Knowledge is power is a common proverb but many fail to realize how significant it is. Education enables innovation, creativity, and social change which are essential components of how society progresses. Knowing the weight it holds, having the ability to be educated should be a right and not a privilege. However, inequalities prohibit many from attaining an adequate education due to underfunded schools or resources not being accessible in the classroom or at home. For the 2024-2025 school year, I had the privilege of working in a classroom with preschool aged children. I was a part of an organization called Jumpstart whose mission was to support children by teaching them literacy skills, problem resolution, and social-emotional learning. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts I would not be able to continue volunteering for the years to come. In spite of the program closing, I truly enjoyed building connections with both staff members and children alike. It was not only rewarding because of the people I met during my time there, but because I knew that I could be of assistance and/or a role model for my students. Not everyone comes from a background that allows for them to have access to the proper tools they need to succeed, therefore I always ensured that I was a safe space for my kids because I offered them the individualized attention they needed to express themselves. In today’s climate the education system is under attack. With America already being in a literacy crisis, taking away federal funding for programs such as Jumpstart only exacerbates this issue. Early learning is crucial because it is a determining factor on whether or not a child is prepared for the rest of their educational journey. If kids are not receiving equal access to education, it upholds already existing disparities and creates a generation that lacks critical skills that helps them to navigate through life. For this reason, if given the opportunity, I would help my community through volunteer tutoring groups. It would be strictly community based in which appointed tutors will be assigned to specific study groups that range from preschool to high school. Essential materials such as pens, paper, pencils, etc. would be provided by the tutors, however the process of obtaining other materials would operate similar to a school drive where people can donate supplies. This is important to me for two specific reasons: development and self-sufficiency. By having resources available, support can be given to the youth if they are not receiving it at school or home in order to help them catch up or stay ahead. Additionally, it strengthens the community because we would learn to not be heavily reliant on a government that continues to prove itself as unreliable. Instead, we would be learning to lean on each other in times of need because we would know first hand what issues needed to be addressed. To be knowledgeable is not about being the smartest in the room or having the highest grades, but rather having a sense of awareness that allows for individuals to create change in the world. Thus, having the ability to learn should not be limited based on one’s background but should be accessible to all. If we begin to cultivate minds instead of hindering learning, we could be further along in society.

Being creative and inquisitive are traits that I have always displayed, and thus for the longest I believed that my career path was going to lead me on a journey to becoming an artist. However, the future that I see as of now is a career in criminal justice. As I entered young adulthood, learning about the criminal justice system piqued my interest. How could investigators more effectively collect information to solve cases? In what ways can activism help prison reform? These questions needed answers and I wanted to be the one to solve them. I aspire to be a crime scene investigator but I also have an interest in law in order to figure out how to assist in reforming prisons. Considering the fact that the criminal justice system disproportionately affects African Americans through high incarceration rates which in turn creates racial disparities in jails, I want to aid in creating a system that actually helps people instead of hindering. To me, being Black is the epitome of resilience. For so long the Black community has been denied. Being told “no” to civil rights, being told “no” to having an education, being told “no” to even being considered human. In spite of it all, a culture has been cultivated in America, the very place that did the denying, that is undeniably the most influential. Whether it be from fashion trends, music, or hairstyles, the Black community is often imitated but never duplicated. Despite the adversity, Black people still stand.

What would you do if tomorrow you lost it all? Think about it. Have you ever contemplated that question? If not, you’re most likely leading a successful life or have not been in a predicament to make you feel the need to have to ask that question. Many do not attempt to put themselves in the position to even consider that question. No, it is not solely based on the inability to put yourself in someone’s shoes, however some become so high on life that it simply never crosses their mind. Yet, what people fail to realize is that just because you’re in a successful position currently does not mean you’re going to stay there. Since a young age I have been taught to help people in need. Not because I expected something in return but because the actions of assisting someone is from the goodness of my heart. It never was an issue for me to help someone because I was fortunate enough to always have somebody who was willing to help me. Not until I reached the first grade, that I became invested in philanthropy. One project changed my whole outlook on the welfare of others. Though I do not remember specifically what the prompt for the project was, I do remember vividly what I built. With help from my father, I created a house made of popsicle sticks that was inspired by Habitat for Humanity. Since Habitat for Humanity is an organization that improves housing environments, I was excited to present it to the class. I was always deemed as quiet (I’d like to call it observant) so once I finally got the opportunity to speak I ran with it. After awhile I stopped reading from the script and spoke on my own account to why I felt like it was important to help people in need. I went on for so long my teacher said she hated to cut me off, however we had to give the other students a turn. She pulled me to the side and expressed how proud she was of me for coming out of my shell. From that point on, I became dedicated to find ways to benefit the life of others. According to Google, pay it forward means “respond to a person's kindness to oneself by being kind to someone else”. But what happens when no one is kind to you? Does that obligate you to stop being kind to someone else? To me, paying something forward does not have to be in response to someone else’s kindness. If no one has displayed compassion to me, it is not going to change the way I treat people. Seeing how I can influence another life for the better is the goal. Not for the likes on social media or a pat on the back. In my life, my mother has inspired me to live life without seeking for an award. She was the one who taught me to do good even when no one is watching. It is not necessary to be recognized for every little good deed due to the fact that all attention is not good attention. Living by those words have driven me to want to improve my community. Not only from a local standpoint but on a wider scale as well. I hope to educate people on my views and push for everyone to strive to do good without looking for a congratulations. By doing so, I strongly believe this will improve the interconnectedness within the nation that it has been so desperately needing since the time of its “founding”. I want to tackle issues such as homelessness, racial injustice, and educational attainment (or lack thereof) in marginalized communities. I want to speak on behalf of underserved people because they deserve success just as much as the next person. Environments or financial status should not discourage somebody from pursuing what they want to do in life. I want to be able to find ways to prevent homelessness by finding housing spaces to get them off the streets. I also propose to develop extracurricular activities and/or programs for adolescents to keep them engaged and out of trouble. In the words of my mother, “remain humble because your life can change in an instant”. I believe everybody can learn something from these words. Not just because my mother is a smart woman but because it ties back to the phrase of “pay it forward”. Being humble does not always have to mean being unassertive, but being wise enough to put your pride aside. Doing so can enable you to help someone without trying to protect a certain “image”. Therefore, off of the strength of my integrity I will continue to assist people in anyway I can.