There were times when I had to look adversity in the face and not let it consume me. One of the hardest challenges I had to face was losing my mom. At the age of 15, my mother passed away. This was very hard at the time because it was my freshman year of high school and the COVID pandemic was still at its height. However, I learned something from it and was able to improve an aspect of myself. This experience strengthened my resilience and perseverance. Losing my mother forced me to navigate life without her guidance for the first time. Even though I had the help of my grandmother, who took me in, I had to learn how to take care of myself and make important decisions, which I feel are very important characteristics of a leader. This experience taught me the importance of being adaptable and proactive in the face of adversity. I believe that my personal experiences have prepared me to be a strong and effective leader. The goal for my future is to go into marine science so that I can teach others about the importance that marine life has on our ecosystems. Through the grief of losing my mother, I found strength in the support of my family and friends. Their encouragement kept moving me forward, helping me realize my potential even in the darkest of times. Through their guidance and my own determination, I discovered a newfound sense of purpose and direction. As I navigated the complexities of life without my mother's presence, I uncovered resilience I never knew I possessed. Every obstacle I faced became an opportunity for growth, shaping me into the person I am today. In the face of adversity, I learned to act upon my inner strength and resilience, coming up from hardship with a new sense of purpose and determination. This journey has equipped me with the tools necessary to overcome any challenge that comes my way, solidifying my commitment to making a positive impact on the world around me. My passion for marine biology and conservation drives my ambition to pursue a career in marine science. Despite facing personal challenges, such as the loss of my mother at a young age, I have emerged stronger and more determined to achieve my goals. I believe that my experiences have shaped me into a resilient and empathetic individual, qualities that will serve me well in my future goals. Through my studies and future career, I hope to make a positive impact on marine life and inspire others to do the same. I am committed to becoming the marine scientist that I dream of becoming.

This scholarship will help me by supporting my education that will then be the foundation for my future career. I deserve this scholarship because my passion for helping the world around me has inspired the goals I have set for my future. I plan to one day achieve my goal of becoming a marine biologist. It is an absolute dream of mine to study the ways of marine life. Working to study how sea life interacts in its beautiful ways amazes me to no end. I find nature to be one of the best features of our universe, and to be the heart of life. When it comes to my future, I’ve always wanted to be one of those researchers who goes out and interacts hands-on with the ecosystem. Specifically, sharks, as they are my favorite animal. I think that sharks are such beautiful animals despite most people's fear of them. I want to give people the information they need about sharks for the safety of the sharks and for the safety of people. There is so much misinformation about sharks out there that leads to them getting killed. Their populations are going down at an alarming rate and I want to be a part of the people who want to save them. I want sharks to live a beautiful and peaceful life because they do so much for our oceans. I want to make our oceans a better place for all marine life to live in and because there is not much representation of black female marine scientists, I want to set a good example and be a role model for my community and show them that they can achieve their dreams despite the lack of representation in that field. I hope to go into marine science so that I can teach others about the importance that sharks have for our marine life. To reach my dreams I plan to stick through my major in marine science because through that program, I can network and make connections that will set me up to become the marine biologist I plan to be. There were times when I had to look adversity in the face and, not let it consume me. One of the hardest challenges I had to face was losing my mom. At the age of 15, my mother passed away, which was very hard at the time because it was my freshman year and the COVID pandemic was still at its height. I want to dedicate my education to her because I know that my education was so important to her. This scholarship will aid me in getting an education not only for her, but for myself too. This scholarship would not only support my academic aspirations but also enable me to continue my journey of growth in marine conservation. My passion for marine biology and conservation, particularly with sharks, drives my ambition to pursue a career in marine science. Despite facing personal challenges, such as the loss of my mother at a young age, I have emerged stronger and more determined to achieve my goals. I believe that my experiences have shaped me into a resilient and empathetic individual, qualities that will serve me well in my future goals. Through my studies and future career, I hope to make a positive impact on marine life and inspire others to do the same.

I plan to one day achieve my goal of becoming a marine biologist, so that I can one day achieve my dream to study the ways of marine life. Working to study how sea life interacts in its beautiful ways amazes me to no end. I find nature to be one of the best features of our universe, and to be the heart of life. As for my future, I’ve always wanted to be one of those researchers who go out and tag sharks for their studies. I believe sharks are fascinating creatures, despite the fear many people have of them. My goal is to educate others to ensure the safety of both humans and these animals. There's a lot of misinformation out there that leads to unnecessary killings. Their populations are going down at an alarming rate and I want to be a part of the people who want to save them. I want sharks to live a beautiful and peaceful life because they do so much for our oceans. I want to make our oceans a better place for all marine life to live in. Though I plan to go into research, I hope to go into this field so that I can teach others about the importance that sharks have for our marine life. A marine science degree will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect marine life. Through the coursework and hands-on experience that college will give me, I will gain a deep understanding of marine ecosystems, species behavior, and environmental challenges. This college education will enable me to conduct vital research, develop conservation strategies, and advocate for policies that protect oceanic environments. Additionally, the degree will provide me with the tools to educate the public and raise awareness about the importance of preserving marine biodiversity, overall contributing to the sustainable management of marine resources. Overall, my aspiration to become a marine biologist is fueled by a passion for understanding and preserving marine life. By studying and protecting marine ecosystems, particularly focusing on the often misunderstood and threatened shark populations, my goal is to bridge the gap between scientific research and public education. A marine science degree will not only provide me with the essential knowledge and skills to conduct impactful research but also empower me to advocate for the preservation of our oceans. Through this journey, I hope to inspire others to value and protect the incredible diversity of marine life that is so vital to the health of our planet.

BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, has become a significant part of my life since I discovered their music in late 2022, just before their eldest member Jin enlisted in the Korean Military. Their impact on me has been something I could never imagine, not only through their music but also through their message of self-love and appreciation. BTS has a way of connecting with their fans, known as ARMY, that’s not like any other. BTS has a special dedication to their fans which is something that truly sets them apart. The relationship between BTS and their fans is truly special. The name ARMY, which stands for Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth, symbolizes the strong bond between the group and their fans. BTS often expresses their gratitude and love for their fans, making us feel like a part of their journey. From Jungkook’s 4 AM lives to Jin making videos for fans who may struggle to eat, this connection is particularly meaningful to me because it shows that BTS genuinely cares about their fans and values their support. One of the aspects of BTS that resonates with me the most is their emphasis on self-love and acceptance. Through their music, they have taught me the importance of loving oneself. Their songs, like "Love Myself," "Epiphany," and "Answer: Love Myself," carry powerful messages that have helped me appreciate myself more. Their music has been a source of comfort and inspiration, especially during challenging times in my life. Despite not experiencing BTS together as an active group because of the timing of my becoming a fan, I still feel a deep connection to their message. I admire how they remain true to themselves and their beliefs, even in the face of adversity. They have so much resilience and authenticity, and that has taught me valuable lessons about staying true to who I am and embracing my uniqueness. The enlistment of Jin and other members of BTS into the Korean Military was a bittersweet moment for me. While I was upset by the temporary absence of the members, I also felt proud of them for fulfilling what they had to do for their country. It was during this time that I realized the true depth of BTS's impact on my life. Their music and message continue to inspire me, reminding me to love myself and stay true to who I am. I am forever grateful that they came into my life. In conclusion, BTS means so much more to me than just a K-pop boy group. They have taught me valuable lessons about self-love, resilience, and authenticity. Their music has been a source of comfort and inspiration, and their dedication to their fans is something I deeply admire. BTS has helped me love myself more, and for that, I am forever grateful.

I was always fascinated by the beauty of animals. Seeing how intelligent they were is what really made me fall in love with them. When I was younger, I enjoyed going swimming with my family, so I had a love for water from an early age. Seeing the beauty in animals is important to me because I believe animals are what keep our planet healthy. I grew up with pets, so taking care of fur friends was something I’ve been surrounded around for forever. Because of this, I saw animals as a part of my family and treated them as if they were. Whenever I see an animal being itself, I get fascinated, and that fascination makes me happy. That happiness drives me to learn more. I believe that animals are capable of loving humans as much as we do them. They have and always will have a special place in my heart. Studying them, interacting with them, communicating with them, and seeing how they are capable of love will make me feel like I achieved what I wanted to in life. I imagine being able to show people how similar humans and wildlife are. Sharing facts about our differences is amazing as well because some things will blow people’s minds, and I think that is so awesome to see someone soo interested. Telling people that wildlife loves their offspring as we do ours and seeing their faces light up in amazement and fascination is something I look forward to in my future. I would like to go into marine biology/oceanography when I enter college, and with that, I want to educate others about the environmental effects that we have on marine life. This major covers a lot of topics ranging from wildlife to their habitat. Being able to inform people why they shouldn’t be afraid of ocean life and how beautiful it is, is one of the main goals I have for my future. I want to show people that because I want people to have empathy toward these animals' lives and their habitats. Another goal I have is to study ocean life itself. By that I mean I want to go out into the ocean and observe how wildlife interacts with each other and be a part of answering questions that scientists haven’t found the answer to. Being able to say that I helped make a difference in animal life would mean the world to me.