One of my favorite quotes is by Michael Jordan, and he said, “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” I have always been inspired to dream big in life. I have had an abundance of role models who have shown me the power of unconditional love. I am blessed to have my great-grandmother still with me, sharing her stories that I will one day be the only bearer of. She grew up on what used to be a plantation, attending a two room segregated school house until the seventh grade. Additionally, I am the daughter of teenage parents, but you would never know it looking on us now. Both of my parents would work two to three jobs when I was younger in order to provide for me. It was not until much later that I was truly able to grasp the depth of their sacrifices. My mother only recently graduated from college at the age of 32, both of my parents first generation. In the end I hope to look back and say that I lived a life worth living, that I made life better for those around me, and that I left a legacy people will remember for generations. I plan to continue both my academic and athletic career at Stanford University, located in sunny Palo Alto, California. After much debate, I have decided to major within Stanford’s Econometrics and Quantitative Economics program, minoring in communications. It is the statistical analysis of economic phenomena and the mathematical modelling of economic systems; involving, optimization, cost/benefit analysis, and economic forecasting. Moreover, my interest in communications have long been developed from my desire to lead and serve others, additionally with my curiosity in motivational speaking. Though I am challenging myself extensively with my future endeavors, the characteristics I have acquired will, no doubt, serve me well. I want to give hope to the depressed, belief to those lacking belief in themselves, and love to all. I want to serve as an example for those like me, who may go by many titles; such as, athlete, student, female, African American, future Olympian, or future business woman. Above all, I want to learn and grow in both experience and wisdom. The only thing anyone truly has to offer is their time and their knowledge. I know that accomplishing my educational aspirations is the first step towards my dreams. It also means that dreams can come true. I will create change by giving back to my community and to the world, specifically for everyone who believed in me when it was hard to believe in myself. My circumstances would have preferred me remain caged, unable to tap into my true potential, but God had greater plans. I recognize that I am blessed to have so much more than so many people, so I feel it is only right to give back to my greatest capability. Douglas MacArthur said, “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.” There is no one specific point when someone becomes a leader. A leader is a gradual construction, aged well with time. To lead is a privilege because a leader will determine the dynamic of an entire team. One thing I have always offered endlessly was a vision; however, having the vision is just the first step. There were many days I questioned why I chose track over a field that society would deem more noble; such as a doctor or scientist. It took many years in order for me to realize that hope and inspiration offer the world an unexplained added value. Ultimately, society needs the will to change its circumstances, to feel empowered to do good. Track has evolved to much more than myself. I have little sisters who look up to me and a great-grandmother that didn’t have a single opportunity that I have; a great-grandmother who taught me to love unconditionally and to never let the world dull my smile. They are my strength. This is my life. Society doesn’t get to deem what is noble or worthwhile; especially when I have an opportunity to make a difference for myself and my family. The sacrifices made have been more than my own. Thank you to my teenage parents for showing me that I can overcome any situation. Thank you for choosing to give me the best at your own expense. Thank you God for using track as my instrument to play before the world. Thank you for using track as my way to leave a legacy. Most notably, thank you for using track to shape future generations, forever spreading your goodness and grace. Admittedly, I do not have an answer for every future problem. What I do have, is a tool box full of useful characteristics and habits that have been bestowed upon me for any and all future endeavors. I do not believe that people always have to know how they are going to do something, only that they are going to find a way. It is true that planning promotes action. Though action sometimes leads to failure, failures will eventually find their way to success. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The world belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” As long as I make the best out of every opportunity God gives, I know that I will live a life of beauty and splendor, impacting my community and the world in a positive way.

I wake up before the rising sun to the brightening sky, fresh dew drops on the grass. My dad brews the coffee and I kiss the head of my grandmother before heading out the door. We load the rods in the back of the truck and begin our journey down the beaten path. I caught my first fish at the age of 4 in a pond that has since been renovated over. There is nothing that brings me greater peace than sitting back on a warm sunny day, rod in the water for hours and hours. Fishing has come to mean so much more than one might think. I am just a city girl with country loves. I think it’s hard to not admire the whole country scene, everything about it is so serene. My dad learned to fish from his grandad and when he didn’t get a son, he decided to teach his daughter instead. When I was younger, I had a patience problem as most kids do. I would stand by the edge and cast out just a few feet, catching as many tiny fish as I could. Eventually I grew older, began to do more on my own. Suddenly, I wanted to learn new techniques, like how to tie stronger knots and set better traps. I wanted to catch more exotic fish and hike to new fishing spots in somewhat hard to reach places. It all became an adventure. What’s more is that it was an adventure with my dad, who did not live with me for the entirety of my childhood. My parents were separated and I would visit him on some weekends, but nevertheless it was our time. They say as you grow older, things may not smell as sweet as in your youth but oh on the contrary. My experience with fishing has aged well with time like a fine wine. Who would think that fishing offers benefits beside the catch of a fish. It offers life skills, mainly teaching to never allow life to move you too quickly. It’s necessary to sometimes sit back and let time tick away without worry. Life as a young adult can be pretty stressful to say the least. Finding a place of peace is like a smooth medicine, nature’s natural remedy. Moreover, it has brought me closer to my dad. Something else I enjoy about fishing is that I do not look like the traditional fisher-woman. But to everyone’s surprise, my without a care apparel and dirty bait touched hands are a part of the process I love. It reminds me to never judge a book by its cover. I know that even when life is almost at its end, fishing is something that will still have my heart. I cannot wait to one-day share with my own children all that fishing has meant to me, to find out where their first catch will be.

1. I guess I should start from the beginning, being that I am the daughter of teenage parents. Growing up I got to witness firsthand the power of determination and grit in a system that is sometimes unfair. Looking back on us now, you would never know the many struggles we faced. From a young age, I was very ambitious, set on conquering the world. I believe that dreams can become reality if you’re willing to plan and to fail. One of my favorite activities is participating in track and field at my school. I have come to have a great appreciation for the sport because of everything it’s done for me. Track has taken me across the country to compete on some of the biggest stages. Most importantly, track has taught me to be mentally resilient. I believe work ethic is not something you turn on and off. Because of this, I have pushed myself in my studies to become my current class valedictorian. In the future, all I can hope to be is significant. I am motivated by the struggles of my parents, the lack of opportunity for my great-grandmother, and the dreams of my heart. I don’t consider myself ordinary, and societal stereotypes would like to place me in boxes for which I will not claim. If I could do anything, I’d experience every ounce of live, traveling the entire globe meeting people of all varieties, hoping to leave each place a little better than I found it. 2. Never did I imagine that I would be entering into a STEM related field, particularly mathematics. My younger self would not believe me now if I told her. I guess my decision ultimately derived from my admiration of a challenge. I have always sought out challenges on every level, sometimes too much. Admittedly, accepting every challenge has not been as noble and exciting as I originally thought. Nevertheless, and it sounds weird to say, but I love to manipulate numbers. If you think about it, numbers really tell a story. The story never changes. It is steady and precise. You don’t have to create it but rather interpret it. It’s solid and unwavering, unlike people at times. I guess you can say it’s comforting, at least when it’s not confusing, but then it’s comforting again to know that there is an answer out there. I’m not sure how exactly this passion will be used to impact the world. What I do know is that not everything has to have a how, only a what and why. My what is that I will positively impact the world with my infectious spirit and pursuit to overcome challenges. My why is because I believe I hold value that can be shared and multiplied, and that I have a support system that upholds me on even my weakest days. 3. I consider my greatest challenge to be my greatest blessing, but this challenge I was actually born into. It began at a young age with my parents never marrying or even being together. All my life I was split between two households, deciding each holiday where I wanted to be. And while this may not seem like a big challenge, it brewed, never really leaving me. It equated to always feeling like I didn’t belong, split between multiple worlds and realities, going by all these titles that never quite represented the entire me. In elementary school, I was selected to attend a gifted program at another school. My friends were the one place I found peace so leaving them drove that wedge between me once again. Venturing on into middle and high school, the divisions became subtler due to my better management of them. Many of my daily concerns consisted of: being black, being an athlete, being intelligent, feeling the need to act black enough, feeling smart enough to hang around my governor school friends, and presenting myself in a positive light always amongst my school community. If I had to use one word it would be pressure. I heard a saying by Tupac, “Don’t let the pressure make you panic.” It’s necessary to find peace under pressure. My peace was found in deciding that maybe I wasn’t meant to fit a description. It continues to be found through laughter and ultimately seeing the influence I’ve had on others.

I once heard a saying by George Eliot that, " A man is not dead until he is forgotten." One is only remembered to the scale of their impact on others. I want to give hope to the depressed, belief to those lacking belief in themselves, and love to all. I want to serve as an example for those like me, who may go by many titles; such as, athlete, student, female, African American, future Olympian, or future business woman. Above all, I want to learn and grow in both experience and wisdom. The only things anyone truly has to offer are themselves or their knowledge. I know that accomplishing my educational aspirations is the first step towards my dreams. It also means that dreams can come true. I will create change by giving back to my community and to the world, specifically for everyone who believed in me when it was hard to believe in myself. My circumstances would have preferred me remain caged, unable to tap into my true potential, but God has greater plans. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” There’s so much negativity and hate already in excess when all we really need is love. I recognize that I am blessed to have so much more than so many people, so I feel it is only right to give back to my greatest capability. Even though I would consider myself to be pretty young, I have experienced a great deal. I am the daughter of teenage parents who did not grow up into the prettiest of situations, yet they worked hard and found a way to raise me as the person I am. Going back even further, my great-grandmother is still alive and to hear everything that she would live through just makes their sacrifices that much greater. I am a witness to the generational changes and will continue to develop our legacy. Playing sports has taught me discipline and resilience to adversity, how to put my all into something and to have fun. Being a student teaches work ethic and intention. Working has taught me responsibility and humility. Having to work under a higher authority will be necessary in life, but we can learn how to be both a follower and a leader in these instances. All of my goals; such as, receiving an education at Stanford University, competing in the Olympics, and becoming a successful business woman align with my greater purpose of impacting my community and opening doors for the future of my family, showing others that they too do not have to remain where they are. I will prove that the world belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, to those who have the courage to pursue them, unafraid of failure.