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.

Access to menstrual products should never determine whether a student can show up to class, yet for many, it does, and I decided to change that. As the founder of The Girl Flo and Tiger’s Comfort Corner at Tuskegee University, I have created initiatives that directly address the intersection of health, education, and economic equity. Through securing corporate sponsorships and partnerships, I provide free menstrual products to students, reducing the financial burden many face when forced to choose between basic necessities. What began as a response to an overlooked need has grown into a structured system of access, support, and measurable community impact, serving students who would otherwise go without essential resources. In building these initiatives, I quickly realized that period poverty is not just a health issue, but an economic and legal one. For many students, the recurring cost of menstrual products creates a silent financial strain that affects their ability to fully engage in their education. At the same time, the lack of consistent access reflects broader gaps in policy and institutional responsibility. Addressing this issue requires not only community-based solutions, but also legal frameworks that recognize menstrual access as essential. To me, economic empowerment is not just about income; it is about access, dignity, and the ability to fully participate in daily life without barriers. By removing a recurring financial burden, my work allows students to redirect their resources toward other essential needs, such as food, transportation, and academic supplies. Through The Girl Flo, I am not only addressing an immediate need but actively demonstrating how economic empowerment can uplift underrepresented communities by reducing financial barriers and creating consistent access to essential resources. In just one semester, these efforts have supported dozens of students on my campus. As I continue my efforts, I am focused on expanding The Girl Flo’s reach beyond a single campus into a broader model that supports students and communities nationwide. I plan to continue building partnerships with organizations, schools, and advocates to ensure that access to menstrual products is not limited by geography or resources. My goal is to create a consistent and reliable system of support that can be implemented in multiple communities, ensuring long-term impact rather than temporary relief. My career goals are centered in law, where I intend to focus on both health law and corporate law to advance menstrual equity on a larger scale. Through health law, I plan to advocate for policies that recognize menstrual products as essential and require equitable access in schools and public institutions. At the same time, my interest in corporate law will allow me to structure sustainable partnerships, secure funding, and build frameworks that support long-term impact. By combining these areas, I will be able to both challenge inequitable systems and create innovative solutions that ensure communities are not only supported, but protected. Through this work, I will continue advocating for policies that require schools, public institutions, and community spaces to provide menstrual products, while also addressing the broader inequities that contribute to period poverty. My goal is to move from providing access at the community level to establishing protections and standards at the state and national level. My work reflects a commitment to creating lasting change by addressing both immediate needs and the systems that allow those needs to exist. This scholarship would allow me to continue expanding my efforts, using both direct service and legal advocacy to build a future where access, dignity, and equity are not conditional, but guaranteed.

“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.