Growing up in a single-parent household has been a humbling and challenging journey. My mother, Tannis Brazil, juggled multiple jobs to provide for me and my two sisters. Even with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she raised us with love, discipline, and high expectations. She shaped me into a resilient, responsible young man while simultaneously raising my sisters into strong, confident women. Despite the struggles we faced, my mom always made sure our home was filled with warmth and laughter. There were times when we didn’t have much — eating frozen dinners every night, taking bird baths when the water was out, or having no internet to connect to the world outside. But somehow, even in those moments, I was still happy. I could still go to school, laugh with my friends, and feel hopeful about the future. Looking back now, it feels like a miracle that I didn’t fall into bitterness or hopelessness. But that was the magic of my mother’s strength. She had a way of making the impossible feel possible and turning even the darkest days into something we could learn from. One of the most important lessons she taught me was to believe in myself, even when I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. She always told us we could be whatever we wanted to be. But she noticed that while my sisters had clear goals, I was still searching for mine. Instead of letting me drift, she took it upon herself to plant ideas in my head and expose me to different opportunities. She enrolled me in programs, competitions, and workshops just to see what might catch my interest. Then one day, something finally did. I decided to enter a Technology Student Association (TSA) flight competition to build the best wooden glider. I remember spending hours designing, building, and testing that small plane. Each time it flew a little farther, a little faster, and stayed in the air a little longer, something inside me lit up. When I ended up winning second place, it wasn’t just the trophy that mattered — it was the realization that I had fallen in love with aerospace. In that moment, I knew I had found my passion. Now, I’m preparing to pursue my Aerospace Engineering degree at Tuskegee University this fall. Choosing Tuskegee wasn’t a random decision. It holds deep personal significance for me because of its history and what it represents to my family. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen — African-American pilots who broke barriers during a time when the odds were stacked against them — reminds me so much of my mother. Just like those airmen, she pushed through adversity, made a way for her family, and never allowed circumstances to define our future. I know this new chapter will come with its own challenges. College is a big step, and I’ll face new responsibilities and obstacles along the way. But thanks to my upbringing, I know how to stand tall in difficult moments. I also know that I won’t have to face them alone. I carry the support of my family and the strength of my mother’s lessons with me. I’m proud of where I come from, and even prouder to be attending a prestigious HBCU where I can chase a high-level education and career in aerospace. None of this would be possible without my mother, Tannis Brazil. She is the reason I dream big, the reason I never give up, and the reason I believe I belong in the skies. Her sacrifices, love, and belief in me are what fuel my ambitions, and I intend to make her proud as I embark on this incredible journey.

My name is Asher Brazil, and I come from a diverse background. My father is African American, and my mother is from Guyana, a small South American country that people often mistake for Ghana. From an early age, my mother instilled in me a love for learning. She explained that in Guyana, children don’t typically start school at five years old like they do in the United States, so she made sure I was already learning before I even set foot in a classroom. Because of her early teachings, I was always ahead academically, and that drive for knowledge has stayed with me throughout my life. Currently, I am a high school scholar maintaining a 3.4 GPA while balancing rigorous coursework through Dual Enrollment at Georgia Military College. In addition to my academics, I work as a Front Service Clerk at Publix, where I’ve developed strong customer service and teamwork skills. Outside of school and work, I am deeply passionate about aviation and actively participate in an extracurricular program called Aviation Career Enrichment, where I learn the fundamentals of flight. My ultimate goal is to attend Tuskegee University and major in Aerospace Engineering. From there, I aspire to become a commercial pilot for a major airline like Delta. Earning a scholarship would greatly support me in achieving this dream, helping to ease the financial burden and allowing me to focus on my studies and flight training. I am eager to continue working hard, pushing myself toward my goals, and one day making a meaningful impact in the aviation industry as well as representing my Black and Guyanese background.