Theresa Lord Future Leader Scholarship

The smell of sea salt on beaches, cool breezes, palm trees, and curry: These are the things I mull over when life in the city consumes me. It reminds me that I am still, and forever will be—an island girl. I was born in the southernmost country in the Caribbean. The Land of the Hummingbird, better known as Trinidad and Tobago. Migrating from a small island to a big city in the United States made me feel hopeful, giddy, uncertain, and insignificant. My story is synonymous with a lot of immigrants. My newly divorced mother came to America so my siblings and I could have a better life; continuously sending money home to help support us. At the time, my household circumstances were unsafe, paired with adults who had gambling and alcohol addictions, resulting in years of abusive treatment. It is almost comical to reminisce; my brother and I wished to God on chicken wishbones—with our eyes shut tight, we silently hoped my mom would take us away from the abuse we encountered. In 2004, our wishes came true. I still remember my mom looking at the phone card she used to call and confront my Dad. I remember the sound of the numbers beeping as she dialed his number. I remember looking at my older brother and seeing the panic on his face. We did not worry about our belongings or the friends we'd left behind. We would finally be with our mom. The wishbone worked; Brooklyn was my new home. Except, it didn't feel like home, at least not at first. The cultural shock and environmental differences were challenging. My classmates made fun of my accent, so I tried to adopt theirs. My clothes were not name-brand, another source of mockery. I was used to a carefree wardrobe that included flip-flops, and I had never looked at brands before. I could not fit in, no matter how hard I tried. My mom took me to a psychiatrist who referred me to a counselor. Feelings of resentment for leaving my brother and me in Trinidad and Tobago resurfaced. I skipped school, and my grades progressively declined. My teachers told my mom I'd have to go to summer school. Shortly after passing the criteria for 8th-grade summer school, a new chapter emerged. I chose a high school that wore uniforms to eliminate standing out from my peers. However, my cycle of depression continued, and I dropped out. Feeling overwhelmed, I detached from everything life and America had to offer. Going to counseling helped me tremendously; I took my GED exam and passed it on the first try. Counseling gave me the tools to overcome my emotions and how I reacted to situations. I wrote down a list of everything I wanted to achieve. One of the things on my list was going to college. I will graduate from LaGuardia Community College in December 2022 with an associate's degree in Education. I've been on the Dean's list since I enrolled, I'm an honor student, and my GPA is 4.0. In Spring 2023, I will be attending Queens College for my bachelor's degree, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Afterward, I'll obtain my M.S. in Speech Pathology. I plan to work as a Speech Language Pathologist for a few years before attaining my Ph.D. I want to help people who are underrepresented and overlooked. Ultimately, I desire to support, nurture and grow potential within anyone who feels like all is lost. During my life's obstacles, I've learned about resilience. No matter the circumstances, always remember your past does not define your future.

A simple gold wedding ring sits on my finger, but within its presence lies a vitalizing, multifaceted narrative. The ring transports me to Ethiopia: Addis Ababa, 1999. My sweet mother smiles; her new ring shimmers as the beaming sun radiates upon her calm face. Becoming a Christian in an anti-Protestant society, she faced immense injustices as her father strived to kill her. Disowned by her family, she was left with a ring, a visa, and $500. While fleeing to the land of the free, fear gripped her mind as she pondered her circumstances: “Am I qualified to live in a new land?” Tears escaped from her eyes as she examined the dimming ring on her finger. However, as she took her first steps onto American soil, determination implanted within her heart. Though struggling to learn English, my mother became a US citizen and completed college. While raising two headstrong babies, she accomplished her dreams of becoming a nurse. She took the coal given to her and transformed it into a gleaming diamond. She had finally accomplished the American dream. Sixteen years after her transition, it is now 2014 in Aurora, Colorado. My mother sits me down inside of our brightly-lit home. My 10 year-old-eyes widened as she pulled off the wedding ring from her finger and slid it onto mine. She whispered, “This is why I came to America.” As I heard her story, my ears tingled with fascination. Gazing at my mother, I saw courage flicker beyond her brown eyes. Looking down at the stunning ring, I wondered: “Can I mirror the courageous tenacity my mother had formed?”Frightened by this confrontation, I resorted to isolation as my slight stutter and Ethiopian accent hindered my speaking abilities. Unknowingly, the seeds of curiosity germinated within my heart. As I continued to wear my ring, I allowed myself to explore my range of courage. When asked to lead worship and teach bible studies at my local church, I felt the roots of dauntlessness tug on my heart. I taught and led worship for three years and helped others experience the freedom of worship. As my mother’s bravery, endurance, and tenacity influenced my actions, I hoped to carry forward this impact into other children’s lives as I poured into service. Energized, I stepped into leadership roles within my community. I joined the Aurora Police Department’s Chief’s Youth Advisory Team, where I communicated with Chief Wilson and her team. I gained their perspective about police brutality and the efforts they take to decrease its presence. In an interview, I voiced my beliefs, reaching 6,000 people nationwide. I met with the Aurora mayor and discussed my viewpoints with the Arapahoe District Attorney. As I learned from my mother’s dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism, I allowed the roots of these qualities to sprout into a fruitful tree in me. Though the seeds of these qualities were small, they grew as I impacted my nation; I sought to give back to the nation that has given me so much. Throughout my life, I will continue to reflect upon the ring that writes my own narrative.