Growing up as a Black girl in a mostly white neighborhood meant learning very early that people would make assumptions about me before I even met them. I understood that my words, my tone, even the way I walked into a room could change how people treated me. I learned to “code switch.” I wasn't taught how to do so. I just knew that if I wanted to avoid being seen as the angry Black girl, loud, or intimidating, I had to soften myself so others would feel comfortable. At school, I paid careful attention to how I spoke. I saw my peers openly express their feelings and frustration and anger, yet if I expressed frustration, it was a problem. I learned to smile more. To lower my tone. To hold back my feelings. To constantly prove that I was safe and approachable. I carried myself this way because I could feel eyes on me at all times, and I never wanted to give anyone a reason to say I was too much. It is exhausting to exist in a way that feels edited. There were moments when I would go home after school and finally exhale, letting my real voice return. I felt like two different versions of myself sometimes. The one I showed everyone else, and the one I barely got to be. I struggled with the fear that if I let my true personality out, people would judge me unfairly or distance themselves. I just wanted to belong without sacrificing pieces of myself. As I grew older, I realized I was not alone in this experience. Many Black women have to think about how they move through the world because the consequences of being misunderstood are heavier for us. We carry stereotypes that were built long before we were born. We live with the fear that normal emotions like frustration, confidence, or passion will be seen as aggression. But knowing this did not erase what I felt. It only made me more aware of how deeply these expectations were shaping me. Even now, I feel the pressure sometimes. I still catch myself softening my delivery or guessing whether I can speak honestly without being labeled. But I have also grown stronger and more grounded in who I am. I am learning that my voice has value as it is. I deserve to take up space without apologizing for it. I deserve to be understood as a whole person. These experiences have influenced the path I am building for myself. They taught me resilience in a way that feels both heavy and empowering. I want to enter spaces where people who look like me are still underrepresented and use my presence to show that we belong. I want younger Black girls, especially those growing up in communities where they feel out of place, to see that they do not need to shrink to make others comfortable. Being part of an underrepresented minority has shaped my goals, as I strive for more than personal achievement. I want to help create environments where authenticity does not come with consequences. I want to be a reminder that Black women are allowed to be complex and are allowed to be everything we are without fear. My identity has pushed me forward even when it felt heavy. It has given me purpose. It has taught me empathy, patience, and the importance of representation. As I continue along my path, I want to carry all these lessons with me. Not as something I hide or minimize, but as something that strengthens me.

My name is Caila Jeffries, and I'm a freshman at East Carolina University, pursuing a double major in both chemistry and Biochemistry with a concentration in biology. I have always been curious and have had a love for science ever since I was a little girl. In fact, I used to beg for science kits every single Christmas growing up. I always knew that I wanted to be a scientist growing but I didn't exactly know what field specifically. It was a meaningful life experience that helped me find a sense of purpose and make a decision on what I wanted to do with my life My senior year of high school, my grandfather entered hospice and spent his final months in my family's home. My parents still had financial responsibilities, so they still had to work full-time. Leaving me to be a caretaker for my grandfather. I helped him eat and made sure he was comfortable, along with constantly communicating with his nurses, ensuring that he got the proper care he needed. Being so close to my grandfather during that time was not easy for me. The man was my role model, and we were so close growing and I had to slowly watch his life and his light and smile fade away. I felt a huge emotional weight knowing that every moment I spent with my grandfather could potentially be my last, but regardless of the pain I felt, I did everything I possibly could to ensure my grandfather felt loved and supported. Throughout this tough time in my life, I had interactions with essential workers like hospice nurses and doctors. I saw how much effort and care were put into ensuring that my grandfather's needs were met. I witnessed just how much care they treat my grandfather's pain and symptoms, and how every decision was made based on science and how medications could bring my grandfather the dignity and care he needed when there wasn't a cure. For the first time, I saw chemistry and biology as a proper foundation for care, relief, and compassion. This experience truly shaped my life before my grandfather fell sick. Before I saw science as mainly a subject I was really good at in school. But caring for my grandfather showed me just how much of an impact science can have on average people and their everyday lives. The medications he received, the tests he took, and the safety protocols performed all came from scientists working behind the scenes. People who dedicate their careers to understanding diseases and treatments. I realized that I wanted to be one of those people. At the same time, I was adjusting to my senior year of high school, juggling challenging coursework and applying for colleges with grief and the demands of caregiving. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me perseverance and the ability to stay focused under pressure. Those same skills have strengthened my passion for chemistry and biology. Today, my goal is to pursue a career in pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, or clinical laboratory science. These are fields where I can contribute to developing better treatments and improving lives. My grandfather’s experience showed me how much science matters to families, patients, and communities. It made me want to be part of the discoveries that bring comfort and healing. His final days shaped not only my interest in STEM but also my purpose. I want to use my education to make a difference, just like the science that made a difference for him. It made his final moments comfortable and peaceful, surrounded by friends and family

My name is Caila Jeffries. I am currently a student at East Carolina University, Majoring in both chemistry and Biochemistry with a concentration in biology. I am someone who deeply cares about helping the lives of others with the help of science, but it wasn't an easy journey getting to this point in my life. I had to overcome some of the hardest obstacles my family has ever faced to this very day. In the year 2024, my grandfather entered hospice and spent his final days in my family's home. Because both my parents were working full-time and had financial responsibilities, most of the caretaking fell on me. I helped him eat, made sure he was comfortable, and communicated with his nurses. Most days, I just stayed by his side, enjoying my time with him. I witnessed his decline in life firsthand, I saw just how much pain he was in, and I was riddled with fear of the fact that he wasn't gonna live much longer, and not knowing what moment would be my last with him. Being his caretaker was emotionally heavy and a hard job, but I don't regret it one bit. I'm proud that in his final moments, he was surrounded by family and was well taken care of. At the same time, I was just starting my senior year of high school, a year that would be stressful regardless of my home life. I was applying to colleges, desperately applying for scholarships, and on top of that, I was taking rigorous AP courses. All while carrying the immense amount of grief and sadness of being a hospice caretaker. I was grieving in real time and tired from long nights of caring for his needs, and still trying to take care of my future by applying to colleges and maintaining good grades. On top of that, my parents were stretched financially thin with having to pay for my grandfather's medical bills and preparing to pay for my college education, all while saving for my brother's college education due to him being just a couple of years behind me. My entire family felt a huge strain of barely managing to hold everything together This period of my life tested me in every single way possible, physically, emotionally, academically, and financially. There were moments where I truly doubted myself and my ability to even get into college in the first place, or whether or not I should just give up academically and focus on helping my family financially. But even through exhaustion and grief, I pushed through solely because of my family putting their all into me and desperately wanting to get ahead and have the opportunities and experiences they never had. It was their belief and faith in me that got me through the tough times. Another thing that helped me overcome such a massive hurdle in life was relying on my support system. I stopped pretending that I had to do everything alone and asked for support from my friends and family, even teachers, whenever I needed it. This was the moment I realized that letting others help you doesn't make you weak. All in all, my senior year truly taught me how to persevere in tough times. However, eventually, after 6 months of being in hospice, my grandfather passed away, but instead of this breaking me and throwing all of my progress away, it strengthened me and gave me purpose in this world. Watching nurses take care of him with such compassion and kindness, and seeing how medicine and science made his final moments much more peaceful. Helped me realize that I want a career where I can contribute to improving treatments, developing new technologies, and supporting patients and families who go through experiences like mine. As a Chemistry and Biochemistry double major, I plan to pursue a career in a scientific field such as pharmaceutical research, biotechnology, or clinical laboratory science. I want to help create solutions that ease suffering, extend life, and give families more time because I know personally how precious that time is. I also want to make the lives of essential workers like nurses much easier with the help of medicine and technology. My experience caring for my grandfather showed me how deeply health and stability affect every part of a person’s life. It made me want to be part of building a future where science provides more comfort, more hope, and more options for people facing serious medical conditions.

I have loved STEAM ever since I was a little girl , for Christmas my parents would by me Project MC squared science kit's. I had so much fun learning with those kits and I still do today, the only difference now is that I am learning with my little brother. I chose to further my education in STEAM simply because science is so much fun. The idea that all these years humanity has existed on this earth and there are still new things to discover . I find this to be fascinating and I would like to work to help uncover the worlds mysteries. That is part of the reasons as to why I love chemistry so much, the subject holds so much whimsy and wonder and there is much to be discovered within the branch of science. The idea that I would be able to conduct labs and further my education in Chemistry is a dream to me. A dream that I desperately want to achieve, and the Kayla Nicole Monk Memorial scholarship could help me achieve my dreams. In this day and age my parents do not have a ton of money left to spare between bills, groceries, and 2 kids. The fact is my parents cannot afford to send me to college despite them trying their best to do so. Both my parents work full time jobs serving the community. My mom works at a local group home . Meanwhile my dad is a detention officer at the wake county sheriffs department. They work so hard every single day for both me and my brother and I want to relieve some of the burden of paying for my education. Helping pay is the least I could do to for them especially since they have done so much for me .So I am searching for scholarships and working to fund my dream . When reading the description about who Mrs. Monk was in my search for scholarships. I knew I could work to remember her legacy. I know that this scholarship could work towards me achieving my dreams of becoming a chemist. More specificaly I want to be a chemist that helps make medicine and technology for the sake of those in my community . For the sake of my family and loved ones as well. I promise you that I will work hard and I will not let you down if you pick me for this scholarship. I

I have known ever since I was a little girl I knew I wanted to be a scientist. It was like love at first sight when I had first discovered the career. In elementary school there was an elective STEM class. I used to love that class i thought it was so much fun learning new things, participating in experiments , and all in all challenging myself to think differently. It was in this class that I have developed a passion and love for science because I realized that science can truly make a difference in peoples lives and help others. I want to be apart of the worlds solutions to problems by going yo collage and obtaining my degree. When I go to college I want to pursue a career in chemistry. I enjoy the subject of chemistry because its a science that explores all of the secrets and wonders of the world. Well that and the fact that their are so many interesting and intriguing branches of chemistry, like nuclear chemistry or biochemistry. As I said earlier I would like to use the powers science holds to help others and better the world. That is why after obtaining my degree I would like to become a medicinal chemist, the job is also known as a pharmaceutical chemist. I want to work to create and produce medicine that helps people. Lucky for me in my home state of North Carolina there are a number of pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk or Grifols for example. Novo Nordisk is a company that specializes in treating a number of diseases, however they are most well known for working to treat diabetes. Meanwhile the company Grifols specializes in producing medicine that is derived from plasma. The company is also well known for their work in transfusion medicine. I would like to pursue a career working at one of these companies and producing medicine that saves lives. I want to be a working part of the solution to the issues humanity faces regarding diseases and injuries. I want to be a part of the reason that heal and get better. Now I know my dreams a bold and will be a difficult for me to achieve but I know I can do it. I'm am just in need of a little help to me get there . That is why I am applying to this scholarship.

I have overcome adversity when it comes to growing as a person and developing both love and care for myself. I grew up in a majority white county where not that many people look like me. I was bullied for the color of my skin and my different facial features. Kids at my school would also make fun or my hair or make a bunch of racist comments or remarks, only to soon laugh it off claiming they were joking .As I grew older I started to become insecure about the way i looked. I thought I was ugly because I didn't look the same as the other white girls in my class. I tried my best to look like them I would relax my hair and constantly flat iron my hair to straighten it. I'm ashamed to say it out loud or more or less on paper, but there was actually a time where i wished to be a white little girl because I simply thought they were prettier than me and I considered myself ugly. It took some real self love and care to overcome my problems with my self image and insecurities. With time I grew to love myself and not care about the societal standards of what is beautiful, and I realized I am beautiful . I love my thick curly hair, I love my nose, I love the color of my skin. If I had the option to change races or even just who I am as a person, I can confidently say that I wouldn't change a thing because I love myself. I wish to help the community by someday creating a charity that helps provide mental health treatment to those in need .If not for therapy and improving my mental health I can confidently say I would not be here right now. I was struggling with severe depression alongside my issues with my self image and there was once a time where I did hold suicidal ideation in my mind and was harming myself .I know how much therapy and treatment could better someone's life or even save a life, because I have witnessed this first hand through my own experiences. So I would like to provide such treatment to someone else in need. Sometimes all a person needs is someone to talk to and I would like to work to provide someone that person.

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The one book I would have everyone read is the historical fiction novel The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. This is the first book I read, that has ever brought me to tears. I was genuinely moved by this novel. It made me think about my legacy and what I will be known for in this world. The novel also made me question love and the things you are willing to do for your partner. The book is so good that I remember almost every single detail in there even though I read it nearly four years ago. The description of details in this book is one of a kind. It is so on par that you could even picture it in your head. Almost as if you are in a movie. For example One of the main protagonist Achilles smells like sandalwood and pomegranate. Everything is described so immaculately and beautifully that you can picture yourself in Troy during the Trojan War. You can see the Greeks setting up camps along the coast of Troy. You can see everything even though you are only reading a book. My final reason for loving this book so much is because of the emotions depicted in this book. You feel the narrator's pain, anger, love, grief, and sadness. I was feeling all of these things alongside the narrator. When he was angry, I was angry alongside him. When he was happy, I was happy alongside him. I was in a whirlwind of emotions.

I do not consider older generations to be some of the greatest Generations of all time. Do not get me wrong, I understand and recognize the achievements and accomplishments of those older than me. I am proud of those generations and the fact that those changes were made possible. But you have to consider the fact of the matter is that new are constantly arising with the change in time periods. These issues are piling on top of each other with new ones arriving each day. And our problems are completely different than the ones our elders had to face. Other generations didn't have to face the possibility of their school being shot at. I think the reason we are the best generation is because we are creating change little by little one small thing at a time. Starting with social standards Generation Z and Millennials act within completely separate standards from previous generations. I believe that the reason why we are kind and polite is because of the internet. Rather than learning behaviors from those around them like previous generations. People who grew up in the age of the internet got to see all sorts of perspectives from various people around the world. While there are some comedic videos on the internet there are also a ton of educational and sad videos showing people suffering while living in America. We can see racism. We can see discrimination. We can see prejudice. Because we have access to all of these viewpoints we know more about the problems average people face while being in America. I think Millenials and Generation Z don't want to create said problem so instead we show kindness and empathy. We want to make a change, a difference in this world. Create a legacy for ourselves that will someday be in history textbooks. Not spread hatred and ruin the days of others. Now consider this opinion, Millennials and Gen Z are screwed; all of the issues created by other generations fall on our backs. And even more problems are starting to arise daily. We could ignore these problems. But then we would have to ask ourselves the question: If we don't work to solve these issues, who will? We have to at the very least try to save future generations because the government has already proven to the world that they are not willing to do so. Right now, Millennials and Gen Z are feeling climate change. We are dealing with air pollution right now. Women are losing their right to bodily autonomy right now. So we have to solve all of our world issues on our own and fast. Because we do not have a lot of time left to come up with a solution.