My life journey has been anything but ordinary. At parent-teacher conferences, I stood out as the lone child accompanied by her grandmother. At graduation, I was the only graduate without my mother cheering from the family aisle. When asked if I was okay, my response became automatic: "Yes, this is just my life." I coped with the realization that my circumstances were beyond my control. I can't change the fact that my mom battled addiction or that my dad was emotionally absent. Just as cycles of poverty trap countless Americans of color amid living in a world that weaponizes their skin color, I discovered the injustices that plague our world. These revelations are the catalyst for my determination to make a difference. I am committed to using my platform to advocate for equitable racial policy and alleviate the circumstances of others that are beyond their control. Observing my teenage parents' struggle to care for me, I learned at a young age to show empathy, dream big, and fight for a fulfilling and stable life. Today that looks like interning with public service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and law firms, which has equipped me with the skills to satisfy my dreams of being a legal and policy professional and community changemaker. Throughout my career, I aim to develop equitable policies that address environmental racism, poverty, racial discrimination, and inequitable access to education and healthcare and to mobilize disadvantaged, underfunded, and historically excluded communities. I will utilize my legal expertise to establish precedents and rectify injustices, enabling me to leave a lasting impact that protects future generations. These issues have impacted my parents, my communities, and myself, and I am determined to serve communities to ensure that others can thrive without barriers. Escaping my small, low-income hometown, I've witnessed the transformative power of a robust support system. Luckily, many family members and educators have sacrificed and provided opportunities for me to grow beyond what felt unconquerable. I know that other children undergoing similar struggles are not always as unfortunate. My long-term goal is to extend that support to children of color impacted by substance abuse through a nonprofit that provides life essentials, therapy, and academic and career assistance. I am aware of the challenges associated with navigating this system, particularly for people of color, and I am committed to being part of the solution. I also wish to use my platform to raise awareness and advocate for a recovery policy that assists those impacted by substance abuse and their families at large. It is already challenging to find proper recovery and rehabilitative assistance for all people with an addiction, and even more so for those of color, which is why I want to both create the aid and advocate for it around the country. For these children specifically, I want to be the inspiration of what is possible and their gateway to earning all they deserve, just as this scholarship can provide for me. Together, we will turn hopelessness into a distant memory, replacing it with boundless opportunities and meaningful connections that will impact the world beyond ourselves.

My journey in life has been anything but ordinary. At parent-teacher conferences, I stood out as the lone child accompanied by her grandmother and, at graduation, the only graduate without her mother cheering from the family aisle. When asked if I was okay, my response became automatic: "Yes, this is just my life." I coped with the realization that my circumstances were beyond my control. I can't change the fact that my mom battled addiction or that my dad was emotionally absent. Just as cycles of poverty trap countless Americans of color amid living in a world that weaponizes their skin color, I discovered the injustices that plague our world. These revelations are the catalyst for my determination to make a difference. I am committed to using my platform to advocate for equitable race policy and alleviate the circumstances of others that are out of their control. Viewing my teen parents' struggle to care for me and themselves, I learned at a young age to show empathy, dream big, and fight for a fulfilling, stable life. Today, that looks like interning with public service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and law firms, which has equipped me with the skills to satisfy my dreams of being a legal and policy professional and community changemaker. Throughout my career, I hope to create equitable policies that address environmental racism, poverty, racial discrimination, and inequitable access to education and healthcare and mobilize disadvantaged, underfunded, and historically excluded communities. I will use my legal expertise to create precedents and amend injustices, allowing me to leave a lasting impact that protects future generations. These issues have impacted my parents, my communities, and myself, and I am determined to serve communities to ensure that others can thrive without barriers. Escaping my small, low-income hometown, I've witnessed the transformative power of a robust support system. Luckily, many family members and educators have sacrificed and provided opportunities for me to grow beyond what felt unconquerable. I know that other children undergoing similar struggles are not always as unfortunate. My long-term goal is to extend that support to children of color impacted by substance abuse through a nonprofit that provides life essentials, therapy, and academic and career assistance. I know the challenges of navigating this system, especially for people of color, and I am determined to be part of the solution. I also wish to use my platform to raise awareness and advocate for a recovery policy that assists those impacted by substance abuse and their families at large. It is already challenging to find proper recovery and rehabilitative assistance for all people with an addiction, and even more so for those of color, which is why I want to both create the aid and advocate for it around the country. For these children specifically, I want to be the inspiration of what is possible and their gateway to earning all they deserve, similar to what this scholarship can provide for me. Together, we will turn hopelessness into a distant memory, replacing it with boundless opportunities and meaningful connections that will impact the world beyond ourselves.