Frank and Nelcie Williams Memorial Scholarship

When I think of education, it's not just about books and classrooms, but about laying the foundation for opportunity, a strong community, and a fulfilling life. Personally, a higher education would help me pursue my dream of becoming a dentist. Which probably sounds like a strange dream for a 17-year-old, and every time I tell people, I am reminded of the little elf from "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer". I am not exactly sure what it is that attracts me to dentistry, but I know it will allow me to help others in my community and support my family. My goal in life is to be the first in my family to pursue a career in dentistry. Not just for the title, but to repay my family for everything they have done for me throughout my life. My family has always been very supportive of me and my sisters, giving us good educations, encouraging us through school, and helping us live out our love for sports. So, whether it's cleaning their teeth, providing for them, or just making them proud, I want to give back to the people who gave me everything. I believe the next levels of education can equip me with the tools I need to make this happen. Also, looking forward, I can see how much I will be able to serve others through my profession. Service has always been important to me, a value instilled in me by my parents. Growing up, I was always told to always put others before myself because "many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first". When I become a dentist, I will serve my community by restoring their confidence and helping alleviate their pain. I want to make dental care something that can be available for everyone. It is often overlooked, but it is essential for overall well-being. Another goal I want to achieve through my education is becoming a good provider for my family, not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually. I want to support my future family by helping them pursue their dreams and ambitions, just as mine did for me. A higher education would allow me to give them stability and comfort, but I understand that wealth and success are not just found in money; it is found in being present, loving, and encouraging. I would say that is my real goal for my future. Ultimately, I see my future as one of service, growth, and purpose. My education is an essential bridge to that future, and will equip me with the tools I need to reach these goals. I want to show that providing for others is more than financial support, but compassion, encouragement, and love. Whether it's my family or people in need in my community, my education will allow me to serve those around me and turn this vision into a reality.

My goal for pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership is to first gain more knowledge of research as well as approach methods as it relates to my education. I mainly want to perfect my skills in research as I feel like that is vital to my form of education. I realize the significance of this degree for gaining credibility with my future associates. Being the first one to graduate college as well as earning my degree in the medical field would be one not only to show my accomplishments but to thank those who were there to push me through. Although the medical field is my main goal in education, I'd also like to do a few things such as volunteer work on the side to help better my community, some things with women empowerment, and also helping those without a voice gain one. My goal for the future is to get the highest medical degree I can, my determination isn't just seen through me but through my mother as well. With her not being able to get this far it only pushes me to go farther. I always hear it's a lot of schooling but I know if you want something you have to work for it. There are a lot of things that come with it, but I am up for the challenge. Being a doctor in my family would just show everyone how much I meant it and my desire for it. This was my long-term goal since I was three and to envision it and be in the position would be even greater. My community has meant a lot to me since I started taking action. Helping people was always my desire so my goal is to do this in any aspect possible. Whether it's helping the homeless, donating clothes, making platers and giving them out, or mainly working in a hospital helping a handful of people. Some doctors do it for the money, and some do it because of the ingenuity in their hearts. I am destined to be a doctor creating new medicines or curing incurable deceases. I graduate this year and the only things on my mind and on my calendars are college visits, high school medical programs, and scholarship deadlines. When I look at myself I see a young black determined doctor in the making, not just a doctor but a women empowerment worker, a real estate agent, a woman you see working to better her community, and lastly a young female who came from nothing who made her life into something.

As a kid, my home life was not ideal. When my father was at home, he was abusing me, and my mother worked too much to notice that not all of my cuts and bruises were from slipping on the playground. Because of this, my teachers at school became some of my best friends. They kept me after class to work on projects, until my mother could come pick me up, instead of my father. They told kids to “knock it off” when they asked me why I had another bruise on my arm. They kept extra snacks in their classrooms and closets in case my family forgot to pack me one. These teachers changed my life, and made me feel safe and welcomed for once. Through their influence, and the fond memories I have of my childhood teachers, I have remained optimistic about my life. These teachers taught me at a young age that regardless of what might be going on at home, I can always find a means of escape. They helped me through elementary, middle, and high school, and have shaped me into the person I am today. Because of their influence on my life, I’ve known for a long time that I want to become a teacher, especially because of the way I help my sister at home. I have always been her “on call tutor” because neither of my parents had the time to spare to help us. Thus, when I came to high school, I enrolled in my school’s Future Teachers of America chapter. I go into the classrooms of elementary school students, in order to receive hands-on experience with the children. I even went virtually during the Covid-19 Pandemic, and attended a Kindergarten ESL class, and I taught them lessons about the seasons, pets and food over the months I worked with them. Having this in-class experience before attending college helped me to solidify my goals of wanting to become a teacher, as I was able to experience creating lesson plans and executing them to a group of students. Furthermore, I am a part of a tutoring program in my high school via my involvement in National Honors Society, which I was inducted into my Junior year. I tutor two kids once a week and I prepare them for their upcoming tests, quizzes and homework assignments. Since I have taken the initiative to be involved in mentoring and student teaching in high school, I feel more prepared for my future as a teacher. Additionally, I have applied Early Action to colleges for programs in teaching. Specifically, I have applied to schools with 5 year combined Bachelors and Masters education degrees, so that I can have a more in depth preparation before I go into the field. I think my passion for helping the younger generations as well as my current experience has adequately prepared me to be a teacher, and I hope to one day change the lives of students.