I've learned through books/movies about staying on my course despite hardships. In the movie "I Can Only Imagine" the musician faced hard times but strived for a better life. The movie teaches anyone to put their belief above all things, especially during challenging times. The main character Bart even had the heart to forgive his dad for the physical and verbal abuse he endured growing up. When we forgive those who hurt us in our past it allows us to heal properly. God forgives us for our daily sins and we should carry a heart as him. I'm currently attending Brenau University earning a degree in business. I've been pushing to keep my grade point average above 3.0 while working as a logistics coordinator at a construction company. I commit to volunteer each year and even started a foundation 2 years ago. Raising money for two annual food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is called the Howard Foundation started with my brother Avero Howard jr. An advocate in my community for change and standing for things that are right. I teach a bible study class along with my aunt each week at my church and take pictures for our church events. My education in business will help me teach those with fewer resources how to get into college and guidance on future career paths. Creating a comfortable space for each person to come to ask questions or ask for help. Teaching younger adults social media or sports is not the only way to make a living. Show how small steps can create longevity and each step is closer to your goal. Speak positivity and love into each person's ear that I come into contact with. Spread the word of Christ while teaching cause even doing weak times faith will keep them moving forward. Start to have an open policy plan for businesses in my local community to reach out to avoid closure to big corporations. Show how marketing can introduce them to a wider range of clients and keep their current clients. Create feedback questions/portals to understand what customers want/need. Coming from a small town and seeing huge corporations taking over this is a huge goal. Local business is owned by local business people which keeps our community rotating. I don't want my town to be unaware of companies that didn't go through the hard times together. That didn't feel the impact of financial times and only sustained the good of the community.

In 2021 I lost one of my childhood friends to gun violence. Asking myself questions like "Why was that person allowed to have a gun" "Why did it have to be the time when my friend was around" or "Why couldn't it have been me". That day plays in my head multiple times thinking about all the "what ifs" and wondering If could have changed the situation. People don't understand the long nights of grieving aching for at least one last conversation or crying on the spot thinking of the tiniest memories that were shared. Seeing one of their family members and their resemblance makes you sick to your stomach. The day of receiving that phone call changed my life since 10:29 that morning. Every day I live to honor my friend who passed and know they would enjoy getting to see another day. Reach the goals, we set out to achieve together and all our big dreams. I don't allow situations to anger me or stress about situations out of my control. I smile at the trees and sky while driving just be thankful to enjoy the view. In each conversation, with someone I love, I make sure to let them know that no matter happy or mad at the end of the conversation. Giving those who deserve their flowers here on earth and not waiting till they have passed away. We hear people say they got over death in days and were back to normal. Truthfully, I had to take a few mental health weeks to regain my focus. I isolated myself from friends and family to just self-reflect. My schoolwork was one of the things that kept me focused and help my mind wander off into another world for a little bit. Updated my school and professors just to let them know my situation to be allowed a few days to grieve. My grandmother always told me "Pain is proof that you're still living" and that is a quote that is stuck on a shelf in my mind. Being able to feel that pain shows that I'm still living on earth and shouldn't take any day for granted. This scholarship was hard to write but I'm thankful the scholarship is in place to help those with similar traumatic experiences. Sorry about the loss of your loved one Eduardo Uvaldo and I hope each day the pain gets easier. Thank you for taking the time to read my essay.