In my childhood, I was unsure if someone like me was even allowed to dream a life of comfort and safety. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness, as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know a lot about scarcity, and it is not easily forgotten or forgiven. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, was always on my mind. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life drastically changed into "family," reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years, and many let's call them "ups and downs," I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked diligently, told the truth, and cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust. You need to earn it, and I believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career. At thirteen, I had the opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every adventure, including orienteering and the academic team, as well as participating in various volunteering opportunities, such as outdoor clean-ups, directing traffic and parking, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run while I was outside school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday allowed for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained a GPA above 3.4 while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work due to influences in my life, but my true passion has always been in science. Many times, I have heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family, and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. I find following their footsteps a suitable path. My mom worked in veterinary dentistry, while my dad was a naval mechanical engineer. My mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner." Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most importantly, I am loved. I will dedicate my career to solving crimes and bringing peace to families affected by them. Once I obtain my degree, I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer. I will never forget my childhood, the opportunities presented to me, and the importance of being grateful for what I have and paying it forward.

Books have always been my escape from reality. After being removed from my biological mother and adopted, books became my way of running away from my feelings. I felt as though I could be anything or anyone; my imagination ran wild, and I even wrote some stories of my own. By the time I was 7, I was reading books my older sister struggled to read, and by 6th grade, I had become deeply absorbed in my obsession with Stephen King and his horror novels. I remember the first time in the 3rd or 4th grade when I read "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind." A true story by William Kamkwamba about his remarkable accomplishments at the young age of 14. It certainly puts our own experiences into perspective. Youth draws strength from awe-inspiring places, and I want to be a part of raising them to succeed. It was inspiring to think that a kid only a few years older than me was already making a remarkable impact in his community. None of my friends understood my love for books, especially when I could watch TV instead, but that didn't stop my insatiable desire to learn more. As I matured, my fondness for a good book grew with me. By the time I was in 8th grade, I had a twelfth-grade reading level, something I was extremely proud of. My parents were thrilled by my passion for books, and for almost 8 years, we had story time every night before bed. We read the most amazing books, from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to Where the Crawdads Sing, and Clan of the Cave Bear. My parents have always encouraged me to get good grades, stay active, and become a well-educated woman. Throughout my entire life, books have taught me very valuable lessons and have been my home away from home. For two years, I assisted the library at my school in fundraising for a new library by selling books. Each year, I came home with a handful of mystery or suspense novels. My passion for books is a fire that can not be extinguished. Every page I have turned has opened doors to new worlds, filled with characters and stories that ignite my creativity and touch my heart. The wisdom and wonder within their covers have inspired me in ways I can't fully express in words. I have cried, learned valuable lessons, and have been inspired.

Neither of my biological parents made it past high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not even sure my biological father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness, as I was born to a Meth addict. Going to college and succeeding would mean I have broken the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others, just like I have always planned and wanted. I maintained a GPA above 3.4 while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign languages, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work due to the influence of many in my life, but my passion lies in science. The subject has always fascinated me, especially biology. I have always felt great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I was even more captivated by the subject. I fell head over heels in love with biology as she and I spoke about genealogy and gel electrophoresis. Mrs. Wayne made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I want to be a trailblazer for future children. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. I want to inspire young children to make the world a better place through my science program. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I will empower young children with the same incredible gift my biology teacher gave me: a strong and unwavering drive to achieve their dreams and turn them into reality. I want to be recognized for my significant contributions to solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I strive to assist families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have harmed their loved ones. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. My adoptive parents granted me a second chance at life, and I am ready to seize the opportunity and pursue my dreams.

I have spent hours listening and looking through old photos as my adoptive dad told stories about his time in the Navy as a support equipment technician. He has always told me about how much of a troublemaker he was when he was younger and how the Navy gave him structure. Approximately one-third of active duty members in the military identify as a minority. Historically, minorities who were in the military got paid less, and African Americans specifically were segregated from their white counterparts because the military thought they were not as capable. Most African American men in the military worked more difficult labor jobs or service jobs like mechanical work, building roads, unloading and loading supplies, and cooking. They were also treated like animals and lived in slave-like conditions. I read an article about an African American man named James G. Thompson, who wrote a letter to the Pittsburgh Courier asking, "Should I sacrifice my life to live only partially as an American?" That question sparked the Double V Campaign and a realization even now, African Americans face unequal treatment and continue to experience discrimination. While the discrimination might not be as publically accepted, it still happens in our schools. The campaign made people aware of the sacrifices African American soldiers made and pointed out the contradiction of a country that claimed to offer freedom but denied it to many of its citizens. This struggle for justice and equality became a powerful message for change in the military and society. I have spent a lot of time studying racism and segregation, looking at important events and figures and how these issues have affected different groups of people. One quote that has always resonated with me is, "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from history to avoid making the same mistakes. It illustrates how ignorance can result in painful consequences and stresses the necessity of awareness and understanding in our ongoing fight against discrimination and inequality. I have always had great admiration for my father's naval career. At thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the NJROTC program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. Joining NJROTC was one of the best decisions of my high school career. I was not only learning valuable life lessons, but I was also building a family and lifelong friendships along the way. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling career as long as the tragedy of crime infects our society. After College, I hope to enlist as an officer in the Navy as part of the NCIS forensic support team. I look forward to making a real difference in people's lives and serving our country.

I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will empower young children with the same incredible gift my biology teacher gave me: a strong and unwavering drive to achieve their dreams and turn them into reality. I want to be a trailblazer for future children. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. Through my science program, I want to inspire young children to improve the world. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. Our children and their children after them are the future; we should do whatever it takes to ensure they have one. I have always loved science. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and should chase my dreams. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. This marks the beginning of my success story, and I am determined to seize every opportunity as it unfolds. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I truly appreciate everything they do for me, from caring for my needs to working hard to pay for my tuition. At the same time, I see how much they dream of sailing around the world. It breaks my heart to think that my pursuit of a college education could hold them back from pursuing their dreams.

I want to be a trailblazer for future children. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. Through my science program, I want to inspire young children to improve the world. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. Our children and their children after them are the future; we should do whatever it takes to ensure they have one. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will empower young children with the same incredible gift my biology teacher gave me: a strong and unwavering drive to achieve their dreams and turn them into reality. I have always loved science. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and should chase my dreams. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. This marks the beginning of my success story, and I am determined to seize every opportunity as it unfolds. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen.

I have always loved science. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. I want to be a trailblazer for future children. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. Through my science program, I want to inspire young children to improve the world. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. Our children and their children after them are the future; we should do whatever it takes to ensure they have one. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will empower young children with the same incredible gift my biology teacher gave me: a strong and unwavering drive to achieve their dreams and turn them into reality. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and won't give up on myself. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. This marks the start of my success story, and I am eager to see how it unfolds. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen.

As an adolescent, I was always embarrassed when asked at school to explain why my parents gave me my name. I felt as though being adopted was essentially all I was. It hurts when all you are at school is the black girl with white parents. Even now, as a high school senior, people are shocked when they see both my adoptive parents. My whole life, I've been too "whitewashed" for my black friends and too "hood" for my white friends. When I told my adoptive mother I wanted nothing in the world but to be a skinny blond girl, she helped me see my skin color wasn't a burden but a gift. She told me being different made me beautiful in my own unique way. After being adopted, I had severe abandonment, trust, and attachment issues. As a child, I was always worried about being left abandoned again; I would cling to them, worried they would escape from my grasp, never come back, and forget about me. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve, and I don't want to disappoint my adoptive parents. My adoptive mother has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. She has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going when I had doubts.

Too often, I see members of my community and kids I go to school with struggling either financially or emotionally. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. As someone who didn't have much growing up, I know how others feel. I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals who need help. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I know a lot about scarcity. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I finally was, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was joining a family, volunteering with ROTC, and helping others helped me see that. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. My career path will direct me to science, but my personal life and time are with foster children. Helping people is something I want to continue to do as long as I can. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want my attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen. I want to leave my mark on this world as a compassionate, loving, and giving person.

I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. My biology teacher provided me with something I didn't have before. She gave me a genuine drive to make my dreams a reality, and I could never thank her enough for that amazing gift. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6 percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I want to be part of adding more diverse ethnicities to my future profession. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. I want to inspire young children through my program to improve the world. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Forensics is my path to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, no matter what. I was fortunate to have opportunities that many foster children do not receive. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer with foster youth, and, when I am able, open my home to foster children. I will devote my life to providing a safe, loving, and nurturing home for foster children. I would love to one day start an outreach for teens seeking therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, educational services, and career information. I aim to embrace self-love, pursue self-improvement, and remember life is a journey. Science has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. This marks the start of my success story, and I am eager to see how it unfolds. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen.

I was born addicted to Methamphetamines. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity, and it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. As a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me, I look back at my little childhood self, knowing that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took someone remarkable to break through my barriers. It took my adoptive Dad, my Veteran. Growing up, we went boating in San Diego. Every time we docked, my Dad said, "Areya, turn off the boat." It was MY job. I wasn't sure why, but I did my job without complaint. Months passed, and part of our adventures included cleaning up San Diego Bay. We picked trash off the shore and out of the water. We had "grabbers" and bins on our paddleboards. On the boat, we would use our trash-picking experiences as "man overboard drills". We would line up with the culprit, be it a mylar balloon or broken foam cooler, and "rescue it". My Mother had to work one day, so my Dad took me and my sister out on the boat. An empty Coke bottle floated past us, and my Dad said, "Never mind the net- I can reach it". There went my Dad, tumbling overboard. My older sister panicked and started screaming. As our boat drove itself toward the open ocean, I watched my Dad get further away. Suddenly, his head popped up, and he yelled, "Areya, turn off the boat!" I took my seven-year-old self over to that key and did MY job...I turned off the boat. It took my Dad about 40 minutes to swim to us. He crawled up the ladder and collapsed for a while, then; he smiled at me. He dreaded the conversation with Mom, but told our tale with pride. With respect to my father's Naval career, when the opportunity to join Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, I volunteered in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, the library, Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, but I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major; and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my Dad is currently in remission. Throughout my life, my parents would say, "Areya, turn off the boat", meaning, do what you have been trained to do; make the right choice. That is what the military does. You practice so that when the time comes, you can do your job with confidence. I know my Veteran and NJROTC dramatically changed the entire course of my life. They believed in me until I could believe in myself.

All I have biologically is a piece of paper that states: Family history of Schizophrenia, Depression, and Addiction. I do not know what I am up against genetically. I was born addicted to Methamphetamines. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me.

Ms. Shirley started my journey of faith in my third foster home. I went to Sunday school weekly and sang in the children's choir, not knowing the impact this would have on me. It was a feeling of safety and unity I would not understand for years. My journey continued to University Christian Church, where I went from children's church and playing a sheep to communion and Sunday worship. I am now a member of the Oriental Community Interfaith Youth Group, and I have never walked alone. High school was one of the most difficult times in my life. Before my first year of high school, my family moved to North Carolina, and my dad was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet some how I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. Every day, my family prayed for my dad. Every day, I prayed to god, begging him not to take the only dad I've ever had away. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. As I graduate high school, I know god is with me, and my dad is currently in remission. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and won't give up on myself. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. Science is and has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. As a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could protect people. I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced remarkable opportunities many foster children, unfortunately, never experience. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children, where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something so many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. A flourishing future for me would be pursuing a degree in forensics. This marks the beginning of my success story, and I am excited to see how it unfolds.

Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always wanted. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My sister and I were placed in several different foster homes soon after. I remember wondering if I had done something to make my biological mother hate us, thinking that I was the reason she left and didn't want us back. While most little girls aspired to be rich and famous or be princesses, all I wanted was a family, a real mom and dad who would love me no matter what. At the age of five, I got what my heart desired most, and my sister and I were adopted. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with an assortment of spectacular opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. Science is and has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. As a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. For years, my adoptive mother and I have watched countless hours of Unsolved Mysteries, Doctor G's "Medical Examiner," and Forensic Files, and those hours have become some of my favorite memories from my childhood. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. My biology teacher provided me with something I didn't have before. She gave me a genuine drive to make my dreams a reality, and I could never thank her enough for that amazing gift. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6 percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I want to be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I want to share my passion regionally. I want to inspire young children through my program to improve the world. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensics is my path to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, no matter what. This marks the start of my success story, and I am eager to see how it unfolds.

I have spent hours listening and looking through old photos as my adoptive dad told stories about his time in the Navy as a support equipment technician. He has always told me about how much of a troublemaker he was when he was younger and how the Navy gave him structure. I have always had great admiration for my father's naval career. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, which is attributable to many things in my life, but my passion is for science. My Mother and I have seen every episode of Forensic Files and Dr. G, Medical Examiner. I am passionate about the role science plays in criminal justice. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling career as long as the tragedy of crime infects our society. As I graduate high school, my dad is currently in remission. Growing up, we went boating in San Diego. Every time we docked, my dad said, "Areya, turn off the boat." It was MY job. I wasn't sure why, but I did my job without complaint. Months passed, and part of our adventures included cleaning up San Diego Bay. We had "grabbers" and bins on our paddleboards. While on the boat, we would use our experiences with picking up trash as practice for "man overboard" drills. We would line up with the culprit, be it a mylar balloon or broken foam cooler, and "rescue it." One day, my Mother had to work, so my dad took my sister and me out on the boat. An empty Coke bottle floated past us, and my dad said, "Never mind the net- I can reach it." There went my dad, tumbling overboard. My older sister panicked and started screaming. I watched my dad get further away as our boat drove itself toward the open ocean. My dad's head popped up, and he yelled, "Areya, turn off the boat!" I took my seven-year-old self over to that key and did MY job...I turned off the boat. It took my dad about 40 minutes to swim to us. He crawled up the ladder and collapsed for a while, then smiled at me. He dreaded the conversation with Mom but told our tale with pride. Throughout my life, my parents would say, "Areya, turn off the boat," meaning, do what you have been trained to do; make the right choice. That was my training. You practice so that when the time comes, you can do your job with confidence. My Veteran, my Dad, changed the entire course of my life.

I was born addicted to methamphetamines. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is for science. My Mother and I have seen every episode of Forensic Files and Dr. G, Medical Examiner. I am passionate about the role science plays in criminal justice. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling career as long as the tragedy of crime infects our society. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science but my personal time will be for foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs, and once I am able, open my home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I dream of one day having a forensic science youth camp. A place teens can go to gather clues, solve mysteries, and receive hands-on training in fingerprint analysis, microscopic evidence, and toxicology. Yes, even to find out how bugs solve crimes. I want to provide fun, interesting, real-world education with career options, especially, for underprivileged children who may go down the wrong path due to unfortunate circumstances. Sometimes you cannot see you are part of the solution until someone sees it in you.

Science is and has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6 percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I want to be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world, and I want to share my passion with everyone. My biology teacher gave me something I didn't have before. She gave me a genuine drive to make my dreams a reality, and I could never thank her enough for that amazing gift. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and very seriously. As someone who didn't have much growing up, I know how others feel. I love helping people and giving back to our community. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with an assortment of spectacular opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am ready to commit and dedicate myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. My adoptive mom has always had my back, and I am ecstatic to say I received an acceptance letter from Fayetteville State University.

Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always wanted. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My sister and I were placed in several different foster homes soon after. I remember wondering if I had done something to make my biological mother hate us, thinking that I was the reason she left and didn't want us back. High school was one of the most difficult times in my life. Before my freshman year of high school, my family moved to North Carolina, and my dad was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet some how I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a forensic science major and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. As I graduate high school, my dad is currently in remission. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and won't give up on myself. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being of service to others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I finally was, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was joining a family, volunteering with ROTC, and helping others, which helped me see that. I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced remarkable opportunities many foster children, unfortunately, never experience. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children, where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something so many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. A flourishing future for me would be pursuing a degree in forensics. This marks the beginning of my success story, and I am excited to see how it unfolds.

Science is and has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6 percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I want to be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place for everyone. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. As someone who didn't have much growing up, I know how others feel. I love helping people and giving back to our community. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with an assortment of spectacular opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am ready to commit and dedicate myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. My adoptive mom has always had my back, and I am ecstatic to say I received an acceptance letter from Fayetteville State University. During my journey, I hope to make Sloane and her family proud.

Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. My sister and I were removed from her care seven times before the eighth time was final. My sister and I were placed in several different foster homes soon after. I remember, as no five-year-old should ever have to, wondering if I had done something to make my biological mother hate me, thinking that I was the reason she left and didn't want us back. I remember dreaming one day, she would come back, scoop my sister and me in her arms, and tell us she was sorry for ever leaving. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I have always dreamed about a career in forensic science. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit, and this scholarship would help immensely. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being of service to others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I finally was, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was joining a family, volunteering with ROTC, and helping others, which helped me see that. I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced remarkable opportunities many foster children, unfortunately, never experience. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. A flourishing future for me would be pursuing a degree in forensics. I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place. This is just the beginning of my success story, and I am excited to see how it unfolds.

To most, success means getting everything you ever wanted, but to me, success is self-improvement and making a better life for myself. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My adoptive mother and father are my heroes and the biggest inspirations in my life. Despite my rough start, she has always pushed me to be the best version of myself. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet by some means, I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced remarkable opportunities many foster children, unfortunately, never experience. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. A flourishing future for me would be pursuing a degree in forensics. I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. My sister and I were removed from her care seven times before the eighth time was final. My sister and I were placed in several different foster homes soon after. I remember wondering if I had done something to make my biological mother hate me, thinking that I was the reason she left and didn't want us back. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I have a clear vision for my future, and nothing will stop me from achieving my dreams. The sky's the limit.

I was born addicted to Methamphetamines. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity, and it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. As a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me, I look back at my little childhood self, knowing that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took someone remarkable to break through my barriers. It took my adoptive Dad, my Veteran. Growing up, we went boating in San Diego. Every time we docked, my Dad said, "Areya, turn off the boat." It was MY job. I wasn't sure why, but I did my job without complaint. Months passed, and part of our adventures included cleaning up San Diego Bay. We picked trash off the shore and out of the water. We had "grabbers" and bins on our paddleboards. On the boat, we would use our trash-picking experiences as "man overboard drills". We would line up with the culprit, be it a mylar balloon or broken foam cooler, and "rescue it". One day, my Mother had to work, so my Dad took my sister and me out on the boat. An empty Coke bottle floated past us, and my Dad said, "Never mind the net- I can reach it". There went my Dad, tumbling overboard. My older sister panicked and started screaming. I watched my Dad get further away as our boat drove itself toward the open ocean. My Dad's head popped up, and he yelled, "Areya, turn off the boat!" I took my seven-year-old self over to that key and did MY job...I turned off the boat. It took my Dad about 40 minutes to swim to us. He crawled up the ladder and collapsed for a while, then; he smiled at me. He dreaded the conversation with Mom, but told our tale with pride. With respect to my father's Naval career, when the opportunity to join Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, I volunteered in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, the library, Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, but I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major; and Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my Dad is currently in remission. Throughout my life, my parents would say, "Areya, turn off the boat", meaning, do what you have been trained to do; make the right choice. That is what the military does. You practice so that when the time comes, you can do your job with confidence. My Veteran, my Dad, changed the entire course of my life. He believed in me when I did not. I was rescued by a Veteran.

I have spent hours listening and looking through old photos as my adoptive dad told stories about his time in the Navy as a support equipment technician. He has always told me about how much of a troublemaker he was when he was younger and how the Navy gave him a safe place to stay and keep out of trouble. I have always had great admiration for my father's naval career. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. Science has always been my passion. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Forensic science is my path to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. I aspire to initiate programs that steer our youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet by some means, I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. As I graduate high school, my dad is currently in remission. My adoptive dad has been a massive part of my life and a huge influence when I decided I wanted to enlist. Here I am, finishing high school and having been accepted to Fayetteville State University to pursue a major in Forensic Science and a minor in Army ROTC. After completing my degree, I am excited to enlist in the military as an officer. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same.

I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. My sister and I were removed from her care seven times before the eighth time was final. My sister and I were then placed in several different foster homes. I remember wondering if I had done something wrong to make my biological mother hate me, thinking that I was the reason she left and didn't want us back. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. Despite my rough start, she has always pushed me to be the best version of myself. I am blessed to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity, and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, but also planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. Due to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team. I volunteered in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, Friends of the Library, the Old Theater Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet by some means, I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. My adoptive parents are retired, and I do not want my education to be a financial burden on them. I have worked extremely hard to succeed and to be accepted by my first-choice school. I worked through high school and saved almost every penny to afford my tuition, and I plan to apply for a work-study position at FSU. Scholarship assistance would be invaluable to me.

Science is and has always been my passion. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6 percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope to be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to start a forensic science camp for BIPOC children where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am ready to commit and dedicate myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. I won't let it slip away without making the most of it. My adoptive mom has always had my back, and I am ecstatic to say I have been accepted into Fayetteville State University. I am ready to chase my dreams and make my parents proud.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. Due to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team. I volunteered in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, Friends of the Library, the Old Theater Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet by some means, I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. My adoptive parents are retired, and I do not want my education to be a financial burden on them. I have worked extremely hard to succeed and to be accepted by my first-choice school. I worked through high school and saved almost every penny to afford my tuition, and I plan to apply for a work-study position at FSU. Scholarship assistance would be invaluable to me. My mother and her best friend, Melanie, have been telling me the story of their meeting since I was seven years old. A bully threw Melanie down the stairs in middle school with an armload of books. Before stopping to help, my Mom not-so-gently informed the bully to never bother her again. Just like that, two opposites became best friends from seventh grade to now. I have always stood up for the new, not-so-accepted, or scared kid. I KNOW the value in that. Being the one who doesn't laugh with the group, but takes their hand can change a life. The internet is a whole different beast. My Mom did not allow unsupervised computer use, even for school, or a phone until I was seventeen. I read A LOT of paper books! All my friends had unlimited internet, but now that I have exposure, I understand what she shielded me from. It is a world where you can anonymously say anything you want without consequence. The answer: Children NEED in-person, offline activities. I have volunteered with Children's Theater for 4 years now. It is creative, bonding, fulfilling, and, most of all, safe.

My most cherished memories are of going on trail rehabilitations with my adoptive parents. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. Too often, I see members of my community and kids I go to school with struggling either financially or emotionally. As someone who knows about scarcity and didn't have much growing up, I know how they feel. I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals in need. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. Being in NJROTC has forever changed who I am. With them, I have made many special memories of helping our community, and the people I've met along the way have become some of my closest friends. While living in California, my adoptive parents and I did many trail rehabilitation and were able to walk the trials after our hard and appreciate nature and loved ones around us. I remember how my heart would swell with pride when I overheard hikers talking about how beautiful the trails looked. Knowing I was a part of that effort to restore nature and that people appreciated it meant a lot to me. Moving to North Carolina before my first year of high school was the best decision my parents could have made. With NJROTC and our joint effort to make our community better, I have not only learned so much, but I have made a real difference. Whether I was handing out food at the food bank, donating blood, or picking up trash. Helping others has helped me prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and should never give up on my dreams. In college, I would love to continue with my community service and volunteer work. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want my attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen. I want to leave my mark on this world.

I have always loved science. I fell in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life forever. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Forensic science is my way to a better future, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to achieve my dreams, and nothing can stop me. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know a lot about scarcity, and it is not easily forgotten or forgiven. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I finally was, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was becoming a part of a family. Community service is an activity I am incredibly passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies. I also plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities.

Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. Too often, I see members of my community and kids I go to school with struggling either financially or emotionally. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. I know a lot about scarcity. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My overwhelming desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be profoundly rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. As a future scientist, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place.

Too often, I see members of my community and kids I go to school with struggling either financially or emotionally. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I know a lot about scarcity. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved head-first into every new venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My overwhelming desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be profoundly rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. I have always had an intense passion for helping others. Diversity is crucial, and people should look past their differences to see the good souls behind them. Good souls that could one day help cure cancer, engineer the newest life-saving equipment to bring to the front lines, or even solve a math equation that has been holding us back from the most remarkable discovery of our lives. None of these things are based on color or our differences; they are based on amazing people working together for a good cause. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am making the world a better place. As both a person of color and a woman, I hope to motivate people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. My career path will direct me to science, but my personal life and time are with foster children. Helping people is something I want to continue to do as long as I can. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I hope I leave a legacy behind no one will forget.

I have always loved science. I fell even more in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place. My desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended school. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. Despite my rough start, she has always pushed me to be the best version of myself.

Too often, I see members of my community and kids I go to school with struggling either financially or emotionally. Community service is an act I take great pride in, and it is something I do very passionately and take very seriously. As someone who didn't have much growing up, I know how others feel. I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I know a lot about scarcity. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I finally was, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was joining a family volunteering with ROTC, and helping others helped me see that. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. My career path will direct me to science, but my personal life and time are with foster children. Helping people is something I want to continue to do as long as I can. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I don't want my attending college to be why they can't make their dreams happen. I want to leave my mark on this world as a compassionate, loving, and giving person.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I was unable to trust, to experience attachment, or to believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was also planting roots. I was becoming a part of a family. My fourth foster home became my forever home. When the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team. I volunteered for outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, Friends of the Library, and the Children's Theater. Four years of NJROTC is one of the best choices I have ever made for myself. It gave me the strength to believe in my future. High school was a bit of a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents were always at the cancer center, yet by some means, I maintained a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. Attributable to the many in my life, I considered majoring in social work, but my passion is for science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. I am so grateful to the little me that never gave up. I went through many dark days that I never thought I would get beyond. Fear ruled my childhood. Where did I find the strength to strive to be whole? I found peace in books, sailing, and volunteering. I escaped to distant worlds through words, I pet dolphins and rode waves with full sails, and I found that someone always needed more help than me. The world was bigger than my sorrow. I was blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science, but my personal life will be for foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs, and once I am able, open my home to foster children in need. I know from experience that emergency placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I dream of starting a science camp for foster youth to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, guidance, friendship, group adventures, education services, and career information. I will not only survive, I will thrive. I will make a difference.

The ocean is my favorite part of the planet. I had a fairly rough start in life, and the sea has been part of saving my life. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. I had never been in the water before I was adopted, never mind the ocean. I learned to swim in a pool with floaties...then we got our first boat! We spent weekends all over San Diego Bay and our game was "catching floaters". Pretty soon the game was not funny anymore. We were pulling pounds of trash out of the ocean daily. Bottles, bags, mylar balloons, foam, fishing line, toys, shoes, coolers, cans...it was just endless. I progressed to open-ocean swimming. It is bizarre to feel so empowered, inspired, and in awe, yet at the same time, sad and burdened. I cannot count the times I have had a ball of fishing line wrapped around my fin, knowing that sea turtles and sea lions cannot just pull it off as I can. Sailing is a gift. It is the closest to nature I have been blessed to be. Dolphins, giant sea turtles, jellyfish, whales, sea lions, octopuses...it is magical and needs to be treated so. When we moved to North Carolina, the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team. I volunteered in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, the library, the Children's Theater Group, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. We sailed to the Outer Banks last summer and I got to see the Corolla horses run. There are no words. When I leave for college, my parents leave for the Caribbean on our catamaran. I will spend much of my future sailing with them. We will clean as we go, but it is not enough. The rate of death at the Great Barrier Reef needs to be more alarming. My goal is to be part of saving the sea that saved me.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is for science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate high school, my Dad is currently in remission. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science, but my personal time will be for foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs, and once I am able, open my home to foster children in need. I know from experience that emergency placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to promoting, organizing, and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster children. I want to start an outreach for children and teens to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, education services, and career information. A forensic science youth camp is definitely a venture I would love to create in the future. I will never forget the circumstances I came from, the prospects afforded to me, and the children who get left behind. I WILL pay it forward in this world and make a noteworthy impact.

My overwhelming urge and desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing so I would never be like my biological parents. I am fascinated by scientific crime-solving techniques such as fingerprint and blood spatter analysis, DNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Naval Criminal Investigation Service once I obtain my degree. I wish there were a strong enough deterrent or positive pathway for everyone to eliminate crime, but with that not being a viable outlook, I will focus on justice. My passion for resolution will help no crime go unsolved, and no case will go cold. I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is, and has always been, in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025, majoring in forensic science with an Army ROTC minor. Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a young woman, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. My career path will direct me to science, but my personal life and time are with foster children. Helping people is something I want to continue to do as long as I can. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, but I was also, for the first time, planting my roots and allowing myself to be loved. I was becoming a part of a family. Love is something I wish all children could receive.

"Martian Child is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Menno Meyjes and based on David Gerrold's 1994 novelette. The film stars John Cusack as a writer who adopts a strange young boy (Bobby Coleman) who believes himself to be from Mars. Few films capture the unique challenges of adopting an older child from foster care quite like this one. David, a recently widowed science fiction writer, adopts a young boy who's been in the system so long he's created an elaborate coping mechanism —believing he's from Mars. The movie beautifully demonstrates how trauma and neglect can affect the behavior of children in care and how adoptive parents need to create safe spaces for healing. Watch as David learns that traditional parenting methods don't always work with kids who've experienced trauma." My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. Respecting my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. I also volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is for science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my Dad is currently in remission. This is an abbreviated summary of my life. I had mental and emotional challenges that my adoptive parents muddled through with me. Family is not perfect. Family are the ones who see your light, no matter how dim, and help you shine. Martian Child is a real representation of how neglect and abandonment can alter your reality and how survival can only be obtained by whatever coping mechanism your growing mind can manage. I am forever grateful for parents who adopt older foster children and stay understanding and supportive.

I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is, and has always been, in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025, majoring in forensic science with an Army ROTC minor. I would love to graduate with a master's in forensics. My overwhelming urge and desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing so I would never be like my biological parents. I am fascinated by scientific crime-solving techniques such as fingerprint and blood spatter analysis, DNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Naval Criminal Investigation Service once I obtain my degree. I wish there were a strong enough deterrent or positive pathway for everyone to eliminate crime, but with that not being a viable outlook, I will focus on justice. My passion for resolution will help no crime go unsolved, and no case will go cold. During my childhood, I was unsure if I could even dream a life of comfort and safety. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know a lot about scarcity, and it is not easily forgotten or forgiven. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to launch programs that educate and guide youth positively. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities.

All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am making the world a better place. My Passion As a person of color and a woman, I want to motivate people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6% of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. My overwhelming desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. I want to be known for my significant role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be profoundly rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. I have always had an intense passion for helping others. Being able to help others as my job would be more than remarkable, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. My biggest inspiration Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. Literary landmarks I remember the first time in the 3rd or 4th grade I read "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind." A true story by William Kamkwamba about his incredible achievements at 14. It certainly puts our own experiences into perspective. Youth draws strength from awe-inspiring places, and I will be a part of raising them to succeed. It was inspiring to think that a kid only a few years younger than me was already making a remarkable impact in his community while I was not. I could never begin to imagine what William Kamkwamba experienced. This fascination eventually shifted to forensic science after I binge-watched "Dr. G: Medical Examiner" with my adoptive mother. My Roadmap to Happiness My adoptive parents are getting older. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I never want my college attendance to be why they can't make their dreams come true. Winning this scholarship symbolizes your investment in my personal growth and my commitment to yielding positive change. With your support, my dreams can become a reality.

I have always loved science. I fell even more in love as my biology class discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place. My desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended school. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. Despite my rough start, she has always pushed me to be the best version of myself. I want to be known for my role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victims' families. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dreams would mean the world, as I have always been passionate about helping others. I am lucky to have been given an extraordinary gift with opportunities many foster children do not receive. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able, I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to launch programs that educate and guide youth positively. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities.

I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025, majoring in forensic science with an Army ROTC minor. I am fascinated by scientific crime-solving techniques such as fingerprint and blood spatter analysis, DNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Naval Criminal Investigation Service once I obtain my degree. I wish there were a strong enough deterrent or positive pathway for everyone to eliminate crime, but with that not being a viable outlook, I will focus on justice. My passion for resolution will help no crime go unsolved, and no case will go cold. Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, the National Technical Honor Society, and Girls on the Run. My adoptive parents are getting older. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life. Not only are they taking care of me and trying to pay for my tuition, but they are also trying to pursue their dreams of sailing the world. I never want my college attendance to be why they can't make their dreams come true. During my childhood, I was unsure if I could even dream a life of comfort and safety. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know a lot about scarcity, and it is not easily forgotten or forgiven. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. I want to be known for my influential role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. I have always had an intense passion for helping others. Being able to help others as my job would be more than remarkable, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. High school became a blur when my father was diagnosed with cancer. My parents always seemed to be at the cancer center, but by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is for science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my Dad is currently in remission. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science but my personal time will be for foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs, and once I am able, open my home to foster children in need. I know from experience that emergency placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to promoting, organizing, and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster children. I want to start an outreach for children and teens to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, education services, and career information. Ms. Shirley started my journey of faith in my third foster home. I went to Sunday school weekly and sang in the children's choir, not knowing the impact this would have on me. It was a feeling of safety and unity I would not understand for years. My journey continued to University Christian Church where I went from children's church and playing a sheep to communion and Sunday worship. I am now a member of the Oriental Community Interfaith Youth Group and know, I have never walked alone.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. I lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks...I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. Respecting my father's Naval career, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll in Navy Junior ROTC at 13. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer camp kitchen service, Friends of the Library, and the Children's Theater. Just as I was experiencing a true sense of security, my adopted father was diagnosed with cancer. High school became a blur with my parents always being at the cancer center. By some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my father is now in remission. Many foster children do not receive the opportunities I have had. My career path is leading me to science but my personal life will be devoted to foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college and once able, I will open my home to foster children in need. From experience, I know emergency placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to organizing and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster youth. I would love to start an outreach for youth to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, education services, and career information. My adoptive parents are older and retired. I will not let my tuition burden them. I will do whatever it takes to succeed and strive to fund this next journey in my life.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of church, therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks...I was planting my roots. I was becoming a part of a family. Respecting my father's Naval career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled the sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, summer-camp kitchen service, Friends of the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My fear over yesterday was allowing for the opportunities of today and dreams for tomorrow. Just as I was experiencing a true sense of security, my adopted father was diagnosed with cancer. High school became a blur with my parents always being at the cancer center. Through this and by some means, I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of foreign language and honors classes. I considered majoring in social work, attributable to the many in my life, but my passion is for science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. As I graduate, my father is now in complete remission. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science but my personal life and time will be devoted to foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able I plan to open my heart and home to foster children in need. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to promoting, organizing, and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster children. I want to start an outreach for children and teens to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, education services, and career information. I could never begin to imagine what Dr. Jack Terry experienced. I remember the first time I read "The Diary of Anne Frank". How did children survive these horrors? It certainly puts our own experiences into perspective. Youth draws strength from awe-inspiring places and I will be a part of raising them up to succeed. I will leave my mark on this world.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my own roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My fear over yesterday was allowing for the opportunities of today and dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I am fascinated by scientific crime-solving techniques such as fingerprint and blood spatter analysis, DNA sequencing, and mass spectrometry. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Naval Criminal Investigation Service once I obtain my degree. I wish there was a strong enough deterrent or positive pathway for everyone to eliminate crime altogether, but with that not being a viable outlook, I will focus on justice. No crime should be unsolved, no case should go cold. I will work hard to obtain answers through science. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to forensics, but I will also share my life and time with foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I aspire to initiate programs that steer youth in promising directions. I would love to have a forensic science camp where children can participate in games, puzzles, mysteries, and team-building adventure activities. I will leave my mark in this world.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my own roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I did not know I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My fear over yesterday was allowing for the opportunities of today and dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many social workers in my life, but my passion is in science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and an Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. For now, my career path is leading me into science but my dream and ultimate goal is to establish an organization for foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able I plan to open my heart and home to foster children. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to promoting, organizing, and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster children. I want to ultimately create an outreach support program for children and teens to seek counseling, group and personal therapy, volunteer opportunities, group field trips and adventures, travel experiences, educational services, hands-on learning, and career information. I will leave a mark in this world.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now, as a seventeen-year-old young woman with a wonder of opportunities ahead of me at my little childhood self, and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. By the time I was adopted, I was unable to trust, experience attachment, or believe I would not be left behind again. It took years of therapy, volunteering with my family, and being in service of others for me to start seeing what was truly important in life. I was not only rehabilitating state parks, cleaning oceans, and serving at food banks, I was planting my own roots. I was becoming a part of a family. With respect to my father's military career, when the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made the positive and independent decision to enroll. NJROTC instilled a sense of unity, leadership, discipline, and self-respect I needed. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team, additionally, partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. My fear over yesterday was allowing for the opportunities of today and dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is in Science. I am attending Fayetteville State University in the fall of 2025 as a Forensic Science major, and a Army ROTC minor. I will devote my career to justice, solving crimes, and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I have been blessed with opportunities that many foster children do not receive. My career path is leading me to science but my personal life and time is with foster children. I plan to be a Big Sister through college, volunteer for foster youth programs in between studies, and once I am able I plan to open my heart and home to foster children in need. I know from experience that emergency stepping-stone placements are as crucial as forever homes. No child should feel unwanted or unloved at any time in that fragile transition. I will devote my life to promoting, organizing, and providing safe, loving, and nurturing homes for foster children. I want to start an outreach for children and teens to seek therapy, volunteer opportunities, group adventures, education services, and career information. I will leave a mark in this world.

In my childhood, I was unsure if someone like me was even allowed to dream a life of comfort and safety. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know a lot about scarcity, and it is not easily forgotten or forgiven. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, was always on my mind. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life drastically changed into "family," reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs," I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked daily, told the truth, and cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust. You need to earn it, and I believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career. At the age of thirteen, I received an opportunity to join the Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at my high school. As a high schooler, I had just made my first positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every adventure, including orienteering and the academic team, and partaking in volunteering opportunities, including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. These carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run while I was outside school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday allowed for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is, and it has always been, invested in science. Many times, I have heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family, and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. I find following their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry, and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner." Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most important of all, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. Once I obtain my degree, I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer. I will never forget my childhood, the opportunities presented to me, and the importance of being grateful for what I have and paying it forward.

My overwhelming urge to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place.

As both a person of color and a woman, I hope to motivate people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6% of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. My desire to attend college comes from neither of my biological parents ever graduating high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended. Going to college would mean I have succeeded in breaking the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. For as long as I can remember, I have been obsessed with changing myself in a way so I would never be like my biological parents. My earliest memories, unlike most children I attend school with, are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. I want to be known for my influential role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way possible while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Becoming a forensic scientist means the world, and I am ready to give whatever it takes to achieve my dreams. I have always had an intense passion for helping others. Being able to help others as my job would be more than remarkable, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize that getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different their lives would be without it. A good education is one of the most important things you can have in life, and I am grateful to have gotten one. I am committed to using my knowledge to create a safer world for my generation and those that follow. All aspects of STEM are incredible and can change the world. In the future, if I pursue a degree in forensics, I will be proud to say I am changing the world and making it a better place.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Scarcity is a subject I know very well, and unfortunately, is not easily forgotten. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. Mrs. Wayne made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. Mrs. Wayne became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Looking back, I realize getting a free education, no matter how much I hated it, is and was a privilege many children do not have the luxury of experiencing. Public school is something many teens, just like me, have taken for granted without realizing how different lives our would be without it. College is the perfect place to help me achieve my dreams, goals for equality, and justice in the future. College is an incredible opportunity, and I won't let it slip away without making the most of it. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion for helping others. Being able to help others as my job would be more than remarkable, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. I am graduating high school soon and will attend Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major in the fall. I am ready to devote my life and career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer while inspiring others to do the same. Mrs. Wayne motivated me, and I would not be the same without her. She has taught me many things, and I am forever grateful we met. During my last high school years, Mrs. Wayne was my biggest supporter, cheering me on and hoping for my success. I hope to one day pay forward the kindness she shared with me and change lives.

My junior year biology teacher. Many teens go to school dreading the day, and I was one of them until my junior year of high school when I met Mrs. Wayne. I have always loved science, but she made me see everything in a new light. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, even if she doesn't know it. She became more than my teacher. She became my inspiration, best friend, adviser, and role model. She helped give me a different outlook on life, a life where I could help and protect people. Neither of my biological parents made it past high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended school. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Going to college and succeeding would mean I have broken the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6% of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. College is the perfect place to help me achieve my dreams, goals of equality, and justice for the future. College is an incredible opportunity, and I won't let it slip away without making the most of it and giving it everything I've got. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while pursuing justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion for helping others. Being able to help others as my job would be more than remarkable, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. I am graduating high school soon and will attend Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major in the fall. I am ready to devote my life and career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer while inspiring others to do the same. Mrs. Wayne motivated me, and I would not be the same without her. She has taught me many things, and I am forever grateful we met. During my last high school years, Mrs. Wayne was my biggest supporter, cheering me on and hoping for my success. I hope to one day pay forward the kindness she shared with me and change lives.

Grandma Shirley, in my third foster home, changed my life. I am the daughter of an addict. I was removed from my birth mother eight times before being permanently placed in foster care. My first foster home was an orphanage, my second was with a Spanish-only-speaking family with a lot of other children, screaming and hitting, then came my gift. Grandma Shirley took me to kindergarten, to church, taught me to read, hugged me, and eased my fear. After being severely neglected for the first 5 years of my life, I had a bit of comfort. Grandpa David would sing to me and play the guitar. We were always part of helping in our community at food banks and church outreach programs. Being that Grandma Shirley was older, she knew I needed a forever home and nurtured me until my adoptive parents came along. White parents adopted me and although I have been made fun of by peers, they are my family and I know I am loved. I know what other foster children have endured in different homes and I cannot express my thankfulness enough to Grandma Shirley for caring, teaching, loving, and going above and beyond. I did not know until I was older that it was not only me. She has fostered many children and has been that stepping stone from emergency placement into forever homes. I will never forget her and strive to become as strong, selfless, and giving as Grandma Shirley. Grandpa David has since passed away, but his voice will forever be remembered as one of the first sounds of peace in my little world. My parents have tried to have our mixed-race family not to affect me emotionally. My mother told me about a day we were in Home Depot and I just burst into tears. We stood in the aisle and she hugged me while I cried. Finally, I said, "Why am I the only one in our family who looks this way?" My mother said it broke her heart. All she could say was how beautiful I was, how she loved the way I looked, and that it was OK for us to be different. My mother bought me books after that and read with me every night. We read about Rosa Parks and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. My mother helped me see true greatness in my color. My parents and therapists helped me work through my emotional detachment disorder and hoarding behaviors. The severe neglect of my past created challenges throughout my life that I have strived to overcome. I spent my youth volunteering in food banks, libraries, ocean clean-up, and state park rehabilitation. I want to be a part of what matters in this world. I excelled in NJROTC all four years of high school and maintained above a 3.5 GPA. I found my place in Science. I have been accepted to Fayetteville State University, majoring in Forensic Science and minoring in Army ROTC. I looked up the statistics and the percentage of Black women working in forensic science is estimated to be less than 10% of the total forensic scientist population in the US. I was sad when I researched why because reasons ranged from the Black population distrusting law enforcement to the "father of fingerprinting" being a known racist. I am here to make a change. My mother says, "Be the change you want to see in the world". It started with Grandma Shirley and it exudes from me. I will be part of greatness in this world.

Grandma Shirley, in my third foster home, changed my life. I am the daughter of an addict. I was removed from my birth mother eight times before being permanently placed in foster care. My first foster home was an orphanage, my second was with a Spanish-only-speaking family with a lot of other children, screaming and hitting, then came my gift. Grandma Shirley took me to kindergarten, to church, taught me to read, hugged me, and eased my fear. After being severely neglected for the first 5 years of my life, I had a bit of comfort. Grandpa David would sing to me and play the guitar. We were always part of helping in our community at food banks and church outreach programs. Being that Grandma Shirley was older, she knew I needed a forever home and nurtured me until my adoptive parents came along. White parents adopted me and although I have been made fun of by peers, they are my family and I know I am loved. I know what other foster children have endured in different homes and I cannot express my thankfulness enough to Grandma Shirley for caring, teaching, loving, and going above and beyond. I did not know until I was older that it was not only me. She has fostered many children and has been that stepping stone from emergency placement into forever homes. I will never forget her and strive to become as strong, selfless, and giving as Grandma Shirley. Grandpa David has since passed away, but his voice will forever be remembered as one of the first sounds of peace in my little world. My parents have tried to have our mixed-race family not to affect me emotionally. My mother told me about a day we were in Home Depot and I just burst into tears. We stood in the aisle and she hugged me while I cried. Finally, I said, "Why am I the only one in our family who looks this way?" My mother said it broke her heart. All she could say was how beautiful I was, how she loved the way I looked, and that it was OK for us to be different. My mother bought me books after that and read with me every night. We read about Rosa Parks and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. My mother helped me see true greatness in my color. I have grown up with the Obamas, Simone Biles, Amanda Gorman, and Kamala Harris. I was heartbroken that Kamala would not be our next commander-in-chief, but she was a remarkable prosecutor, IS our vice president, and is blazing the trail for women like me. I spent my youth volunteering in food banks, libraries, ocean clean-up, and state park rehabilitation. I want to be a part of what matters. I excelled in NJROTC all four years of high school and maintained above a 3.5 GPA. I was accepted to Fayetteville State University, majoring in Forensic Science and minoring in Army ROTC. I looked up the statistics and the percentage of Black women working in forensic science is estimated to be less than 10% of the total forensic scientist population in the US. I was sad when I researched why because reasons ranged from the Black population distrusting law enforcement to the "father of fingerprinting" being a known racist. I am here to make a change. My mother says, "Be the change you want to see in the world". It started with Grandma Shirley and it exudes from me. I will be part of greatness in this world. Thank you, Grandma Shirley.

Grandma Shirley, in my third foster home, changed my life. I am the daughter of an addict. I was removed from my birth mother eight times before being permanently placed in foster care. My first foster home was an orphanage, my second was with a Spanish-only-speaking family with a lot of other children, screaming and hitting, then came my gift. Grandma Shirley took me to kindergarten, to church, taught me to read, hugged me, and eased my fear. After being severely neglected for the first 5 years of my life, I had a bit of comfort. Grandpa David would sing to me and play the guitar. We were always part of helping in our community at food banks and church outreach programs. Being that Grandma Shirley was older, she knew I needed a forever home and nurtured me until my adoptive parents came along. White parents adopted me and although I have been made fun of by peers, they are my family and I know I am loved. I know what other foster children have endured in different homes and I cannot express my thankfulness enough to Grandma Shirley for caring, teaching, loving, and going above and beyond. I did not know until I was older that it was not only me. She has fostered many children and has been that stepping stone from emergency placement into forever homes. I will never forget her and strive to become as strong, selfless, and giving as Grandma Shirley. Grandpa David has since passed away, but his voice will forever be remembered as one of the first sounds of peace in my little world. My parents have tried to have our mixed-race family not to affect me emotionally. My mother told me about a day we were in Home Depot and I just burst into tears. We stood in the aisle and she hugged me while I cried. Finally, I said, "Why am I the only one in our family who looks this way?" My mother said it broke her heart. All she could say was how beautiful I was, how she loved the way I looked, and that it was OK for us to be different. My mother bought me books after that and read with me every night. We read about Rosa Parks and the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. My mother helped me see true greatness in my color. I have grown up with the Obamas, Simone Biles, Amanda Gorman, and Kamala Harris. I was heartbroken that Kamala would not be our next commander-in-chief, but she was a remarkably intelligent prosecutor, IS our vice president, and is blazing the trail for women like me. Against all odds with a fairly emotional adjustment period into my teen years, I excelled in NJROTC all four years of high school and maintained above a 3.5 GPA. I am accepted at Fayetteville State University, majoring in Forensic Science and minoring in Army ROTC. I looked up the statistics and the percentage of Black women working in forensic science is estimated to be less than 10% of the total forensic scientist population in the United States. I was sad when I researched why because reasons ranged from the Black population distrusting law enforcement to the "father of fingerprinting" being a known racist. I am here to make a change. My mother says, "Be the change you want to see in the world". It started with Grandma Shirley and it exudes from me. I will be part of greatness in this world. Thank you, Grandma Shirley.

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity, and unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled against my adopted parents in every way I could then I started school. As if it wasn't hard enough trying to adjust to the new world I was thrown into, I also had to be teased. I was the Black girl with the white parents. In elementary school, it was more of just shock and giggles, but as I progressed into middle and high, kids got mean. Pretty blonde girls made comments about how big my nose and backside were and Black girls said I could not be friends with them because I had been "whitewashed" by my parents. I fit in nowhere. My mother told me the story about how she met her best friend. They were in 7th grade and a very "nerdy" girl with a ton of books got pushed down the stairs. My mother grabbed the bully, held him against the lockers and strongly advised him to never bother her again. She picked up her friend's book and they are best friends to this day. My mother never promoted violence in response and always advised me if you are being teased, they are words. They may hurt, but find the strength to turn the other cheek. Be the bigger, better person. Say, "that is not very nice" and walk away. If you see someone being bullied, take their hand. Stand by them and never, ever join a crowd in laughter at someone's expense. I have always stood by the underdog! It took years of going to church, picking up trash, donating at food banks, volunteering with ocean clean-up, rehabilitating trails, and planting trees to learn what truly matters. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering, the Academic Team, and volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday dissipated, allowing for the opportunities of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.5 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, advanced mathematics, and found my passion for Science. I am now accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, Army ROTC minor. My mother says once we enter the world of careers, responsibilities, and bills who was made fun of and not included just doesn't matter anymore. I will say, though, when you are going through it, it hurts. I am committed to being a youth volunteer and counselor. We all crave acceptance and when a child is struggling for their life, bullying has absolutely no place.

Neither of my biological parents made it past high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not even sure my biological father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Going to college and succeeding would mean I have broken the cycle of addiction and drug use. I will be on the path to changing the world and helping others just like I have always planned and wanted. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6% of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. My anger and fear of yesterday allowed for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is Science. The subject has always fascinated me, especially biology. I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I was even more captivated by the subject. I fell head over heels in love with biology as she and I spoke about genealogy and gel electrophoresis. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. You cannot force trust, as it must be earned, and I believe it was. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry, and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner." We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most important of all, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering becoming an officer in the Navy once I complete my degree. I will always cherish my childhood memories and the opportunities my adoptive parents provided for me as I was growing up. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. I will never fail to pay it forward.

I am Areya Doucette, formerly Areya Brown, and I am adopted. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear of yesterday allowed for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is in science. I never knew what I wanted to do because everything sounded so cool. I wanted to be a princess, veterinarian, firefighter, cop, social worker, and astronaut. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I want to be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion for helping others. Being able to do that as a job would be more than phenomenal, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly fascinating as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only fifteen point seven percent of people specializing in forensics are Hispanic or Latino, and only ten percent are African American. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Neither of my biological parents made it past high school. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my biological father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family, and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. My mother tells me I am charming. I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry, and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner." We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most important of all, I am loved.

I am Areya Doucette, formerly Areya Brown, and I am adopted. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear of yesterday allowed for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in social work because of the influence of many in my life, but my passion is in science. I never knew what I wanted to do because everything sounded so cool. I wanted to be a princess, veterinarian, firefighter, cop, pilot, social worker, and astronaut. I have always had a passion for helping others. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only 9.6% of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, participating in trail rehabilitation with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry, and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner." We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most important of all, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering becoming an officer in the Navy once I complete my degree. I will always cherish my childhood memories and the opportunities my adoptive parents provided for me as I was growing up. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. I will never fail to pay it forward.

Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science, knowing this career will feed my insatiable curiosity and need to solve a challenging problem. All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly mesmerizing as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion for helping others. Being able to do that as a job would be more than phenomenal, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. I am Areya Doucette, formerly Areya Brown, and I am adopted. The beginning of my life was unlike most. My siblings and I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My older sister and I were extracted from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. Olivia and I were lucky since we got adopted by the same couple, and life got much better; we were blessed and privileged with a new family. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My biological mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Unfortunately, it is something that will always be part of me, and all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world, and I am determined to make it work. My adoptive parents and I do not have the best relationship, and college will be my way to get away, start new, and build this exciting, slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as a young adult. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. I won't let it slip away without making the most of it and giving it everything I've got.

All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly fascinating as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only fifteen point seven percent of people specializing in forensics are Hispanic or Latino, and only ten percent are African American. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Neither of my parents made it past high school. My mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world, and I am determined to make it work. Community service is an activity I am incredibly passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, participating in trail rehabilitation with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I support my parents in every way they can, just as they support me in return, and going to college holds great significance for me as I aspire to pursue a career in forensic science. Community service is an activity I am incredibly passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, participating in trail rehabilitation with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I support my parents in every way they can, just as they support me in return, and going to college holds great significance for me as I aspire to pursue a career in forensic science.

Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, trail rehabilitations with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I support my parents in every way they can, just as they support me in return, and going to college holds great significance for me as I aspire to pursue a career in forensic science. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly fascinating as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only fifteen point seven percent of people specializing in forensics are Hispanic or Latino, and only ten percent are African American. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Neither of my parents made it past high school. My mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world, and I am determined to make it work. I know college is the perfect place to help me achieve my dreams and goals of equality and justice for the future. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have imagined pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion and liking for helping others. Being able to change a family's life as my job would be more than wonderful, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown.

In my childhood, I was unsure of what qualities I would possess. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. I cannot imagine how this journey would have become successful without the amount of therapy I was provided. Through the years I struggled with anger, depression, and abandonment issues, yet I persevered and absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were dissipating, allowing for the opportunities of today and the dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. They attended therapy with me three times weekly in my first year living with them. They never gave up and I wish that for every lost and lonely child. We can heal and allow our souls to heave that sigh and smile. My mother tells me I am charming! I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. I have been accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. Having been adopted by older retired parents, I will need scholarship assistance to be able to attend and pursue my dream. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. I know the value of accepting the hand that is held out to you. So, when I say I am blessed...

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were dissipating, allowing for the opportunities of today and the dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. My mother tells me I am charming! I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. I have been accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. Having been adopted by older retired parents I will need scholarship support to attend. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

In my childhood, I was unsure of what qualities I would possess. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were dissipating, allowing for the opportunities of today and the dreams for tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. My mother tells me I am charming! I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. I have been accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. I know about scarcity and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. In the years to follow, I was dragged along to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday dissipated, allowing for the opportunities of today and the dreams for tomorrow. I respected my father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new perspective. I delved into Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as volunteering in outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food distribution, and camp kitchen service. Outside of school, I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run. I have been accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, but having older retired parents I will need scholarship assistance to attend. My parents taught me the value of a life of service to others. I will always pay forward my opportunities. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul.

In my childhood, I was unsure of what qualities I would possess. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Scarcity is something I know about and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were allowing for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is in Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. Having older retired parents I need scholarship assistance. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

In my childhood, I was unsure of what qualities I would possess. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Scarcity is something I know about and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were allowing for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is in Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. Having older retired parents I need scholarship assistance. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

In my childhood, I was unsure of what qualities I would possess. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Scarcity is something I know about and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were allowing for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is in Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. My mother tells me I am charming! I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, ROTC minor, and most importantly, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

In my childhood, I was unsure if I would possess India's qualities. My earliest memories are of hunger and loneliness as I was born to a Meth addict. Social Services removed me from my birth mother seven times before making the eighth final. I then lived in four different foster homes. Scarcity is something I know about and, unfortunately, it is not easily abandoned. When I say I am blessed, it is a truth that exudes from the depths of my soul. Stealing and hoarding, especially food, never left my thoughts. I look back now as a seventeen-year-old young woman at my little childhood self and know that no child should ever have to experience abandonment, hunger, neglect, or abuse. I had developed significant behavioral problems by the time I was adopted. I rebelled from these people in every way I could. Suddenly, my life was transformed into "family" reading hour, game time, showering with soap, homework, dinner at a table, brushing and flossing, RULES, and I had no say. Through the years and many, let's call them, "ups and downs", I absorbed. I was dragged along with "these people" to church, to pick up trash, donate at food banks, volunteer with ocean clean-up, rehabilitate trails, and plant trees. They worked every day, they told the truth, they cared for our planet and humanity, but would they stick around? You cannot force trust, as it needs to be earned and I do believe it was. I respected my adopted father's military career and once the opportunity to join the Navy Junior ROTC was presented to me at thirteen, I made my first truly positive and independent decision. ROTC instilled respect in me from a new and unique perspective. I delved into every venture, including Orienteering and the Academic Team as well as partaking in volunteering opportunities including outdoor clean-up, traffic and parking direction, food bank distribution, and summer camp kitchen service. This carried into my life so wholly that I volunteered with the Library, the Children's Theater, and Girls on the Run outside of school. The evolution of Areya became quite a thing. My anger and fear over yesterday were allowing for the opportunity of today and the dreams of tomorrow. I maintained above a 3.4 GPA while taking on the challenges of honors classes, foreign language, and advanced mathematics. I considered majoring in Social Work because of the influence of the many in my life, but my passion is in Science. How many times have I heard, "Who are those white people"? Those white people over there, the ones who never left? Those people are MY parents. I grew up in a multi-ethnic family and the key word is family. They had faith in me when I had none. My mother tells me I am charming! I find following in their footsteps a suitable path. My Mom was in Veterinary Dentistry and my Dad was a Naval Mechanical Engineer. My Mom says, "If I had it to do over again, I would become like Dr. G, Medical Examiner". We have watched every episode of Forensic Files together. Here I am, graduating high school, accepted to Fayetteville State University as a Forensic Science major, and most important of all, I am loved. I will devote my career to solving crime and bringing peace to surviving families. I am considering joining the Navy as an Officer once I obtain my degree. I will never forget my childhood. I will never forget the opportunities presented to me. I will never forget to pay it forward. So, when I say I am blessed...

All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly fascinating as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only fifteen point seven percent of people specializing in forensics are Hispanic or Latino, and only ten percent are African American. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. Neither of my parents made it past high school. My mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Ultimately, all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world, and I am determined to make it work. Community service is an activity I am incredibly passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, participating in trail rehabilitation with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I support my parents in every way they can, just as they support me in return, and going to college holds great significance for me as I aspire to pursue a career in forensic science. I have applied to several colleges, and I know college is the perfect place to help me achieve my dreams and goals of equality and justice for the future. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have fantasized about pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. I enjoy helping people whenever possible. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion for helping others. Being able to do that as a job would be more than phenomenal, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown.

I am Areya Doucette, formerly Areya Brown, and I am adopted. The beginning of my life was unlike most. My siblings and I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My older sister and I were extracted from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. Olivia and I were lucky since we got adopted by the same couple, and life got much better; we were blessed and privileged with a new family. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My mother dropped out in her first year of high school, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Unfortunately, it is something that will always be part of me, and all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world, and I am determined to make it work. My adoptive parents and I do not have the best relationship, and college will be my way to get away, start new, and build this exciting, slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as a young adult. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of satisfaction knowing I was able to help someone. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science, knowing this career will feed my insatiable curiosity and need to solve a challenging problem. All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly mesmerizing as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of motivating people of more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. My goal is to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My plans revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would be a massive help in supporting me throughout college and a tremendous help by enabling me to pursue my passion for forensics.

Community service is an activity I am very passionate about, and I love helping people and giving back to our community and individuals less fortunate. I enjoy helping people whenever I can. My favorite activities include volunteering at food drives with my ROTC classmates, participating in fundraising efforts for our library, participating in trail rehabilitation with my dad, helping as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, doing trash pickups, and working as a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I support my parents in every way they can, just as they support me in return, and going to college holds great significance for me as I aspire to pursue a career in forensic science. I know college is the perfect place to help me achieve my dreams and goals of equality and justice for the future. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have fantasized about pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. I enjoy helping people whenever possible. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion and liking for helping others. Being able to do that as a job would be more than phenomenal, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. My adoptive parents have helped me apply to many colleges in my price range. They both currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Frankly, I am incredibly concerned about paying for college alone since I have no job or work experience, and my parents are not providing me with a car. I know being seventeen and on my own in a world with no financial support will dramatically lower my chances of making it through college. I plan to attend a historically Black university while majoring in forensic science or criminal justice. My adoptive parents and I do not have the best relationship, and college will be my way to get away, start new, and build this exciting, slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as a young adult.

The first few years of my life were not joyful like the kids I went to school with. My older sister and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, and severe drug and alcohol exposure. We were passed along to different foster care homes for three years when we proved to be too much of a nuisance. I am Areya Doucette, formerly Areya Brown, and I am adopted. Neither of my parents made it past high school. My mother dropped out in her freshman year, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. The beginning of my life was tough, but I will not let that solely define and shape me into someone I do not want to be. I know being seventeen and on my own in a world with no financial support will dramatically lower my chances of making it through college. I plan to attend a historically black university and pursue a doctorate in forensic science, criminal justice, or social work. My adoptive parents and I do not have the best relationship, and college will be my way to get away, start new, and build this exciting, slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as a young adult. I enjoy various activities that allow me to give back to my community. One of my favorite ways to volunteer is by participating in food drives alongside my ROTC classmates. I also partake in fundraising efforts to support our local library and am involved in projects focused on rehabilitating trails. I also help as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, organize trash pickups, and serve as a student teacher for the Old Theater. Helping others has always been my way of forgetting my problems and putting others before myself. Since I was an adolescent, I have been passionate about helping the world fight crime. I have always envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science as I feel great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing puzzles together. Working as a forensic scientist, I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict criminals, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of satisfaction knowing I was able to help someone. My goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. My biggest wish, like most, includes a world free of hunger and equality for all, regardless of gender or race. This scholarship would be a massive help in supporting me throughout college and an even more tremendous help by enabling me to pursue my passion for forensics.

Neither of my parents made it past high school. My mother dropped out in her freshman year, and I'm not sure my father ever attended school. I want to change my life and break the cycle of drug use in my biological family. My older sister and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, severe drug and alcohol exposure, and being in different foster care homes for three years. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My childhood was challenging, and it is something that I wish I could forget. Unfortunately, it is something that will always be part of me, and all I can do is try not to make the same mistakes my biological parents did. Being the first in my biological family to attend college would mean the world to me, and I am determined to make it work. My adoptive parents have helped me apply to many colleges in my price range. They both currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Frankly, I am incredibly concerned about paying for college alone since I have no job or work experience, and my parents are not providing me with a car. I know being seventeen and on my own in a world with no financial support will dramatically lower my chances of making it through college. I plan on attending a historically black university and earning my doctorate in forensic science or criminal justice. My adoptive parents and I do not have the best relationship, and college will be my way to get away, start new, and build this exciting, slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as a young adult. Everyone should be able to rise above their pain to take control of their lives and not let it weigh them down, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. My plans revolve around promoting unity, fairness, equality, diversity, and happiness for future generations. My biggest wish, like most, includes a world free of hunger and equality for all, regardless of gender or race. As a forensic scientist, I aim to help families striving for answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would be a massive help in supporting me throughout college and an even more tremendous help by enabling me to pursue my passion for forensics.

Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have fantasized about pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. I enjoy helping people whenever possible. I have always contributed to my community either by volunteering or fundraising. My goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime, unfortunately, will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. Achieving my dream of becoming a forensic scientist means the world to me. I have always had a passion and liking for helping others. Being able to do that as a job would be more than phenomenal, given where I've come from and how I have changed and grown. During my junior year of high school, I met my biology teacher, and she made me see science in a new way. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Everyone knows how expensive college is, especially if you are pursuing a PhD. My parents currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Truthfully, I am incredibly concerned about my parents being able to pay for my tuition since their dream is to sail around the world together. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve, and I don't want to disappoint my parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am wholeheartedly ready to commit and dedicate myself to building and starting this new, exciting, albeit slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. My parents saved me and gave me a second chance at life; I won't let it slip away without making the most of it.

I chose forensic science as my field of interest because I want to change my life and break the cycle of drug use in my biological family. Since I was five, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. The occupation has always fascinated me. My goal is to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. In my junior year of high school, I met my extraordinary biology teacher, and she made me see science in a new way. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, and I will always be grateful to her. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am ready to commit and dedicate myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. I won't let it slip away without making the most of it. My mom has always had my back, and I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, and make my parents proud. I am my own person. I will take control of my life and live it in a way that will make me happy; nothing and no one should stop you from becoming who you were meant to be.

My older siblings and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, and severe drug and alcohol exposure. As children, we were passed along to different foster care homes for three years when we proved to be too much of a nuisance. Last month, my adoptive mom found my biological mother on Facebook. She asked me if I would like to see what she looked like. I don't think I have ever been so scared before, and I refused as I broke down in tears. As I cried uncontrollably, my mom held me and said she was sorry for upsetting me. I asked my mom if Barbra loved her kids so much, why would she choose drugs over us. I knew how hard addiction is to overcome, yet in that moment, I didn't care, and I hated Barbra with every fiber of my being. After I calmed down and stopped crying, I was disgusted with myself; how could I be so selfish? I acted like I was the only person hurt by what happened. Barbara tried to get clean several times after we were removed from her care and then returned. I have always been one to keep my sadness bottled up and buried deep down and slap on a big smile so no one knew. Yet, hearing my mother was still alive after I assumed she had died long ago of an overdose, a story I had begun to tell people before I was in middle school, had me sobbing in my adoptive mother's arms like a small child. At that moment, I was five years old again, clinging to Barbra's leg, crying as my little heart broke, begging her not to leave us, terrified she would never come back, and I was right. That was the last night I saw her. I remember sneaking out late that night while she waited for the bus to pick her up and seeing her smoking a cigarette, looking haggard, as I hid and watched her from the shadows until the bus picked her up and tore her from me forever. A few years after being adopted, my mom tore her ACL and was taking oxycodone and drinking. One day, she drove under the influence of both and picked up my sister and me from elementary school before parking halfway on the curb in front of our house. Without even realizing it, she put all of our lives in danger. After that day, she never drank again and told us that she put our lives in danger one time, and that was enough to make her quit drinking and get help so she would never put us in another situation like that ever again. Yet Barbra could have four children ripped away from her and not even bat an eye. Every year on my birthday, late at night, I wonder if she misses or even remembers the now young adults who were once her children. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who has pushed me to be better. I am ready to commit and dedicate myself to building my new life at college and starting this new and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents gave me a second chance at life. I won't let it slip away without making the most of it and giving it everything I've got.

Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. Forensics has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. Doing this with her planted a seed of curiosity and an overwhelming sense of excitement, like I found what I was born to do. In my junior year of high school, I met my biology teacher, and she made me see science in a new way. I fell even more in love with the subject as we discussed evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. My biology teacher made it feel less like a childish dream and more like something I could achieve if I pursued it. She changed my life, and I will always be grateful to her. My goal is to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. I want to change my life and break the cycle of drug use in my biological family. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy, but that doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. I am ready to commit and devote myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. I won't let it slip away without making the most of it and giving it everything I've got.

Since I was born, I have never had the upper hand in life. I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy. My older sister and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, severe drug and alcohol exposure, and being in different foster care homes for three years. However, life got better for us when we got adopted, and we were blessed and privileged with a new family. Being neglected by my biological mother, I did not learn the moral foundation, fundamental skills, and lessons most children get taught before the age of five. It was not easy after we moved in with our adopted parents. I had issues with stealing, lying, sharing, and bonding with my new family. In my junior year of high school, I met my biology teacher, and she made me see science in a new way. I fell even more in love with the subject as we conversed about topics like evolution, gel electrophoresis, and genetics. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. I want to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony, convicting offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in any way I can while seeking justice against those who have caused their families harm. Everyone knows how expensive college is, especially if you are pursuing a PhD. My parents currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Frankly, I am incredibly concerned about my parents being able to pay for my tuition since their dream is to sail around the world together. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve, and I don't want to disappoint my parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove to myself more than anyone that I am worth the effort and will never give up on my dreams. I am wholeheartedly ready to commit and dedicate myself to building and starting this new, exciting, albeit slightly scary, and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. My parents saved me and gave me a second chance at life; I won't let it slip away without making the most of it.

I want to change my life and break the cycle of drug use in my biological family. My older sister and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, severe drug and alcohol exposure, and being in different foster care homes for three years. However, life got better for us when we got adopted, and we were blessed and privileged with a new family. Being neglected by my biological mother, I did not learn the moral foundation, fundamental skills, and lessons most children get taught before the age of five. It was not easy after we moved in with our adopted parents. I had issues with stealing, lying, sharing, and bonding with my new family. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. The field has always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving mysteries and piecing together puzzles. My goal is to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. Everyone knows how expensive going to college is, especially if you are going for a doctorate. My parents currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Frankly, I am incredibly concerned about my parents being able to pay for my tuition since their dream is to sail around the world together. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve, and I don't want to disappoint my parents. My adoptive mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to climb above my mountain of hurt feelings and trauma and prove that, yes, I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy, but that doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. I am wholeheartedly prepared to commit and dedicate myself to building totally and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult because my parents put their faith in me and gave me a second chance at life. I'm not going to let it slip away without making the most of it.

The beginning of my life was different than most. My siblings and I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My older sister and I were extracted from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. Olivia and I were lucky since we got adopted by the same couple, and life got much better; we were blessed and privileged with a new family. Being neglected by my biological mother, I did not learn the moral foundation, fundamental skills, and lessons most children get taught before the age of five. It was not easy after we moved in with our adopted parents, and I had issues bonding with my new forever family because of being severely neglected from the time I was born until the age of five. After being adopted, I had severe abandonment, trust, and attachment issues. As a child, I was always worried about being left behind when my mother and father would visit us before they adopted us; I would cling to them, worried they would escape from my grasp, never come back, and forget about me. My adopted mother and I spent hours bonding during my childhood while watching Dr. G and Forensic Files; doing this with her helped us build a strong relationship; it also planted a seed of curiosity and an overwhelming feeling of excitement, like I found my purpose, what I was born to do. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My mom has always had my back and encouraged me to pick a job I would be happy doing; that would light the fires of my curiosity, something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed with. I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, and make my parents proud. I am wholeheartedly prepared to fully commit and dedicate myself to building and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. Everyone knows how expensive going to college is, especially if you are going for a doctorate. My parents currently have low-income jobs and work at the only post office in our little town. Frankly, I am incredibly concerned about my parents being able to pay for my tuition since their dream is to sail around the world together. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve, and I don't want to disappoint my parents. My mother is my hero and the biggest inspiration in my life. She has always helped me believe that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others to improve their lives. Despite my rough start, she has always been the one who pushed me to be better, encouraged me to ignore others' negative opinions, be the bigger person, and kept me going even when I had doubts. Everyone should be able to rise above their pain to take control of their lives and not let it weigh them down, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to climb above my mountain of hurt feelings and trauma and prove that, yes, I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy, but that doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that makes me truly and unconditionally happy. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science, knowing this career will feed my insatiable curiosity and need to solve a challenging problem. All science has always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together intricate puzzles. With the help of my favorite teacher, who also happened to teach my biology class, I fell even more in love with the subject. My favorite sub-category she talked about was genealogy and gel electrophoresis. I found it breathtakingly mesmerizing as I learned how DNA gets matched up to a potential suspect in a crime or to a potential father in a paternity test. According to Zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans and I hope I can be part of encouraging more diverse ethnicities to work in forensics. As a forensic scientist, I plan to play a vital role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. It is not the most lighthearted profession; consoling those who have lost loved ones and helping them understand what happened fills me with a profound feeling of sorrow and compassion. I know this job will be incredibly satisfying and give me a sense of fulfillment. My plans revolve around promoting unity, fairness, equality, diversity, and happiness for future generations. Although crime will persist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice and make the world a better place by taking criminals off the streets. My biggest wish, like most, includes a world free of hunger and equality for all, regardless of gender or race. I aim to help families striving for answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would be a massive help to my parents in supporting me throughout college and an even more tremendous for me by enabling me to pursue my passion for forensics.

Adversity is something no one is immune to. It happens to everyone sometime in life, no matter their race. According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My sister and I were forcibly removed from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. My older sisters and I were adopted, and my life varied dramatically for the better. My adopted mother and I spent hours bonding during my childhood while watching Dr. G and Forensic Files. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My mom has always had my back and encouraged me to pick a job I would be happy doing, something that would light the fires of my curiosity, and something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed in my choice. For as long as I can remember, after being adopted, kids at school have made fun of me and called me "whitewashed" because I was polite and had manners. It doesn't bother me anymore, and I am proud of how I was raised. I know when I am in public, I can speak eloquently and present myself as the respectable young woman I am. I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, make my parents proud, and fully commit to building and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve to live. Believing that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others despite my rough start has kept me going even when I have doubts. Everyone should be able to rise above their pain to take control of their lives and not let it weigh them down, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove just because I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that will make me truly, unconditionally happy; nothing and no one can stop you from becoming who you are fated to be.

According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My sister and I were extracted from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. My older sisters and I were adopted, and my life varied dramatically for the better. My adopted mother and I spent hours bonding during my childhood while watching Dr. G and Forensic Files. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My mom has always had my back and encouraged me to pick a job I would be happy doing, something that would light the fires of my curiosity, and something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed in my choice. I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, make my parents proud, and fully commit to building and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve to live. Believing that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others despite my rough start has kept me going even when I have doubts. Everyone should be able to rise above their pain to take control of their lives and not let it weigh them down, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove just because I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that will make me truly, unconditionally happy; nothing and no one can stop you from becoming who you are fated to be. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science, knowing this career will feed my insatiable curiosity and need to solve a challenging problem. All kinds of science have always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together puzzles. I plan to play a crucial role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My plans revolve around promoting unity, fairness, equality, diversity, and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would help me tremendously in pursuing my passion for forensics.

According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I hope I can be part of adding more diverse ethnicities into my future profession. I grew up in a poor and severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life. My sister and I were extracted from her care and transferred to a Mexican and then African American foster home for three years before being adopted. My older sisters and I were adopted, and my life changed dramatically for the better. My adopted mother and I spent hours bonding during my childhood while watching Dr. G and Forensic Files. I might have been uncertain about my plans after high school, but I was always confident that I wanted to make the world safer and inspire others to do the same. My mom has always had my back and encouraged me to pick a job I would be happy doing, something that would light the fires of my curiosity, and something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed in my choice. I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, make my parents proud, and fully commit to building and starting this new, exciting, mind-blowing, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. No matter how hard life gets, I am ready to fight to achieve the life I deserve to live. Believing that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others despite my rough start has kept me going even when I have doubts. Everyone should be able to rise above their pain to take control of their lives and not let it weigh them down, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. Being born into a less-than-fortunate situation has made me determined to rise above and prove just because I am genetically more prone to becoming a drug addict due to my biological mother's heavy usage of drugs during her pregnancy doesn't mean I will go down the same dark path. I am in control of my life and will live it in a way that will make me truly, unconditionally happy; nothing and no one can stop you from becoming who you are fated to be. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science, knowing this career will feed my insatiable curiosity and need to solve a challenging problem. All kinds of science have always fascinated me, especially biology, as I have always felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together puzzles. I plan to play a crucial role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My plans revolve around promoting unity, fairness, equality, diversity, and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would help me tremendously in pursuing my passion for forensics.

According to zippia.com, a job listing site, only nine point six percent of people specializing in forensics are African Americans. I grew up in a severely abusive home where drugs and alcohol were a constant variable in my biological mother's life to the point so much that she cared more about them than she did her children. My sister and I were removed from her care and transferred to a foster home for three years before being adopted. Growing up, I felt like I had to find a job that would fulfill my dreams and satisfy me. I understand how important it is to pursue work that feels fulfilling. My adopted mother and I spent hours bonding during my childhood while watching Dr. G and Forensic Files. Although I have been uncertain about my plans after high school, I have always known I wanted to contribute to making the world a better place and inspire others to do the same. My mom has always had my back and encouraged me to pick something I would be happy with, something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed in my choice. I am ecstatic to apply for college, chase my dreams, and make my parents proud. I am fully committed to building and starting this new, exciting, albeit slightly scary and nerve-wracking chapter of my life as an adult. I believe wholeheartedly that I can help change the future, be a trailblazer, and influence others after me despite my rough start in life. Everyone should be able to rise above their trauma and pain and take control of their lives, forging a new path for themselves despite it being challenging. As a Forensic Scientist, my ultimate goal is to play a role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. Most of my goals revolve around promoting unity and happiness for everyone in the future. Although crime will, unfortunately, continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. My aim is to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm.

The beginning of my life was tough. My cognitively impaired older sister and I dealt with abuse, neglect, abandonment, severe drug and alcohol exposure, and being in different foster care homes for three years. However, life got better for us when we got adopted, and we were blessed and privileged with a new family. Being neglected by my biological mother, I did not learn the moral foundation, fundamental skills, and lessons most children get taught before the age of five. It was not easy after we moved in with our adopted parents. I had issues with stealing, lying, sharing, and bonding with my new family. Being severely neglected from the time I was born until the age of five left me with a void I felt the need to fill. Over time, I learned that stealing, lying, and sneaking would not fill the void in my heart, and I tried to stop. My mom always gave me more chances, even when I lied, and she helped me with my impulses. As I got older, we grew closer and bonded as we watched hours of forensic files, and Dr. G. Doing this with her planted a seed of curiosity and an overwhelming feeling of excitement, like I found what I was born to do. I always thought it would involve too much work to go into forensics, and I didn't want to spend extra years and money in college l to get a master's or doctorate. For quite some time, I was unsure about what I wanted to do once I graduated, but my mom always had my back and encouraged me to pick something I would be happy with, something I would not look back on later in life and be disappointed with the choice I made. I am as ecstatic as ever to apply for college, chase my dreams, and make my parents proud. Since I was a child watching forensic files with my adopted mother, I have envisioned pursuing a career in forensic science. All kinds of science have always fascinated me, as I have felt a feeling of great satisfaction from solving a good mystery and piecing together puzzles. My goal is to play a crucial role in solving crimes, providing testimony to convict offenders, and offering closure to the victim's families. While it is not the most lighthearted profession, consoling those who have lost loved ones carries an overwhelming meaning. Helping people grasp what happened to their family members is something I know will be deeply rewarding and give me a sense of unwavering fulfillment. My future plans revolve around promoting unity and happiness in the future. Although crime will continue to exist, I want to contribute to the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, my dreams include a world free of hunger and equality for all. I aim to help those families seeking answers and support them in seeking justice against those who have caused their family harm. This scholarship would help me tremendously in pursuing my passion for forensics.

I attempt to project positivity into the world by waking up with a thankful attitude. I say good morning to my parents and thank God for another beautiful day. I greet everyone, from the bus driver to my teachers and peers, with a smile. I enjoy helping people whenever possible; I volunteer at food drives with my ROTC classmates, help with fundraisers for our library, do trail rehabilitations with my dad, help as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run, do trash pickups, and am a student teacher for the Old Theater. My sister and I were adopted almost eleven years ago, and ever since then, we have had an extraordinary life. I help my parents in every way I can. In the future, I plan on going into forensic science. I have always found forensic science fascinating, I have always enjoyed solving mysteries and putting together puzzles. I want to solve crimes, help testify to put criminals in prison, and bring justice to the victim's families. It may not seem like the most joyful job but bringing peace to someone who has lost a loved one is meaningful. I think being able to help people understand what happened to a family member will be fulfilling and worthwhile. I feel like I am growing up in a divided world. So far, as a young adult, the most memorable election for me was in 2020, when Trump did not win and incited thousands of people to storm the capital. I remember walking on the treadmill in my grandpa's house and him telling me that I was watching history as it folded out. My Mom told me about a time when your political party did not matter because we respected each other and a united government. People voted based on their moral values rather than their party. Some people can't get healthcare, housing, or medical benefits, are discriminated against, and can't get married just because of the person they choose to love. People have become violent when others do not have the same views and opinions as them. People discriminate not just based on race but also based on sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, and whether someone is disabled. I feel like we are going back in time when women did not have the right to choose. In the future, I will not be part of this division. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem. I want a future of unity and joy. Unfortunately, crime will exist in this world, but I will be part of bringing justice. I want peace in the world. I want world hunger to end and equality for all. The Statue of Liberty used to mean something, but now we are turning our backs on poor, hungry, homeless immigrants. People who have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles with their homes on their backs and their families with the hope of a better life just to be turned away because of our overpopulated cities. People who are willing to work harder than the ungrateful people who live here, people who are willing to do the jobs nobody else is willing to do just to support their families. I want to project my positivity into the world by smiling, keeping my chin up, and persevering. I want to help those who need answers and be there when they need me to bring justice down on the people who hurt them. I am Areya Doucette, and I will be part of the solution.