Ron & Janell Lunan Black Girls in STEM Scholarship

My future belongs to me. I am the one who will control my destiny. I am the one who will shape my fate. Constantly, I’m reminding myself of this; I remind myself in case I ever let that lurking doubt creep up on me and allow me to lose what’s most important to me, my fight. Because of my family’s history, it’s almost as if the world was telling me to stay complacent. The cycle of poverty, dead dreams, and crushed enthusiasm within my family background is vast, and I won’t allow myself to fall into the same traps. I feel an overwhelming responsibility to crush this vicious cycle. My mother, even, has experienced the viciousness of this lineage; she raised us, me and my brother, all by herself. She experienced great adversity in hopes of us getting out of the system. Never will I let her gift go to waste. Too many bright aspirations have already died for me to be selfish and throw this all away. Being strong for my family is my number one priority. I believe that uplifting those closest to you is the most satisfying thing life can offer. I’ve personally seen the effects of instability and the unknown. Growing up in a single-parent household presents extreme financial challenges. Everything could collapse in an instant, and it’s not like there’s someone else to rely on. Several nights I would have to find something to eat myself, eat alone, and there wouldn’t even be a table to dine at. Everyone worked; my mother has always been the main source of income for our family, but my brother and I have helped as much as we can as well. Though I try to focus on other values, it seems that this world constantly emphasizes wealth. Money is intertwined with practically all aspects of life, and financial stability oftentimes means independence and power. I need to be able to support myself to eventually be able to support my family. I need to be able to give back, and the greatest way to do that is through affluence. The way I intend to create greater opportunities for myself and my family is through my education. Studying and researching is the way I am going to get my family away from a system that doesn’t care about them. STEM is, statistically, the highest-paying field. Compared to arts or other fields, STEM dominates the finances. Immediately, for someone like me, someone who needs more financial stability, a career in STEM is my chance for success. Not only will it help me and my family’s financial status, but a career in STEM, specifically technology, just seems very interesting to me. Tech has always intrigued me, and I’ve even had the pleasure of researching, primarily tech-based projects, at Washington University through a summer program. The program essentially solidified my interest in research and STEM. Technology, and several other STEM disciplines, will only continue to grow in its power. It’s a competitive field, promotes curiosity, and most importantly, will provide sufficient finances for my family. Continually, I find myself wanting more. I always want more for my family and the people I care about. I genuinely think my education is the way I can achieve this. Being able to support myself financially as an adult means I’m taking the right steps to finally repay my family. My ticket toward my dreams and aspirations is through a career in STEM, and I won't stop reaching for these goals until I've defined my future the way I want.

When I was around ten, my mother pushed me to enter STEM programs at school. She would say STEM was a "gateway to gold," and a promise of a brighter future. I never understood what she meant until I was faced with the internal teenage desire for a job. The idea of becoming financially independent was tantalizing. The urge to prove that I could support myself financially as I emerged into adulthood was utterly irresistible. The way I saw it, there was a sort of pride and freedom that came from having the ability to support yourself financially. As an adult, I believe financial independence allows you to make your own decisions and live the life you want. Having the ability to financially support yourself allows you to attain personal growth and success in life. As you manage your own finances, you learn about the value of money and budgeting. You also learn to plan for the future and reach your financial goals, which helps you build your self-esteem and confidence. Having the ability to support yourself financially as an adult can be both freeing and empowering. Not only are you not reliant on others for your basic needs, but you also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can handle unexpected expenses and emergencies. As I've come to learn in my 18 years of living, being financially independent can help you make more informed decisions about your life and future, giving you the confidence to take on new experiences and challenges. Overall, I believe a major benefit to financial independence is feeling more in control of your life and your decisions in a very chaotic and out-of-control world, giving you the freedom to accomplish anything you set your mind to in life. Like my mother said when I was ten, a future in STEM is like a gateway to gold. Having a career in STEM can provide you with the financial security and stability you need to live an independent life and achieve your goals. It can also give you the skills and knowledge to be capable of providing a significant contribution to society, making you feel fulfilled in life and as an adult. A career in STEM can also offer you the ability to make a difference and create something greater than yourself. Although financial stability is rewarding, making a difference to those around you is far more gratifying. You can use your knowledge to work on research or development that can lead to new innovations and solutions to society’s problems. You can use your skills to help others and make a positive impact on people’s lives. While the financial rewards of a career in STEM are certainly attractive and can support financial independence, the ability to make a difference in the world is perhaps the most compelling reason to pursue such a career. Once I get to my own "gateway to gold," I hope one day I can create my own scholarship fund to help African American women like me pursue their dreams in STEM because nothing is more powerful than an intelligent and independent woman.