Greetings JobTest Career Coach Scholarship Committee , The past few months have been nothing short of transformative, leaving little time for anticipation or reflection. On July 31st, my family and I relocated to Lawrenceville, GA, from Burke, VA—a move we had been striving to make for over four years. This transition was driven by my desire to complete high school and pursue higher education in Georgia, a state where opportunities in the entertainment industry abound. Atlanta’s thriving entertainment scene is the perfect backdrop for my long-standing ambition to become an entertainment attorney. Since I was 11 years old, I have envisioned a career working with talented artists, actors, and entertainers, providing them with legal counsel and ensuring their success. Just weeks after our move, my aunt spotted renowned Atlanta rapper Dominique Armani Jones, better known as “Lil Baby,” at the Publix behind our neighborhood. Though I missed the chance to meet him, this moment served as a powerful reminder of how close I am to the epicenter of the music and entertainment industry. It reignited my determination to network and immerse myself in this world, with the ultimate goal of collaborating with artists like him. Knowing my aspirations are within reach is both inspiring and humbling. My interests lie at the intersection of language and business. I am deeply passionate about the English language and the critical role that effective communication plays in society. Advocacy is often overlooked and undervalued, yet it is an essential function needed in order to facilitate lasting change. I aim to develop the skills necessary to amplify advocacy and foster ethical business practices, particularly in the entertainment industry. My love for music, which began in childhood, continues to grow and fuels my commitment to contributing to the success of artists further while promoting integrity in a challenging field. However, our move was sudden. We were notified in early July, leaving little time to prepare for the financial demands of such a transition. This, coupled with the cost of obtaining the degrees necessary to practice law, has placed a significant financial strain on my family. Receiving the JobTest Career Coach Scholarship would significantly ease this burden, allowing me to hone in my focus entirely on my education and career aspirations. Thank you for considering my application. With your support, I am confident I can achieve my dream of owning a law firm and serving the entertainment industry. Sincerely,

As I awoke the screen in front of me displayed the year, location, and time. I collected my thoughts. No way! Thank God it worked. A vibrant spectrum of lights had radiated after I pressed the “ launch ” button. I redirected my attention to the screen, realizing that I’m 25 years into the future. Inhale…exhale. I whispered a brief prayer to myself and exited my time machine. Upon seeing my home my eyes were delighted. I saw a warmly lit extensive tuscan style estate, it boasted a courtyard garden decked with pristine luxury vehicles. Mesmerized, I stood frozen in awe. “Hello, can we help you?”, a familiar voice said. I turned around and I saw an older well-groomed black couple, it was my parents. “Hey does a Carel Stephen Bak-,“I said before I was cut off. “Rel?” my father exclaimed. “I’m him, an earlier model,” I replied. My mom’s tight hug choked me while my dad wore a puzzled look. “Y’all made it! Who’s this?” a sweet voice called from the door. An elegant woman greeted us smiling, she was gorgeous. Is that my wife? I hope so. “Does he remind you of anyone?” my mom asked her.” The lady analyzed my face for a moment, her face widened with shock. “No that can’t be. He looks exactly like Carel when we first met,” she said. She signaled for us to come in. The home’s aroma was divine. It smelled of vanilla and cinnamon, but as we got closer to the kitchen the smell of jerk chicken danced in my nostrils. “Carel everyone’s here, and someone unexpected,” the lady called towards the kitchen. “What’s up family, dinner is almost ready. I’ll bring it to the dining room shortly. Aye, Carel come in the kitchen though.” a welcoming voice said. What the heck! How’d he know? My parents and the gorgeous lady exchanged amazed looks but walked onward to the dining room. In disbelief, I entered the kitchen. A sleek black man plated dinner as I walked in. “Just in time!” He chuckled and dapped me up. “Quick question, is that lady…?”, my voice trailed off. “What you think?” he said then he smirked and laughed. My dreams became reality like I said they would! I did it! “No you didn’t Carel, I did.” his voice turned grim. “What you mean? Your Carel, I’m Carel. We’re the same.” I responded. He stopped plating, stared intensely and spoke, “Listen, Carel. Me and you aren't the same Carel. I actually lived up to our dreams, and exceeded the expectations people had for us, fulfilling God's plan for our life. You, you just talk about it. God showed me this conversation seven times since this week, and I’ll leave you with this warning. Do what you say and you’ll achieve all God has for you.” I woke up drenched in sweat, reminded by fear to ensure that procrastination won’t prevent my dreams from becoming reality and materialize my life into a living nightmare.

Overwhelmingly, the majority of people think that arguments destroy relationships, but I’ve learned to use my arguments to foster connections. After moving past small talk, conversation begins to reveal beliefs and opens the door for clashing ideologies. Arguments challenge my mind to fathom the possibility that my perspective isn't the only correct option. My intellectual muscles are sent into shock when someone dares to contradict the way I think and my reaction to the rhetorical friction of discourse displays my aptness to think critically. I love that shock; the feeling of adrenaline shoots into my brain, my ears ring with urgency as I listen to my challenger speak, and my mind races to craft a clever retort. My natural reaction to disagreements is a double-edged sword. The power of my words became clear: was my quick-wittedness truly necessary when I simply pushed people away - or worse - hurt them with my sharp words? My tongue sharp as a knife could sever the connection between my opponent and I, but it could also cut ideological restraints that bind one’s perspective to ignorance. Through interacting with people who don’t think like me I’ve learned to prioritize connection over condemnation, because the first step to changing someone’s mind is identifying their perspective, and whether or not I have the authority to change it. As I’ve grown my faith in Jesus Christ I’ve realized that judging others is the exact opposite of how Christ called for me to build relationships. I blame my mother, she gave me her facial expressions, we make the same face when someone says something we perceive as “wild”, as she would say. Unpleasant expressions have and will stop people from truly expressing themselves. By censoring my immediate disapproval of another perspective I prevent the person sharing from censoring themselves. I’ve experienced in my Philosophy class, that hearing someone out is an explicit act of love. Most people just want their opinion and beliefs to be heard. As a Christian, I’ve learned in moments where I attempt to change someone’s perspective on Jesus Christ, that when I make a strong effort to understand their point of view they’re increasingly receptive to my conveyance of the Gospel of Christ. Technology exemplifies the true essence of building connections through conversation. A USB cord plugged from a phone going into a computer is transmitting information back and forth between the phone and the computer. If either device becomes disconnected from the cord, the connection is lost. The same applies to myself, in order to establish a connection with a person I must plug myself into their thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives. Nevertheless, connection is just a facet of building relationships with other people. The connections I build with people have to be fruitful. The information transmitted between myself and others must foster growth within us. My identity as a content creator and writer is based on my responsibility to create content that will leave a beneficial impression on people. I do that by simply being myself. That means recording and expressing my authentic personality, beliefs, and experiences. By exposing myself to total strangers I open up an avenue for my personal growth as well. People are able to connect with me and my content, expressing their sentiments and perspectives on me, creating a cyclical exchange of growth. I hope to utilize my ability to connect with people despite ideological and moral differences in the world of entertainment as an entertainment attorney. Furthermore, I desire that through my pursuit to live like Christ, my actions influence others, and revolutionize a seemingly immoral industry.

Greetings Nick Lindblad Memorial Scholarship Committee, The past few months have been nothing short of transformative, leaving little time for anticipation or reflection. On July 31st, my family and I relocated to Lawrenceville, GA, from Burke, VA—a move we had been striving to make for over four years. This transition was driven by my desire to complete high school and pursue higher education in Georgia, a state where opportunities in the entertainment industry abound. Atlanta’s thriving entertainment scene is the perfect backdrop for my long-standing ambition to become an entertainment attorney. Since I was 11 years old, I have envisioned a career working with talented artists, actors, and entertainers, providing them with legal counsel and ensuring their success. Just weeks after our move, my aunt spotted renowned Atlanta rapper Dominique Armani Jones, better known as “Lil Baby,” at the Publix behind our neighborhood. Though I missed the chance to meet him, this moment served as a powerful reminder of how close I am to the epicenter of the music and entertainment industry. It reignited my determination to network and immerse myself in this world, with the ultimate goal of collaborating with artists like him. Knowing my aspirations are within reach is both inspiring and humbling. My interests lie at the intersection of language and business. I am deeply passionate about the English language and the critical role that effective communication plays in society. Advocacy is often overlooked and undervalued, yet it is an essential function needed in order to facilitate lasting change. I aim to develop the skills necessary to amplify advocacy and foster ethical business practices, particularly in the entertainment industry. My love for music, which began in childhood, continues to grow and fuels my commitment to contributing to the success of artists further while promoting integrity in a challenging field. However, our move was sudden. We were notified in early July, leaving little time to prepare for the financial demands of such a transition. This, coupled with the cost of obtaining the degrees necessary to practice law, has placed a significant financial strain on my family. Receiving the Nick Lindblad Memorial Scholarship would significantly ease this burden, allowing me to hone in my focus entirely on my education and career aspirations. Thank you for considering my application. With your support, I am confident I can achieve my dream of owning a law firm and serving the entertainment industry. Sincerely, Carel Baker

Greetings Ryan Stripling “Words Create Worlds” Scholarship, The past few months have been nothing short of transformative, leaving little time for anticipation or reflection. On July 31st, my family and I relocated to Lawrenceville, GA, from Burke, VA—a move we had been striving to make for over four years. This transition was driven by my desire to complete high school and pursue higher education in Georgia, a state where opportunities in the entertainment industry abound. Atlanta’s thriving entertainment scene is the perfect backdrop for my long-standing ambition to become an entertainment attorney. Since I was 11 years old, I have envisioned a career working with talented artists, actors, and entertainers, providing them with legal counsel and ensuring their success. Just weeks after our move, my aunt spotted renowned Atlanta rapper Dominique Armani Jones, better known as “Lil Baby,” at the Publix behind our neighborhood. Though I missed the chance to meet him, this moment served as a powerful reminder of how close I am to the epicenter of the music and entertainment industry. It reignited my determination to network and immerse myself in this world, with the ultimate goal of collaborating with artists like him. Knowing my aspirations are within reach is both inspiring and humbling. My interests lie at the intersection of language and business. I am deeply passionate about the English language and the critical role that effective communication plays in society. Advocacy is often overlooked and undervalued, yet it is an essential function needed in order to facilitate lasting change. I aim to develop the skills necessary to amplify advocacy and foster ethical business practices, particularly in the entertainment industry. My love for music, which began in childhood, continues to grow and fuels my commitment to contributing to the success of artists further while promoting integrity in a challenging field. However, our move was sudden. We were notified in early July, leaving little time to prepare for the financial demands of such a transition. This, coupled with the cost of obtaining the degrees necessary to practice law, has placed a significant financial strain on my family. Receiving the Ryan Stripling “Words Create Worlds” Scholarship Scholarship would significantly ease this burden, allowing me to hone in my focus entirely on my education and career aspirations. Thank you for considering my application. With your support, I am confident I can achieve my dream of owning a law firm and serving the entertainment industry. Sincerely, Carel Baker

Greetings Trees Tuition Scholarship Committee, The past few months have been nothing short of transformative, leaving little time for anticipation or reflection. On July 31st, my family and I relocated to Lawrenceville, GA, from Burke, VA a move we had been striving to make for over four years. This transition was driven by my desire to complete high school and pursue higher education in Georgia, a state where opportunities in the entertainment industry abound. Atlanta’s thriving entertainment scene is the perfect backdrop for my long-standing ambition to become an entertainment attorney. Since I was 11 years old, I have envisioned a career working with talented artists, actors, and entertainers, providing them with legal counsel and ensuring their success. Just weeks after our move, my aunt spotted renowned Atlanta rapper Dominique Armani Jones, better known as “Lil Baby,” at the Publix behind our neighborhood. Though I missed the chance to meet him, this moment served as a powerful reminder of how close I am to the epicenter of the music and entertainment industry. It reignited my determination to network and immerse myself in this world, with the ultimate goal of collaborating with artists like him. Knowing my aspirations are within reach is both inspiring and humbling. My interests lie at the intersection of language and business. I am deeply passionate about the English language and the critical role that effective communication plays in society. Advocacy is often overlooked and undervalued, yet it is essential function needed in order to facilitate lasting change. I aim to develop the skills necessary to amplify advocacy and foster ethical business practices, particularly in the entertainment industry. My love for music, which began in childhood, continues to grow and fuels my commitment to contributing to the success of artists further while promoting integrity in a challenging field. However, our move was sudden. We were notified in early July, leaving little time to prepare for the financial demands of such a transition. This, coupled with the cost of obtaining the degrees necessary to practice law, has placed a significant financial strain on my family. Receiving the Trees Tuition Scholarship would significantly ease this burden, allowing me to hone in my focus entirely on my education and career aspirations. Thank you for considering my application. With your support, I am confident I can achieve my dream of owning a law firm and serving the entertainment industry. Sincerely, Carel Baker