I remember going to Puerto Rico when I was 10 years old and my family was attending my father's best friend's wedding. The company my dad's best friend worked for helped build the eco-friendly hotel where the wedding took place and where we stayed. This was our first stay at an eco-friendly hotel and it had some interesting features. The building was solar-powered and they used environmentally friendly products such as low-flow toilets, bamboo floors and bedsheets. One of the ways the resort conserved water and its resources was by not cleaning the room and towels daily unless requested. My family was impressed with this resort and its efforts to leave a light footprint on the surrounding environment. This experience was the 1st time that my family started discussing how we could help in the effort to lessen the impact on the environment. Some ways in which my family worked to lessen our impact was by recycling, and no longer using plastic or paper spoons, forks, plates and cups. We also consciously unplugged electronic devices that we were not using to conserve energy. We continue to employ these conservation habits to this day. Ways that I can create a positive environmental impact on my local community and global community is by creating awareness. I am not sure how my awareness of environmental issues would have evolved in the absence of this experience at the eco-friendly resort but it certainly spurred my interest. As I will be a marketing major in the fall, I have thought of ways I may want to use my future marketing degree to make an impact on the environment. Companies seem to be taking a greater interest in environmental sustainability. Marketing can influence consumer behavior, educate consumers and help to build companies reputation. Businesses that align their goals with environmental and social values can attract more customers, improve their reputation and help their profitability. Profitability and environmental marketing should not be mutually exclusive. It will be important to me to align myself with companies that are utilizing sustainable practices and reducing their impact on the environment. Some immediate impacts that I can make on the environment are seeing how the university that I attend is lessening its impact on the environment and helping to set up ways to further that cause. The university that I am attending in the fall of 2023 does recycle cardboard, glass, aluminum, paper and plastic. I say that this is a step in the right direction, don't you agree?

My mother grew up in a family of six kids, of which, one was her identical twin sister. She came from very humble beginnings with few resources. Her father managed his money very closely, as he had to with such a large family. It was said of my grandfather that he never owned a checkbook or a credit card and always paid his bills in person and with cash. It was also said that if he made a dollar, he saved fifty cents. When it came time for his young twin girls to go to college. there was no money for college because the resources were stretched thin. They both worked two years before college, saving money, but knew there would be no extra money for college and they would have to manage the journey with no financial assistance from home. As first-generation college students, they managed to get some financial aid; Pell Grants, work-study and student loans, but struggled nonetheless. One memorable moment told to me many times, was a time when my mother was in college and the financial aid had been depleted and she and her sister did not know how they were going to eat. They called home and requested money for food. About a week later they received a letter from my grandfather with a note that said "BE SMART OR BE BROKE," and there was a five-dollar bill enclosed. Her friends thought this note and the minimal amount sent was hilarious and they laughed, but this statement has guided the way they have handled money for most of their lives, to their advantage. The message of that moment has been drilled into me and my sister along with the lessons of setting financial goals, paying bills on time, tracking expenses, checking your bank accounts each day, handling credit responsibly, limiting your loan borrowing and in general, establishing good financial habits. " BE SMART OR BE BROKE" has become a mantra in my household. The lessons of good financial habits don't just happen by chance, one has to be intentional, as the mantra implies. By following the above-mentioned rules, I have been able to keep my finances in check to prepare myself for college. The lessons I've learned from my mother's college experience have helped me prepare for managing college finances. All these things will be important to me as a student and I will continue to use these concepts to manage my finances.

I have grown up hearing stories of heroism and sacrifice made by both of my grandfathers. They both served in the Korean War and my maternal grandfather also served in World War II. The sacrifices they made for the country and their families were many and their successes were few. They both died before I was born but I grew up hearing and feeling their presence through pictures, stories and the legacies they left behind. My paternal grandfather was able to complete his college education, after the war, through the GI Bill and went on to teach history for many years while my maternal grandfather accomplished much with only a 6th-grade education. While their paths, after the war, were dramatically different, they both experienced varying degrees of success. Both felt education was the way to advance in life and wanted that for their children. The struggles they encountered, after serving, such as racism to apathy, weren't talked about much but were a factor in their lives. After both returned home from the Korean War, they were treated poorly but after World War II, my maternal grandfather, upon his return was treated better than after returning from the Korean War. They both sought to encourage and celebrate the small victories and build upon the future for themselves and their families. My parents have always emphasized the importance of being a kind, respectful, honest, trustworthy, hard-working good citizen. With that comes the requirement of giving back to the community, through service. When I think about my grandfathers and their sacrifices, how could I not find ways to give back to my community? After all, my grandfathers fought for our country so that I may enjoy and experience the many freedoms that I enjoy. Today many people have forgotten what my grandfathers and many brave men and women have fought for; to give us freedom, patriotism, mentorship, and a feeling of safety. My positive impact will be keeping the memory and the legacy of my grandfathers alive. Continuing my education allows me to honor my grandfather's legacies and increase my value to society. I will be a good steward of what I have been given so that I can make a positive impact on others and the world. I stand on the backs of those who have gone before me. I will not squander or lessen the impact of those that have gone before me.

My mother grew up in a family of 8 with her and her twin sister being the youngest of six kids. She came from very humble beginnings and money was tight. From growing their own vegetables to wearing hand-me-downs and making their clothes, they managed the best they could with few resources. My mother's father and my grandfather managed his money closely because he had to with such a large household. He never owned a checkbook or a credit card and believed in paying his bills in person and with cash. It has been said about him, that if he made a dollar, he saved fifty cents. Unfortunately, he had very few resources to send his children to college. They would have to manage to navigate through college with little to no financial assistance from home. My mother and her sister were 1st generation, college students and were able to complete college with the help of grants, work-study and student loans. Two years before attending college, they worked jobs saving money to help fund their college education. Their decision to attend college came with many challenges, most of which involved money or the lack of. One memorable moment was when they were in college and called home requesting money. Later that week they received a note from their father. It was written on a little note that read "BE SMART OR BE BROKE," and had a five-dollar bill tucked inside. Their 1st response was disappointment because they needed money at that time, however, later they laughed about the message that was sent but it always stayed close in mind. The message on the note has become my mom's mantra and meme. Managing money, a budget, credit and saving for a rainy day, are regular discussions in my household. My parents will often have us complete financial modules to make sure that we are getting exposed to good financial habits. We are always told what things cost so that we aren't shocked and unprepared when we start paying our own bills. As I am completing my senior year and preparing for college, there are a lot of lessons that I will take with me to college and some of the most important being the lessons I have learned about money. I plan to major in business because I feel that if I can understand the principles of how money works and how businesses achieve profitability, I can apply that to almost any business. I have played basketball since the age of 6 and currently play varsity basketball. Some of the lessons I have learned in basketball carry over to other areas of my life, such as the importance of good organization and discipline, resilience and perseverance. These principles help me to be a good athlete, student and person. Always in the back of my mind, I hear my mother's stories of her struggles and how they made her a better person. I am fortunate to have parents that have taught me these lessons and continue to support me. The best piece of financial advice that I have received is "BE SMART OR BE BROKE." I plan to utilize the advice in college by utilizing financial awareness and being a good steward of money. It is a dream to start my own company upon completion of my college education. In doing so, I hope to create wealth so that I may preserve and pass on generational wealth to my children and teach them the importance of having good financial habits.

I was scared the first time I can remember walking into the nursing home where my great-grandmother was in memory care due to Alzheimer's. I was 6 years old and we were there to celebrate her 100th birthday. My mother urged me to go and say hello and hug her, but the prospect of getting too close scared my 6-year-old self. I reluctantly did as mother told me. We took ice cream, cake, coloring books and crayons, for the residents of the nursing home. My mom reminded me that it had been my suggestion that we take enough cake, ice cream, coloring books and crayons for all the residents. She told me that it was nice to think about someone other than yourself and that some residents never had visitors and this surprise might make them happy. My mother was right, the residents were happy and surprised. This was my first introduction to providing service to others and service has been a part of my life ever since. Every visit after my great-grandmother's birthday party, she always asked my grandmother how school was going. She could not remember what day it was or what her great-grandchildren's names were, but she always thought my grandmother was still in school. She had sacrificed a lot to put my grandmother through college and this let me know how important education was to her. My grandmother went to college to become a teacher and taught in the school system for over 30 years. It was never a question of whether her children and grandchildren would go to college but where. Community service has always been a part of my life. From the age of 6 through my current age of 18, I have actively been involved in service to others. From participating in the Salvation Army ringing the bell at Christmas, donating school supplies to the Girls and Boys Club of the Upstate, picking up trash through the Adopt-a-Highway to volunteering to serve at soup kitchens. Most recently, I've participated in Project Feed 5000, which feeds the less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day every year and Project Host, where we fed the needy and homeless on Christmas Day. There are few greater things than seeing someone's smiling face when they have received a hot meal on a cold day. I started talking to some of my friends who do not participate in community service, to get them involved in giving of themselves. Most recently, on Christmas Day, I convinced two of my friends to go with me to serve the homeless at a soup kitchen. They were not interested at first but I finally convinced them to give 3 hours of their day. Not sure if I will be able to convince them to go with me again, but for me, I am committed to a lifetime of service to others. I will continue to actively participate in service to others while I am in college. There are fewer greater feelings in life than providing service to others.

My mother grew up in a family of eight, with her and her twin sister being the youngest of six kids. She came from very humble beginnnings and money was very tight. Her parents worked menial jobs and they subsisted on garden grown vegetables and hand-me-down clothing. My grandfather only had a sixth grade education and managed his money very closely because he had to with six kids. Resources were few and my grandfather never had a checking account or credit and did not trust banks as he had lived through the Great Depression. He paid all his bills in person and in cash. It was said of him that if he made one dollar he saved fifty cents. My mother and her sister were first generation college students with few resources to allow them to attend college. Through grants, loans and work-study, they were able to attend. My mother tells the story of them calling home and asking my grandfather to send them money for food. Soon after, they received a letter from my grandfather that had a five dollar bill inside and a note that read, "BE SMART OR BE BROKE." Their first response was dissapointment because they really needed money, however, they then laughed at his note, not realizing how the message would guide a lot of their future financial decisions. This story that my mother has told me many times, serves as a constant reminder to me to make good financial decisions. My grandfather, even though I never met him, lives on in the common sense principles that he set forth. The fact that he was able to provide for a large family with so few resources underscores the fact that he had to use good common sense principles to run his household. He is the African American pillar that has influenced me to major in business. I feel if I can understand the principles of business and marketing, I can apply that to many fields of work . I would like to mentor younger students on the principles of business that I learn, so that I may help support a future generation of leaders. In life, it is not what your do for yourself but what you do for others that makes you feel most fulfilled in life. My grandfather never realized how a small note he wrote to his daughters in college, would impact the life of a later generation-me.

I can remember people asking me when I was 6 years old, what do you want to be when you grow up? I would say without hesitation," I want to be a professional basketball player." Sometimes my mother would get upset because she wanted me to say an engineer, doctor or president of the United States, but anything other than a professional basketball player. I would just laugh when she corrected me. I have been playing basketball since I was 6 years old and I am now 18 years old and currently playing varsity basketball for my high school. The lessons that I have learned from playing team sports carry over into all other areas of my life. The characteristics of good sportsmanship, kindness, respect, discipline, good work ethic and perseverance are just a few of the things that basketball has reinforced in me. The characteristics of good organizational skills and discipline have transferred over to my academics where I maintain a 4.3 weighted GPA. The most important things that I have gained from basketball are a sense of community and teamwork. I have had the opportunity to interact with people from a lot of different backgrounds, which gives me a wider perspective. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering for summer basketball camp, where I get to lead young aspiring basketball players. When I partner with organizations to serve my community, these characteristics I have developed, allow me to provide better service. I have been fortunate to be able to help feed the homeless and less fortunate through Project Feed 5000, where we provide a hot meal on Thanksgiving Day and Project Host soup kitchen where most recently, we fed the needy on Christmas Day. There are few feelings greater than seeing a smile on someone's face after they receive a hot meal. Service above self is a concept I have come to know, whether it is picking up trash for Adopt-a-Highway or donating school items to the Girls and Boys Club. Service to others will always be a part of my life and helps me to see the bigger picture. My professional goals are to pursue a marketing degree in college. My goal is to have a career in sports marketing and parlay that into providing mentorship to young men like myself who pursue sports but also strive to maintain high academic standards. I will make a difference by making an impact on the young lives that I mentor. I guess my mother would be proud now of my response if asked - " What do you want to be when you grow up?" I would no longer say that I want to be a professional basketball player. now that my perspective has changed. I would say that I want to be a good citizen and a good human being.

My mother grew up in a family of 8 with her and her twin sister being the youngest of six kids. She came from very humble beginnings and money was tight. From growing their own vegetables to wearing hand-me-downs and making their clothes, they managed the best they could with few resources. My mother's father and my grandfather managed his money closely because he had to with such a large household. He never owned a checkbook or a credit card and believed in paying his bills in person and with cash. It has been said about him, that if he made a dollar, he saved fifty cents. Unfortunately, he had very few resources to send his children to college. They would have to manage to navigate through college with little to no financial assistance from home. My mother and her sister were 1st generation, college students and were able to complete college with the help of grants, work-study and student loans. Two years before attending college, they worked jobs saving money to help fund their college education. Their decision to attend college came with many challenges, most of which involved money or the lack of. One memorable moment was when they were in college and received a note from their father. It was written on a little note and read "BE SMART OR BE BROKE," and had a five-dollar bill tucked inside. Their 1st response was disappointment, because they really needed money at that time. Later they laughed about the message that was sent not realizing how it would guide a lot of their future financial decisions. The message on the note has become my mom's mantra and meme. I remember once when I wanted a pair of retro Air Jordan sneakers and the cost was high. The cost of the shoes was going to be $250.00. Although I received an allowance, I did not have that much money in my account. I asked my mom how I could get the shoes and she said I could double and triple up on my chores and I could earn more allowance. Well, I did the opposite and slacked off on all my chores and missed out on getting the shoes. It was a hard but important lesson learned. I think it is important for parents to teach kids these lessons. My state of South Carolina, just recently mandated that every high school student will take a personal finance course, before graduation. I think this is a good move because not all kids get exposed to good financial habits. Managing money, a budget, credit and saving for a rainy day, are regular discussions in my household. My parents will often have us complete financial modules to make sure that we are getting exposed to good financial habits. We are always told what things cost so that we aren't shocked and unprepared when we start paying our own bills. As I am completing my senior year and preparing for college, there are a lot of lessons that I will take with me to college and some of the most important being the lessons I have learned about money. I plan to major in business because I feel that if I can understand the principles of how money works and how businesses achieve profitability, I can apply that to almost any business. I have played basketball since the age of 6 and currently play varsity basketball. Some of the lessons I have learned in basketball carry over to other areas of my life, such as the importance of good organization and discipline, resilience and perseverance. These principles help me to be a good athlete, student and person. Always in the back of my mind, I hear my mother's stories of her struggles and how they made her a better person and good with money. Although there are times when my mother thinks that I am not listening and learning, the lessons have not been lost on me. I am fortunate to have parents that have taught me these lessons and continue to support me. The best piece of financial advice that I have received is "BE SMART OR BE BROKE." I plan to utilize the advice in college by utilizing financial awareness and being a good steward of my money and my parent's.

I was scared the first time I can remember walking into the nursing home where my great-grandmother was in memory care due to Alzheimer's. I was 6 years old and we were there to celebrate her birthday, she was turning 100 years old. My mother urged me to go and say hello and hug her, but the prospect of getting too close scared my 6-year-old self. I reluctantly did as mother told me. We had brought cake and ice cream and coloring books and crayons for the residents of the nursing home. My mom reminded me that I asked why were we taking dessert and coloring books and crayons for everyone. She told me that it was nice to think about someone other than yourself and that some residents never had visitors and it might make them happy. My mother was right, the residents loved the cookie, cake and coloring books. This was my first introduction to providing service to others and service has been a part of my life ever since. Not long after the experience with my great-grandmother, I joined an organization called Jack and Jill of America, Inc. It is a membership organization of mothers and children aged 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty. So from the age of 6 through my current age of 19, I have actively been involved in service to others. From participating in the Salvation Army ringing the bell at Christmas, donating school supplies to the Girls and Boys Club of the Upstate, picking up trash through the Adopt-a-Highway to volunteering to serve at soup kitchens. Most recently, I've participated in Project Feed 5000, which feeds the less fortunate on Thanksgiving Day every year and Project Host, where we fed the needy and homeless on Christmas Day. There are few greater things than seeing someone's smiling face when they have received a hot meal on a cold day. I started talking to some of my friends who do not participate in community service, to get them involved in giving of themselves. Most recently, on Christmas Day, I convinced two of my friends to go with me to serve the homeless at a soup kitchen. They were not interested at 1st but I finally convinced them to give 3 hours of their day. Not sure if I will be able to convince them to go with me again, but for me, I am committed to a life time of service to others. I will continue to actively participate in service to others while I am in college.

I was really scared the first time I remember walking into the nursing home. My great-grandmother was a resident there suffering from Alzheimer's. My mother prompted me to step forward and greet my great-grandmother. I did as I was told but avoided eye contact. I wanted the greeting part to be over so that I could get to the fun part - we had brought coloring books and crayons for all the residents in the memory care unit. I was only 6 years old but little did I know that I was starting my first experience with providing service to others. The residents were so happy to get this small gift and some began coloring right away. It seemed as if may have connected them to their childhood and the joy of their childhood. My family and I continued to participate in service to the community through various organizations. At the age of six, I became a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and through my affiliation with this organization, participated in numerous service projects from Adopt-a-Highway, Salvation Army, and Girls and Boys Club, to helping out at various soup kitchens. I started playing basketball at the age of six. As you can see, there were a lot of things that I started doing at the age of six. Basketball has been a part of my life for a long time and still is. I learned many lessons from basketball that still stick with me. The value of teamwork, perseverance, leadership and good decision-making. These qualities carry over to characteristics needed for organizing community service. My sister and I organized a birthday card campaign for one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen for his 100th birthday. We were able to get friends and family to send over 300 birthday cards to celebrate his birthday, as this was his one request. I have learned that the quickest way to get your mind off of yourself and your problems is to do something for someone else. On Thanksgiving for the last couple of years, I have volunteered to feed the needy and less fortunate through an organization called Project Feed 5000 and on Christmas with Project Host to feed those less fortunate. I enjoyed seeing the smile on people's faces when you provide them with a hot meal and bring them in from the heat or cold. I always hear my mother's voice in my head telling me "The greatest thing you can ever do, is something nice for someone else. This resonates in my mind because even at the age of 18, I have found this to be true. I will continue to aid the community through service as it is now a way of my life.

"Anytime the odds are stacked against me, I feel like it's in me to beat it", Damian Lillard. This quote by 5-time NBA All-star and my personal favorite sums up how I feel about obstacles that I face. As someone who has played basketball since I was 6 years old, I guess it is safe to say that it is my passion. From playing ball at the YMCA to playing travel ball all over the southeast, I have played basketball all year long since I was in the 6th grade. Basketball has taught me many great lessons that apply to my life. Some of those lessons are the value of teamwork, patience, hard work and kindness. I have faced many setbacks such as injuries and losing major games, however, the injuries taught me how to work through the pain and develop mental toughness and losing taught me that you can't win at everything and to work even harder and make adjustments. I have received different honors and recognition for my basketball playing skills, however, the awards that I am most proud of deal with character and kindness. I received that Character award, as determined by my high school coaches and the Teammate award as determined by my peers. As a member of the National Honor Society, I have been able to show that not only am I passionate about basketball but I am also passionate about doing well academically. I have challenged myself by taking Honors, AP and dual enrollment classes while playing varsity ball. As a quiet leader who likes to lead by example, I have been active in providing service to others. On Thanksgiving Day, for the last couple of years, I have volunteered to feed the needy and less fortunate. I have also volunteered with local soup kitchens and Adopt-a-Highway and donated school supplies to the Girls and Boys Club and local community centers. I learned of one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen celebrating his 100th birthday and all he wanted for his birthday was birthday cards. My sister and I were able to solicit the help of family and friends and sent over 300 birthday cards in celebration of his birthday. As I move forward with college, I know that service to others will be a part of my life. There are not many better feelings than the feeling you get when you are helping someone else.

"Anytime the odds are stacked against me, I feel like it's in me to beat it", - Damian Lillard. This quote by 5-time NBA Allstar and a personal favorite, sums up how I feel about obstacles that I face. As a person who has played basketball since I was 6 years old, I've faced my share of setbacks. Basketball has taught me many things that have translated over to my life in general. The value of teamwork, patience, hard work and determination are a few of the characteristics that come to mind. These lessons are also reflected in my academics. I've received different honors for my basketball skills, however, the honors that I am most proud of are those related to my academics and character. From being a member to the National Honor Society to being selected by my coaches for the Cavs of Character Award, to being selected by South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Elite Camp for Best Teammate Award, these awards speak specifically to who I am as a person. I've been told by various coaches that I make my teammates better because of my unselfishness during play. I take that as a great compliment because teamwork is important in bringing out the best of everyone. The tough losses have taught me to you can't win at everything, to work harder and make adjustments. The injuries have taught me to work through the frustration and pain with mental toughness. As a quiet leader who likes to lead by example, I have also been active in providing service to others., from feeding those with food insecurity on Thanksgiving Day to volunteering at the local shelters. My sister and I organized a campaign to send birthday cards to one of the last remaining Tuskegee Airmen, Victor Butler, for his 100th birthday. By getting friends and families involved, we were able to get over 300 birthday cards sent to Mr. Butler, in celebration of his milestone birthday. I have learned to really appreciate providing service to others as there are fewer better feelings. I want to use all the lessons I have learned and keep Damian Lillard's wise words in mind to be successful in life. I have learned a lot through playing team sports but the quality that I value the most is providing service to others. Whether that be to teammates, friends and family or those less fortunate, what you do for others provides the most satisfaction in my life. Wherever my life leads me, all the lessons I have learned will help me to better a better citizen and person.