I've faced many difficulties throughout my life that challenge my fortitude and ability to emerge from the ashes; however, ultimately they've become my makeup. The most pivotal obstacle I've overcome occurred during my transition from a PWI to Texas Southern University, an HBCU. My former school was ill-equipped with the resources to help me progress in my career while simultaneously ridding me of my cultural identity. It was challenging to be in that setting. I would never fail and end up where I started. I made the leap and established my groundwork. Transferring was an option—not simple—the transfer fee, the added financial burden, the somewhat questionable endeavor of transferring from here to there with one hopeful endeavor; yet this was my change of a lifetime. Texas Southern University was a nurturing environment; my people comprised a diverse yet welcoming atmosphere with growth potential everywhere. I joined the American Marketing Association, the NAACP, and the Student Government Association, engaging in activities that would expand my experience for anticipated personal and professional growth. I've also had my share of leadership opportunities. For example, I've served as a Presidential Aid in the Student Government Association and a general member of the Academic Affairs Committee. My student-driven school spirit town hall and resource dropbox project demonstrate my commitment to elevating the student voice and enhancing my classmates' on-campus experience. In addition, I've spearheaded new professional development and community engagement. I've organized a Young Professionals Roundtable with my intern group to let students forge connections and expand. I've facilitated a public speaking workshop and a social media marketing workshop to equip students with tools for personal and professional expansion. I actively assume leadership roles in my film projects by executing projects that align with my storytelling vision. For instance, during my internship with We Will Studios, I was the director of photography for two short films. I guided a cast and crew through the scenes to proper execution through on-set problem-solving, effective communication, and consistent motivation of the cast and crew to achieve a shared vision. Every obstacle I've faced has been an educational experience, and from every leadership position, I've learned the satisfaction of humbly serving others and the project while a collaborative process is required to achieve a desired universal outcome. Thus, I will always be prepared to assume the leading role. I long to possess the knowledge gleaned from the fellowship and use it to continue the legacy of helping others, the chance to pen my own narrative and bring about meaningful change in my community. We've all been through so much, and as newly empowered change agents in the various positions of leadership, I've become a better me—even more equipped with the ability and wherewithal to ensure others are even better, too.

I've always had a passion for storytelling and the visual art form. I wanted to become a filmmaker by age eleven. I've always had an intimate relationship with the camera; it allows me to feel things that I couldn't communicate otherwise. For a child at that age, a camera is the only gateway to an audience. At the same time, without access to recording devices, I'd give up every possession I ever owned just to have access to the tools necessary to create even the smallest projects to demonstrate what I could. I at least hoped it would keep people entertained at a young age, let alone acknowledge the possibility of having a real, tangible gimmick to persuade an audience. The foundation of my career aspirations stems from what I wanted to do when I was younger. I've always had a passion for the media and the film industry, currently on the path and professionally engaged to make that a reality. As a junior marketing major at Texas Southern University, I'm involved in everything that piques my interest in creative pursuits. For example, my year-long paid internship with We Will Studios, a boutique film production company, involved my position as director of photography on two short films. This means that not only did I hone my technical abilities, but I also engaged in the nuances of a collaborative, creatively driven process in filmmaking. My experience in African-American literature and history has been involved with narrative—both pen and picture. Therefore, my future production aspirations align with where I want to go in the directing world in my tribute to Black culture and history. I want to make films that focus on Black history, especially for minorities—merely making them represent on-screen and ensuring that a genuine voice comes from often overlooked and whitewashed locations. This is my occupational and personal pay it forward, the due diligence to keep it on the screen and not let it fade away on the reel. All of this is before I've even touched a film camera. One day, I hope to have my own media company that supports minority voices and talents. I want to hire people from underrepresented communities—everyone from on-screen talent to behind-the-scenes occupations—and ensure those stories have a place to be told. My present affiliations with various organizations—the American Marketing Association, NAACP, and Student Government Association, here at Texas Southern University—provide me the trained experience in leadership capacity and the interdisciplinary opportunity to work with others while using my voice as a change advocate. It's been a long, fulfilling experience to set me on the path toward my dreams. The transfer from a PWI to an HBCU was my chance to embrace a meaningful journey toward appropriate equity access for my community and my anticipated professional endeavors. In addition, I've engaged in various mentorship and professional development opportunities, such as being a chosen finalist for EICOP's HBCU in ATL/NY/LA program. If there was ever a time for me to say in hindsight—and from personal experience—that this was a filmmaker destined to be, it's now, because she's currently doing and establishing the foundations for a grander empire down the road—projects that will change lives through multimedia endeavors and social change. I can't wait for it.

I've always sought positions of leadership where my voice could impact change. For example, my most recent position was a Presidential Aid to the Texas Southern University Student Government Association (SGA). While my responsibilities included helping with the execution of academic townhalls and facilitating professional development workshops, after evaluating the environment, I realized my position was to ease the transition between the students' visions and the administration's expectations sooner than later. One problem I solved was developing an initiative to please an entire student body with differing wants and needs. Additionally, I came to the conclusion early in my tenure that a large enough segment of the student body felt estranged from academic resources that it wasn't even worth noting their wants and needs. Thus, in conjunction with the Academic Affairs Committee, I created a dropbox for students to anonymously communicate a specific challenge they were facing on campus. There was much deliberation determining how to do this—from facilitating the undertaking to ensuring student anonymity. This past year, I independently ran a few professional development workshops to assist students in their post-graduation endeavors—a public speaking workshop, a message effectiveness workshop, and a social media workshop to clarify how social media could establish a brand for themselves. The hardest part was convincing students to attend—not only out of disinterest but, unfortunately, many failed to see the benefit of attending these one-shot workshops. I employed strong communication, teamwork, and adaptability to overcome this challenge. I worked with my peers and teachers, connecting with the associated student organizations—NAACP and AMA—for social media posts, in-class engagement, and on-campus exposure of the workshops. I also negotiated independently to acquire the workshops' topics to ensure they would be useful to my peers' desires, as this made the topics' relevancy even more appropriate for personal and professional goals. The feedback was conclusive. The dropbox created a low-risk, low-effort opportunity for students to complain, and so much was done based on that feedback that it required administrative follow-up to address. The De-Stress Workshops had greater attendance and overwhelmingly positive feedback across the board, and students personally thanked me for imparting new skills. I knew I was headed in the right direction—validating the voices of others, changing my approach based on perceived necessity, and collaborating was the way to go. These are the leadership lessons I will carry with me into my professional career from this experience: inclusivity, active listening, and ensuring others' voices are heard; the power to overcome through creative solutions and sheer will; and the power of collaboration and connectivity to practically do anything and simultaneously reach a common goal. No matter where my journey in the sports and entertainment industry may lead me, I will carry these skills through. In my future media company, from collaborative efforts with others to working with athletes looking to brand themselves and using storytelling to unify communities, I will use my adaptability and communicative and motivational skills for team unity. When someone takes the reins as a leader, they must recognize that it's not for them—but for the team and setting—to achieve common success. This will be my guiding principle for all future undertakings.

Hello, my name is Aaron Hall, and I am a junior marketing major at Texas Southern University. I am a transfer student coming from a small predominantly white institution in North Carolina called Montreat College. During my time at Montreat College I experienced a great deal of racism and colorism from teachers, teammates and peers. I was a track and field athlete at Montreat, and I was the only dark-skinned athlete on the team. I would repeatedly hear jokes about my dark skin and simple black "jokes" about me all the time. In class, I would tend to be the only black man in the classroom. When the teacher would assign group projects, I often would not have groups to join, and I was isolated. The racism and colorism that I deal with at Montreat College had a serious effect on my mental health and I started to attend therapy sessions. My goal in school is to be the best student that I can be academically. Even through all the mistreat that I received through my two years at Montreat College, I was able to achieve my goals academically. I transferred from Montreat College, and I left achieving a 3.46 GPA and I was a consistent member of the Dean's List and Presidents List, making the list three out of four years. Back home, over the summer, I interned with the City of DeSoto, in Texas. I interned in the economic development department. My keystone project was to host an event for young professionals in the Dallas- Fort Worth area. I wanted to focus primarily on three topics: career development, quality of life, and housing opportunities. I was successful able to put together a panel of six professionals that were well versed in these topics. Over sixty people attended the young professionals event, and I was able to gather the city manager, mayor, and four out of seven city council members to come and listen to what the young professionals want to see in the city. My project was a huge success, and I was able to bring the community together to speak about what they want to see in the city. As I have transferred to Texas Southern University, I have already hit the ground running. I am on the academic affairs committee, and I plan to advocate for transfer students, like me to receive the resources that we need to be successful at Texas Southern. I do volunteer work with the Houston Urban League and Houston Food Bank, because I want to help out the less fortunate. With my degree, I plan to be a film producer and own my own company. With my company, I want to give the opportunity for marginalized voices to be able to shine and have their talents on full display. Thank you for considering my application for the Kennard C. Brown Memorial Scholarship. It would be an honor to receive this support, and it would allow me to further my education and to help amplify the voices of my community!