Wade Empire Future Creators Scholarship

Describe an experience, moment, or realization that helped you discover what you want to pursue in life. How do you hope your education will help you continue exploring that interest? The first time I picked up a camera, I didn't realize how powerful it was at telling stories. I simply picked up a camera because I saw people around me capturing important moments, and I wanted to be just like them and try it for myself. In my sophomore year of high school, I decided to deepen my interest in journalism and media by taking a digital media arts course. On my first day, I was unsure of what I was getting into, but I was fascinated with all of the different types of gear used for podcasts, films, and even our school’s live news show. It gave me so many ideas of how I could create and explore so many different areas of media that I hadn’t had the chance to before. But like the saying goes, “With great power comes great responsibility.” With the new tools I had access to, I was excited to jump straight into creating content and media, but I realized that I had to slow down and first learn how to operate all of the tools. This process was a big struggle for me, but through it, I found joy within the tedious lessons of how to navigate Premiere Pro, how to find the right exposure, and how to create a good story. What felt overwhelming once became exciting, and I started to get the hang of creating many different types of media. In that first year of digital media arts, I earned an award from a statewide competition for a public service announcement on distracted driving, and this let me know that my hard work pays off. I continued to earn awards for state and even national competitions, making all types of content, from news stories for my multimedia production class to promotional videos for different small businesses in Detroit. In the fall, I will be attending North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, majoring in Journalism and Mass Communications. I hope my education will help me continue to explore my interest in media by opening new doors to opportunities and allowing me to connect with people who were once in the same position I am in now. Beyond that, I want to use my skills to tell meaningful stories that have the power to inform and inspire while also making a meaningful impact within my community and beyond. From the moment I first picked up a camera to where I am now, I have learned that storytelling is not just creating content; it’s one of the most powerful ways to inspire change.