The smell of mulch, the laughter of children, those cold metal chains. Everything else fades as the cool wind touches my face, and tugs my shirt towards it. Those moments of weightlessness, the ones felt right before your feet touch the ground, are the only times where I felt the grasp of freedom that never extended its reach. Yet, I still love the swings because while there are many others that are forced to relinquish their youth and grow up as adults, I have experienced such moments— ones that aren’t given to many children that look like me; brown eyes, curly hair, black skin.
As I mold myself into the young woman I am becoming today, I”m drawn to spaces of fairness and justice. I’ve watched people; people who look a lot like my brother, my mother, my father, my friends. And every time I look back, I see the impact of a system that was never built for us.
Growing up in Allentown, even at an early age, I saw how Black men and women were treated by systems created to support those who were fortunate enough to benefit than those who actually needed the help. The only interaction they got with the law was in the form of an arrest, a court summons, or a child support case. The only thing I knew about hospitals was that they were where people ended up after you heard the screeching sirens that echoed off every street corner. I don’t want the children in the communities I survived to feel as if their current situations prevent them from the opportunity to have big dreams.
The younger version of me needed someone like me as a lawyer. The future version of me is going to need a lawyer. The kids in the communities I grew up in, they’re going to need me as a lawyer too. They too will need an expansion to the areas of healthcare they have such limited opportunities to and aid in closing that access gap. And who knows, maybe one day, one of those kids will become my doctor.
There are so many others that don’t get the opportunity to further their education because they are stuck in a poverty-stricken loop preventing them from their pursuits.This is my commitment to their education and the reforming of policies. Through community based nonprofits and the creation of impactful initiatives, I hope to create solutions that are long lasting and sustainable in the focus of creating healthier and equitable programs for the futures of the youth.
With the right support, I will further my education in law by pursuing a political science degree that bridges health, education and policy, while I strive to create communities that can depend on one another. Through my future efforts in advocacy, I will become the voice for the voiceless because the law should not only favor the voices of the powerful, it should, above all, protect the voices of the weak.
I have exhibited commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice through work, service, and other extra-curricular activities by staying involved in my city. Being engaged and involved with things taking place in my community allows me to challenge myself and explore new entities. Growing up in the city of East Orange, New Jersey allows you to see many things no matter how old or young you are. You witness many people strive hard to make something out of themselves, but then you see others sit back and watch the days go by. I have had many friends in high school battle addiction while we were only teenagers. I became enraged and frustrated because I was the only one who seemed to care. Those were no longer my friends because they believed that addiction was more important than our friendship. My perspective has changed based on my background because it has been an eye opener and has hurt my heart seeing my peers get trapped into what society wants them to be. My background has made me stronger and more self-aware which allows me to set my goals and work towards them, and it has made me a better decision maker. My education will help me continue this commitment during college and beyond because it would have a positive impact on different individuals who may struggle with achieving their goals and working towards bettering themselves. I seek to encourage others no matter how old or young they are in hopes for it to become easier for our world to flourish. The major I intend to study is Nursing because of how effectively I help and work with children. I always find myself making it my main priority to keep them safe in the best way that I can, especially with the children I recently worked with at a summer camp. The pandemic that transpired in 2020 is what influenced my decision to help others when they are in need. Turning on my television and witnessing nurses being on the front line at any given moment, sparked a sense of bravery and willingness for me. It helped me realize that in our world, we need as much help as we can get. More nurses are needed to keep our world safe and prosperous. Also, gaining an education in Health Sciences will be preparation for students like myself who are looking to pursue careers in the healthcare industry. I hope to use my education to support achieving my passions and goals by building and intensifying comprehensive knowledge and skills. It will also expose me to different areas that are needed in life to create a stable foundation for myself in the future. I seek to encourage understanding and acceptance through positive representation, involvement, and education. I strive to meet new people and when coming across people within these communities, I make it my duty to educate myself, be willing to learn, support, allow them to express themselves, and make connections. Receiving this scholarship would allow me to keep in mind that the hard work and dedication for a brighter future and community does not end here. There will always be work that has to be done considering that things change everyday, positive or negative. The service that I have contributed to my community is enough to assure that I have the ability to detect a problem and solve it in order for our community to continue taking steps in the right direction.
