. They really know how to get you where you need to be for your goals. To have a major company invest in HBCUs and Xavier [who] prepare their students like they do is setting the tone,” said Prather. “Any brand or university can promote diversity, but when you are actually taking time to fund and support minorities, it says a lot about the school and company.” 

Through her own experience, Prather can recognize there is a greater need for scholarships and programming geared towards underrepresented communities that provide resources to help them achieve their dreams.  

Xavier and Tampax are helping Prather become one step closer to her future career and she has learned a lot of lessons to carry the rest of the way.  

“This scholarship and Xavier have taught me how to truly believe and bet on myself. No matter what goes on around you, if you remain authentic, true to yourself, and remember that no one else has what you have to offer to the world, you will be successful,” Prather said.  

For more information on scholarship opportunities, visit https://www.xula.edu/scholarships/.