Being raised in a single-parent household shaped the way I see responsibility, resilience, and purpose. My brothers and I were raised by my legal guardian—the woman I call Mom—after our biological parents did not reclaim us. She did not have a perfect roadmap. She did not finish college. But she had discipline, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to us. Watching her hold everything together taught me lessons that no textbook ever could. In a single-parent home, there is no backup plan. If something breaks, you learn to fix it. If money is tight, you learn to budget. If your younger siblings need guidance, you step up. I grew up understanding that my actions affected more than just me. That awareness matured me early. It made me protective, focused, and intentional about my future. At the same time, my household was filled with faith, structure, and empathy. Forgiveness was emphasized. Responsibility was expected. I learned that strength is not loud—it is consistent. Seeing my mom work in computers despite not having a formal degree sparked my curiosity about technology. She showed me that knowledge is powerful, even without a title attached to it. That example planted the seed for my decision to pursue STEM and challenge myself academically. Being raised this way also shaped how I define success. Success is not just financial independence. It is stability. It is being the person others can rely on. It is creating options for the next generation that you did not have yourself. In the future, I see myself using my talents—whether in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, or a field I have not yet discovered—to protect and uplift people. I may not know exactly where my career will land, but I know the kind of impact I want to have. I want to build systems that are fair. I want to create opportunities for students who feel unseen. I want to mentor young people who come from complex family situations and show them that their beginnings do not limit their trajectory. Because I grew up navigating uncertainty, I am comfortable solving problems. Because I grew up helping raise my brothers, I value leadership through service. Because I experienced instability early on, I am motivated to create stability for others. I imagine a future where I can fund scholarships for students from single-parent households. A future where I return to my high school to teach workshops about technology and career exploration. A future where my home is a place of security, just like my mom tried to create for us. My upbringing did not make life easy, but it made me capable. It taught me that even one determined adult can change the direction of a child’s life. One day, I want to be that steady presence for someone else. No matter what career path I ultimately choose, my goal is the same: to use my skills, my voice, and my resilience to build something that protects, empowers, and gives others room to grow.

Why Computer Science? So why Computer Science? Well, I think that technology can be used for good in society. Particularly in communities like my own. Growing up, I have always been interested in technology and the way things work. I have come to understand that technology is more than just a tool for people. It is a reflection of the society that built it. And with many of the technologists not being like me, a young Black man, the technology has to be created in a more equal fashion in order to make sure that it does not reinforce the inequalities of our current society. I’m not the only one that feels like there were rarely people of color working in the tech industry. My friends and classmates were usually more likely to consider sports or music as a career, because technology was seen as more elusive to non-white individuals. Although I loved sports and was captain of my high school track and field team as well as a varsity cheerleader, I wanted to go into a field where I was an extreme minority. As reported by the Kapor Center, people of color only make up about 5% of the workforce in the tech industry. That statistic alone does not prevent me from striving for my goals – in fact, it fuels my motivation. I love the field of cybersecurity because of the protective nature of the work. Locking doors on our homes protects our neighborhoods, and locking down our online information protects our identity, our money and our future. Ransomware, phishing scams and biased algorithms can all have severe consequences on society and our most at-risk populations are often disproportionately affected. As a person of color in STEM, I hope to make a mark in the following three ways: Innovation, Advocacy and Mentorship. My first goal is to contribute to ethics and security. Improving encryption protocols, auditing algorithms to avoid biases, auditing the codebases of non-profits are all areas where I believe my skills will allow me to make a difference in the world for people who are already being left behind. Securing the Internet is not about preventing attacks — it’s about protecting human dignity. 2) I want to work with other engineers, with tech leaders, with lawmakers, with organizers, with community leaders — to get more people’s real-life human experiences into the products we build. Because the fact is, AI bias isn’t a bug in a line of code — it’s a social justice issue. I want to empower and enable. If the right imagery is used, there will be a huge difference in whether or not children feel capable and confident in completing the work, and that they actually look like who is explaining it to them. I hope to continue to mentor underrepresented groups in tech, and also to continue to organize events such as the coding workshop for young girls, while also finding ways to obtain scholarships for diverse groups to attend tech camps and coding boot camps. To me, STEM is not just about preparing students for careers. It is about creating a more just world. I have learned so much about myself as I navigate this journey and have gained so many valuable lessons to bring back to my community. Lessons such as the importance of perseverance, self-regulation and empathy which are all skills that an engineer must have when they are designing a product for use by the public.

In a world full of challenges, I view education as a hope and empowerment. Reflecting on my life and circumstances, I feel compelled to share my story and the reasons why I am applying for this scholarship. Coming from a low-income household and having endured the abandonment of my biological parents, I have not only overcome these adversities but also dedicated myself to supporting those around me and contributing to my community. Despite the hurdles I have faced, my commitment to pursuing higher education has remained steadfast. This scholarship would alleviate the significant financial strain on my family, allowing me to focus on my studies rather than worrying about how to afford my education. For me, it represents not just financial assistance but also a lifeline to achieving my dreams and unlocking my potential. From the age of 15, I have taken on work responsibilities to ease the burden on my guardian and help support my family. For over two years, I have held a part-time job, juggling work and school while remaining reliable and committed—I have never missed a day of work or arrived late. This is something I take pride in, as it demonstrates my dedication and responsibility. My income has contributed directly to household expenses, and I have worked diligently to save for college, knowing that my legal guardianship will end when I turn 18 in June. Unfortunately, due to my guardian’s disability, she will be unable to financially assist with my college expenses. This reality has driven me to take ownership of my future by seeking scholarships and other opportunities to fund my education. Receiving this scholarship would not only make attending UNC Charlotte possible but would also give me the chance to focus fully on my academic and personal growth. By investing in my education, you are also investing in the future I aim to build—a future in which I will, in turn, invest in others. It is my goal to use the opportunities I have to uplift those around me and to create a positive ripple effect in my community and beyond. In conclusion, I humbly submit this statement as part of my scholarship application. I am not just asking for financial assistance; I am seeking the opportunity to further cultivate my potential, contribute meaningfully to society, and set an example for others. Thank you for considering my application and supporting students like me who are working tirelessly to turn their dreams into reality.