My story begins with the ancestors that gave me life. They are the reason I have chosen this path. It’s one that will allow me to represent the underprivileged and those who have been overlooked by society. Unfortunately not everyone in this country can afford quality representation especially when they’re an immigrant without any resources or connections. I hope to one day become a lawyer that makes meaningful changes in the criminal justice system and the immigration process to improve their experience. A little bit about me, I was raised in a Ghanaian household with an immigrant mother and U.S. citizen father. Even though I was not born in Ghana every part of me has a connection to the country I call home. It all begins when my grandparents immigrated to Rhode Island with not much but hope and a dream to create a better life for themselves and their son. They would work many odd jobs just to be able to put food in his mouth and clothes on his back so that when he grew up he could do the same for his children. With his strong will and determination their son created a family built upon Ghanaian culture and values from making traditional cuisine staples such as kenkey, banku, fufu, and yam or attending church on Sundays. But also donating books to children in Ghana or assisting the community with money transfers back home. Besides these contributions, I can also say that I have helped individuals with the green card renewal process because the physical green card expires every 10 years. I understand how stressful the process can be since it does take people some time to figure out all the documents they need to complete the form. So I have helped people complete it online by translating or providing an easier understanding of the form. I have also supported individuals completing the official U.S. immigration application form such as the petition for an alien relative. My goal during the process is to make it as easy and understandable as possible because once you make a mistake it can be hard to correct because of how serious the immigration process is. Sadly I have experienced times when the request has been denied and I provide emotional and mental counselling because most of the applicants only want to provide their family members with the same opportunities they have. With that being said I definitely want to continue working alongside Africans in the community to provide them with the tools necessary to accomplish their goals in the immigration process and the criminal justice system. Even though the local government has made progress I believe more could be done to support people that have been overlooked. I hope this scholarship allows me to accomplish my goals of becoming a lawyer and creating a space for immigrants of all kinds to receive the support they need to prosper in the United States and abroad.

Prom is a very special occasion. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to buy their dream dress. But what if I told you that I was able to make prom dress shopping affordable with the power of social media and word of mouth. It all began a few years ago in October when I was made aware that The North Providence High School Prom Dress Drive needed students to volunteer because they had over a hundred prom dresses to give to students in need and our responsibilities were to either advertise, set up, or run the pop-up shop. Once I heard this I sent Mrs. Ambrose an email and shortly after she invited a couple seniors and I into the North Providence High School Prom Dress Drive Google Classroom to better communicate with us and let us know when we’d be meeting in person. Mrs. Ambrose is a teacher and class advisor at North Providence High School. Due to her role as class advisor she implemented the North Providence High School Prom Dress Drive in 2019 and has run it for six years. So when I met her I gladly volunteered to create a flyer asking for donations of gently used or new prom dresses in clean wearable condition. After that Mrs. Ambrose and I got the flyer approved by the principal and we started sharing it online and hanging them up at local businesses and at school. Next Naomi and I created donation boxes, found, and contacted locations to drop them off. Naomi and Giuliana dropped the boxes off at the North Providence Union Free Library, North Providence Town Hall, and North Providence High School. We waited a couple months to retrieve the donations and inspect the dresses. Almost every week we’d inspect the dresses in the teachers' cafeteria until the day of the pop-up shop which was February 13th. The day of the event Naomi, Giuliana, Jasmine, Andrea, and I all began to move the racks and set up the snack and donation table for the event which was going to start at 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Before the day of the event I was in charge of promoting the event by sharing the flyer with teachers and students through our schools morning announcements and social media. On that day I observed so many young women, mothers, grandmothers, and daughters looking through the racks to find a dress for that special day (prom). It brought me joy when they came out from our makeshift dressing rooms and showed everyone the dress. It felt like Say Yes to the Dress when the bride would show her friends and family her wedding dress and they’d voice their opinion and she’d either say yes or no. All these women came together and uplifted one another. They weren’t negative or judgmental but they formed a sisterhood with girls they didn’t even know. That was the goal and I feel like that was my purpose more than anything else was to make women, especially young women feel comfortable and know that no one is judging them. As well as making the NPHS Prom Dress Drive a safe place for them to come and experience sisterhood and maybe find their dream dress that they can say yes to. At the end of the day we had a total of 141 prom dresses and by 7:00 p.m. we had 91. Canva link for access to the video: https://canva.link/jlgz40mukgjdwk6

One of the reasons I should be considered for this scholarship revolves around the fact that my college journey has only just begun and this scholarship would be a step toward making my dreams come true. Currently I’m a college student at the Community College of Rhode Island pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. I have a 3.55 GPA and have made the Dean’s List twice. In my free time I support my campus by working with the workforce division which provides future and current students with programs to get them started in the workforce. From my experience at the workforce department I have been able to support the director and the frontline staff with external and internal communication. One of them being disseminating program information electronically to potential and existing students. I have assisted students with course selection or scheduling problems. This position has also allowed me to complete check-ins to make sure students are making the progress needed to graduate and become certified in a timely manner. The workforce department prides themselves on meeting students where they’re at and providing them support that keeps them on track. I truly enjoy connecting with people and discussing the opportunities offered in the workforce department because I have seen firsthand how life changing these opportunities are. From the events I have participated in on and off campus I have seen students of all backgrounds be able to apply the skills they learned from the programs in their real life. For example I had the opportunity to meet some of our former culinary students and try their delicious desserts during one of our events at the Rhode Island State House. Secondly, through the Community College of Rhode Island Division of Workforce Partnerships I was also offered the opportunity to have a speaking role on our virtual campus tour. This opportunity showcased multiple locations on our campus for prospective students and families. As well as promoted workforce training opportunities offered on campus such as the dental hygiene program and the Global Wind Organization program. When it comes to extracurriculars I competed in Miss Rhode Island USA. If you’re not familiar with pageants I’ll admit neither was I. But from this experience I learned pageants are more than just the glitz and glamour but about representing the best and brightest that your state has to offer. Every single woman that I met on pageant weekend brought something special to the event whether she was a member of law enforcement or an advocate for domestic violence survivors. In my case I wanted to represent the diversity in Rhode Island. From the outside looking in, some people may believe Rhode Island only represents one kind of person but that’s not true. I have seen firsthand the diversity that lives and breathes throughout our little state. My entire family is an example of immigrants building something in Rhode Island for future generations. It all began with my grandparents immigrating from Ghana to Rhode Island. They didn’t have much but each other. They had to work night and day to provide a better life for my father who would go on to do the same for my brother and I. Their stories have pushed me to pursue my dreams of one day becoming a lawyer that represents the underprivileged and those who have been overlooked in society based on stereotypes. I have unfortunately seen people treat members of my own family differently because they have an accent or their speaking in their native language. As a Criminal Justice major I have also seen and heard members of the public struggling to interact with the courts based on their immigrant background. In recent years, the courts have tried to accommodate those needs but more could be done to make sure that the public is being addressed appropriately in serious situations, especially when it comes to cultural differences and language barriers. My goal with Miss Rhode Island USA was to advocate for policies and changes to be made. Competing meant more when I could be a voice for the community that has raised and supported me. To close things off I would like to say everything I’ve done so far has pushed me to strive for more than I could ever imagine. I have taken chances and risks that I never thought I would and I know with your support I would be able to continue my education and make the necessary changes needed to benefit the immigrant community in the criminal justice system.

When you’re young, everything’s surrounded and covered in the innocence of your youth. You never recognize the harm words or harsh stares have on your psyche. You begin to think that’s just the way the world is. But when you grow up, you begin to reflect on those little comments and odd looks. It all begins in the classroom when the teacher takes attendance and has difficulty pronouncing your last name. The teacher questions you in front of the entire class about the proper pronunciation, so they can remember for the next time. At that moment you think nothing of it. I mean, after all, the teacher is trying to be respectful. But for the other kids, it only fuels the target that has already been made on you. It encourages them to point you out and call you names. They make fun of you and your culture, even for the sake of fitting in with their peers. But you don’t let those words distract you. The negativity only fuels you, not only to defend yourself but also your peers. Growing up, my mother always taught me that I should defend myself when someone has done harm towards me or anyone else. She also taught me the importance of our Ghanaian culture and that no one should make me feel insecure or ashamed about where I come from. Even though I was not born in Ghana, I have always been surrounded by the customs and traditions, ranging from eating fufu and light soup to wearing Ghanaian waist beads. I even learned how to make my favorite pepper sauce with the assistance of my mother, who has been a very important factor in everything I know about our rich history. My mother actually immigrated from Ghana with nothing besides a hope and a dream of creating a better life for herself and the family she left behind. She passed those same dreams onto me with the hope I would continue and raise my own children to stand up in the face of hatred and to always value their culture. She also inspired my interest in pursuing criminal justice to defend and protect those impacted by the immigration process. As a Ghanaian, I have seen the uphill battle immigrants face in my community, and I hope to one day become a lawyer and represent them. I know from personal experience the struggle and fight it has been for my own mother to immigrate from the only home she has ever known to somewhere unfamiliar. I want to guide and support those same people and show them the different avenues and opportunities this country has to offer. Even in the face of the differences we share, I believe that, as people we are more than capable of coming together and supporting one another. It may take some time and a lot of effort, but I am willing to do the work and education necessary to help the people in my community. I can confidently say that my culture has shaped me into the person that I am today, and without it, I don’t know who I would be. Upon further reflection, I believe my heritage should be seen as a positive in the classroom instead of a negative. The classroom should be a space where children of different backgrounds should feel comfortable being different. Based on the experiences that I have had and shared, I dream of one day living in a world where people are not judged based on where they come from, how they look, or the way they speak.

Ten singles, one villa, and $100,000 on the line. The contestants of the hit reality dating show Love Island spend their summer inside a massive Fijian villa with other singles just for the opportunity to win the hearts of a lucky girl or guy, but also the votes of America for the chance at the massive cash prize. Throughout their journey they compete in challenges that test their connections. The challenge I created tests the authenticity of attraction with a game called “Let’s Get Verified”. The idea for “Let’s Get Verified” appeared to me as a viewer of Love Island when I noticed a pattern with the contestants that struggle to experience strong connections in the villa because of production's carelessness surrounding casting the other singles that find it difficult to stray from their usual type. This issue was addressed by a former contestant and winner of Love Island Serena Page in an interview with Kamie Crawford where she stated the producers cast men who were attracted to the same one or two girls and that they intentionally invited them knowing that contestants such as herself and fellow castmate Jana Craig were supposed to only be side characters and comedic relief rather than receiving a chance at love.“Let’s Get Verified” seeks to ask: are you genuinely their type? “Let’s Get Verified” is a tech and spy inspired challenge done behind closed doors. This allows the islanders to make decisions that could impact other couples with messages from the outside world. Two nominated islanders will have the opportunity to individually assign specific islanders the chance to speak with someone or learn information from one of the categories except only five islanders will get a message and they can choose which category the islanders get as well as limit the amount of time the islander gets during the challenge. I have provided the islanders with these five categories. Speak with your current partners friends. This conversation can serve as a tool or hindrance to a relationship in the villa. Some friends might compare past relationships and behaviors to the current couple. Others might drop seeds of doubt about the pairing or encourage the relationship. Speak with your partner's family. Typically parents and siblings always want the best for their loved ones by sharing their unfiltered opinions especially if they have a healthy relationship. Exes can bring closure or open new wounds. If the past relationship ended maturely would it really be so bad for a current partner to speak with an ex to get more insight on the past. Inspect the socials allows the ability to scroll on every social media platform your partner is on and check their posts, following, followers, likes, and reposts. This category is a bit invasive but the internet can be a helpful tool in determining your partners likes and dislikes. Hear conversations involving your partner about who they're interested in.This allows an islander to view almost every piece of footage relating to their current partnering. They have the ability to see unfiltered conversations and thoughts expressed. There’s a saying known as communication is key. I have chosen to give them the ability to communicate with the outside world. The islanders are typically cut off from the outside world. They have no ability to gauge anyone’s authenticity except themselves. My challenge hopes to give them tools to make sure that the relationships they are in are beneficial for them in the long run whether it helps them recognize the fraudulent behavior of their partner or should they give them a chance even when they receive warnings.

Close your eyes and think of spending quality time with your family, what activities come to mind? Maybe you thought of a fun summer road trip that lasts for a couple of days, forcing everyone to cram in a car for hours while listening to throwback music. Perhaps your family prefers staying indoors and playing a board game together in the living room, wearing some comfy pajamas, and eating some buttery popcorn. Regardless of whichever end of the spectrum you fall on, no activity is too big or small when it comes to spending quality time with those you love. I know from personal experience learning math with my parents was my favorite version of spending quality time together. As a Ghanaian American, almost any African you meet will confirm that immigrant parents highly value education and try to instill those same values into their children. For example, my parents set time aside during the weekends and in the summer to teach me all they could about different subjects ranging from reading, writing, history, and math. My father in particular went out of his way and bought math workbooks with quizzes, tests, and assignments. He wanted me to sharpen the skills that I was already learning or lacking in school which helped me be better prepared in the classroom. I remember one instance in the third grade I was struggling a lot with long division and multi-digit multiplication. I found it difficult to communicate about this struggle but my parents came together and realized maybe I need different techniques to understand these kinds of math problems. That's when my mother realized I learn better when the problems were broken down and explained simply compared to quick explanations that are done all at once. Moments like these made me realize math forces us as people to spend some time together and learn from one another. If not for the time my parents invested into my education I would not be who I am today. This form of quality time was very important in developing my communication and teamwork skills inside and outside of school. It showed me the value of learning at home in an environment that is surrounded by those you love. This also made me recognize my love in math and the role it played in my childhood when it came to spending quality time with my family.