The biggest influence in my life is my community, especially the girls I mentor that inspire me every day. As a Black woman in computer science, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.

As a Black woman in computer science, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science as a Dynamic Woman, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.

As a Black Dynamic Woman in IT, I'm passionate about being a person my younger sisters can look up to. Uplifting women and BIPOC voices in any way I'm able fuels my inspiration and my soul. I regularly mentor Black and female youth-- staying involved and giving back to my community in this way is incredibly gratifying. During my summer, I earned my Gold Award teaching English in Nigeria and creating a safe space for elementary-age girls who usually fear going to school was incredibly powerful to me. Currently, I'm majoring in Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University in the hopes of inspiring the women around me, who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, to follow their technologically-related dreams. I'm a first-generation American, with strong ties to my Nigerian community, and the most fervent wishes of it becoming a more inclusive space to women and girls. At this point, however, I simply do what I can to help my sisters feel welcome and at home in any space I can share with them. Thank you for considering me for this scholarship-- I would put the funds to good use towards my education, and work to uplift my community due to the education I would receive. With my degree in Computer Science as a Dynamic Woman, I would hope to increase visibility of Black and female individuals within the tech sphere. Currently, there's a lack of women's voices within that space, which contributes to widening inequalities. I would hope to help address those by designing and implementing software that takes into account institutionalized and systemic racism and sexism, and work to foster inclusivity in the creations I would help to make. As a Black female college student, I know that getting an education for many people who share my identity is an incredibly important feat, but one that is difficult for many to have the privilege of getting. Due to many factors such as a lack of representation in the tech sphere, and simply not having many women role models in IT, many female students simply do not see themselves as a candidate for a technologically-related career. I'm aware of the value a college education would have in fostering independence despite a system that does not value the voices of dynamic women, and strive to be an independent woman in STEM that my younger sisters would be proud to look up to.

I creaked open the wooden door. “Are you busy?” Ms. Eberl smiled, then beckoned me in. “I’m not busy.” I obliged, then sank into the comfy armchair across from her rolly chair. “So what’s going on?” she invited. I began to speak, feeling secure enough in the environment of non-judgement to be vulnerable. This scene repeated itself many times throughout my high school career, as Ms. Eberl continued to prove herself to be dedicated and trustworthy. In fact, she went above and beyond. Not only was she a school counselor, she was my advisor and the faculty sponsor for the PEAs. I joined the PEAs, or Peer Educators and Assistants, in a bid to give back to the USN community in the same way that Ms. Eberl had helped me. The PEAs educate themselves and their peers on important issues and emphasize the importance of mental health. From Ms. Eberl, and the PEAs, I’ve learned the value of active listening and being a support system for other students. I plan to continue doing this in college. One of my proudest moments as a PEA was sharing a presentation about OCD. I felt that even in my small way, I was able to help destigmatize this disorder. To pay it forward, I've vowed to join a campus peer support group in whichever college I end up attending.