I am a seventeen-year-old African American young woman who enjoys: participating in community service, writing, and expressing myself through any avenue possible whether that be fashion, makeup, hair, or simply verbalizing my thoughts to advocate for my community. As a young African American woman, I’ve always sought to rise above the inferior and stigmas that may have been attached to African Americans and women. I decided early on to stay compassionate and determined to fight for my dreams no matter the battles I may face. Authenticity has always been important to me so participating in clubs such as Natural by popular demand, Black student alliance, and yearbook has all shaped me to be the young woman I am today. Such activities aid in creating a platform for me to advocate and express myself beyond measures. I have always been very inquisitive and loved to write which drove me to choose journalism as my career path. I want to not only attend college but a historically black college because knowledge is power, and college will grant me the opportunity to grow intellectually. Additionally, I will be given an even larger platform to network, partake in service, learn lifelong skills, and strengthen the talents I already possess. Attending an HBCU is important to me because the universities produce dynamic individuals by providing an education geared to African Americans and celebrating the legacy and accomplishments of black excellence. I want to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who all have their own stories to tell. The underrepresentation in journalism and media jobs is a major issue that has been addressed but not changed. As a future journalist, I want to be the force that can not be reckoned with for young black girls with similar stories. I desire to open doors for people of color to share their craft but may be limited due to the lack of resources and barriers formed against them is one of my biggest goals. I want to not only be an inspiration but have the opportunity to give back by providing mentorship and educational resources to individuals. Through my college experience, I will gain strong mentors which will help guide me than I can pay it forward. In the future, I want to give this same experience to people of color by opening recreational centers for young kids in need and programs for future journalists; creating spaces where African Americans feel represented, heard, and be unapologetic.