In June 2013, I attended Camp Invention, a summer camp my school offered, where we would work together to come up with solutions for problems the counselors created, and later in the week, create prototypes. I realized I don’t only have to rely on solutions others have come up with; I can create my own. When I entered high school, I was disappointed to find that the school did not offer any classes for underclassmen in engineering or computer science. Knowing this, I took the initiative and spoke with our school’s computer science teacher. I asked if he would teach me Java outside of school. For most of my freshman year, I would stay after school to learn Java. During my junior year of high school, I joined the computer science academy my school offered. My dream career is to one day work as a digital forensic analyst for a law enforcement agency. Here, I would use my skills to help bring justice to those who need it most. I believe I am a strong candidate for the Chris Jackson Computer Science Education Scholarship because, like Chris, I know what it is like to fight for an education. My fight for an education has never been easy, with a financial struggle being among my biggest hurdles; without scholarships, I would not be able to afford college. My parents, although they try their best, cannot afford to help me with college costs. My mom has seen the price of my university, and always says she is blown away by the big numbers. To make it work, I have been tutoring students for six years since high school, also substituting with Kelly Education for Lee County Public Schools while in college. Whether working with a long-term tutoring student or a student I meet for just a day as a substitute teacher, I make sure they feel heard. Everyone deserves that; everyone needs to be heard. Additionally, I have secured a recurring internship every summer with The Villages Technology Solutions Group (TSG) as a support specialist intern. As a first-generation student, this scholarship could mean the difference between whether I can finish my degree or if I can go another year. I struggle to afford my degree, but I know that once I am in the field, finding crucial evidence to help bring closure to victims and their families, it will all be worth it.

Before the 2024 FSEA competition, I didn’t know much about forensics. In my three years in the Sumter County Explorer Post, we probably went over crime scenes as a scenario 5 times. Knowing this, I took the initiative, I went, and I talked with my neighbor, who is a Leesburg Police Department Police Officer, and he showed me what they use in terms of crime scene investigation. He helped me go over everything and gave me a PowerPoint I could use to base my notes on. Fast forward to competition day, we walked over from the holding area, briefed on the dispatch call, and came up with a plan. One of my teammates would stay outside, but in our line of sight, talking to the person who came outside, and running their ID in dispatch. The rest of us went inside and started securing the scene, taking photos, and said we would count the money, run the serial numbers, take fingerprints, and swab the drink for DNA. When we finished the scene, we were told we did well, but we missed one thing. We missed checking the trash can for evidence. When it came time for the final banquet, we earned 2nd place overall for crime scene; the deciding thing that set us apart from 1st was missing the trash can. This experience stuck with me. It made me realize that I want to go into digital forensics. It also pushed me to represent my school at the SkillUSA state competition, where I won first place in the crime scene competition. But my passion for problem-solving didn’t just start with forensics; it started back in first grade, with Camp Invention. As a kid, I discovered I loved problem-solving and designing solutions. That same instinct is what drew me towards software engineering and why digital forensics feels like it is where I am meant to be. After college, I want to work for a federal agency where I can help use my skills in engineering combined with my passion for forensics to help bring victims and their families closure through finding evidence. The same satisfaction I feel from watching a struggling student succeed is what I hope to feel in my career, knowing my work gave answers to someone who needed it most. I want to be someone who combines technical skills with my compassion for others, which is exactly what this scholarship represents to me. That is what Brian Moore stood for.

Throughout high school, I participated in the VHS Cheer team. On the team we learned more than just cheers and stunts, but also balanced responsibility, built discipline, and how to push through challenges; skills that I will carry with me in my life. Cheer may not always get the credit it deserves. Behind the glittery bows and pom poms, there is a team of hard working young women: waking up early for competitions and practices, pushing their limits in the weight room, and staying up late to do homework. Balancing cheer with academics, Explorers, tutoring, babysitting, and caring for my grandmother wasn’t easy. I had to learn to manage time down to the minute–fitting practice, games, weight lifting, and competitions around late night study sessions and dr appointments. Cheerleaders are often overlooked as athletes, but make no mistake; we train like athletes, commit time like athletes, perform like athletes, and make sacrifices like athletes. That pressure forced me to grow up fast and sharpen my ability to manage competing priorities without letting anything slip. On top of cheer, Explorers, tutoring, and caring for my grandmother, I’ve taken a schedule full of AP and honors courses; classes that will push me academically while potentially gaining college credit. I’ve also earned multiple industry certifications in areas such as Python, Adobe, and small business, proving that I’m driven both in the classroom and tech world just as I am on the mat. In both cheer and Explorers, I built strength in spaces that I initially wouldn’t expect. I didn’t just survive in male-dominated areas–law enforcement with Explorers–I thrived. This shaped who I became, someone not afraid to ask questions, push boundaries, or lead, even if I am the only woman in the room. This mindset is already helping me make strides towards entering the computer forensics field, a field where I will combine both software engineering and forensic science, both heavily male-dominated industries. But I know I have the grit and focus to push myself and thrive in this industry. Cheerleading was more than just a sport to me, it was the start of becoming a strong, capable woman, who can handle pressure well and break stereotypes. I've learned to balance it all, speak up, and put in the work when no one is watching. Most importantly, I’ve learned that being a strong woman isn't just about holding your own; it's about showing up fully, lifting others up, and proving through action that we belong anywhere we choose to be.