To truly know who I am, you must understand that I am a loud person–a fact many people didn’t know about me until high school. When I lost my mom at a young age, it significantly shaped my childhood. My voice was always a tool I was afraid of using. I often felt trapped in an invisible prison of silence. That was until I transferred to Plymouth Whitemarsh, where I met a small group of students who allowed me to break out of my internal prison. With my newfound voice, I began to apply myself in classes and step into leadership roles I hadn't considered joining before. Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to be on the leadership committee for the Black Cultural Awareness Club where we coordinate events and fundraise for various charities. I also have been a grade level leader for the past two years in the Student Council and a chair of the Principals Leadership Council to ensure every student's issues are presented to the principal. My most recent accomplishment has been being elected as president of Letters for Rose, where I have used my voice to make genuine connections with senior citizens and club members. Looking back, I am so thankful for the community I’ve found where I can be the loud person I always was behind closed doors. My primary goal is to be the first in my family to graduate from college with a bachelor's degree and later obtain an MBA. I am determined to break the generational curse and serve as an example for my younger cousins and nieces to pursue a higher education. My Bahamian roots are a constant reminder of the sacrifices my father made to give me a better life. From a young age, my father emphasized the importance of education for my future. Whenever I was tempted to settle for a “B-” or wanted to watch Gilmore Girls, I would recall my dad's lectures about his expectations of me. Or more so, my expectations of myself, and I got to studying. This scholarship will allow me to succeed academically without the constant worry of college expenses. My father, a single parent, plans to use his retirement savings to pay for my education. I appreciate him for this deeply, however, he deserves a comfortable retirement without the burden of my college expenses. I aim to use my education to advocate for increased funding in urban public schools. The magnitude of this issue became relevant when my cousin’s entire fifth grade class had to complete summer school due to test scores being equivalent to third graders. I believe funding will allow students to have access to updated technology, more teachers, and mentorship programs. I will create strategies to ensure that all urban public schools have access to these resources. As my parents have taught me, success starts with education. Investing in the younger generation is essential. I plan to be a part of that investment, ensuring no student is left behind. A quote that resonates with me is, “Excellence is our debt to those who came before us.” My parents have heavily influenced my outlook on education and the opportunities it ignites. I am excited to give back to my community and use my voice to advocate for others at Howard University. I don’t just want to succeed, I must succeed. Not to prove anything to others, but to prove to myself that I am capable of greatness.

My passion for art sparked my interest in business. I vividly remember having recess and all my friends running around to play. I, however, was not among them. Instead, I was kneeling on the pavement drawing my family in chalk. The loud noises of laughter and creaking equipment on the playground seemed to fade and I was left with my thoughts and art. This wasn’t new to me; every day, when it was time to go inside, the texture of the pavement was imprinted on my palms and knees. But I didn’t mind it. Art was my escape from my world where my mom had a terminal illness and my imagination would come alive. I never just saw it as a hobby, I saw it as a comfort away from my home life. After my mom’s death, I used art to express the emotions I couldn’t put into words. This artwork ranged from serene landscapes to figures with untold stories. I eventually started selling my paintings and enjoyed sharing my inspiration about my art. This led me to fall in love with business due to the genuine and personal connections I made with others. Since then, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business, though I didn’t know what direction until I took my first marketing class. Marketing was something that surprisingly came naturally to me. I often found myself in class eager to know more and asking questions. It fascinated me because I loved thinking of innovative ways businesses advertise. My talent has allowed me to think outside of the box and unique ideas to create campaigns. In my eyes, marketing is the perfect blend of art and business, two things I enjoy. My passion for these two has inspired me to spread my creativity by being involved in my school community. My role as president of the club “Letters for Rose,” has allowed me to organize and oversee club functions, as well as explore different ways to promote our club at our school. I am also a member of the Black Cultural Awareness Club leadership committee where we discuss prevalent topics regarding Black people and destigmatize stereotypes. These leadership skills have fueled my desire to become not only a leader at my school, but in my future career. My father, an electrician in Philadelphia, has been my role model by offering free repairs to low income families. This inspires me to one day be able to give back to my community. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I have witnessed the tragic realities of gun violence, resulting in teenagers losing their lives. Writing this now, I realize what a privilege it is to even apply to college or scholarships—Something that many will never have the chance to do. This has made me want to work harder in school because I’m not just working for myself; I’m working for a difference in our community. I am determined to be the first in my family to graduate college with a bachelor's and obtain a Master's in Business Administration. By doing this I will have successfully been a step towards changing stereotypes that pertain to African-Americans in higher education. My parents instilling in me that I can do anything I put my mind to inspires me to succeed and make a path for generations behind me. Combining my creativity and leadership, I aspire to leave a legacy for myself in the field of business. Overall, inspiring Black girls such as myself that they, too, can strive for greatness.

My passion for art sparked my interest in business. I vividly remember having recess and all my friends running around to play. I, however, was not among them. Instead, I was kneeling on the pavement drawing my family in chalk. The loud noises of laughter and creaking equipment on the playground seemed to fade and I was left with my thoughts and art. This wasn’t new to me; every day, when it was time to go inside, the texture of the pavement was imprinted on my palms and knees. But I didn’t mind it. Art was my escape from my world where my mom had a terminal illness and my imagination would come alive. I never just saw it as a hobby, I saw it as a comfort away from my home life. After my mom’s death, I used art to express the emotions I couldn’t put into words. This artwork ranged from serene landscapes to figures with untold stories. I eventually started selling my paintings and enjoyed sharing my inspiration about my art. This led me to fall in love with business due to the genuine and personal connections I made with others. Since then, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in business, though I didn’t know what direction until I took my first marketing class. Marketing was something that surprisingly came naturally to me. I often found myself in class eager to know more and asking questions. It fascinated me because I loved thinking of innovative ways businesses advertise. My talent has allowed me to think outside of the box and unique ideas to create campaigns. In my eyes, marketing is the perfect blend of art and business, two things I enjoy. My passion for these two has inspired me to spread my creativity by being involved in my school community. My role as president of the club “Letters for Rose,” has allowed me to organize and oversee club functions, as well as explore different ways to promote our club at our school. As a member of the Principal’s Leadership Council, I am a voice for the unheard students in my school and directly contribute ideas for improvement to the principal. Lastly, I am a member of the Black Cultural Awareness Club leadership committee where we discuss prevalent topics regarding Black people and destigmatize stereotypes. These leadership skills have fueled my desire to become not only a leader at my school, but in my future career. My favorite quote that motivates me to achieve is “I never dreamed about success—I worked for it” by Estee Lauder. I am determined to be the first in my family to graduate college with a bachelor's and obtain a Master's in Business Administration. By doing this I will have successfully been a step towards changing stereotypes that pertain to African-Americans in higher education. My parents instilling in me that I can do anything I put my mind to inspires me to succeed and make a path for generations behind me. Combining my creativity and leadership, I aspire to leave a legacy for myself in the field of business. Overall, inspiring Black girls such as myself that they, too, can strive for greatness.