As a volunteer mentor to disadvantaged teen girls at my church, I have been inspired to get involved in my community by the desire to help others overcome challenges similar to those I faced growing up. Through mentoring and sharing my own experiences, I work to influence change in my community by empowering young women with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in spite of difficult family dynamics, poverty, stress, and racial discrimination. By teaching stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, and journaling, and discussing intrapersonal skills like setting boundaries, I help mentees understand their feelings and deal with them appropriately. Additionally, by discussing family dynamics and the impact of poverty, stress, and racial discrimination, I help mentees understand why their family might function the way it does and how to move past it. I believe that by providing a supportive and caring structure in their lives, we can help mentees create healthy, supportive structures in their social life, empowering them to become encouraged, confident, and centered adults. After graduation, I plan to continue volunteering in my community, teaching courses and hosting events for families facing similar circumstances to the ones I grew up in. Bringing families together is the best way to help children grow into healthy, happy adults, and I am committed to making a positive difference in my community. I was once a disadvantaged at risk youth and thanks to the department of family services I was able to get a mentor. One of the most memorable moments I shared with my mentor was when she took me cross country skiing in the rural countryside. I had never been skiing before, and it was exhilarating to glide over the snow-covered terrain, surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the landscape. As the sun began to set, the sky turned a deep shade of purple, fading into an endless dark blue. The stars twinkled in the clear, crisp air, and I felt a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the world around me. It was a moment of pure joy and freedom, and I felt grateful to have my mentor by my side, sharing the experience with me. She had a way of helping me see the beauty in the world and appreciate the simple things in life, even when times were tough. Her kindness, patience, and support have stayed with me throughout my life, inspiring me to be the same kind of mentor to others that she was to me. My experience with my mentor has inspired me to pay it forward and become a mentor to others. I want to be the kind of adult figure that I needed when I was younger - someone who is patient, kind, and willing to listen without judgment. I want to offer emotional support to young people who may not have a stable home environment or have experienced extraordinary trauma in their lives. I believe that having a positive adult influence in their lives can make all the difference in their future success. I want to be that person for them, just as my mentor was for me. By sharing my own experiences and helping young people build their confidence and resilience, I hope to inspire them to achieve their dreams and become their best selves.

Why do you feel education is important? As an immigrant whose parents could not bring their certifications due to their status as political refugees, I have witnessed firsthand the limitations that can arise from a lack of education. In addition, My grandmothers were illiterate because they were pulled out of school by age six to help with housework. These parts of my background have taught me that education is an incredible privilege that should never be taken for granted. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to learn and grow, and I recognize that there are many that are not as fortunate. In addition to being a privilege, education is also critical for personal and professional growth. Learning is a lifelong process; through education, we can expand our minds, explore new ideas, and gain the knowledge and skills we need to pursue our passions and achieve our goals. Furthermore, to love life and stay engaged with it, even when it is hard, we need the novelty of new information and experiences. Through acquiring exposure to new ideas, we expand our imaginations and become capable of believing in change and a brighter future. Anything that is not growing is dead, and education is essential for our growth. How has education brought value to you? Education has been a beacon of hope and a source of immense value in my life, particularly in my journey to overcome obstacles and achieve my goals. As someone who struggled with an undiagnosed learning disability, the road to success was fraught with challenges. Still, education became my armor and my guide, illuminating the way forward when the path seemed dark and uncertain. Through education, I gained technical and theoretical knowledge and the self-confidence to pursue my dreams, no matter how daunting the obstacles appeared. It showed me that, regardless of my circumstances, I had the power to shape my destiny and carve out a fulfilling life for myself. Moreover, my education has taught me critical thinking and problem-solving skills that have proven invaluable in my personal and professional life. It has given me the ability to analyze complex situations, think outside the box, and develop creative solutions that address the root cause of the problem. This has helped me tackle challenges with a sense of purpose and resilience that I might not have possessed otherwise. Finally, my education has given me the tools to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and build strong relationships. It has taught me that the most fulfilling and impactful endeavors often involve working with others toward a common goal. Education has equipped me with the skills and knowledge I need to succeed and instilled in me a sense of responsibility to contribute to my community and the world at large. In short, education has been a transformative force in my life, and I am forever grateful for the opportunities it has afforded me.

The largest adversity I had ever faced was being a rising sophomore in college and taking my mother to the doctors because she couldn’t feel the left side of her body. It was a punch that knocked the breath out of me and made me question everything I believed in. I didn't know how to deal with the emotional toll of the situation, and it made me question whether there were good days ahead. I wondered why God would do this to my family and why he wouldn't fix it. These questions sent me spiraling into an existential crisis where I just wanted to curl up in my bed and never come out. Because I was so overwhelmed, I asked my friends for help, and they became my support system. They let me cry selfishly about how my mother’s illness was “so unfair”. They helped me see that my life was more than just my mother's illness and that I shouldn't put my career aspirations on hold. We discussed ways to make my mother's life more comfortable because that was the only thing we could control. Some of those things included finding a home that was one level, living a life free from financial stress, and being emotionally available as a support system. Despite the overwhelming emotional burden, I took a proactive approach to manage the situation. I had to find a way to cope and manage the stress on my own. So every morning, I would make a mental list of things that I was grateful for, and I would meditate on positive experiences to remind myself that there were good times ahead. Through it all, I held on to the memory of my mother's laugh, the times we spent together, and the love she showed me. These memories brought a smile to my face and helped me find the strength to continue pursuing my career aspirations. Despite the challenges, I stayed in school, and it allowed me to receive internship opportunities that helped me develop my career goals. Community is a powerful tool for building resilience. When we face adversity, it's easy to feel isolated and alone. But having a supportive community can make all the difference in our ability to overcome challenges. Through the power of community, we can find comfort, support, and encouragement, which can help us stay positive and focused on our goals. The value of community in career development cannot be overstated, as the support, encouragement, and resources provided by a community can help individuals overcome challenges, stay motivated, and achieve their goals. In times of adversity, such as illness or mental health challenges, a supportive community can provide a crucial source of strength and resilience, helping individuals to stay focused on their aspirations and navigate obstacles. Having mentors, coaches, and advisors within a community can be instrumental in career development. These individuals can offer guidance, advice, and support, helping individuals to identify and pursue their goals with greater clarity and purpose. Asking for help is a critical aspect of leveraging the power of community in career development. No one person has all the answers, and by tapping into the collective intelligence of a community, individuals can gain new perspectives, ideas, and solutions to their challenges. Through the process of seeking out and receiving help from others, individuals can build trust, deepen connections, and ultimately grow stronger and more resilient in the pursuit of their career aspirations. Perhaps the most powerful thing we can do is bare the intimacy of asking for help.

As someone who comes from Eritrea, I have a unique perspective on the impact of human activity on the environment. When I visited my home country in 2017, I was struck by the amount of garbage that had accumulated in certain areas, particularly near urban centers. What was even more alarming was the realization that much of this garbage was being dumped by international businesses, who saw Eritrea as an easy and convenient place to dispose of their waste. This experience made me acutely aware of the global nature of environmental issues, and the ways in which our choices and actions can have far-reaching consequences. It also reinforced my commitment to living sustainably and doing my part to minimize my impact on the environment. As a result, I have become even more mindful of my daily choices and the ways in which they can impact the environment. I have made a conscious effort to reduce my waste, conserve resources, and support sustainable practices whenever possible. By doing so, I hope to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future, both locally and globally. Furthermore, my experience in Eritrea has also taught me the importance of advocacy and activism. I believe that it is not enough to simply make sustainable choices in our personal lives; we must also push for systemic change and hold governments and corporations accountable for their impact on the environment. I have participated in community clean-up efforts, supported environmental organizations, and used my voice to call for change on social media and in my personal interactions. Living sustainably is not always easy, especially in a world that is often geared towards convenience and consumption. However, I believe that it is a necessary and urgent task, and one that we must all take on if we want to ensure a livable future for ourselves and future generations. As a global citizen, I recognize that my daily choices have a significant impact on the environment. From the products I consume to the transportation I use, every decision I make can either contribute to or mitigate the negative effects of human activity on the natural world. In order to strive towards a more sustainable lifestyle, I have made a conscious effort to adopt environmentally-friendly habits in my daily life. One of the most important changes I have made is to reduce my consumption of single-use plastics. I carry a reusable water bottle and grocery bag with me wherever I go, and I opt for reusable containers and utensils whenever possible. I have also made changes to my transportation habits in order to reduce my carbon footprint. I live in a city with good public transportation, so I take the bus or subway whenever I can instead of driving. When I do need to drive, I make sure to carpool or combine errands to minimize the amount of time I spend on the road. In addition to these changes, I strive to be mindful of the energy and resources I use in my daily life. I turn off lights and electronics when I'm not using them, and I try to conserve water by taking shorter showers and fixing leaks promptly. Living sustainably is an ongoing process, and I know that there is always more I can do to reduce my impact on the environment. But by making these conscious choices in my daily life, I am doing my part to help create a more sustainable future for our planet and all its inhabitants.

My decision to attend an HBCU was driven by a transformative experience that opened my eyes to the vast possibilities that lay ahead of me. During a campus tour, I was struck by the diverse range of people surrounding me. It was like stepping into a kaleidoscope of cultures, experiences, and identities. There were people dressed in goth clothing who were comedians and others who were physics scholars and wrote poetry. Each person was a unique blend of interests and backgrounds that contributed to the vibrant tapestry of the campus community. It was like being surrounded by living, breathing works of art, each one different but equally fascinating. Through this exposure to diversity, I learned that no part of your identity should be perceived as a limitation. Rather, it is a strength that can be drawn upon to achieve your dreams. I saw people who were unapologetic about who they were and what they stood for. They were confident in their abilities and unafraid to challenge the status quo. I knew that being around self-accepting people would encourage me to explore my own gifts without restraint. HBCUs produce so many people with legacies of greatness because they heal the parts of you that were taught the fullness of who you are is unacceptable. Attending an HBCU gave me an expanded imagination through the greater sense of belonging I felt when I stepped foot on an HBCU campus. My HBCU attendance enriched my life by allowing me to embrace the fullness of who I am. I was no longer just a member of my family or community but part of a larger legacy of excellence and empowerment that only HBCUs can give African American students.

Rachel Naomi Ramen’s book “Kitchen Table Wisdom” transformed my life by reintroducing faith to me as something not at odds with science. Until I read Dr.Ramen’s book, my faith was losing a battle with my ambition to cover up my learning disability. I desperately wanted to look, feel and be smart. Some of my actions to compensate looked like using my free time to learn about human behavior studies, sociological statistics, and global history. I grew to look up to and learn from agnostic or atheist teachers and speakers, who often presented faith as an outdated and irrational concept. However, reading Dr. Ramen's book challenged my beliefs about the compatibility of faith and reason. Her reflections and stories demonstrated that spirituality and academia could coexist and enrich each other. Dr. Ramen's book also helped me to see the limitations of academia. While it is valuable to learn about human behavior, sociological statistics, and global history and current events, it is equally important to acknowledge the limits of knowledge and the mysteries of life. The book reminded me that there are some questions that science cannot answer and that faith can provide a source of comfort and guidance in the face of uncertainty. One story, in particular, Dr. Ramen shared was about a conversation she had with her mother. When her mother came into her office to meet her for lunch for the first time, she saw the Hindi healer symbol (the eye at the center of an open hand) on a poster in Dr.Ramen’s office. She proceeded, in shock, to tell her daughter how when she was a little girl, she would hold her hands up to her mother and say, "Now I can see you." Dr. Ramen sharing a synchronicity-filled story like this helped me to ask more open-minded questions. Revealing that faith is a heart posture that renews the mind rather than arguable logical reasoning. She also shares stories of individuals who had experienced great pain and suffering and how their faith helped them find meaning and purpose in their struggles. Her writing emphasized the importance of community, empathy, and self-reflection in fostering a deeper sense of spirituality and connection to the world around us. Reading her work, I was struck by the idea that faith is not a dogmatic or rigid belief system but rather a way of engaging with the world in a flexible, vulnerable, and optimistic way. If Dr.Ramen, who had arguably reached the height of academia, wrote 250 and something pages about the coexistence of faith and science, surely I could stop biting my tongue when my heart wanted to say something I couldn’t argue academically. Overall, " Kitchen Table Wisdom" transformed how I perceived these two most treasured parts of my identity: my faith and love of learning. “Kitchen Table Wisdom” simplifies what faith really is, which is looking for and treasuring, the tiny miracles of our lives. Dr. Ramen encouraged me to view the world with a deeper sense of wonder and purpose. Lastly, this book helped me overcome my fear of feeling dumb when expressing my faith. I live now with more confidence and integrity because Dr.Ramen gifted us with “Kitchen Table Wisdom.”

THESE ARE BETTER DAYS These are better days 5 Could not see the covering 7 However, I praised 5 Now every sunrise 5 Reminds me of your promise 7 Perfect faithful love 5 Trying to accept 5 Though surely I have been kept 7 What a day to praise 5 Earned understanding 5 From learning who I was not 7 Pain I had chosen 5 From refusing truth 5 Daughter of the prince of peace 7 Made from the blessed soil 5 I could never lose 5 Light has no competition 7 So it never creeps 5 Mending deeper than 5 What the eyes can see 7 Released from myself 5 in my soul, I am 5 Made strong from the hands 7 Of the Almighty 5 These are better days 5 Could not see the covering 7 However, I praised 5 Now every sunrise 5 Reminds me of your promise 7 Perfect faithful love 5 trying to accept 5 Though surely I have been kept 7 What a day to praise 5