Overcoming adversity is a common experience for many individuals, and it can greatly shape one's path toward achieving goals and dreams. Adversity can come in various forms, such as personal challenges, setbacks, failures, or external obstacles. I never understood the effects of losing loved ones and how much it could change a person. It is said that, during times of challenge and discomfort, we often develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us. Now that I’ve experienced grief for myself, it has not only opened up a new perspective on my life, but also contributed to who I am as a Person, and the person I desire to be. My name is Aniyah Grier. I am a 17-year old, Senior athletic and academic scholar, who's looking forward to making my first mark upon the world as a graduate of Woodland High School. Though I've done well, it hasn't come without challenge. Growing up, I was faced with Family, Health and Housing Challenges. My Mother was disabled due to medical conditions. I’ve gone from moving from house to house, to being displaced and staying with family members. As a young girl, it became my duty to help my mother while also helping with the well-being of my little sister. While we had the help of supporting family members such as my Grandmother and Great Grandmother, becoming a caregiver as a child, led to the loss of my innnocent childhood, and therefore the beginning of my Grief I am grateful for the support we did have and for the village we created during these challenging times. Typically, it was Myself, My mother, my Little Sister, My Grandmother, and My Great-Grandmother. Our situations weren't ideal, but together, we made it work and managed to overcome the odds. In 2017, our family unit was disrupted forever. After a long exhausting fight, my mothers health journey ended in peaceful passing. Some may say I was too young to really understand the effects, but how old must you be to understand losing your mother? Before able to process fully this loss, my Great-Grandmother took ill and passed away. Before my young eyes, the only family unit I knew, I was losing. Six months later, my Grandmother was diagnosed with Cancer and passed away shortly after, leaving myself and my little sister potential orphans. Today, I currently reside with my Mothers father, my grandfather and step-grandmother, while my sister currently resides with her biological father. While I'm beyond thankful, I was taken in by family instead of the unthinkable. This journey was not easy. Having to start a new school, live in a new area that comes with its own set of challenges, while being raised by your grandparents is also challenging. This was my new normal and it took some getting used to. I had days where I would reminisce and cry. I would often be rebellious towards my grandparents. I took to Social Media for an outlet, but was quickly reminded just how alone I felt. These tragic events and my personal journey, has helped me understand that Grief is real, death is inevitable, but love conquers all! I am stronger, wiser, and I hold on to the belief that everything happens for a reason. Overcoming these challenges has taught me the importance of nourishing relationships with those who are still here with me. In the end, experiencing loss at such a young age has contributed to my personal growth and gave me a deeper understanding of Love, Empathy, Compassion, and relationships. My advice would be to always think of the positives.

Empowerment to me means the ability to inspire and uplift others to reach their full potential. It involves giving people the tools, knowledge, and encouragement they need to take control of their own lives and make positive changes. Empowerment, to me, means the ability to and enable individuals to realize their of their full potential own lives, to take control of their lives, make decisions that impact choices that align with their values and goals, and realize their full potential their future. They can advocate for themselves. It is about fostering confidence, self is about helping people find their voice, build their confidence, and break-belief through barriers, and that may be holding independence in others. Empowerment is about instilling a sense of confidence, self-worth, and independence in individuals, allowing them to believe in themselves and their abilities. In my "life" as a young black female, empowerment plays a significant role in how I interact with and help other individuals. By providing inspiration, guidance, and support, I am able to empower other females to make informed decisions, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. Through meaningful conversations and helpful suggestions, I aim to inspire and motivate others to take charge of their lives and work towards success. Empowerment is especially significant to my narrative. Empowerment as a young black female also means recognizing the strength and navigate these obstacles with resilience and determination, to challenge stereotypes and biases, and to resilience within create opportunities myself and for myself and others my community like me. My inspiration of empowerment comes from those who have come before me and paving young black the way woman means for those reclaiming the narrative, celebrating my identity, and embracing my worth in who will come after. It means striving for excellence, pushing boundaries, a world and creating that often spaces where diverse voices and perspectives are not seeks to diminish it. It means recognizing and leveraging only heard but valued. In navigating the my unique strengths and talents, challenges and complexities of and using them to being a young black female, empowerment is both a shield and a sword uplift those around me. Empowerment is about pushing boundaries, pushing. It equips back against injustice, me with the tools and pushing to combat forward towards a more inclusive and equitable society for all. By empowering others, I am able to make a positive difference in the world and play a meaningful role in helping others achieve their goals.