Becoming the first person in my family to pursue law school means building a path that no one before me has had the opportunity to walk. There is no family blueprint explaining how to prepare for the LSAT, select law schools, secure recommendation letters, or finance a legal education. I have had to seek mentors, research each step, and learn how to advocate for myself while continuing to serve others. Although that responsibility can feel overwhelming, it has strengthened my determination to become a health law attorney and create a clearer path for those who come after me. My college journey has required the same persistence. I began college with a low GPA. Rather than allowing that number to define my potential, I changed my study habits, strengthened my discipline, and earned two 4.0 semesters. I have since raised my cumulative GPA to a 3.7. This growth represents more than academic improvement. It reflects my ability to respond to setbacks with action and reminds me that where I begin does not determine where I will finish. As a political science student at Tuskegee University, I have used my education to better understand how laws and public institutions affect communities. Outside the classroom, I founded The Girl Flo Project to address menstrual-product insecurity among students in public schools. I later created Tiger’s Comfort Corner, a menstrual closet on my college campus. Through this work, I have seen how health inequities can interfere with a student’s education, confidence, and ability to participate fully in daily life. Those experiences shaped my goal of becoming a health law attorney. I want to advocate for women and families who struggle to access quality healthcare, understand their rights, or have their concerns taken seriously. My long-term vision includes establishing a Health and Justice Center that provides affordable legal assistance, patient advocacy, health education, and referrals to trusted providers. I also plan to run for public office so I can help create laws and policies that improve maternal healthcare, strengthen public education, and expand opportunities for underserved communities. This scholarship would support me during one of the most important transitions of my education: applying to law school. Because I am navigating this process as the first in my family, every application-related expense is mine to plan for, including LSAT preparation, credential-report fees, and law school application costs. Receiving this would help reduce that financial burden and allow me to focus more of my time and energy on preparing a competitive application and completing my undergraduate education. This scholarship would be an investment in a vision that is already in motion. I am not waiting until I earn a law degree to begin serving my community; I have already created programs that meet immediate needs. Law school will give me the knowledge and authority to expand that work, challenge larger inequities, and build lasting institutions. I want to become the first lawyer in my family, but I do not want the path to end with me. I want my journey to show other young women of color that they can enter spaces their families have never occupied and use that access to bring their communities forward with them.

I have already seen how meeting one basic need can change a student’s day. Through The Girl Flo, which I founded to expand access to menstrual products in public schools, I learned that a product placed in the right hands can mean the difference between a student missing class and remaining focused on her education. I later created Tiger’s Comfort Corner, a menstrual closet on my college campus, to continue addressing that need. These initiatives represent the beginning of the impact I want to make, not the end. I plan to use my education to become a health law attorney, serve in public office, and establish a Health and Justice Center that connects underserved families with legal assistance, health education, patient advocacy, and trusted community resources. My goal is to ensure that a person’s ability to receive quality care and fair treatment is not determined by race, income, gender, or ZIP code. The people I serve inspire this vision. I think about the student who no longer has to leave school because she started her period unexpectedly. I think about mothers whose medical concerns are dismissed, patients who do not understand their rights, and families who know they need help but cannot afford an attorney. I am also inspired by the educators, attorneys, mentors, and community leaders who have shown me that service is not defined by a title. It is defined by what you are willing to build, protect, and improve for others. As a health law attorney, I want to address maternal health disparities, menstrual and reproductive health, patient rights, and unequal access to care. My legal education will teach me how to challenge harmful practices, help patients navigate complicated systems, and shape laws that better protect communities that have historically been overlooked. I do not want to work only after harm has occurred. I want to help create policies and institutions that prevent people from being ignored in the first place. I also plan to run for public office, with the long-term goal of serving as Governor of Florida. Before asking people to trust me with that responsibility, I want to understand the law, represent individuals directly, and remain connected to the communities affected by government decisions. In office, I would advocate for stronger maternal healthcare, better-funded public schools, expanded access to health services, and policies that give families a fair opportunity to thrive. The Health and Justice Center would bring each part of my vision together. Families could receive affordable legal guidance, assistance understanding their rights, referrals to reliable healthcare providers, and help navigating public-benefit systems. The center would also train students and emerging advocates so that its work could continue through future generations of leaders. My education will be more than a degree displayed on a wall. I intend to transform it into a stronger law, an advocate beside a patient, a student who can stay in class, and a center whose doors remain open to families who have nowhere else to turn. That is the future I am determined to create.

My interest in public policy began with a problem I could see but that was rarely discussed students missing class or struggling through the school day because they did not have access to menstrual products. In 2020, I founded The Girl Flo, to address period poverty in my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. What began as an effort to provide menstrual products grew into a deeper understanding of how policy decisions shape health, education, and opportunity. Through The Girl Flo, I have worked to place menstrual product dispensers in local middle and high schools and build partnerships that make menstrual health resources more accessible to students. When a student’s ability to participate fully in school can depend on whether she has access to a pad or tampon, menstrual equity is not simply a personal issue. It is a public policy issue. That realization has shaped my academic and professional goals. As a political science student preparing to pursue a legal education, I am especially interested in women’s health policy and the laws that govern access, privacy, and equity in healthcare. My advocacy has also expanded onto my college campus, where I co-founded Tiger’s Comfort Corner, a menstrual product resource at Tuskegee University. These experiences have allowed me to see policy from multiple perspectives: as a student affected by institutional decisions, an advocate asking institutions to change, and a leader responsible for turning an idea into a sustainable resource. My civic engagement extends beyond menstrual health. Through student government, gun violence prevention advocacy, university service, and pre-law leadership, I have learned that effective public service requires more than having strong opinions. It requires listening, coalition-building, research, persistence, and the ability to communicate with people who may approach an issue differently. I am particularly interested in working at the intersection of law and public policy, where I can help shape policies affecting women’s health and healthcare access. I want my legal career to give me the tools to advocate for individuals while also addressing the systems that determine what resources and protections are available to entire communities. Civil discourse is essential to that work. Policy change rarely happens because everyone enters the room already agreeing. Advocates must be able to defend their positions while still listening carefully enough to understand competing concerns. Some of my most meaningful advocacy has required working with school officials, community organizations, students, professionals, and other stakeholders whose responsibilities and perspectives differ from my own. I have learned that listening does not require abandoning your convictions; it helps you understand how to move an issue forward. I do not want to study policy only to understand how government works. I want to participate in improving how it works. My experiences have shown me that meaningful change can begin with one overlooked problem, but lasting change requires leadership, law, and policy working together. The Girl Flo | Founder | 2020–Present | Contact: Amaya Waymon Tuskegee University Student Government Association | Senator-at-Large | 2024–2025 | Contact: Student Life at Tuskegee Students Demand Action | Policy & Civic Engagement | 2024–Present | Contact: Anna Gratzer, agratzer@everytown.org Tiger’s Comfort Corner | Co-Founder | 2025–Present | Contact: Amaya Waymon Tuskegee University Hearing & Appeals Board | Board Member | 2023–2026 | Contact: ods@tuskegee.edu Southern Region Black Law Students Association (SRBLSA) | Pre-Law Intern | August 2026–Present | Contact: srblsa.prelaw@nblsa.org Tuskegee University Pre-Law Society | Member | 2023–Present | Contact: tlaughlin@tuskegee.edu Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society | Member | May 2026–Present | Contact: tlaughlin@tuskegee.edu

My educational and professional goals are rooted in a simple belief that access matters. Whether access to healthcare, education, safety, or necessities, I have seen how barriers can impact a person's opportunities and well-being. These experiences have shaped my desire to pursue a legal career focused on health law and public policy. As a rising senior at Tuskegee University majoring in political science, I plan to attend law school and build a career at the intersection of law, healthcare, and policy. I am particularly interested in addressing issues related to health equity, emerging healthcare technologies, and access to care for underserved communities. Through a legal career, I hope to help develop policies and solutions that improve health outcomes while ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to the resources and protections they deserve. My interest in health law and policy stems from a desire to address systemic challenges rather than temporary solutions. Throughout my academic and leadership experiences, I have become increasingly aware that many of the issues affecting communities are shaped by policy decisions, legal frameworks, and access to resources. I want to use the law as a tool to advocate for equitable healthcare systems and help create meaningful, long-term change. By combining my passion for service with a legal education, I hope to contribute to policies that improve the lives of individuals and families who are often overlooked. My commitment to civic engagement and public service began long before college. As the founder of The Girl Flo, a nonprofit organization focused on menstrual equity and education, I have worked to increase awareness of period poverty and expand access to menstrual products and resources. Through this work, I witnessed how something as basic as access to menstrual products can affect a student's confidence, attendance, and ability to succeed. What began as a passion project evolved into a deeper understanding of the barriers many young people face and the importance of creating solutions that directly address community needs. At Tuskegee University, I expanded that mission by founding Tigers Comfort Corner, a campus initiative that provides free menstrual products to students. Through this effort, I learned that leadership is not simply about identifying problems but about taking responsibility for helping solve them. Creating and sustaining the initiative required collaboration, persistence, and a willingness to advocate for a cause that directly impacts students' well-being. Seeing students benefit from resources that many take for granted reinforced my commitment to service and reminded me that meaningful change often begins with small actions that address everyday challenges. My commitment to public service has also been shaped by my experience as a gun violence survivor. That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of how violence affects individuals, families, and communities. It showed me that public policy decisions have real consequences and that advocacy can play an important role in creating safer environments. Rather than allowing that experience to define me, I chose to use it as motivation to become more involved in civic engagement and community advocacy. Through my involvement with Students Demand Action, I have worked alongside others who are committed to reducing gun violence and promoting safer communities. These experiences have allowed me to engage with advocacy efforts, participate in important conversations surrounding public safety, and better understand the role that civic engagement plays in shaping policy. They have also reinforced my belief that young people have both the ability and the responsibility to contribute to positive change. Beyond my organizational involvement, public service has influenced the way I approach leadership. I believe effective leaders listen to the communities they serve, seek to understand different perspectives, and remain committed to finding solutions that create opportunities for others. Whether I am mentoring peers, leading initiatives, or advocating for important issues, I strive to approach service with empathy, integrity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Whether I am leading a community initiative, advocating for policy solutions, or creating resources that help students succeed, I strive to use my education and experiences to improve the lives of others. My goal is not simply to earn a law degree, but to use that education as a tool for service. Through law, advocacy, and public leadership, I hope to expand access, address inequities, and create lasting change for the communities I serve. I believe that meaningful leadership is measured not by personal accomplishments alone, but by the impact one has on others. As I continue my educational and professional journey, I remain committed to using my knowledge, experiences, and future legal training to serve others and help build stronger, healthier, and more equitable communities.

My turning point did not happen in a single moment. It happened when I realized that the challenges I faced were not barriers meant to stop me, but opportunities to create solutions for others. I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and from an early age, I learned the value of service, leadership, and perseverance. Throughout my life, I have often found myself in spaces where resources were limited, yet the needs of my community were great. Rather than waiting for someone else to solve problems, I became determined to be part of the solution. One of the experiences that shaped me most was founding The Girl Flo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to menstrual equity and education. What began as a desire to support girls facing period poverty grew into a mission to ensure that young women have access to the products, resources, and conversations they deserve. Through this work, I learned that leadership is not about titles. It is about listening, showing up, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. That lesson followed me to college. As a student at Tuskegee University, I continued looking for ways to serve. After recognizing the need for accessible menstrual products on campus, I founded Tigers Comfort Corner, a resource designed to help students access essential hygiene products without stigma or financial burden. Seeing students benefit from something I helped create reinforced my belief that meaningful change often begins with addressing everyday challenges that are frequently overlooked. Education has always been central to my journey. As a first-generation aspiring attorney, I understand the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities. Maintaining a strong academic record while balancing leadership roles, service commitments, internships, and campus involvement has required discipline and resilience. There have been moments when financial concerns, academic pressures, and personal responsibilities felt overwhelming. Yet each challenge strengthened my determination to continue pursuing my goals. My experiences have inspired my career aspirations in health law and public policy. I want to become an attorney who advocates for equitable healthcare access and helps shape policies that improve outcomes for underserved communities. I have seen how systems can impact people's lives, and I want to be part of building solutions that make those systems more effective, accessible, and just. Most importantly, my journey has taught me the importance of paying opportunities forward. Every mentor, educator, and leader who invested in me helped make my success possible. Their support motivates me to do the same for others. Whether through community service, advocacy, mentorship, or future legal work, I hope to create pathways for those coming behind me. The future I am building is rooted in service. My goal is not simply to achieve personal success, but to use my education and experiences to leave my community stronger than I found it. If my story has a turning point, it is realizing that leadership is not defined by where you start. It is defined by how you use your experiences to uplift others and create lasting impact. That is the legacy I hope to build.

“They’ll tell you you’re too loud, that you need to wait your turn and ask the right people for permission. Do it anyway – Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC). What is a servant leader? I am Amaya Waymon; a servant leader is one who believes in making change happen in the community and in this country. I plan to major in political science with a minor in public policy. I want to be able to learn more history and connect to our history today. I want to be able to talk about the importance of our history. The epitome of being more than enough in today's time is to use your voice and create change. I plan to become a health law attorney and a politician. Many people serve our country and the most I can do is inspire others at my university to help in the community. I know that my ancestors have dreamed for me to attend college and leave a legacy through my character, career, and community. I know that I can inspire others to believe in themselves. I know I’m a daughter of a King. The King who believes in me that I will fulfill my purpose which is empowering women and serving others. Everything I am doing is my calling not for the comments to go crazy but because an impact needs to be made. The Girl Flo is a non-profit organization that provides menstrual products whether it's a need or simply just an emergency. The Girl Flo has been recognized on a local, state, and national level. The Girl Flo was able to provide menstrual products and dispensers with the help of donors. The Girl Flo currently has dispensers on the campus of Tuskegee University. The Girl Flo plans to provide menstrual products for college students at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). A true servant leader that lives through her motto. I will continue to participate in services such as March of Dimes, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Ronald McDonald House Charities and many more. When I am working with scholars within her community or working on her next project. I am driven knowing the impact that needs to be made in our country. Amaya has received numerous awards such as PERIOD Youth Champion in Service Award, Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Thurgood Marshall College Fund Sour Patch Kids Mischief for Change Award, Tallahassee's Top Five Young Women to Watch, Best and Brightest Leadership & Spirit of the Best and Brightest Scholarship, Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award, Girls Can Do Anything Award. In 2022 she received a proclamation from the Leon County Commission from her student leader accomplishments and philanthropic efforts. This is why I believe that I am more than enough because I know how to lead and inspire. I have done more than enough in this society just as an 18-year-old student leader and advocate. It's so exciting to know that this is just the beginning of the success I'm creating in our society.

I was meant to be a doctor. I will focus on my patient’s .Especially my African-American patients. I will stay dedicated. I will become a doctor. I have a big dream with big drives. I am Amaya J. Waymon, a goal-oriented, motivated, amazing sophomore at the James S Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida. The reason I’m a true go-getter is because I know I want more for myself and I want my future to be the best that it can be. I have to make the village and the support system proud. I’ve always been a hard worker so without a doubt that’s why I have to reach all of my dreams and not let anyone deprive me from them. The woman who I admire in the STEM field is the late Dr.Patricia Bath. She’s an African-American ophthalmologist, inventor, humanitarian.The first black doctor to land a medical patent, which she received in 1988 for laserphaco probe.Dr.Bath was an amazing African-American doctor and she inspires me so much. From all the way in the 17th and 18th centuries from now so much has been given to the African–American community that’s why it’s so important for us to use the resources and not just let them pass by. I admire Dr.Bath’s drive, dedication, and sacrifices. She didn’t give up and I won’t either .She’s passed me the torch and now I have to run with and continue to uphold the name of African-American women in STEM. I hope to achieve so much in the field of STEM .I want to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in biology on the track of becoming a neonatologist. As I’m obtaining that degree I would like to minor in chemistry and do additional research pertaining to diet and heart health. As well as focusing on biochemistry health and diseases. My desire to receive the scholarship is not superficial. I don’t just want to have the name or add it to my resume, but I truly understand the mission of this scholarship and purpose. It’s important to have women in the field of STEM. It’s even more significant to have women of color in the field of STEM. With all that said, I know that this scholarship would help me meet my dreams, and purpose. It’s my biggest dream to become a doctor, but not just a doctor but an African-American one that will make a difference for society. By awarding me the Amplify Women in STEM Scholarship I will be able to save money for college and honor the scholarship.