Having previously read and loved The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, I was incredibly excited to dive into its prequel, Concrete Rose. I wanted to understand the backstories of the characters I had grown to care about, but what I found was a raw and deeply moving window into a reality entirely different from my own. Growing up in a comfortable suburban community, I have lived a life privileged with stability. Though raised by a single mother, I had never experienced the specific daily struggles of someone living a life like young Maverick Carter. Reading his origin story offered me a perspective I had never seen so intimately, illustrating an aspect of life that touched my heart and fundamentally broadened my view of the world. What makes Concrete Rose my favorite book is its absolute authenticity. The story does not shield the reader from the darkest points of its characters' lives, yet amidst the grief and systemic pressures, it shines a light on the quiet, sweet moments of human connection. Seeing Maverick navigate sudden fatherhood, family sacrifice, and the heavy pressures of his environment while still holding onto love and tenderness showed me the true meaning of perseverance. It proved that even in the most difficult circumstances, there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you have the courage to keep moving forward. Concrete Rose changed my life by reshaping how I view empathy, resilience, and my own purpose as a computer science student. It taught me that strength is not about living without hardship, but about choosing to rise through it. As a Black woman pursuing software engineering, I often enter classrooms where I am the only person who looks like me. In moments when underrepresentation felt isolating, or when I faced sharp personal setbacks like an internship rejection during my freshman year, Maverick’s journey reminded me that perseverance is a conscious choice. Furthermore, gaining insight into lives vastly different from my own reinforced why I want to build software in the first place. Technology should serve everyone, not just those from privileged backgrounds. Concrete Rose inspired me to approach my future career with deep empathy, pushing me to design digital products that uplift and support people from all walks of life. Ultimately, the book taught me that no matter how rigid or challenging the environment may seem, compassion, dedication, and resilience will always find a way to break through.

My journey into technology began with a solar powered robot at a summer STEM camp. Watching tiny plastic gears spring to life under sunlight sparked a curiosity that only grew over time. During the pandemic when I was twelve, that curiosity turned into creation when I taught myself C++. I still remember typing 5 + 5 into a simple calculator program I built and running to show my family when it worked. That moment revealed why I love computer science: it combines logic and creativity, giving me the power to turn a blank screen into a functional digital product that makes daily life easier for others. However, as I advanced in computer science, I frequently noticed a stark reality. I was often the only girl or one of two Black students in my classes. Navigating an environment where people of color and women are underrepresented could have felt isolating, but I found strength in my own home. Watching my mom successfully navigate her own STEM career gave me the confidence to know I belonged in this space too. I also found inspiration in creators like MKBHD, whose success motivated me to launch my own tech channel, CCO Tech, to share my passion for device capabilities. Equally important to me is service. For three years, I volunteered as an English tutor for a Ukrainian student through the ENGin program. Navigating language barriers over video calls taught me how digital platforms act as a vital bridge across thousands of miles, reinforcing my desire to use my technical skills to serve others. Pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas is the critical step that connects my creative passion to professional impact. The program provides the mathematical and algorithmic foundation I need to master software development. Earning this degree and focusing on hands-on projects provides the structure to build a competitive portfolio, preparing me for a career as a software engineer at a major technology company like Google or Apple. My growth within this program was truly tested through a personal setback. When I received a software engineering internship rejection letter during my freshman year, my heart sank. But I chose to use the "no" as motivation to elevate my technical skills. I launched into self directed study in full stack development, spending long hours in the campus cafe wrestling with new frameworks and debugging code until complex concepts clicked. That experience solidified my core value of resilience and proved to me that growth comes from leaning into discomfort. Ultimately, I plan to use my education to create intuitive software that simplifies daily tasks for users across the globe. Professionally, I aim to build tools that solve real human problems. Personally, I want my presence and success in tech to serve as a visible model for the next generation, showing young underrepresented students that their race and gender are never limits to what they can build.

My ultimate career goal is to become a software engineer who builds intuitive and impactful applications that simplify daily life for users across the globe. I still remember the exact moment this path became clear. I was twelve years old, staring at a simple C++ text calculator on my screen. When I successfully typed 5 + 5 and saw 10 appear, I sprinted into the living room to show my younger brother, then waited by the front door just to demonstrate it to my dad the second he walked in from work. That simple program was not just code, it was magic I had built myself. Driven by that initial spark, I dedicated my high school years to building both technical skill and human perspective. As lead software engineer for my robotics team, I wrote JavaScript for autonomous robot navigation, learning how to debug complex logic under pressure. Seeking to expand my capabilities, I spent summers engaging in self directed learning, earning an App Development in Swift certification and programming independent applications. Alongside my studies, I spent three years volunteering as an English tutor for a Ukrainian student through the ENGin program. Navigating language barriers over video calls showed me firsthand how digital platforms act as a vital bridge across thousands of miles, reinforcing why I want to write software to empower people and make global connections seamless. When I entered the University of Texas at Dallas as a Computer Science major, I was eager to transition from foundational coding to industry application. However, my most defining leap in growth came from a setback. When I opened a software engineering internship rejection letter during my freshman year, my heart initially sank. But I refused to let a single "no" dictate my potential. Instead, I used the rejection as fuel to elevate my technical abilities. I launched into self directed study in full stack development, spending countless hours in the on campus cafe wrestling with new frameworks, building projects, and pushing through tedious debugging sessions until concepts clicked. Every step I have taken, from waiting by the door at age twelve to show my dad a simple calculator, to mastering full stack development in a busy campus cafe after an internship rejection, has been a deliberate move toward a career in software engineering. By facing every challenge with resilience and purpose, I will continue turning every "no" into proof of what I can build.

My goals in computer science are focused on using technology to enhance daily life–especially in areas of accessibility, entertainment, and social media. I’m also fascinated by the vastness of ideas created by artificial intelligence, AI for short, and the impacts it has on social media algorithms. I want to become a software developer with a deep understanding of artificial intelligence so I can implement it into my programs. With that knowledge, I would be able to create applications that are adaptable and serve a larger demographic. Outside of computer science, I have always had a passion for YouTube and creating content about different technology products. I love the idea of learning about different technology products and being able to unbox and review them for other people to learn with me. My YouTube channel, CCO Tech, has allowed me to take a passion of mine and bring it to life. I take the various technology products I have around me and make content where I talk about the good, bad, and ugly of each item. Through YouTube, I have added hobbies like videography and video editing to my day to day which I deeply enjoy. Because YouTube is a huge social media platform, I’ve examined how I can combine it with my passion for computer science. In the future, I plan to integrate my social media channel with artificial intelligence to help improve content quality. I can see myself working on an application that acts as an AI social media manager that helps content creators optimize their channels’ performance. Or, designing an AI video editor because so much of the video-making process includes editing, and it’s arguably the most time-consuming part. These implementations of AI can make the social media content creation process so much more efficient and professional. Ultimately, this would be helpful for people who are just starting their content creation journey or users looking for ways to improve. With so many ways to implement AI, I am determined to make sure that content is unique and still feels organic where each content creator can include their original features into their videos. By being involved in both computer science and content creation, I plan to use my own experiences to create a perfect balance between AI and authenticity. My goal is for the applications to allow creators and viewers alike to enjoy the content being produced and viewed. Overall, my goal is to use computer science to build applications that are practical and can assist a large demographic of people. Combining my technical skills with my passion for YouTube content creation allows me to envision a future where AI technology can provide niche services that allow people to find success in their hobbies.

From a very young age, I’ve had an interest in understanding technology and learning how things work. As a result, my mom enrolled me in various STEM summer camps and programs that exposed me to computer science. At one of the camps, I successfully constructed a solar powered robot that operated as designed. That was just one of the many experiences that I enjoyed at STEM camps. These and other moments motivated me to start my own projects. During the pandemic in 2020, I decided to teach myself how to code. C++ was the first coding language I delved into, building my fundamental understanding of object oriented coding languages. When I entered high school, I selected computer science as my 4-year pathway. Through my coursework, I began to code in languages such as Python, Swift, and Java. Using Swift, I designed and programmed my very own application, a number guessing game. My YouTube channel is another outlet that I use to express my ideas. As I began to map out my YouTube channel content, I took a step back and noticed that many of the top technology creators in the United States were not of color, even fewer were women. Eventually I found and took inspiration from my favorite creators, MKBHD and UrAvgConsumer, who happen to be African-American. Their unique approach and personable engagement influenced the content I currently create for my channel, CCO Tech. Coding and creating technology videos solidified my commitment to computer science and careers in this field. From my experiences in summer camps, creating online content, and attending high school computer science classes, I am aware that people of color are underrepresented in STEM. Typically, I am the only girl or one of two African-American students in my computer science classes. I believe that representation is important and inspires individuals to believe that they can and should pursue a career in STEM. Even though I have limited examples in my life, I have seen my African-American mom navigate her STEM career. Watching her succeed gives me the confidence to believe that I can as well. After developing my computer science skills in high school, I look forward to expanding my skills and innovations as I continue to build my foundation in college. As a software engineer, I aspire to start my career at a big technology company such as Google, Apple, or Facebook. Through my experiences, I plan to use my expertise to improve upon existing applications and create my own software to enhance services and simplify tasks for consumers. My ambition is to inspire others like me to fearlessly and confidently traverse the road that leads them to success in STEM. So, I hope that my journey will inspire others to shrug off self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy and grasp their dream regardless of their race.

Imagine this. You need to schedule your annual doctor's checkup but you’re too busy with work and family to make your appointment. Well, what if there was a way for your doctor to collect important health data without the need for an in-person office visit? A couple of months ago I came across a trailer on YouTube showcasing an upcoming device called the BeamO, made by Withings, a company that makes healthcare tracking devices and accessories., According to Withings, BeamO is the world’s first multiscope, as they like to call it. The combination of four sensors into one allows BeamO to measure heart rate, blood oxygen level, body temperature, and listen to heart and lungs. When checking body temperature, the BeamO can automatically detect the temporal artery to ensure exact temperature readings. The device also houses an electrocardiogram that records the heart’s electrical activity and a digital stethoscope that measures heart and lung sounds as well as the amount of oxygen your red blood cells carry. The BeamO app stores and sends all of this data to the patient’s doctors for further analysis. Technology like this is revolutionary because it expands health care access to anyone no matter their location. Doctors now have the ability to provide care to their patients virtually and patients are no longer hampered by travel or mobility limitations. The concept of having healthcare access from anywhere is so important in today’s society and lines up with the ongoing movement to provide digital solutions for routine services. As someone who wants to pursue a career in computer science, I’m fascinated by the ingenuity people use to create and innovate gadgets that improve daily life. These breakthrough technologies inspire me to use my growing knowledge of computer science to create cutting-edge products that can help society as a whole.

How do I plan to make a positive impact on the world? This question, at first glance, may seem a little ambiguous or vague considering how expansive the world is. However, to me, even the little things in life can help positively impact the world. In a way, this is similar to voting in the sense that every vote matters. Although the idea of one vote for a candidate seems so feeble in comparison to all of the votes that go in everyday, that could still be the difference between a candidate winning or losing an election. Similarly, small acts of kindness like finding ways to donate to feed the hungry or helping an older woman carry something heavy to her car can all be ways to positively impact the world. For me, kindness is such an important trait to have because you never know what someone is going through despite the way they act around you or others. I always make sure to treat everyone with kindness without necessarily expecting it back to me because at the end of the day everyone deserves people to be nice to them. If I see someone in need I make sure to go that extra mile and help them out or if I know someone’s going through a rough situation, I may do something nice for them as a way to help lift their spirits. My goal is to pursue an education in the field of computer science so I can become a software engineer for a big name company. Because technology is all around us, the impact it has on the world is immense whether it be through medical technology, aerospace technology, or the common apps we use on a day to day basis. Because of this, I not only want to be on the user side of technology, but I would like to be on the innovator side where I can use my skills and knowledge to build and improve software to make it easier to use and more efficient. Through the limitless possibilities software engineering provides, I can positively impact the world simply through the products created from developing and updating software which directly connects to the field I aspire to pursue. Not only do I consider my future profession to have positive impacts on the world, but through my hobbies I find myself making that same positive impact. I have a YouTube channel called CCO Tech and over the years, I have used it to create informational technology videos that are both entertaining but also have the goal of allowing viewers to walk away with some new found information about a specific product. Even though a YouTube channel is not the same thing as donating to charity or helping those in need directly, I find that my reason for creating this type of content has been a way for me to add my two cents to the YouTube community where I can be someone who can inform and create positive messages. Because of how global YouTube is, my videos are able to reach people across the globe with just the press of one button and through that I make sure that my impact is positive on this world. Beginning this essay the question at hand seemed quite vague, however, through my interpretation, I answered the question. My positive impacts may not be the same as another's, but many good small things can quickly become something bigger allowing for the impacts to help the world as a whole.

How do I plan to make a positive impact on the world? This question, at first glance, may seem a little ambiguous or vague considering how expansive the world is. However, to me, even the little things in life can help positively impact the world. In a way, this is similar to voting in the sense that every vote matters. Although the idea of one vote for a candidate seems so feeble in comparison to all of the votes that go in everyday, that could still be the difference between a candidate winning or losing an election. Similarly, small acts of kindness like finding ways to donate to feed the hungry or helping an older woman carry something heavy to her car can all be ways to positively impact the world. For me, kindness is such an important trait to have because you never know what someone is going through despite the way they act around you or others. I always make sure to treat everyone with kindness without necessarily expecting it back to me because at the end of the day everyone deserves people to be nice to them. If I see someone in need I make sure to go that extra mile and help them out or if I know someone’s going through a rough situation, I may do something nice for them as a way to help lift their spirits. A unique experience that I have been blessed to come across is being part of a program called ENGin, and as a volunteer I video chat with Ukrainian students to help them improve their english. Especially amidst the Ukraine and Russia conflict, I feel like such an opportunity is so much more important because I can be someone on a different side of the situation who can simply just listen if they need someone to talk to. In my journey with ENGin I have befriended a Ukrainian girl named Tetiana who I video call every week and we simply just talk about everything from traditions and holidays around the world to what’s been going on in our day to day lives. Talking about what school is like for each of us or what our friends are like allows us to understand each other better and also broadens our horizons. Not only do I consider my volunteer work to have positive impacts on the world, but through my hobbies I find myself making that same positive impact. I have a YouTube channel called CCO Tech and over the years, I have used it to create informational technology videos that are both entertaining but also have the goal of allowing viewers to walk away with some new found information about a specific product. Even though a YouTube channel is not the same thing as donating to charity or helping those in need directly, I find that my reason for creating this type of content has been a way for me to add my two cents to the YouTube community where I can be someone who can inform and create positive messages. Because of how global YouTube is, my videos are able to reach people across the globe with just the press of one button and through that I make sure that my impact is positive on this world. Beginning this essay the question at hand seemed quite vague, however, through my interpretation, I answered the question. My positive impacts may not be the same as another's, but many good small things can quickly become something bigger allowing for the impacts to help the world as a whole.

It’s just me, my brother, and my mom now. That’s how it’s been for most of my life after my parents got divorced when I was in elementary school. Looking back, it didn’t affect me too badly and to this day I still don’t really know why. I understood the concept of marriage and divorce so I knew this meant that my dad wouldn’t be living with us anymore. However, I guess the fact that I knew he’d still be available to visit us or we could go see him made the whole situation easier for me and my brother. I vividly remember the day that he told us that he moved into his new apartment, and I was so excited not only to see him but to see this new apartment. For me, change is something I’m used to and have been taught to embrace, so in my mind, there was no point in being afraid or trying to resist it. Instead, I became very hopeful and excited for the newness that was my dad’s new apartment. My dad’s apartment ended up being really close to our house, but what really disappointed me was that although I would be able to see my dad every other weekend, the switch from seeing him everyday to now just three days out of every other week made me miss him dearly. It was a big adjustment, however, in terms of school, I didn’t have an academic decline or use it as an excuse to act out and I made sure to continue to perform the way I always have been. Hard work and determination were traits instilled in me at a young age by my mom and dad, and they continued to resonate throughout my school career. The divorce happened in elementary school and now I am a high school student getting closer and closer to graduation. It hasn’t been an easy journey considering how draining school can be, but despite that, I remind myself of my mother’s and my father’s words: “You go to school to learn whether or not you like being there so you might as well find something to enjoy learning.”. These words have resonated with me when planning my future goals of becoming a software engineer who works at Google. To achieve this goal I have made sure to continue to be very serious about my academics by taking AP and dual-enrollment courses and the computer science courses my school provides to get some exposure to the field of study I want to pursue. Even in writing this essay, I feel the support of both of my parents because of how much they have always wanted to see me succeed. This scholarship would help add to my goal of being able to help aid in paying for my ability to go to my dream university, Georgia Institute of Technology, where I will be very close to my dad who lives in Georgia and I can elevate my knowledge in computer science at a prestigious school to help forge the path to success and becoming a high-leveled software engineer. Although the divorce was definitely something my parents didn’t expect to happen when they got married, the outcome of it has allowed me to live my life with experiences that are so universal yet shape who I am as a person today.

Since a very young age, I had an interest in technology and learning how things work. As a result, my mom enrolled me in various STEM summer camps and programs that could expand my knowledge in the field of computer science. I found things like game development and machine learning very interesting because they were found in my everyday life, and as I gained more knowledge, it made me want to pursue a career in computer science. Being tech-savvy and knowledgeable about so many different types of technology is very motivating in my pursuit of computer science especially because technology is growing every single day. New technology impacts the world as we know it especially when big breakthroughs come out and the idea of being part of the process of finding new forms of technology or creating new types of applications is very inspiring. I have a passion for coding specifically, and I believe that pursuing a computer science degree will allow me to delve deeper into different coding languages and applications that can help me gain knowledge and the ability to eventually create my own breakthrough application of some sort. As someone who wants to be a software engineer or software developer, my goal has always been to eventually build an application whether it be a productivity app or a new social media app that becomes a hit to the general public or draws the attention of the tech superpowers so that I can create a name for myself in the developer world. Through computer science, I want to be rich in knowledge, creativity, and happiness and not just thinking financially. My biggest inspirations would have to be the people who raised me to be the person I am today. Both my mom and dad are Nigerian-born immigrants who came to the United States for better opportunities. My mom spent just a couple of years in Nigeria before she came to the States, and my dad moved to America after he became an adult. When I look at my mom, I see a hard-working woman who worked so hard to find opportunities for herself to ensure success. Growing up, my grandma—her mom—wasn’t really able to financially support my mom the way my mom can support me today, so the way that my mom took the initiative in her life to make sure her education was superb to gain success in the workforce and become financially secure and able to provide is very inspiring. When I look at my dad, I see a man who can make his creative dreams a reality through business and healthcare. I truly feel their support through everything I do in life and I know that they want the best for me so that I not only can find success in the real world after all of my schooling but also so that I can reach the goals that I have set myself. Although I never felt any of the financial adversity that had some impact on my parents growing up, the biggest thing that inspires me is how they never limited themselves and put effort into the things that would always increase opportunities for success. Apart from my field of study, I would like to learn more about business and how I can take my knowledge of computer science and create a product or provide a service that would allow me to expand my expertise. It is fascinating to learn how businesses truly work because it gives you a deeper understanding of how other big companies operate behind the scenes or the things that they were able to do effectively to reach their level of success. Computer science and business pair very well and both fields mesh well, especially on the path to success.

Hunter x Hunter is an anime that takes you on a journey like no other. And sure, this could be said about a lot of different anime, but I feel like this one truly surpasses expectations. The way the show starts with such a young boy going off on a journey to become a hunter does not prepare you for the suspenseful and edge-of-the-seat adventure that as a viewer we get to join the character on. I love the different dynamics between the friends and people Gon meets along the way such as his knit-tight group with Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio, as well as characters like Hisoka or Tie. The hunter exam was only the tip of the iceberg for how deep the story goes for this series because as it progresses, we get to see how interesting the world of being a hunter is through the different abilities and skills that each character is able to acquire. Hunter x Hunter did such an amazing job with the expansiveness of the show incorporating real antagonists and plot twists that created strong emotions within me such as suspense, fear, and even sadness—I vividly remember shedding some tears during the Chimera Ant arc—which I enjoyed so much. When watching a show, I love feeling heightened emotions because it creates so much more of an emotional connection to the show which Hunter x Hunter did a phenomenal job at. My favorite arc out of the entire show was the York New City arc which blew me away. Each episode was intense and action-packed which created a higher stakes atmosphere from the previous Heavens Arena arc considering Gon and Killua were much stronger and comfortable in their nen abilities as well as Kurapika and Leorio because they were strengthening their nen abilities during the same time frame. Additionally, I found the dynamic between the various Phantom Troupe members such as Machi and Nobunaga or Chrollo and Hisoka very interesting because some characters have great chemistry, while others had conflicting motives that created tension in a group that was supposed to act as one. As now one of my favorite characters, I found a liking to Killua from the start because he had so much lore that was gradually addressed throughout the whole show going from Illumi being his brother as well as Hisoka’s partner in crime to his father and grandfather being the most respected assassins of their time. Additionally, venturing to the ending of the anime series we see his dynamic with Alluka and how sweet their relationship is despite how poorly his parents treat him. One thing about Hunter x Hunter is that you will go through a roller coaster of emotions no matter who you are. Whether you find more interest in the action or you find more interest in character dynamics and story, you are sure to find such a positive outcome to watching Hunter x Hunter for the first time or for the many other times you rewatch it. Especially for me, I’m not one to rewatch shows because it will never feel the same way it did the first time. However, with Hunter x Hunter, rewatching the show allows all of the feelings I had when watching the show the first time to come back and I can use that to make so many new observations as I revisit episodes. So with that being said, Hunter x Hunter would have to be my favorite anime of all time because the story genuinely blew me away and gave me so much more interest in anime as a whole.