Opportunity for Financial Freedom Scholarship

Growing up as a child, I always thought that life was so unfair. I remember telling myself all the time that I had the meanest momma in the world. It was not because I did not think that she loved me because I know she did. She had strict rules and being a child, I did not like them. I never understood why I could not go spend the nights at my friend’s house or go to the movies unsupervised. I wanted to date but my parents did not approve of it at that time. I wanted a cell phone at a certain age and my parents would not allow me to have one. Most children my age parents would let them do just about anything. It was an easy yes for them, but it was a quick no for me. They would say things like, “Kristianity, you may not understand us now, but you will in the long run.” Sometimes my mom would say, “Just because everybody else is doing it, or have it, does not meant that you should too. Our rules are only to help you out of love, not to hurt you.” Today, I am so grateful to God as well as my parents for how they brought me up. Parents are supposed to protect their children at all times and although I could not see it then, I definitely understand why my parents raised me the way they did. I am Kristianity De’Nae Carter a 2021 honors graduate of Natchez Early College @ Co-Lin (NEC) in Natchez, Mississippi. I say this with pride because I could have easily been Kristianity, mother of someone or even a dropout if was not for my upbringing and the grace of God. No, I did not always make the best decisions, but I grew up in a loving and caring home where my parents would not let me give up or stop believing in me. They encouraged me so much and was very active in my education. While attending NEC I joined several clubs, but the one that I enjoyed the most was the NEC Robotics Club. I gained a love and passion for computer science and engineering. I'm attending Mississippi State University in Fall 2021, major in Civil Engineering. The experience I gained from being a part of NEC Robotics influenced me to focus my career on engineering. I love how robotics combines the fields of math, computer science, and much more. The excitement of completing something that you built yourself is overwhelming with happiness. To know that I can create something to make a difference, that’s lifechanging! As I study at MS State I have plans to reach out to the founder of STEM NOLA, Dr. Calvin Mackie, and enlist as an intern student so that I can gain as much knowledge and hands on experience as I possibly can that will help me to advance more in my field of studies. When I graduate from MS State University in December 2023 with my bachelor’s degree, my goal is to become one of the best engineers known from Natchez, Mississippi. By this time, I will have developed a plan and narrowed down my job search options and decided if I want to attend graduate school. I know that sometimes things happen in life and our plans change but reviewing those plans and goals will help me readjust things if needed and allow me to make the best decision in taking the next steps in my life to achieve my dreams. Thanks in advance, Kristianity DeNae Carter