My mom Angelaina is the person I admire most, not just because she raised me by herself, but because of the kind of home and foundation she built for me. Growing up, it was always just the two of us, and even though she carried every responsibility on her own, she never let that stop her from being present, supportive, and strong. She created a home where I felt safe to be myself, safe to ask questions, and safe to speak my mind. That kind of environment isn’t something every kid gets, and I know how lucky I am to have had it. What I appreciate most is how she encouraged my voice. A lot of people tell kids to “stay in their place” or not talk back, but my mom was the opposite. She wanted me to think for myself and to express my opinions, even if they were different from hers. I recall at a very young age her always asking what I thought and telling me it was okay to think the way that I do. She always told me that my voice mattered and that staying silent in situations that needed honesty or courage wasn’t an option for me. Because of her, I grew up believing that speaking up isn’t disrespectful, but necessary to have authentic relationships. She taught me that leadership starts with being willing to say what others are afraid to say, and that confidence comes from knowing you’re allowed to take up space. Every time I stand up to speak, whether it’s in a classroom, or anywhere else, I can hear her telling me to get it off my chest. She has always told me that education is something no one can take away from you, and that it opens doors that stay closed without it. I can remember her walking across the stage to earn her first degree and how proud I was to see her in a cap and gown. Watching her work hard, sacrifice, and still show up for me every single day is what motivates me to keep going, even when school gets overwhelming or life gets stressful. I am proud to be attending Florida Agriculture & Mechanical Engineering University and being able to have the chance to walk across the age myself. Honestly, she raised me to believe that I could do anything, and I want to prove to her that I appreciated everyway that she pushed me.

Back in Middle School, I was heavily involved in my Robotics Team at my Program Mentoring Families and Kids. During my time in this program, I experimented with building with Legos. This was my first time engaging with something like this, and it immediately hooked my attention. The idea of building and coding legos in order to make them move absolutely marveled me. With this in mind, I knew I wanted to pursue something that incorporated coding and building. This is what drove me to Mechanical Engineering. My program pushed the important of Black Excellence, and pursuing a field in STEM, especially for the women. This path gave me a sense of purpose. It made me realize what I wanted to do with my life. Before my program, I always struggled with what I wanted to do when I got older. The pressure overwhelmed me, but MFK helped me see that I can be part of something big, and it can be something that I love doing. In my case, I love building legos and coding. The president of MFK took notice of this, and she recommended me their very own robotics program, which honestly was the best thing she ever did. Not only did I excel in the coding, I was able to build connections with like-minded students who enjoyed Robotics and Coding as well. This made me realize there are people who are just like me, other African - American students who want to go forth in STEM and pursue something similar to me. It was inspiring, and it uplifted me into becoming the person that I am. Now, as I am close to graduating high school, I still feel that burning passion for STEM and mechanical engineering. I value the ideas and the work ethics that goes into it. I’ve formerly decided that I will be attending the best college that can offer me the best career path in order to pursue and fulfill the wishes of my younger self. On top of that, I hope to inspire and influence other people to do the same. I hope to be the motivation for other people to pursue STEM, specifically younger girls who might know what they want to do in life. I plan to be the best version of myself, not just for me, but for the girls after me, and the many generations of women to come.