I am extremely passionate about language access and cultural understanding. I’ve always had a dream of being a polyglot, not for bragging rights, but for the ability to connect with people across barriers. In college and through my Arabic minor, I became acutely aware of how language can be a powerful tool or a painful barrier. Whether it’s my immigrant friends translating medical documents for their parents, students missing out on educational opportunities due to limited language support, or entire communities being misunderstood because of linguistic and cultural differences, gaps in communication often perpetuate inequity. Through my travels, these issues have become deep, personal concerns that have affected my students, host families, and close friends. Through my education, I’ve seen how technology and language education can work gandi in hand to create more inclusive and empathetic communities. I want to use my background in computer science to build systems and platforms that meet people where they are. Responsive and accessible solutions to global issues. Despite my passion in computer science, I believe that education and empathy must go beyond the digital. That’s why I dedicate myself to organizing community events like foreign film festivals, multi-lingual Open Mics, and cultural dinners that bring people of all backgrounds together. Through my nonprofit, the Global Language Institute, I’ve already begun taking steps toward this vision. In the future, we hope to offer foreign language classes and adult literacy programs. We recently launched a student focused film festival that celebrates foreign language cinema as a way of promoting cultural awareness, and in the future, we hope to offer a wide range of foreign language classes and adult literacy programs. My experiences studying abroad deeply shaped this work. While overseas, I participated in programs where Americans volunteered to teach English to local students. It was in those classrooms that I saw how language exchange can open doors and build real confidence. I carry those memories with me as inspiration for what’s possible. My dream is to build on that experience by expanding our work to include tools for refugees and new arrivals in the U.S., as well as after-school language immersion programs for children in under-resourced schools. My goal is not just to teach language, but to create moments of human connection. Ultimately, I believe that building a better future requires both structural change and deeply personal investment. My undergraduate capstone project was on Natural Language Processing in Arabic and the steps we need to take to improve it. Growing up only speaking English, I never thought about the disadvantages foreign language speakers experience in an English-focused society. In my last semester in my undergrad, I will be taking graduate courses to increase my knowledge of large language models and their intricacies when it comes to interlinguistic AI. I hope to start my master’s in Spring 2026 where I will combine my technical skills, love for languages, and my commitment to equity. I hope to create spaces – both digital and physical – where people can learn, connect, and grow together. I want to be part of the generation that doesn’t just talk about change but builds the tools, tells the stories, and creates the spaces that make it real.

In modern science, breakthroughs often occur at the intersection of multiple disciplines. My passion for data science stems from its potential to revolutionize industries. I’ve seen firsthand how this field can lead innovation in neuroscience, an intersection that resonates deeply with me. As the oldest of eleven siblings and the first in my family to pursue higher education, my journey embodies the transformative power of perseverance and determination. Growing up, I witnessed the significance of education and its potential to break generational barriers. My father never completed middle school and my mom dropped out of high school to raise me alone. I am now the oldest of 11 siblings and hope to be an inspiration to my younger siblings. This conviction fueled my aspiration to pursue a career in neural data science and become a catalyst for change within my family and community. Preparing for college as a first-generation student required proactive steps and resilience. I sought mentorship to navigate the complexities of the college application process and life beyond acceptance. Many of my advisors suggested that I pursue my master’s in an adjacent field to allow me to explore a niche within the increasingly broad field of data science. I have always had a passion for neuroscience and originally went into university as a pre-med major. Being exposed to the intersection of healthcare and technology has ignited a fervor within me to pursue the Erasmus Mundus Brain and Data Science master's program that combines my two passions and allows me to innovate in this groundbreaking new field. This program is part of a unique curriculum that will take place in 4 universities across the world to allow students to get a holistic view of this budding field. I love to travel and have had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad on scholarship twice in my undergrad. Studying abroad in the UAE and Morocco has expanded my horizons, offering me a global perspective on the importance of education and the role it plays in shaping societies. It has allowed me to further immerse myself in discussions surrounding sustainability, technology, and neuroscience. This has served to reinforce my commitment to contributing meaningfully to these critical conversations. My education in the UAE has availed me to opportunities in computer science that weren’t available in the United States. However, the financial challenges of funding my education and life abroad, compounded by my family's circumstances, remain a hurdle. I am passionate about following my dreams and breaking ground in this new field. I hope to advance neuroscience technology by using AI to create better maps of the human brain and creating expert systems to aid doctors in their diagnoses of neurological issues.

Navigating my undergraduate journey as a first-generation student and the oldest of eleven children, I've been profoundly influenced and inspired by two incredible role models: Dr. Theda Daniels-Race, a computer nanotechnology expert, and my single mother, whose resilience and strength have been a guiding light in my life. Dr. Daniels-Race has been instrumental in shaping my academic aspirations. I spent two years working as the lead receptionist in the Computer Science department at Louisiana State University and I often came into contact with Dr. Race. She always made time to speak with me about opportunities for women in computer science, especially as it pertained to post-undergrad studies. Initially, I’d never considered continuing my education after my bachelors, but after two years of her constant support I’ve decided to pursue a master's degree in Brain and Data Science. Her mentorship and encouragement have propelled my interest in this evolving intersection of technology and neuroscience. In parallel, my single mother has been an unwavering source of inspiration and support. Her determination as a teen mother raising a large family have instilled in me the importance of resilience and perseverance. Her unwavering support and sacrifices to provide for our family have been the cornerstone of my pursuit of higher learning. I took my first college class at 13 years old and my mom was there at every step of the way supporting me and connecting with mentors who could help me in my journey in higher education. Almost 7 years later, I am determined to make my mother proud and break generational cycles by being the first in my family to graduate with my bachelors. As a 19 year old senior in college, this dream is so close. I’m currently studying abroad in the UAE pursuing opportunities in computer science that are unattainable in the US. Without a job or financial support from family, I find myself in an unideal situation but their influence has shaped my determination to excel academically and professionally. Their examples underscore the transformative power of education and remind me that through dedication and hard work, barriers can be overcome. The lessons I've learned from Dr. Daniels-Race's mentorship and my mother's unwavering support have fortified my resolve to succeed in academia. Their stories of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity inspire me daily as I navigate my undergraduate journey. Their unwavering support and guidance fuel my determination to make a meaningful impact and pave the way for my younger siblings.

As an African American Muslimah in the West there are limited options for modest clothing. When I converted to Islam, I quickly noticed that all of the attractive modest clothing was way too expensive. Furthermore, the modest clothing that was affordable seemed way to mature for someone my age. I felt that that was unfair to all Westerners who choose to dress in a modest way. Especially those with limited finances. I decide to take some initiative and make a change by partnering with the Young Entrepreneurs Association in my city in an effort to cultivate a clothing brand that is modest, affordable, and stylish. After researching and speaking with potential customers in my target market, I am even more sure that this will leave a lasting positive impact on both Western fashion and modest fashion. The clothing for my brand will be made ethically and sustainably manufactured the United States. Many brands create their clothing in an unsustainable and arguably unethical way. That is precisely the type of behavior that I am trying to combat. My brand will bend the rules of fashion to create interesting and mesmerizing silhouettes. It will include patterns and styles influenced by Middle Eastern and African Countries while still loosely adhering to Western styles in a way that is flattering. Our sizes will be inclusive and our models will be of varied body types and skin tones. I am making this brand to solve faults that I have found in other brands while making a profound impact on Muslim community. This scholarship would be immensely helpful. I would love to include both tall and petite sizes early on in the launch. However, those types of marginalized sizes cost a significant amount of money to include so early on in production. I think inclusivity is so important especially in fashion. This scholarship would aid in allowing my brand to include these sizes and variations of clothing. It would mean so much to me and it would mean the world to my customers. As a16 year old college student, I already have limited resources to start this business but I am determined to create a change in my community. With the backing of the Young Entrepreneurs Association as well as my peers and family, I know that this business will be a success if given the resources and trust to flourish. My business will convey inclusivity among womxn while challenging the idea that to be heard, a women must show skin.