(Prompt 2) As someone who is studying Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies, I've come to find joy in studying the relationship between human behavior and human belief systems, and how the two connect to provide a sense of identity, purpose, and meaning to us as humans. Through my personal faith in Jesus Christ, I've come to enjoy helping others find an identity that eliminates insecurity, especially in a world driven by technology, where one can find their worth based on comparison and social media. I believe authentic human connection comes from bonding with others over our differences, something a fast-paced world, not only technology, goes against. In a world that never seems to end, with deadlines, exams, bills, and all things of the sort, it's easy to forego authentic human connection, especially when it may come with a risk of feeling bad or judged for being yourself/being slightly different than someone. Technology has created incredible opportunities for communication, learning, and innovation, but it has also contributed to a culture where people can easily base their worth on social media, comparison, appearance, status, relationships, or achievement. These things may provide temporary confidence, but they cannot provide lasting identity because they constantly change. In a fast-paced world filled with deadlines, expectations, and constant digital interaction, authentic connection can begin to feel secondary or even uncomfortable because vulnerability always carries the risk of rejection or judgment. As a result, many people choose curated versions of themselves online rather than genuine relationships in real life. I believe authentic human connection is strengthened when we create spaces where people feel safe being fully known rather than merely perceived. One of the most meaningful parts of human connection comes from learning to understand and appreciate differences in others rather than viewing them as barriers or annoyances. Through my experiences working and living alongside students with intellectual disabilities in the ClemsonLIFE program, I have learned that every individual experiences the world differently and requires intentional care, empathy, and understanding. Those relationships taught me that meaningful connections are not built through generalized solutions or surface-level interaction, but through listening, patience, humility, and simple presence. This is also why I believe we must be careful about how technology, especially artificial intelligence, shapes youth mental health and relationships. While AI, something many of us as humans use in today's day and age, for example, can be helpful for information, productivity, and accessibility, it cannot replace genuine human empathy. Technology may provide immediate responses, but it cannot fully understand emotional pain, build trust through lived experience, or replicate the healing that comes from feeling truly seen and cared for by another person. In some ways, the rise of technology, particularly AI and social media, suggests that people are becoming more digitally connected while simultaneously feeling more personally isolated and alone. To preserve authentic human connection in the future, I believe humans must become more intentional about slowing down and valuing relationships that require vulnerability, sacrifice, and presence, rather than simply basing it off of likes and dislikes. I believe this starts with promoting empathy over comparison, listening over assumption or casting aspersions, and a community that reflects these values over performing to earn the approval of someone, and accepting people for who they are first to build meaningful connections, especially for the people who are conscious about the lack of genuine connection. I believe my faith in Jesus Christ has deeply shaped this perspective because it teaches sacrificial love, humility, and the value of every person beyond what they achieve or present to others. In a world increasingly shaped by technology, I believe the future of human connection will depend not on how advanced our tools become, but on whether we continue choosing to genuinely see, understand, and care for one another.

Are leaders born, or are they made? I believe we all lead in one way or another. From being born a full trimester premature, to surviving over a dozen surgeries, to pivoting during the pandemic to recently mourning the loss of my only uncle so close to his 43rd birthday, I have learned that I can bounce back and learn from difficult circumstances. That’s what being a leader is all about, committing to the process when everyone else gives up. When I was born, I could fit into the palm of my mother's hand. At 2lbs, 7oz, most doctors didn't think I would survive long or have a detrimental disability or disease. After surviving a dozen surgeries before the age of four, I'm now a senior Honors Dual-Enrollment student at Dreher High School in Columbia, SC. I grew up in Orangeburg, SC for the majority of my life, a place where students aren't encouraged to become the best version of themselves. I know this to be true based on the students I attended school with while I was in Orangeburg and the high-school dropout gang we lived next to for 6 years. I try to wake up every day and be optimistic about the opportunities that could come. My mom tells me I was born a leader. Whether it’s helping and organizing fundraisers for babies in the NICU where I was born or directing Cadets in NJROTC, I’m being a champion for change by tapping into my gifts. I believe that supporting equality means knowing we all have something different to offer and that makes a stronger world. I, along with millions of people, stand against discrimination and I support equality for others in my life by standing up for the oppressed, whether it be on the street or in school. These simple beliefs have helped shape me into the person I am today, and who I strive to continue to be throughout college and the remainder of my life. To me, inspiration means taking the ideals and values of either an organization or person and incorporating them into your life and character. Recently, I’ve been inspired by Black innovators who have made a significant impact in STEM, such as Katherine Johnson and George Washington Carver. Books like Hidden Figures and Black Pioneers of Science and Invention gave me inspiration to pursue my goal of becoming a licensed anesthesiologist. The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted striking inequity in preventable deaths from persistent disparities in access to affordable health care in Black communities. More students of color need support and guidance to not only apply and complete medical school training but also allow for a more diverse physician pool when people are in need or want to receive healthcare from someone who looks like them. I'd use my platform as an anesthesiologist to serve as a beacon of light to other young, black males who aspire to have a healthcare career. This is important because blacks are underrepresented in many high-level careers, especially in the healthcare field where Blacks make up less than 5% of those in the medical profession. Not only do I want to help change those statistics, but I’ve also seen how those in the medical profession were stretched, stressed, and pushed beyond their limits during the pandemic. With strong efforts, the younger generation can find inspiration from myself and other black doctors through our community acts and profile to pursue their dreams, and not to let racial barriers and stereotypes prevent them from doing so.