As a child, while my friends were watching cartoons, I was glued to Shark Tank. I wasn't just entertained by the pitches; I was fascinated by the mechanics of success. I watched ordinary people turn simple ideas into empires, and I realized that entrepreneurship was not just a career path—it was a mindset. That same interest drives me today as I pursue a degree in Digital Marketing. I chose this field not just to learn how to sell products, but to understand the digital infrastructure that powers the modern economy. My goal is simple but ambitious: to leverage my education to scale my own consulting business, teach others to achieve financial freedom, and build a life defined by autonomy rather than relying on others for a promotion. My journey into entrepreneurship began, unexpectedly, with a video game. I have always had a passion for Madden, but I quickly realized that simply playing the game did not provide me a sustainable future. I saw a gap in the market: thousands of players wanted to improve, but few were offering high-quality, personalized coaching. So, I founded BLT Gaming Consulting. What started as a hobby has evolved into a legitimate enterprise. Over the last 180 days, my content strategy has exploded, driving a massive 1,000% increase in views, helping me convert viewers into paying clients for 1-on-1 coaching sessions. This recent success has been the ultimate validation because I’ve always worked hard but now I am coupling that with good work. It has proved to me that I have the talent to identify a need and the work ethic to fill it. However, talent is not the only part of this equation. I am pursuing a formal education in marketing because I refuse to shortcut my way to success. While I have learned a lot through trial and error, I know that scaling a business requires a deep understanding of consumer psychology, data analytics, and competitor analysis. I want to move beyond just being a "content creator" and become someone who thinks like a true CEO–understanding the intricacies of running a sustainable company. To me, a successful life is multifaceted. Financially, it means reaching milestones like 100,000 subscribers and generating enough revenue to afford the things I dream of—traveling the world, owning a nice home, and driving fast cars. But more importantly, success means freedom. It means having the time to spend with my future family and the resources to provide for them without stress. Beyond the personal rewards, I view success as the ability to lift others up. I want to do more than just make money; I want to teach other aspiring entrepreneurs how to replicate my success in the digital space from such a young age. Just as I teach gamers to improve their skills, I want to teach creators how to monetize their passions because everyone has unique talent to display. I will be super successful because I am willing to do what others will not. I spend every night studying business models and analyzing social media growth strategies, constantly looking for the edge that will keep me ahead of the competition. I refuse to wait for opportunities to come my way; I build and adapt with them. This scholarship would not just be financial aid for a kid with a cool story; it would be an investment in a proven self-starter who has unmatched drive. I am ready to take my business, and my education, to the next level in 2026 and beyond.

Some of my fondest childhood memories involve sitting on the couch with my dad, watching Shark Tank. I wasn’t just entertained; I was studying. While other kids watched cartoons, I was fascinated by the entrepreneurs who built empires from scratch. Today, as a college freshman, while my peers urge me to "live a little" and focus solely on social events, I am focused on a different kind of building. I am building the foundation of a digital media and consulting empire, one view at a time. My journey began in mid-2023. I launched a YouTube channel dedicated to Madden strategy, but I treated it like a startup rather than a hobby. I studied algorithms, mastered video editing, and analyzed retention rates. The work paid off. Over the last six months, I have seized the moment, gaining over 15,000 followers and generating 10 million views—an increase of over 600%. However, I realized that views are vanity metrics if they don't lead to tangible impact. I wanted to build something sustainable. This realization led to the founding of BLT Gaming Consulting. I pivoted from passive entertainment to active education, offering personalized, 1-on-1 coaching. I am not just teaching clients how to win a game; I am teaching them critical thinking, strategy, and adaptability, something they can't gain from a PDF. This venture is the testing ground for the future I am building. In today’s economy, digital literacy and lead acquisition are the currency of success. By mastering script writing, Call-to-Actions (CTAs), and client management now, I am acquiring the toolkit to help my community on a larger scale later. My long-term goal is to transition these skills from gaming into a full-scale digital marketing firm that helps local businesses adapt to the modern world. To the outside observer, it might look like "just a video game." But to me, it is a masterclass in entrepreneurship. I am building a reputation for reliability, a portfolio of success, and a network of clients who trust my guidance. "Shark Tank" taught me that great businesses solve problems. I am building a future where I can solve those problems for others, using the digital fluency I am mastering today to drive the economy of tomorrow.

Diversity is the catalyst that pushes society forward. Yet, African American men make up only 2% of the teaching force. This is a statistic I intend to change. When students enter a classroom, teachers provide the structure that keeps them grounded. However, for many minority students, it is difficult to find that grounding when they never see an authority figure who looks like them. For better or for worse, we are drawn to people who share our experiences. I vividly remember my freshman year of high school when I walked in to find an African American male teacher—something I had never experienced. From the cultural references he made to the way he commanded respect with empathy rather than fear, I finally felt at home. Fast-forwarding to college, having a Black male instructor again felt like a breath of fresh air. It solidified my belief that students deserve diversity, and I feel a responsibility to break the barriers preventing that. However, I believe that being an educator in 2025 requires more than just standing at a chalkboard. I know I was born to teach because I am already doing it on a massive scale. Currently, I run a social media platform teaching the complexities of Madden to over 2 million players monthly. While this may look like gaming to the outside world, it is education in its purest form. When my community needs answers to specific logic problems, I provide the solutions. When they need 1-on-1 coaching, I am there as a resource. My philosophy is simple: "Regardless of circumstance." To truly make an impact, an educator must ignore biases and tailor their methods to the student. A defining moment for me was a coaching session with a player who was 70% blind and could not see the color white—a crucial element of the game’s interface. I didn’t turn him away; I developed a personalized workaround that allowed him to visualize the field differently. Watching him transform his game was more rewarding than any view count. It proved to me that with patience and adaptability, any student can learn. My vision for the future is to merge the traditional classroom with modern digital literacy. With over 50% of Gen Z aspiring to be content creators, they need a teacher who speaks their language. My background in digital growth is not a separate career; it is the vehicle I will use to reach students who feel disconnected from traditional school. By mastering the algorithms that drive attention, I can make education engaging again. Ultimately, whether I am standing in front of a classroom or editing a tutorial for millions online, my purpose remains the same: to be the mentor I needed when I was young. I am ready to be part of the 2% that changes the world, one student—and one viewer—at a time.

Our world might seem like a constant cycle of “Wow, I wonder how that works so perfectly.” While it is fantastic to take a moment and marvel at Mother Nature’s wonderful creation, a deeper level of thinking reveals that while everything may be perfect, there’s an underlying “method to the madness” that requires its own celebration. The study of Calculus, discovered by Issac Newton in the late 17th century, is part of the reason our world is thriving so rapidly today. From differentiation to my favorite, differential equations, calculus defines the infinite complexities of our universe. Like most students, I didn’t quite know what to expect stepping into the course. I had always scored in the high 90s on my math exams in the past and even performed extremely well in pre-calculus. That all changed when on the first day of class, our teacher told us “expect your grade to be two letters lower than what you typically score, if you get a C in this class be grateful.” That quote, coupled with indeed scoring two letters lower on the first test, served as a needed wake-up call. Luckily, just like I have all my life, I rebounded and ended up performing really well in the class, all to the tune of scoring a 4 out of 5 on the dreaded A.P. exam. As the year went on, my real-world perspective started to shift. I started to visualize the concepts learned in class in the real world. The relationship between velocity and acceleration and how certain historical buildings were constructed made me realize that calculus is all around us. As I move into my career in STEM, calculus has helped me understand that the world is rarely linear or one-size-fits-all. While algebra allows us to solve for variables in a fixed state, STEM aims to tackle the unforeseen circumstances that often take 10+ sheets of paper to solve (been there). Nothing about calculus, or STEM, is easy and that’s why it’s sometimes referred to as the “weed out” class for students. Whether you’re trying to predict a complex economic situation or the rate of change in a chemical reaction, something is always changing. Calculus provides us the basic framework- differentiation and integration– to quantify, or give reason to, any given change. The best market analysts aren’t the best by luck, they have a set of rules that helps them measure the volatility and build trading algorithms that determine absolute maximum or minimum costs. To no surprise, I encounter these mathematical principles daily stepping into my data analytics career. My path towards success requires a deep understanding of how algorithms drive consumer behavior. Furthermore, it is inspiring to see the engineers at Google and OpenAI competing against each other to develop the next iteration of A.I. technology that will improve our world. It seems like each day there is a new algorithm that utilizes machine learning to “build” on previous models and minimize errors. Without the ability to find local maxima and minima, this technology that is starting to shape our modern world would simply not exist. Ultimately, calculus is the tool that turns theoretical relationships into a proven set of predictions. For a student pursuing a future in STEM, mastering calculus is more than simply receiving their diploma; it is about having the knowledge and capabilities to thrive in a 21st century that is always seeking the next “why” behind any situation. Motion and change are constantly evolving our world and calculus has been my secret weapon to unlocking the innovations of the future.

Lifelong learning transcends well beyond the classroom walls; it is a combination of all knowledge absorbed—from math textbooks during precious summer breaks to the late-night strategy sessions that built my career. My entire life, shaped by my parents’ intentional educational guidance, has been a continual process of rigorous learning. Without a doubt, I’m where I am now because of everything poured into me. This does not mean that it has been easy however, both at school or in my career, because many challenges have arisen, and will continue to arise, that have made me stronger. One of those knowledge incubators was ABC’s “Shark Tank”. Sitting on the couch learning about business and how companies were rising to the top inspired me to be an entrepreneur, the only problem: I had no idea what my passion was. That slowly changed as I started making YouTube content and opened my eyes to the online business world. Just over two years since starting that project, I have amassed over 25,000 followers, built a website and now teach the game of Madden to millions across the world, solidifying my gift and passion for content creation. Early on though, there was a moment where I badly wanted to quit. Being cut from my high school basketball team my junior year felt like a massive blow and made me question my drive to compete in any arena. I had grown up playing sports my entire life and being told I was not good enough was pretty sickening. I believe God puts us in situations to mold us and shape who we are. I had always had that “dawg” in me to overcome challenges and showcase my unique passion but my senior year of high school was something that truly showed me that you do not know what you can handle until you are forced to handle it. I went to school almost 90 minutes away from home, meaning I needed to wake up around 6 am for a school that started at 9. Coupling that with working every weekend and managing my channel, you could imagine how tight my schedule was. Balancing working, school and content was the fire lit up under me to never be satisfied and the sacrifice certainly has paid off. Now that I have more time I still choose to hustle the same way I did last year, instead of getting complacent and wasting my time partying like so many of my friends are doing. Education comes in many forms though and in the words of Robert Noyce, "Knowledge is power and knowledge shared is power multiplied.” This perfectly overlaps with my passion for making content because I am able to take the same lessons that were poured into me, but pass them along to others which keeps them more informed and better educated. Life is all about growth and I look to grow beyond someone who makes videos into someone who teaches others how to do the same. Once I achieve the pinnacle of 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, I seek to start a sports media agency that empowers creators to share their unique sports takes with the world, bringing us closer together as a community. I never want to rush into it too early though, and that is why falling in love with the process of my education and career is so important to maintain order. The intense commitment to the process and execution skills learned during the dog days of 2023, coupled with resource management dealing with a tight schedule have fundamentally shaped me into a confident business leader. Practical business application has been a fantastic way for me to quickly see my ideas come to light but studying marketing at a premier university in South Carolina will be the key that unlocks my true potential in such a competitive world. From investment opportunities to better understanding the social media landscape that we’re living in, being surrounded by like-minded people will only accelerate my path to success. The staggering differences in career opportunities and the incredible on-paper business knowledge learned during my final 2.5 years of college will prove to be invaluable for me later in life. Overall, education has been the only path forward for me. I have always loved learning and trying new things that will benefit me and it’s why I feel I have been successful in a short period of time. In the words of NFL quarterback C.J. Stroud, “pressure is a privilege” and with everything that has been poured into me and the deep knowledge that I currently have, I feel I must live up to my full potential to help others. The generous funds from this scholarship will truly help me Dream Big and Rise Higher to create a better future, not only by achieving my entrepreneurial goals but by using my agency to empower and mentor the next generation of go-getters!

From being born with EOE to now stepping into a career path where people of color only represent 8% of the workspace, I have a lot of heads to turn. Technology has always been a huge interest of mine and as I have gotten older my love for it has grown even up until the “Big Bang” in 2022 when the tech world got flipped on its head with the launch of ChatGPT. Looking back 3 years later, this remarkably has the chance to change the world and it is already made a huge impact in my life. Truthfully when I started my gaming YouTube channel in 2023, the career path I wanted to take was uncertain but a career in STEM had always piqued my interest. All the high paying jobs directly or are heavily tied into STEM and my lifelong love for math drew me deeper into the water. Over the last few years, I have continued to improve my content creation process, to the tune of over 25,000 followers, including 13,000 since July. Without a doubt, this has solidified my career in stem as I am now studying the applied mathematics that contributes to digital marketing. You might be asking yourself: “is that really the typical STEM career though BLT?” and the answer would be “NO, that’s what makes me so unique.” Earlier this year, I started understanding more about my YouTube analytics and how I can more closely monitor them to give me the best chance to perform well. This includes probability as I am essentially “guestimating” which CTA will yield the highest conversion rate or what hook will generate the highest swipe rate. This need for analytical precision is why technology is my favorite part of the STEM field. The recent explosion of Google’s Artificial Intelligence, most notably Nano Banana Pro, has created a new unfair advantage for creators like me who lean into the capabilities. Before, I would spend 40 minutes making a mediocre thumbnail or was forced to pay a designer. Now, AI agents can act as the paid designer and create thousands of options for me to choose from at the press of a button. Building a career to support just my dream life is not enough for me though, I’m focused on the impact I can have on others. The sole reason I started my Madden content was to help players just like me who were lost and give them the tools to improve their gameplay. I seek to continue building my community to at least 100,000 subscribers which will further prove my ability to help others. Beyond that though, the creative, technological and mathematical skills developed during this great run will be leveraged to help young creators find their own path. According to recent studies, nearly two-thirds of young adults want to become content creators and my content will seek to be a voice for the underrepresented groups trying to break the glass ceiling. Overall, I have chosen to pursue a STEM related degree because of the undeniable passion and drive that I have for my respective career. Working towards something for almost 3 years requires great grit and determination, the top reason why I have been successful thus far. A college degree will further the impact I have on my community by offering me a deeper conceptual understanding of specific topics. As a person of color in STEM, I seek to continue dismantling barriers by proving that conceptual data analysis and determination will always transcend bias, forcing everyone to recognize minority groups in STEM.

Diamonds are one of the most beautiful sights one could see in their lifetime. The story of what makes them special is more than sunshine and rainbows because as African American motivational speaker Eric Thomas once said, “A diamond is a diamond because of the cut, the fire it was put through.” The same could be said about my identity as an African American man growing up and trying to climb a career where blacks represent just 6-7% of professionals. I have always been labeled as “a very sharp young black man” rather than simply removing the race aspect. By no means have I been disappointed by this, I love my ethnicity, but it is interesting that people still judge my work based on racial perception rather than proven ability. As previously mentioned, regardless of how you slice it, African Americans only represent six to seven percent of business professionals, both at the entry level and top managers. My goal is not to achieve the impossible, removing the biases people have about my race, but instead be a shooting star that could lead to more equality and future opportunities for others. My social media has picked up great traction over the last 90 days, as I have gained over 10,000 followers and increased channel views by over 900%. Mastering the study of KPIs, creating better hooks, and refining my calls -to-action have been critical aspects to this transformation, leading to more support and even has people saying “BLT, I want to do just what you do”. None of this would be possible without the great African American leaders that have helped shape my path. Before I started, there were very few successful African American creators in my niche. From my dad, who planted my content seed, to his college buddy Malik, who introduced me to one of the best YouTube growth tools, the presence of African American leadership has been evident throughout my journey. Eventually though, we all hit roadblocks, and that is where great motivational speakers like Eric Thomas and Daymond John have led the way for me. These two individuals have always offered me great perspective and their messages give me the perseverance to keep going. With that being said, I fully recognize the significance of the skills and insights that have been poured into me which is why I vow to give back to my community. That giving back will call on me to not only teach business through educational content on YouTube, but to start a multifaceted sports media agency promoting diversity. Once I achieve my pinnacle of success of 100,000 subscribers on my gaming channel, I plan to shift into financial educational content. This will aim to serve underrepresented groups who may be struggling financially by providing a blueprint to grow their personal brand and understand money better. After successfully building that project to another play button, I seek to combine all skills to build my sports media agency. The plan is to hire dozens of creators to provide their diverse sports under our unique brand, the perfect way to promote diversity. Ultimately, my identity within my race has always been built on leading by example. Although I am still young, I have always tried to be a great role model and older brother to those who need one. My success thus far has served as proof of ability while continued learning will have me well equipped to increase minority representation within the marketing field for years to come.

Math is at the foundation of everything we do. Significance wise, it is more important than written language, as it is the universal logic that grounds everything from architecture to finance. One of my favorite things about math is the depth that it maintains. Growing up learning about volume and basic algebra, then progressing all the way up to calculus, I have always been learning new math. The world is changing and math is evolving with it. Data analytics and software engineering would not be possible without the foundational understanding math provides us. This is precisely why I love math, because it has a zero tolerance policy for ambiguity. Math has one answer, there is no interpretation of anyone else that may have pre-existing biases. Math provides us with clear solutions, like when taking the square root of a number or integrating the sine of x. My one math experience that was the most memorable was studying calculus my senior year of high school. We went through the typical process of learning about limits, then derivatives but it all clicked for me when we learned about integration. Realizing that all indefinite integrals were just antiderivatives made it so much easier. If I forgot an indefinite integral rule I could just use the antiderivate, add my constant of integration and the problem was done. This was the “aha” moment that made me love the subject even more. Now, as I transition into my career in marketing, I more-so use math for analyzing data. Turning creative problems like writing hooks and generating leads into fundamentally solvable processes backed by statistics is very rewarding as it, once again, eliminates ambiguity. Two years ago it would take me ten minutes to write an imperfect description for a video. Now, by understanding the intricacies of statistics, A.I. models can predict which sets of words will give creators like myself the best chance for success. Overall, my love for math is rooted in the victories I have had within the subject and the clarity that it provides us each day. Trusting I can get a given output for my input keeps my confidence high, allowing me to persevere in a highly competitive field. As we transition into 2026 and beyond, math will only become more important and people, like myself, who embrace it will reap the benefits, while others will be left behind.

You may never understand someone else's motivations, desires or circumstances that define their success, which is why you should always look to build people up. While I understand the motivations and circumstances that define success differently for everyone, to me, combining practical business application with formal knowledge is the non-negotiable step to building a career that impacts millions. My college education is more than a piece of paper, it is the key that opens doors I would never have been able to unlock without it. As you’ve mentioned, a college education reveals a whole new world of career opportunities. Combining that with my proven business application, the positive effects of going to school multiplies very quickly. Since I was sixteen years old, I have been working tirelessly on growing my Madden tips social media presence, “BLT4LIFE”. Along the journey thus far, I’ve had many great mentors that have taught me so much about growing on social media. These people have helped me go from zero to over 20,000 followers in the last two years, including a remarkable 10,000 in the last 3 months. This experience has taught me so much and has enabled me to step right into the marketing career path. Although I feel I could start today, work my way up and have success, I would be leaving so much on the table. The opportunity to continue developing with professionals that have already been in the field is something I can’t pass up over the next two years. Practical application of the trade has been invaluable to me and has given me the confidence needed to pursue a career but, like I mentioned earlier, formal education is the base of my skyscraper that I plan to build higher than the Empire State Building. One might ask, “BLT, this sounds like a lot, what are you trying to do?”, and the answer is very intricate. Like I have harped on, college is very important but only my first step. There are many people that are successful without a degree and many that failed with the degree, I strive to be different. Through continuing to build my YouTube skills, I seek to gain three silver play buttons. These recognize creators who reach the landmark 100,000 subscriber milestone. Doing it three different times would be very special to me and that is why it’s just one of my many career goals. The pinnacle of my success looks to blend all the skills learned, from management to exceptional marketing to even business law, to create a sports media agency that competes with ESPN and NBC for national coverage. First building a personal sports account, then hiring dozens of creators to provide their diverse takes under our brand, to then leveraging our proven success to compete nationwide with major networks, I feel I have the perfect 3 tier plan. The main priority will be not rushing into it. I believe that God orders our steps like no other and when the time is right, I will reach the pinnacle and impact millions. Every successful person has had moments where it clicked for them or the right door opened. I believe I have had some of these great moments already in my YouTube career but obtaining a college degree is the key that will open the doors I have been banging on for years. Through the generous gift provided from the Hines Scholarship, I believe I can gain the analytical depth and business knowledge needed to impact millions through a scalable and successful sports media enterprise.

My commitment to remove barriers in marketing has been driven by one powerful quote that perfectly encapsulates my journey thus far: "Knowledge is power and knowledge shared is power multiplied", in the words of Robert Noyce. One of my missions through entrepreneurship is increasing African American representation within the marketing workforce- a number that is only around seven percent. By combining my proven experience within the field with a formal education, I have no doubt I can help shape the next generation. My journey began on a humid night in 2023, when on a ride home from basketball practice, my dad recommended that I start a YouTube channel centered around my passion for the game of Madden. While it was challenging early, I knew I was next up when my first video got over 1,000 views. One year later, at the end of Madden 24, I had reached over 1,200 subscribers and fully monetized my channel, something only possible through improving my marketing strategies and process. Fast forward to the present day, my views are up 900 percent and “BLT” is well on his way to reaching the landmark 100,000 subscribers. By no means have I done it alone though as I’ve had so many great mentors that have shaped my journey. Thinking about my dad, who gave me the idea in the first place, to his college buddy Malik, who introduced me to VidIQ’s technology, to all the other great leaders who have either taken me under their wing or encouraged me to keep doing, I owe it all to them. It is truly impossible for me to repay them for all the great benefits they’ve set up in my life, but instead I focus on giving back to the “mini me’s”. These are the people who are growing up fast, have big dreams, but don’t know what their next steps might be. Without Madden, there’s no YouTube, without YouTube there is no digital marketing, and without digital marketing, perhaps there is no career. Every little piece that someone has poured into me has made an impact and I vow to pass everything down. Part of my vision to achieve this is through a global sports media agency. With this venture, I look to penetrate the sports media landscape by giving underrepresented groups opportunities to work together for the greater good of the entertainment industry. I fully understand the commitment this will take, and I seek to employ people just like myself, driven and ready to ignore biases from the beginning. The hiring process for this agency will feature a direct pipeline to allow black and minority students to both work full time and complete internships that guide them in the right direction. I also plan to open a scholarship program, just like this one, that gives thousands of dollars each year to students pursuing a career in marketing, but hesitant because of the lack of diversity. My experience of seeing my content pages grow so rapidly is something that I wish for everyone, regardless of their dreams. I look to be a great mentor for many young people, including African Americans, because it was only 24 months ago that I was in their exact same shoes. Now, at 18, I am fully positioned to blend my practical skills with a formal education in marketing to further the industry. Seven percent is simply not enough and by working to dismantle the barriers of entry within the field, I will ensure the next generation has an easier pathway to increase their odds of success.

One lesson I have learned through growing my faith is exactly the lesson from Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”. Throughout our lives we are constantly surrounded by anxiety, doubt and uncertainty over what tomorrow may look like but God reminds us to let it go and turn to him instead. God loves all of his children and the best way for me to talk about his greatness is through my personal testimony since, after all, he is the creator of the universe. Throughout childhood my parents made it clear that Jesus Christ is our savior. Like most teenagers, I started to face challenges during those years that led me away from the kingdom of Christ. This later forced me to recognize that I was not following his divine path for my life and that I needed to align more with God if I ever wanted to be as successful as I say I do. When I was in seventh grade, Covid-19 started running rampant throughout the world, triggering an immediate online learning epidemic that, for me, lasted until I was in eleventh grade. This was a pivotal crossroad in my life, and the next move could truly make or break my life. My parents chose to send me to a school over an hour away from home, to a town I had never been to before. Transitioning from online school to a school with over 2,000 kids was certainly a huge transition, triggering significant isolation and social pressure. My path forward is truly the biggest testament to God's presence as he put the right people in my life to help me through this tough period. One of those defining moments that I’ll never forget is getting cut from my high school basketball team in 2023. This was truly sickening for me as I’d grown up my whole life playing basketball and this rejection felt like the end, even though I had over 300 days left until graduation. That night, a quote popped into my head that perfectly resonated with the situation I was in. “Maybe your path is harder because your calling is higher” was the voice I heard and it was perfect because my high school journey was not simple like a lot of my peers, instead there were changes, challenges and setbacks. Exactly two years later from that date, at eighteen, I have graduated high school, I’ve grown my social media following to over 20,000, and set myself up wonderfully for my career in digital marketing. As it states in Ephesians 3:20, “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all things that we ask or think”. I thought I needed to be on that basketball team for the status, clout and following. God showed me his plan for my life is through helping others, and I plan to use my skills in digital marketing to support small businesses focused on integrity and honoring the kingdom. Throughout my college years and beyond, I vow to be still and let God open the doors when they need to be opened, and close them when they need to be closed.

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have”, in the words of Cayla Mills, a quote that perfectly coincides with my personal testimony. I was born on March 6, 2007 in Charlotte and upon birth my parents took care of me like their normal king. Regular activity time, food and naptime were part of my story for my first eighteen months on earth until it all significantly changed. After several weeks of abnormal eating habits like vomiting, crying after a full dinner and pooping attacks, my mom decided it was best to take me for a doctor's visit. After running several tests I was determined to have debilitating food allergies, significantly weakening my diet and causing me to appear quite frail growing up. Clearly, this chronic condition has impacted my life in a significant way as food is our primary source of energy and limiting it has limited me. For example, at eighteen years old, I still have never eaten out at a restaurant, instead I always bring my own food, or even been to a friend's house without my parents' careful oversight. Even as I have gotten older and the leash has been taken off, the level of caution remains the same. Over the last two years working at a grocery store, any time I come in contact with certain products, specifically nuts, a guard goes up in my head to ensure I stay safe. Luckily, I have a wonderful mother who always made sure to put a plan in place to help limit the effects of such a tough medical condition. Researching foods, spending nights on the phone with doctors, briefing school staff were all things that she did for me so that I could live a life of peace and not feel isolated from everyone else. As only 1 in 700 people have this condition in the United States, sometimes it is hard to not have the “why me” mentality, but then I remember I can still walk, talk, breathe, and think, something many others don’t have the opportunity to do. God has given me more than enough. In a world full of people who complain, I’m just the opposite. In the words of Lebron James, “Instead of saying why me, say this what he wants me to do”. This quote serves as a primary motivator for me and why I strive to excel in everything I do regardless of my limitations. Through starting several businesses before I turned eighteen to seeing them grow steadily, I know I have big things coming in the future. The ability to push others towards achieving their dreams through digital marketing and content creation is exactly how I hope to empower others and my education is the next big step in that journey.

“We rise by uplifting others”, in the words of Robert Ingersoll. This is the primary reason I believe I deserve this scholarship grant, because my drive for success extends beyond my personal desire, but my willingness to empower others. I have dreams of being a powerful creator that entertains, empowers and educates hundreds of millions across the world, and a college degree is the next step towards becoming that. This award would not only be an investment into my future, but a sure fire way to help future generations succeed. When defining what gives me a unique advantage over everyone else, my honest answer is I cannot fully speak to anyone's ability except my own. For this reason, I refuse to boast or diminish the accomplishments of anyone else when I can instead, remain confident in what I can do for others. I am certain many brilliant, capable and deserving people have applied for this scholarship along with me, each with their own unique story and admirable goals. I am not in a position to say I am better than anyone but I will instead highlight the tangible proof of my own journey and where it will hopefully take me in the future. Digital marketing and entrepreneurship are truly my passions. Ever since I was sixteen, I have spent every waking hour learning, planning and shaping my future of helping others in many ways. I have taught thousands of other passionate gamers, I have guided dozens of people on their content creation paths but, most importantly, I have done it with a commitment to the process and a humbleness to keep moving forward. Coach Matt Campbell once said, “When you fall in love with the process, eventually, the process will fall in love with you” and that has been a constant theme throughout my journey. Every day I wake up and work through the process, understanding the next goal of 100,000 subscribers on YouTube is not that far away. Furthermore, that goal is more about the total impact I would have had on others by that time. The people I would have taught, guided and helped push forward to achieve their dreams is what makes it such an inspirational culmination. Ultimately, comparison is the thief of all joy and I do not see my life as a competition with others, but instead as a path that is uniquely my own. God made me in his perfect image and that is why I feel this scholarship would be a powerful catalyst, making it easier on me and my family to empower others. While other people have their own incredible paths, stories and futures, my advantage is my willingness to stay in my lane, help others and impact the future one day at a time.

As a passionate content creator and entrepreneur, I see my own members and followers constantly targeted by scams and misinformation every day. My plan is to use my two year practical video creation skills to create a series of free, easily accessible videos that can translate security topics, like hiding personal data, into simple and actionable advice. At times older audiences tend to struggle with digital communication skills, furthering the impact I will be able to have on demystifying cybersecurity for our community. Ultimately, the goal with my cybersecurity knowledge is to take my passion for both content creation and digital security and blend them into one. In the words of Stephane Nappo, "technology trust is a good thing, but control is a better one", a guiding principle I aim to push my community toward.

“The expert in anything was once a beginner” in the words of Helen Hayes. This theme has shaped my journey as both an entrepreneur and a content creator. At one point though, I was a sixteen year old, lost on his next steps but had a big dream of being successful. One of my favorite TV shows to watch as a kid was ABC’s Shark Tank, seeing upstart entrepreneurs live out their visions to create their dream business. That was exactly where I envisioned my future to take me. The problem was, I always had ideas but could never get the ball rolling. That changed on June 30th, 2023 when my dad recommended that I start a YouTube channel centered around my growing interest in the popular video game series, John Madden Football. Over the last two years, my motivation to progress has shaped into a clear, actionable goal that will ultimately define my success. I do not believe you can start something without finishing it, and that is why 100,000 subscribers will be my landmark before I continue moving forward with my next big entrepreneurial dream. I know the day I reach 100,000 subscribers will be one of the greatest of my life as it will be the literal encapsulation of the “Start Small, Dream Big” theme. At one point I had no idea how to record content or edit videos and one day, it will all be worth the sacrifice. The gaming channel has been the essential first step of starting small that has honed my skills. The bigger dream will be more content focused on timeless, high-impact topics of personal finance and sports. This is not just about the achievement or the money for me though, it is about the impact I will be able to have. Through my finance content I will be able to simplify a huge complexity for young adults with daily videos aimed directly at clearing up common misconceptions. Perhaps the biggest impact I look to make is in the entertainment industry of sports. My dream is to start a business centered around bringing hundreds of passionate creators together who love sports, and giving them the platform to share their takes and unique perspectives with the world. The pinnacle of this three story building will be expanding from simply making content into a network station that broadcasts games on national television and hosts daily shows similar to ESPN’s “First Take”. Overall, this scholarship grant would help to fund my college education, a critical part of the plan to grow these empires. I have already gotten the ball rolling on my big dreams but through my college education and increasing practical application, I know I can turn them into reality. Now, I am asking for the assistance to continue moving forward so that I can educate, empower and entertain future generations for decades to come.

While my future profession of marketing, specifically social media marketing, is often thought to have a core goal of increasing monetary consumption, its true power lies in the ability to shape narratives, change behaviors and inform people about the topics that are truly important. In a world filled with urgent and evolving environmental challenges, marketers like myself have a critical responsibility to use our tools to not just sell products, but push forward the ideas and conversations that are working towards a better planet. My vision for the marketing future certainly involves the business aspect of our digital world, but seeks to champion individuals and groups that are working to reduce negative environmental impact by strategically amplifying their voices on social platforms. The modern marketing landscape is dominated by social platforms whose algorithms are engineered and designed to maximize one thing, engagement. These super powerful and constantly innovative recommendation engines are deciding what billions of people see every day, and they are constantly being updated with new features to increase viewer satisfaction. We have seen that creators who are early adopters of a platforms new tools-whether it be the new Instagram "edits" application or the "hype" feature on YouTube- are often rewarded with increased organic reach, even if the platforms do not fully admit this themselves. This hidden dynamic creates an easy incentive structure for creators and businesses, "you use our new features, and we will grant you an increased reach." In the future, I see myself helping to develop and advocate for an "eco-priority" feature within the algorithms. This would be a new, optional designation that brands such as non-profits or eco-friendly groups could apply for by demonstrating a verified mission and commitment to sustainable practices. Much like certain non-profits are given tax exemptions and benefits from governments, these certified "green" organizations would receive a built-in algorithmic boost from the social media platforms themselves. Their content would not only be subtly favored by the algorithm, but also immune to some of the retention penalties that are present when incorrectly shown to someone who does not care about improving the environment. This would not only make our environment cleaner by getting eco-friendly content in front of more eyes, but it would also cut costs for these organizations, allowing them to put their funds in other places to better our society. This would be, in my estimation, a simple, engineered booster that rewards positive environmental action rather than a radical overhaul of our digital world. Luckily, the long term advantages of integrating such a system extend much deeper. Not only, as I mentioned, would it be great for these organizations to expand their reach, it would serve as a strategic competitive advantage for them amongst their "competitors", possibly opening the door for more companies to enter the market seeing the expanded possibilities. It would also help consumers and willing learners more easily discover and support brands that align with a core value we should all share, keeping our environment clean, but may not have the knowledge or platform to hear about it. As a future digital marketing professional, my goal is not only to master the existing social landscape, but to push it further along the right path. Sustainability today is the key to creating a world that is thriving ten thousand years from now, and it starts with us shaping the environment one step at a time. By creating a robust system where the algorithm is aligned with our core values, we can work to transform every living day into our very own Earth Day.

What excites me most about being an entrepreneur is the freedom to build something from nothing. To take an idea, fueled by passion and resilience, and shape it into a tangible business that creates value for a community. It’s the ultimate form of self-determination, where success is a direct result of my own vision and relentless effort. While I've had several sources of inspiration, the true catalyst for my entrepreneurial path was not a big dream of success, but a profound moment of failure that turned into motivation. My initial spark came from a simple suggestion. In July of 2023, my dad turned to me and said, "If you're going to be playing Madden so much, you might as well make YouTube videos about it." That idea planted a seed, but it was being cut from my high school basketball team later that year that provided the nutrients for it to grow. The sting of not making the roster was a significant blow to my confidence. For a moment, it felt like a dead end. However, that setback became my primary inspiration. It ignited a genuine desire to carve my own path and prove I wasn't reliant on anyone else's approval for a spot on a team. This is where my entrepreneurial journey truly began. I called upon the discipline I had honed for basketball into my YouTube channel, transforming it from a hobby into a business venture. I didn't just play a game; I studied the art of digital content creation. I taught myself video editing, graphic design for thumbnails, and the principles of social media marketing to grow my audience. I treated every video as a product, analyzing viewer data and feedback to refine my strategy and better serve my community of fellow gamers. The process was challenging, and the initial growth was slow. There were moments of doubt and questioning, much like in the grueling days of tryouts. Yet, what has kept me going has been the excitement of building something that is entirely mine. Every new subscriber, every positive comment, and every video that performed well was a small victory in the long term business empire I was creating. This journey taught me that entrepreneurship is about turning a setback into a setup for a comeback, truly embodying the meaning of my favorite bible verse, Isaiah 60:22. Today, my channel has grown beyond anything I could have imagined when I started, with nearly 15,000 subscribers and a fully monetized platform that has paid me thousands for my work. The most exciting part is knowing that I built this from the ground up, inspired by a failure that forced me to look beyond the basketball court, truly utilize my best skills and discover my true potential. My dad may have given me the initial idea, but it was the experience of being cut from the team that lit the fire that redirected me to become an entrepreneur that has the passion and skill set to be dominant in the business world for decades to come.

One principle I have always lived by is, “you never know what someone is going through, so treat them kindly.” My name is Brendon Leo Terrell, a student at USC Lancaster. Throughout my time at Indian Land High, I learned that the person who most needed this grace was myself. My journey was defined by two distinct arenas: the basketball court and the digital world of YouTube, both tested my mental health and taught me that true strength comes not from meeting the expectations of others, but from carving your own path with perseverance and resilience. My first test was the heavy weight of a family legacy. My brother was a respected player on the school’s basketball team, and from the moment I stepped into the gym, I was no longer just Brendon, I was his less gifted younger brother. The pressure was immense. My mental state became directly correlated to my performance, and my self-worth fluctuated with the approval of coaches and other players trying to prove themselves. This reliance on external validation was a fragile foundation, and it crumbled the day I was cut from the team. The disappointment was crushing, not just because I failed to make the roster, but because I felt I had failed to meet the expectations everyone had for me. It was a heavy blow to my self-esteem and my first real lesson in how tying your identity to the opinions of others is a recipe for mental depression. After this failure, I turned my focus to a passion that was entirely my own: my Madden tips YouTube channel. Here, I could define success on my own terms. As my channel grew, however, I found myself in a new, more hostile arena. The anonymous nature of the internet unleashed a constant wave of cyberbullying. Strangers attacked my content, my voice, and even mocked my low view numbers. The negativity was hurtful and felt deeply personal, making me question if putting myself out there was worth it. I was reliving the same cycle as before, now allowing my mental state to be dictated by view counts and the judgment of random strangers. This was my turning point. Staring at a screen filled with hateful comments and poor performing videos, I realized I had a choice: let the negativity consume me and quit, or create my own narrative. I chose the latter. I began to treat mental health not as something to dismiss, but as a practical tool for personal growth. I learned about resilience, the importance of separating constructive criticism from baseless hate, and the power of positive self-talk. I stopped obsessing over the opinions of those who wanted to tear me down for their own benefit and instead shifted my focus to providing value for the community that supported me. This mental pivot was transformative. As my self-esteem became rooted in my own effort and purpose, my channel began to thrive in ways I never imagined. The lessons I’ve learned about mental health are the most valuable takeaway from my high school experience. As I pursue a demanding finance degree, I will inevitably face disappointment and setbacks. When I do, I will apply the resilience I’ve learned, recognizing that my worth is not defined by a single data point but by my persistent effort over time. In the pressure-cooking world of finance, my ability to manage stress and maintain a healthy perspective will be my greatest asset. My journey has taught me that mental health is not about avoiding tough challenges, but about building the internal strength to face them head-on without wavering.

My name is Brendon Leo Terrell and I’m an undergraduate student at USC Lancaster in Lancaster, South Carolina. My area of focus is the dynamic and growing intersection of digital marketing, videography, and entrepreneurship. For me, this is more than an academic interest; it is the field where I have already been building a thriving business since I was just 16 years old. Over the last two and a half years, my biggest project has been my YouTube channel, and my big tests have been the month over month growth that has me ecstatic for my future in my dream career field. My goal is to pair my practical expertise with a strong academic foundation, which will transform my proven passion into a sustainable and scalable career. This journey began not in a business class, but from a desire to share my passion for the Madden video game series. I saw an opportunity to create high-quality, educational content that could help others improve their skills. This required me to become a self-taught expert in the entire content creation funnel. I immersed myself each day in learning more about videography, recording, editing, and graphic design to produce compelling content. I quickly mastered the computer applications necessary for production and took a deep dive into my analytics to better understand audience behavior, engagement metrics, and growth strategies. This hands-on and self taught education was my introduction to the core of digital marketing. As my platform grew, I realized that simply creating content was not enough. To truly build a brand, I needed a central hub for my community. This led me to design and launch my own website, a project that expanded my skills of web development, but mainly, user experience. The website serves as a critical component of my marketing funnel, allowing me to engage with my audience on a deeper level, offer exclusive content, and create a brand ecosystem that extends beyond the confines of YouTube. This initiative was a clear demonstration of my entrepreneurial drive; identifying a need and quickly building the solution myself. My ambition is perhaps best backed up by the proven results of my work. This is not a theoretical business plan, instead, it is a proven success story. In the first two years of creating content, my beginner efforts grew my channel to 10,000 subscribers and generated 1.8 million views. However, as I honed in on specific digital marketing techniques and mastered the art of creating for my audience, that growth has become exponential. In just the last three months, my community has expanded by an additional 4,500 subscribers, and my total channel views have skyrocketed to over 4.5 million. At eighteen years old, I am managing a rapidly growing digital platform that is a testament to my commitment, strategic thinking, and incomparable drive. Pursuing a college education is the critical next step in my plan. While I have built a successful brand through practical application, I know that a formal education will provide the theoretical framework needed to scale my ambitions. I want to broaden my understanding of marketing principles, business finance, and strategic management to ensure my future marketing ventures have long-term viability. This scholarship, honoring the memory of a fellow young entrepreneur, would be an invaluable investment in my future. It would allow me to focus on my studies and further a career path that already embodies the spirit of innovation, videography, and digital marketing that Brandon Repola represented.

The sting of failure is a feeling I know intimately. In October of 2023, after three grueling days of basketball tryouts, the final roster was posted. My name was absent. The crushing weight of not making either the varsity or JV team, especially with the legacy my older brother had on the court, was a profound disappointment. In that moment, it felt like my path in high school had hit a dead end. But what I couldn't see then was that this closed door was about to open a gateway to an entirely new arena where I could define my own success and be even better than I ever dreamed. Instead of walking away from the program, I took my parents' advice and chose to persevere. I approached the head coach and became the team manager. This role was a daily lesson in humility and service. While some peers dismissed me as "just the manager," I was learning invaluable lessons. I was lending a hand to my community, this basketball team, by ensuring they had everything they needed to succeed, from filled water bottles to organized stats each night. I learned to find pride in supporting others' victories and understood that true leadership isn't always about being in the spotlight. This behind-the-scenes role, however, ignited a fire in me to build something that was entirely my own. That "something" became my YouTube channel. My dad’s earlier suggestion to create content around my passion for the Madden video game resurfaced, but this time it wasn’t just a hobby, it was a mission. I channeled the discipline I’d honed for basketball and the resilience I was learning as a manager into my content. The disdain I sometimes felt in the gym from other players became fuel. Every spare hour was dedicated to studying video editing, creating compelling thumbnails, and mastering the art of tutorial content to build not just a channel, but a community. The results of this focused effort were staggering. What started as a dream and project to prove myself blossomed into a thriving platform. By the start of my senior year, my small channel had steadily grown to over 2,000 subscribers. One year later and just two years into my career, I am proud to be recognized as a force to be reckoned within the Madden community, with over 14,000 subscribers, over 4 million lifetime channel views and recognition by the current top dogs in the community. My channel is fully monetized by YouTube, and I’ve had the opportunity to give away a free copy of College Football 26 and become a lead catalyst for the best Madden tips website in the game, VictoryFormation.gg. Most importantly, I have "lent a hand" to a community far larger than my basketball team. I provide a space where thousands of fellow gamers come to improve their skills, connect with others, and share a common passion. This moment strengthened my believe in the Holy Spirit because looking back on this moment, it would be impossible for me to be where I am today with such a bright content future if this situation didn't occur. As I've put on display, getting cut from that team was a significant setback, but it taught me that when you can’t be a star player on someone else’s team, you can build your own and invite the world to play.

In a workplace environment riddled by continuous conflict, an effective solution rarely comes from authoritarian command. As a peer, not a supervisor, my influence would not stem from authority, but from an assertive and compassionate approach built on three things: forward thinking de-escalation, empathetic leadership, and a talent for redirecting focus toward a common goal. This combination of relevant skills would allow me to address both the immediate disruption and the underlying issues potentially fueling the negativity. My first quality is the ability to de-escalate a tense situation with calm assertiveness. Continuous arguments, even over small matters, destroy team morale, hold back productivity, and create an unprofessional atmosphere for everyone, specifically potential customers. I would not ignore the shouting but would instead step in as a neutral party. Approaching calmly, I would say something like, “I can see this is heated. Let’s pause for a moment. Is there anything I can do to help find a solution so we can get back on track?” The purpose of this intervention is not to take sides or assign blame, but to break the emotional momentum of the argument. It creates a crucial pause, allowing emotions to cool and reminding those involved of their shared professional context without making them feel at fault. However, effective intervention requires more than just stopping the argument; it demands genuine empathy. This quality was powerfully instilled in me by my mother. I vividly remember her telling me one morning to find a way to be of service to someone. That afternoon, we saw an elderly woman in a parking lot who looked utterly lost. As we approached to help her from her car, her vulnerability was clear; she was confused and unable to care for herself. We stayed with her until her family arrived, and that experience cemented a core belief in me: people’s actions are often driven by unseen struggles. In the workplace, a coworker’s anger over a minor issue might be a symptom of immense stress at home or personal anxiety. My talent for looking beyond the surface-level conflict would allow me to approach my colleagues with compassion, fostering trust and making them more receptive to a peaceful resolution, rather than shutting me down completely. Finally, after de-escalating and showing empathy for all issues, I would use my leadership skills to strategically redirect the team’s focus. A peacemaker is valuable, but a leader moves the team forward. Once the immediate tension has subsided, I would pivot the conversation back to a shared objective, saying something like, “Alright, now that we’ve taken a moment, let’s refocus on our deadline for the client presentation. What are the next steps we need to accomplish together?” This action validates that the issue is resolved for now and pivots the team’s energy back into productive, collaborative work. In conclusion, my approach is a multi-layered one. I would use my talents to intervene respectfully, my character trait of empathy to understand the human element, and my leadership skills to refocus the team on success. This method doesn't just stop one argument; it helps cultivate a healthier, more resilient, and more professional workplace culture for the long term that doesn't lead to lingering conflict.