I want to pursue a career in STEM because I am drawn to using technology and design to create solutions that make life more accessible, especially for people who are trying to build stability while facing barriers in the systems meant to support them. For most of my life, I did not always see myself reflected in these spaces, and I also know there have been assumptions made about my capabilities that were not true. Those experiences have shaped my drive not only to succeed, but to show other minorities, especially women that they are capable of building something meaningful even without strong financial or emotional support systems. I have always been naturally drawn to creativity, especially art and design. I explored graphic design in the past, but over time I began to realize that design can be more than visual, it can be a tool for solving real problems. That is what led me to user experience and human-centered design. I want to use it in a way that directly impacts people’s ability to access help and opportunity. From my own experience and from watching others around me, I have seen how difficult it can be, especially for women, to navigate systems that are supposed to provide support. Whether it is housing assistance, financial aid, or childcare resources, it often feels like a constant balancing act between trying to get help and trying to move forward in life. The amount of steps, paperwork, and barriers can make it overwhelming to the point where people give up or are left behind. I want to help change that by creating something more accessible and connected, a space or system where people can actually find the help they need without having to worry about being told they seem like they are "ok" on paper because they make JUST over the qualifying amount. My goal is to design a platform or community-based resource that helps people access support more easily and feel less alone while doing it. I want it to feel like something people can truly depend on. Ultimately, I want my work in STEM to uplift communities by making support systems more human-centered and easier to navigate. I want to use my education to help bridge the gap between people and the resources that already exist, so that more individuals, especially those without strong support networks, can move forward with confidence, dignity, and real access to opportunity.

Most of my life, I did not see myself as someone who would end up in higher education. People around me often assumed I was not capable of pursuing college-level paths. I also did not have financial guidance or support when it came to education. Over time, that mindset stayed with me. I learned how to work and survive, but I did not see a clear academic path forward. Later in life I experienced a series of major life events. I lost the best job I had ever had and became a single mother. I had to leave my living situation and relocate back to my home state while seven months pregnant. The moment I had my baby, my perspective changed. I realized I couldn't continue living without a long-term direction. I needed to create stability not only for myself, but for her future. I chose UX Design because I want to use creativity and tech to solve real problems for people. I have always been drawn to art and design, and I started out exploring graphic design, but over time I realized I wanted my work to have a deeper impact. As a woman entering this space, I am aware that STEM fields have not always reflected equal representation or opportunity. My goal is to use my education to help bridge the gap between people and the resources they need. I want to design tools and platforms that make information, support services, and opportunities easier to access and understand. Beyond my career goals, I also hope to be an example for my daughter and for other women who may have been told, directly or indirectly, that these paths are not for them.

For most of my life, I did not see myself as someone who would end up in higher education. In high school, I did not perform well academically, and because of that, people around me often assumed I was not capable of pursuing college-level paths. I also did not have financial guidance or support when it came to education. Suggestions like trade school or community college were mentioned, but there was no real financial backing behind them, and no one in my environment had the financial literacy to help me understand loans, planning, or how to realistically make school possible. Without that structure, I chose to focus on working and trying to build stability on my own instead of pursuing college. Over time, I carried the belief that higher education was not really meant for me. I learned how to work hard, adapt, and survive, but I did not see a clear academic path forward. That changed later in life after experiencing a series of major life events. I lost the best job I had ever had, found out I was pregnant, and learned I would be becoming a single mother. Not long after, I had to leave my living situation and relocate back to my home state while seven months pregnant. During that time, my focus was entirely on survival and preparing for my daughter’s arrival, not education or long-term planning. Everything shifted when I had my daughter. In that moment, my perspective changed completely. I realized I could not continue living without a long-term direction, and I needed to create stability not only for myself, but for her future. That was the first time I seriously considered higher education as something I could and should pursue. It stopped feeling like something I was “not meant for” and started feeling like something I needed to step into, even if I was starting later than others. I chose Human-Centered Design and UX Design because I want to use creativity and technology to solve real problems for people. I have always been drawn to art and design, and I started out exploring graphic design, but over time I realized I wanted my work to have a deeper impact. This field allows me to create systems that are easier to use, more accessible, and more supportive for people navigating difficult or complex situations. As a woman entering this space, I am aware that STEM fields have not always reflected equal representation or opportunity. Rather than discouraging me, this motivates me. I want to be part of a generation of women who are not only present in these spaces, but actively shaping them. I want my work to reflect different lived experiences, especially those of women and communities who are often overlooked in system design. My goal is to use my education to help bridge the gap between people and the resources they need. I want to design tools and platforms that make information, support services, and opportunities easier to access and understand. Too often, people are forced to navigate complicated systems alone, and I want my work to reduce that burden and create more clarity and connection. Beyond my career goals, I also hope to be an example for my daughter and for other women who may have been told, directly or indirectly, that these paths are not for them. I understand what it feels like to doubt your potential based on past experiences or lack of support, and I want my journey to show that those limitations do not define your future.

Education has always been important to me, but my path to it was not straightforward. In high school, I did not do well academically, and because of that, it was often assumed, by others and eventually by myself, that I was not meant for higher education. Trade school or community college were sometimes suggested, but there was no financial support behind those options and no one in my life had the financial literacy or resources to help guide me through paying for school or taking on loans responsibly. Without that structure or guidance, I made the decision not to pursue college at the time and instead focused on working and figuring life out as I went. As I got older, I carried that belief with me for a long time. College was not really for me. I learned how to work hard and be independent, but I did not yet see education as something I could realistically step into. That mindset stayed with me until everything in my life shifted last year. I lost the best job I had ever had, found out I was pregnant, and learned I would be becoming a single mother. Shortly after, I had to leave my living situation and return to my home state while seven months pregnant. That experience forced me to slow down and really think about the future in a way I had not before. The turning point came when I had my daughter. In that moment, my perspective on education changed completely. Looking at her made me realize that I could not continue the same cycle of uncertainty and limited direction. I needed to create something different. Not just for myself, but for her. That is when I decided I had to pursue higher education, even if I was starting later than others and even if I had to learn everything from the ground up. Education is important to me now because it represents a real chance to change the direction of my life and my daughter’s future. At times it has been overwhelming, but it has also made me more intentional and determined to succeed. I am pursuing Human-Centered Design and UX Design because I want to use my education to build systems that are more accessible and easier for people to navigate, especially those who feel overlooked or left out of traditional pathways. The legacy I hope to leave is one of change and possibility. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that even if you start off unsure or behind, you are not stuck there. You can decide at any point to change your direction and build something better. I want to be the beginning of a new foundation for the family I've created. One where education becomes a tool for stability, opportunity, and generational growth.

I want to pursue a career in STEM because I am drawn to using technology and design to create solutions that make life more accessible, especially for people who are trying to build stability while facing barriers in the systems meant to support them. For most of my life, I did not always see myself reflected in these spaces, and I also know there have been assumptions made about my capabilities that were not true. Those experiences have shaped my drive not only to succeed, but to show other minorities, especially Black women and women of color, that they are capable of building something meaningful even without strong financial or emotional support systems. I have always been naturally drawn to creativity, especially art and design. I explored graphic design in the past, but over time I began to realize that design can be more than visual, it can be a tool for solving real problems. That is what led me to user experience and human-centered design. I want to use it in a way that directly impacts people’s ability to access help and opportunity. From my own experience and from watching others around me, I have seen how difficult it can be, especially for Black women and other women of color, to navigate systems that are supposed to provide support. Whether it is housing assistance, financial aid, or childcare resources, it often feels like a constant balancing act between trying to get help and trying to move forward in life. The amount of steps, paperwork, and barriers can make it overwhelming to the point where people give up or are left behind. I want to help change that by creating something more accessible and connected, a space or system where people can actually find the help they need without having to worry about being told they seem like they are "ok" on paper because they make JUST over the qualifying amount. My goal is to design a platform or community-based resource that helps people access support more easily and feel less alone while doing it. I want it to feel like something people can truly depend on. Ultimately, I want my work in STEM to uplift communities by making support systems more human-centered and easier to navigate. I want to use my education to help bridge the gap between people and the resources that already exist, so that more individuals, especially those without strong support networks, can move forward with confidence, dignity, and real access to opportunity.

For a long time, I never thought pursuing a bachelor’s degree was realistic for me. I was not raised with generational wealth, people around who could pay for college, or teach me how to navigate higher education financially. College always seemed extremely expensive and out of reach. Because I was never taught how to properly manage money or prepare for that kind of future, I convinced myself that I could build a stable life through work alone and eventually be okay. Everything changed last year in a way I never expected. Within a short period of time, I lost the best job I had ever had, found out I was pregnant, and learned that I would be becoming a single mother. Not long after, I also faced housing instability and had to make the difficult decision to leave where I was living and return to my home state while seven months pregnant. I packed everything I owned into a U-Haul and drove six hours alone, carrying the weight of uncertainty about what my future would look like. The true shift happened the day I gave birth to my daughter. In that moment, something inside of me changed. Looking at her made everything feel clearer. I realized I could not continue living without a long-term plan that would create real stability for both of us. It was no longer just about me trying to get by, it was about building a future for my child. That was the moment I began to seriously consider pursuing a bachelor’s degree for the first time in my life. It stopped feeling like something “out of reach” and started feeling like something I had to find a way to make possible. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing the emotional and financial responsibilities of motherhood while trying to pursue education for the first time. There is no part of this journey that feels simple or easy. I am constantly navigating childcare needs, financial pressure, and the mental weight of trying to rebuild my life while also being fully present for my daughter. Being a parent and returning to school later in life has taught me that growth does not have a timeline. It has taught me that even when life does not follow the path you expected, it is still possible to choose something different for yourself and your children. Receiving this scholarship would not only help reduce the financial burden of returning to school, but it would also allow me to continue pursuing my education with less fear of long-term debt. I want my child to grow up seeing that even when life is difficult and uncertain, it is still possible to rebuild, grow, and create something better for yourself.

For a long time, I never thought pursuing a bachelor’s degree was realistic for me. I was not raised in a family with generational wealth or financial stability, and I did not grow up with people around me who could pay for college or teach me how to navigate higher education financially. College always seemed extremely expensive and out of reach, and because I was never taught how to properly manage money or prepare for that kind of future, I convinced myself that I could build a stable life through work alone and eventually be okay. For years, I focused more on surviving and maintaining stability than planning for a long-term career or educational path. I worked hard, tried to make the best decisions I could with the knowledge I had at the time, and believed that maybe higher education just was not meant for someone like me. Everything changed last year. Within a short period of time, I lost the best job I had ever had, found out I was pregnant, and learned that I would be raising my daughter as a single mother. Suddenly, the future I thought I was building disappeared. I found myself moving back to my home state seven months pregnant, emotionally overwhelmed, financially uncertain, and trying to figure out how I was going to rebuild my life from the ground up. The day I gave birth to my daughter was the day my mindset completely changed. Looking at her, I realized I could not continue living life without a long-term plan for stability and growth. For the first time, pursuing a bachelor’s degree stopped feeling like an impossible dream and started feeling necessary. I knew I had to find the courage to do this, no matter how long it took or how difficult it became, because I was no longer only building a future for myself, I was building one for both of us. Because of my financial background and life circumstances, I am very intentional about addressing my current and future student debt. I know what it feels like to struggle financially, and I do not take the cost of higher education lightly. I am actively researching scholarships, grants, and payment plans that will help reduce the amount of debt I carry. I am also committed to finding the best employment opportunities possible while continuing my education so I can support my daughter and responsibly manage my financial obligations. Most importantly, I am learning to approach my future with a mindset I did not always have before. Instead of feeling defeated by fear or finances, I am choosing to believe that with consistency, networking, planning, and determination, I can create opportunities that once felt impossible for me. Receiving this scholarship would help relieve some of the financial burden that comes with returning to school as a non-traditional student and single mother, but more than that, it would be an investment in someone who is determined to change the trajectory of her life. I want my daughter to grow up seeing that even when life becomes difficult, you can still choose growth and a better future for yourself.

One specific problem I faced was figuring out how I could realistically pursue higher education while preparing to become a single mother. After losing my job and relocating back to my home state during my pregnancy, I knew I wanted to attain a bachelor's degree to create a better future for my daughter and myself. The problem was that I genuinely did not know how I would make it work financially, emotionally, or mentally. At the time, I was trying to rebuild my life while also preparing to bring a child into the world, and higher education almost felt impossible to reach. Everything in my life felt uncertain during that period. I was carrying the weight of becoming a mother while also grieving the life I thought I would have. I wanted to pursue my goals, but I struggled with fear, self-doubt, and anxiety about whether I would be able to handle everything. I constantly questioned how I would afford school, maintain stability, and balance motherhood while trying to improve my future. For a while, those fears kept me feeling stuck because I believed I needed to have every part of my life perfectly figured out before I could take the next step forward. Instead of giving up on the idea of higher education completely, I started making smaller, realistic decisions that would move me closer to my goals over time. One of the biggest changes I made was shortening my hours at work once I was able to return to employment so I could create the time and mental space needed to focus on school. Financially, it was difficult, and there were moments where I questioned whether I was making the right decision. However, I realized that continuing to postpone my education out of fear would only keep me trapped in survival mode. What worked was learning to think long-term instead of only focusing on immediate struggles. Reducing my work hours allowed me to prioritize my education, improve my mental well-being, and begin building a future with more stability and opportunity for my daughter and myself. What did not work was believing that I had to do everything alone or that I needed to have a perfect plan before starting. I learned that growth often begins with small, uncomfortable decisions made with faith and determination. Moving forward, I want to continue strengthening my time management skills, building healthy support systems, and learning how to balance motherhood, work, and education in a sustainable way. This experience taught me that even when life feels overwhelming and uncertain, small intentional choices can completely change the direction of your future.

I'll never forget the night I arrived back in my home state, seven months pregnant, exhausted, and emotionally broken. Earlier that year, my entire life changed almost all at once. I lost my job, found out I was pregnant, learned I would be facing motherhood alone, and realized I would soon have nowhere to live. With no real choice, I packed up everything I owned by myself, rented a U-Haul, and drove six hours away while heavily pregnant, trying to hold myself together long enough to make it to a place that at least felt familiar. When I finally arrived that night, sitting alone in the front seat of that truck with my last two paychecks, all I could do was cry. I felt unloved, unprepared, unsupported, embarrassed, and completely alone. It is hard to describe what it feels like to watch the life you imagined for yourself disappear in such a short amount of time. For a while, I did not know who I was anymore outside of fear and survival. The months that followed were some of the hardest of my life. I had to slowly nurse myself back into a healthy mental and emotional state while preparing to bring my daughter into the world. There were days where simply getting out of bed felt like an accomplishment. But somewhere in that pain, I realized that I had a choice: I could allow my circumstances to define me, or I could allow them to transform me. Becoming a mother changed the way I saw my future. For a long time when I was younger, I did not have a clear direction for my life. Emotional and financial setbacks often made me feel like I was simply trying to survive instead of truly living. But my daughter gave me a reason to believe in myself again. She became my why. The reason I chose to stop simply getting through life and start actively building one. My pursuit of higher education comes from wanting to create stability, opportunity, and generational change not only for myself, but for her. I want her to grow up seeing what it looks like when a woman refuses to give up on herself, even when life has already forced her to start over. I am uniquely deserving of this award because my journey reflects resilience and intention. I am not pursuing higher education from a place of convenience, but from a place of rebuilding. Every step forward I take is connected to a deeper purpose: to create a life that breaks cycles of instability and opens doors that were not always available to me. I understand what it feels like to be overlooked, unsupported, and uncertain about the future, and that perspective is what fuels my determination to succeed. I hope my story reaches other women who may feel ashamed, lost, or behind in life. So many women silently carry pain while trying to survive impossible situations. I want to use my education and future career in Human-Centered Design and UX Design to create meaningful change within my community. I plan to design tools and resources that make it easier for women, especially single mothers, to access support systems such as childcare assistance, housing resources, financial aid, and mental health services. My goal is to help remove barriers that make already difficult situations even harder, and to design solutions that feel human, accessible, and empowering rather than overwhelming. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application and for investing in women who are committed to transforming their lives and their communities through education.

I will never forget the night I arrived back in my home state, seven months pregnant, exhausted, and emotionally broken. Earlier that year, my entire life changed almost all at once. I lost my job, found out I was pregnant, learned I would be facing motherhood alone, and realized I would soon have nowhere to live. With no real choice, I packed up everything I owned by myself, rented a U-Haul, and drove six hours away while heavily pregnant, trying to hold myself together long enough to make it to a place that at least felt familiar. When I finally arrived that night, sitting alone in the front seat of that truck with my last two paychecks in my wallet, all I could do was cry. I felt unloved, unprepared, unsupported, embarrassed, and completely alone. It is hard to describe what it feels like to watch the life you imagined for yourself disappear in such a short amount of time. For a while, I did not know who I was anymore outside of fear and survival. The months that followed were some of the hardest of my life. I had to slowly nurse myself back into a healthy mental and emotional state while preparing to bring my daughter into the world. There were days where simply getting out of bed felt like an accomplishment. But somewhere in that pain, I realized that I had a choice. I could allow my circumstances to define me, or I could allow them to transform me. Becoming a mother changed the way I saw my future. For a long time when I was younger, I did not really have a clear direction for my life. Emotional and financial setbacks often made me feel like I was simply trying to survive instead of truly living. But my daughter gave me a reason to believe in myself again. She became my motivation to pursue education, stability, and a future that once felt impossible for me. I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman who refused to give up on herself. I want her to understand that healing, growth, and self-improvement are lifelong journeys. I want her to know that it is never too late to start over, learn something new, or create a completely different life for yourself, no matter how difficult your circumstances may be. With my degree in Human-Centered Design and UX Design, I plan to create digital tools and resources that are not only functional but truly centered around the lived experiences of real people. I want to focus on designing solutions that support women, especially single mothers, by making access to help more simple, more human, and less overwhelming. This includes improving how people connect to childcare resources, financial assistance, mental health support, and community networks. My goal is to use design as a bridge to remove barriers, reduce isolation, and make support systems easier to navigate for people who are already carrying so much. What I went through could have broken me. Instead, it gave me purpose. Thank you for taking the time to consider my application and for investing in women who are striving to create positive change within their families, communities, and future generations.

My life has been shaped by survival, resilience, and a deep desire to break cycles, not just for myself, but for my child and other women like me. I am a first-generation college student and a single, expectant mother. I never thought I would be here. After surviving two abusive relationships that left deep mental and physical scars, I made a choice to put myself first. That decision led me to a promising job opportunity that moved me to a new state where I knew no one, but for the first time, I had financial stability and space to heal and grow into the woman I was always meant to be. In that space, I met someone who I believed was trustworthy. When I became pregnant and told him, he threatened me. He said I could never reveal he was the father, fearing the damage it would do to his real life. I later found out he was married with two children. He left without support, and I was suddenly alone again, this time with a life growing inside of me. Out of fear, I did not pursue child support. But I made a promise that no one would ever scare me into silence or powerlessness again. That moment redefined my purpose. I decided to return to school in Summer 2025 to earn a Bachelor’s degree in User Experience (UX) Design. I want to combine my passion for technology, life coaching, and the arts to build digital tools that uplift and support underserved women, especially single mothers and survivors of abuse. My dream is to develop an app called The Village, a platform that connects women to emotional support, community, mental health tools, and practical resources. I know what it’s like to feel abandoned, ashamed, and invisible, and I want to create the kind of support system I wish I had access to during my hardest moments. Becoming a mother has not slowed me down, it has lit a fire in me. I am determined to create a life where my child will know what strength, healing, and purpose look like. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it has given me a powerful sense of direction. With this scholarship, I’ll be one step closer to turning pain into purpose, not only for myself, but for every woman who needs to know she’s not alone and that her dreams still matter.