Men Of Excellence Scholarship

From my earliest moments into volunteerism to the present day, the journey of community service has been marked by moments of inspiration, learning, and growth. Through engagements with diverse organizations and causes, ranging from local shelters to global humanitarian initiatives, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of acts of service, both on individuals and communities at large. My favorite community service assignments always revolve around the elderly. They remind me of my grandparents. We are fortunate enough to be able to keep them in their home with assistance, but I recognize everyone is not as blessed. This past holiday season, I was able to volunteer to serve holiday dinner to the elderly from varies retirement homes within our community. It was a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer and ensure that everyone feels included and cared for during the holiday season. I was able to help collect food donations, prepare the food, serve the food, and interact with the residents. Community service also provided a rich environment for me to help cultivate my leadership skills. It provided skill, qualities, and experiences, that I could easily transfer to my extracurricular activities and leadership roles. In the future I would love to combine my love for Theatre with my passion for serving. I would love to host free masterclasses for local community kids. I want to be able to provide opportunities for them to perfect their craft. There are several talented kids who can’t afford private performing arts lessons. My passion for theater developed in elementary school with the production of Beauty and the Beast. From there my love for the arts soared to new heights. In 2020, I was accepted into the most prestigious performing & visual arts high school in Dallas, TX. I found myself in a community of people who were like me, shared the same dreams and aspirations, but there was a small margin of people who looked like me. Not due to lack of talent, but lack of exposure. That’s why I want to give back to my community. By volunteering and giving back to my community, I not only make a positive impact but also experience personal growth. My goal is to major in Theater and minor in playwriting and film. After graduation, my dream is to create a BIPOC-led production company that allows people of color to create media that positively depicts and uplifts their culture. I believe this is a way we can see the true definition of representation. The goal is also to create productions that address social issues, human rights, and environmental concerns. I would love to explore more humanities courses as well to help reach this goal. I want to create a safe space to choose scripts or create original works that highlight and challenge social injustices. This will allow us to control the narrative of how people of color are portrayed in the media. It’s an avenue to explore identity, self-discovery, and the complexities of being a minority. I desire to expand beyond our communities and promote cultural exchange. I want to participate in international festivals and programs that promote cultural understanding. Lastly, I would love to have aspects of the company geared towards educational development. I want to create educational theater programs for schools and communities.