GlamSmart Legacy Scholarship

Legacy, to me, is the imprint we leave on the world not just through our successes but through the lessons, values, and resilience we pass down to those who come after us. It’s a reflection of who we are, how we overcome adversity, and how we help shape others. I’m building mine by showing my children that despite the challenges life throws at us, we can rise. I want them to know they come from a strong lineage of women who, though they may have faced hardship, never stopped fighting for better opportunities. My mother modeled resilience for me. She had me at 15, faced immense challenges, and still managed to provide for us. She didn’t have love growing up, but she made sure to give me the love she never received. Her grit has inspired me to always keep moving forward, no matter how tough it gets. Breaking cycles is about offering a different path for my children. I’m intentional about teaching them that they have the power to change the narrative of our family history. I’m showing them how to break free from negative patterns and create their own opportunities. A “no” I turned into a “not yet” was when I was told I wouldn’t be able to go back to school because of financial barriers. I didn’t accept defeat; I kept looking for ways until I got the scholarship I needed. Abuse and trauma can deeply hinder one’s ability to build a legacy, as they often leave invisible scars that shape how we navigate the world. For those of us who’ve experienced abuse whether emotional, physical, or psychological it can feel like you’re constantly fighting a battle just to survive, let alone thrive. When trauma becomes a part of your everyday reality, it can cloud your vision for the future, making it difficult to believe in the possibility of anything better. That was a huge part of my own experience watching my mother endure hardship, and feeling the weight of the generational trauma that lingered in our family. The thing is trauma doesn’t have to define us. It can fuel our desire to break free from the cycle and be better, but it takes a lot of inner strength, self-reflection, and sometimes, outside support. The idea that abuse or trauma can stop someone from building a legacy is powerful, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. The beauty of resilience is that it allows us to not only survive but to reshape our path and rewrite our narrative. For me, the journey of healing was about reclaiming my power. I didn’t let my experiences define my worth or stop me from setting high goals for my family. While trauma can shape the challenges we face, it doesn’t have to determine our outcome. We can rise above it and build legacies that speak of strength, love, and transformation. I’m determined to teach my children that even in the face of adversity, their future is theirs to create. I plan to use my career to uplift others by giving back to my community, especially single mothers, and helping them find the resources to achieve their goals.