Jaimeson Williams Legacy Scholarship

Leading by example: a simple, yet effective approach to spark change. Although something like holding a door open for someone or paying for the person behind you in a drive thru creates an impactful chain, I lead by example in the ways that I present myself. In middle school, I struggled to come to terms with my sexuality. Being gay was looked down upon in my household as none of my family – extended or not – had gone through the same struggles as I did. For a while, I tried to hide my identity and conform to pre-pubescent standards to avoid being called that dreaded word: gay. However, as time passed I began to come to terms with myself. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding and slowly (but surely) began expressing my true self in a more confident manner. Whether it was my wardrobe or mannerisms, I proudly showed people who I was. I’ve since learned the importance of self-love and how it reflects on other people. When I finally prioritized this important ideal, I began to express more affection to others. A simple “I love your shirt!” or “You have a great sense of humor!” can brighten someone’s day, creating a chain reaction. Many others struggle with self-image, but demonstrating empathy and affection to others can inspire one to have a more optimistic outlook on life. So, I’m just one person, but by simply leading by example, I can drive others to create their own compassionate chain reactions. Prompt 2: At a young age, I always looked forward to dumping out a big tub of LEGO Duplo pieces and building whatever occupied my young mind: flying cars, mega mansions, and huge dinosaurs. The opportunities were endless! One day, my mom superglued my favorite cat piece to another LEGO. Suddenly, my freedom was restricted. I yearned for my favorite piece and endlessly tried to undo this permanent change, but I was never strong enough. As time went on, I started building with the “big kid” LEGOs. While this figurine hardly crossed my mind, I knew I would never glue my new LEGO pieces to each other: I desired creative freedom. Years passed and I finally made it to high school, where I took my first chemistry class. I learned about all the applications of this field and felt that creativity thrived in a lab. Whether inflating balloons with vinegar and baking soda or performing a successful titration, combining different chemicals to create compounds reminded me of these seemingly simple times when I would build with LEGOs. From that moment on, I knew the possibilities with chemistry were endless. Later on, I had the opportunity to work in a real chemistry lab: I obviously accepted. I synthesized Prussian blue and learned about its ability to power batteries. How was this dye able to power devices? Curiosity and innovation thrived in this lab, solidifying my love for chemistry. Now, I plan to major in chemical engineering – a field with innumerable applications that satisfy my imaginative thoughts. Climate change, health issues, and food insecurity pose threats to billions of people, but I can tackle these problems head on as a chemical engineer. The development of new, eco-friendly technology is possible in these fields, and can save the lives of millions by reducing the impacts of things like climate change. All in all, I feel that as a chemical engineer I will not only positively impact thousands of lives, but also satisfy my creative ambitions.

I've always felt like making people smile was my given task in life, to give people that chance to feel human as not a lot of people in the world get the chance to feel that way, I always try to ensure everyone gets the respect they deserve and need as I know that out there in the world there are some cruel people, you never really know what anyone is going through and sometimes just a smile is all people need to feel like they're seen and know that they're loved, and the impact a smile can make is infinite, as it can make a chain reaction of kindness and of hope something that I know Jaimeson always did. 1. "I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It's not. The worst thing in life is end up with people that make you feel all alone." — Robin Williams This quote resonates deeply with me because, throughout my life, I have seen many people around me take negative paths and make poor choices without realizing the consequences. I’ve had to distance myself from some individuals to stay on track for my future. Although I’ve made mistakes and regret some choices, meeting the right people has felt like getting a second chance at life, that feeling of being surrounded by people who genuinely care about you and help you out in life is crucial for your own growth and happiness. I've seen and experienced first-hand how being with the wrong company can lead to those feelings of isolation and despair even at the point when one isn't physically alone that feeling of standing out and thinking others don't think positively about you it's not a good one and this quote helps in explaining the importance of just being around supportive, positive influences, finding the people that bring out the best in you and help you go towards your goals just as I try to be that same person for others. 2. The main reason that I have chosen to pursue a major in Music Performance is due to the connection I've made with music and the experiences it has given me. I've been able to find ways to express myself through it and playing with my peers in school has shown the power of how it can truly bring people together music transcends all language barriers and can convey such a wide range of emotions that words alone cannot capture properly. It's not only the joy that it brings me that fuels my passion for it but the impact it may have on others, I've seen and experienced how a performance can move people, bringing them to tears, smiles and at times, points of reflecting. Music it self has a way of touching the soul and helping one feel a sense of comfort and inspiration that I want to harness to make a positive change in the world.

My name is Lena. I am an cellist and aspiring aerospace engineer. I am 17 and love playing in my semi-professional youth orchestra. While I will continue to be a cellist, I am about to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida this fall after graduating high school this summer. I am honored to have an opportunity to tell my story, and I offer my sincere condolences on your devastating loss. I wish to honor Jaimeson’s legacy by sharing my own story and answering your questions. Just as life stories touch and inspire me, I strive to inspire others by showing empathy, genuinely understanding their struggles and offering support. I help people, often without questioning why they asked for help. I believe if someone is struggling, then we as a community hold a responsibility to help them in any way we can. My resilience is seen in how I always bounce back from challenges, showing strength and perseverance. I’ve been terribly ill for the past four years, missing school for those years. I have still managed to graduate high school and have more dreams and ambitions waiting to be fulfilled. Additionally, I have been having trouble finding the money for my degree in aerospace engineering. This is because my mother cannot contribute, as she is on disability leave. Therefore, my only hope is scholarships, as well as the kindness of strangers and relatives. I've noticed that many people feel inspired by me because of how far I have come. Although I have been sick, I have looked for ways to overcome my problems in any way, shape or form. As an example, I find resolution and peace of mind by practising my cello, which I have played for fourteen years. Through the study of Aerospace Engineering it is my ambition to work in mission control after graduation. Through this I would like to make a contribution to spaceflight and space exploration as a tool to unify humankind. I endeavor to model a mix of compassion and determination to encourage others to face their own problems with hope and confidence, and I believe it is one of my greatest traits. The other way to give life to unity is through music and art. This leads me to one of my favorite quotes: “Art without engineering is dreaming. Engineering without art is calculating.” Steven Roberts This quote resonates with me because I have always admired my mother, a civil engineer. She was also my piano teacher and my physics teacher. She taught me that although physics and engineering can be full of calculations and measurements, there is quite a lot of beauty to be had in them. I think that is often forgotten. A piano without engineering would simply exist in our dreams, yet engineering without music is simply calculations on a page. I really appreciate the time you took to evaluate my application and give me the opportunity to tell my story. I look forward to hearing from you soon.