My brother Lorenzo Murray, commited suicide June 27,2023. Me and my brother were inseparable, everyone thought we were twins, but we are a year apart. My brother meant the world to me, and some days my heart still aches thinking about him. He was that one person I could talk to about anything. It has roughly been a year sense he left this earth, and I never thought I could shake loosing my brother, but with time it has gotten better. By becoming the first person in our family to graduate from college, I'm determined to carry on my brother's legacy. Our childhood exposed us to the difficulties our mother encountered as a single parent rearing us. In remembrance of my brother's and our mother's efforts, I plan to utilize my job earnings to support our mother and donate to organizations that help underprivileged children and single mothers. By doing this, I want to truly contribute and uphold the resilience and compassion that my brother and our parents taught us. Though this process of grieving is incredibly challenging, I know that the impact of my brother's death will stay with me for the rest of my life. What has kept me going through school and life, in general, is knowing that my brother wouldn't want me to give up. He always showed immense pride in my academic pursuits and achievements. His encouragement continues to motivate me; I strive not only to earn my bachelor's degree for myself but also to honor his memory and make him proud in heaven. Every step I take now is with him in mind. I am determined to excel in everything I do, especially during my time in college. I am proud to share that since his passing, I have maintained A's and B's throughout my entire sophomore year. As I approach junior year, my goal is to achieve the dean's list at my college, furthering my dedication to honoring my brother's memory and fulfilling our shared dreams for my future.

My brother Lorenzo J Murray, committed suicide June 27, 2023 the day before I was scheduled to leave for summer school. He was only 20 years old. I was, and Is still very hurt by this. Loosing my twin was my worst ever nightmare, I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. Me and my brother did everything together, If you saw my brother you would see me. Although my brother only lived on this earth for 20 short years he was able to make so many friends and touched so many people by his kindness and compassion he had. It makes me so happy to know that everyone could count on him for anything, but it also hurts my heart that I would be able to talk to him or hug him ever again. I wasn’t able to attend summer school due to having to plan my brothers funeral, and to take care of his kids and our parents. Everyday I wake up with the reality of not having my brother and it hurts my heart. I feel so empty and so incomplete without him. But what keeps me going is the fact that he always said how proud he was that I was in college. I found out after his death that he talked about me to all his friends and to his coworkers about me being in college. So now that he has passed away my only mission is to finish school and continue to make him proud. I found some sense of peace in this by thinking of the memories that we shared when he was living on this earth and it brings happiness. With talking and thanking God that he allowed my brother to be apart of my life. I constantly remind myself that at first it won’t be easy, some days it may be hard and some days I may see something that reminds me of him and makes me smile. Most importantly I make sure that I get up, and not lay around in the dark and cry all day. I’m chasing my dreams at A&T and im now on my 3rd year. My grades have drastically improved because now it’s all about graduating to make him proud. Knowing that he is watching over me in heaven, and cheering for me to live on. Some days I struggle to get up in the morning, because I’ve cried myself to sleep the night before. Holidays have been a struggle for me , our birthdays and Mother’s Day . His kids make it better for me, and my family that’s around me are always comforting me. As far as lessons go, my brother didn’t prioritize self-love. I believe that contributed to his decision. Before his passing, I didn’t take mental health seriously; I thought people claiming to have mental health issues were just making excuses. Boy, was I wrong. His death opened my eyes, and I've learned to prioritize self-love every day. I take time for activities that make me feel better about life. In the wake of his tragic loss, I've come to understand the importance of seeking help when needed and being compassionate towards oneself. I've also learned to recognize the signs of struggling mental health in others and offer support without judgment. Through this journey of healing and self-discovery, I've found solace in knowing that my brother's legacy lives on through the lessons he inadvertently taught me. Though his absence is deeply felt, I carry his memory with me as a reminder to cherish every moment and prioritize my own well-being.

Graduate school represents a pivotal moment in one's educational and professional journey, signifying a commitment to intellectual growth, specialized knowledge, and personal development. The decision to pursue graduate studies is a significant one, driven by a combination of passion, ambition, and a desire to contribute to society. I plan on continuing my education once I graduate from North Carolina Agricultural and technical state university, because coming into college I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do. At first, I wanted to be a Culinary Arts major, then it changed from Psychology to Criminal Justice, and now it’s Food and Nutrition (Human Nutrition). But even now as a sophomore I’m planning on switching my major back to psychology. There’s still so much I want to do in my life, so my plan is to just go ahead and get it done while I still have the drive to do it. When I go to grad school, I plan on going to Florida State or continuing my education at North Carolina A&T. I firmly believe that education is a lifelong journey, and graduate school represents a significant milestone in this ongoing process. The pursuit of knowledge and personal growth is a lifelong commitment that I take seriously. Graduate studies will challenge me to expand my horizons, think critically, and engage with diverse perspectives. These experiences will not only enrich my academic and professional life but also contribute to my personal development, fostering adaptability, resilience, and a growth mindset. One of the most exciting aspects of graduate school is the opportunity to engage in meaningful research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in my field. I am passionate about Law, and I aspire to make a tangible impact through my research endeavors. Graduate school will provide me with access to cutting-edge resources, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities, allowing me to pursue research that addresses pressing societal issues and pushes the boundaries of knowledge. Ultimately, my desire to attend graduate school is grounded in a profound sense of responsibility to contribute positively to society. I am committed to utilizing the knowledge and skills acquired during graduate studies to address real-world challenges, effect meaningful change, and make a lasting impact in my community and beyond. Graduate school is a crucial stepping stone on this path, equipping me with the expertise and perspective needed to effect change effectively. The decision to attend graduate school is not taken lightly but is driven by a combination of passion, career goals, a commitment to lifelong learning, a thirst for research and innovation, and a desire to make a meaningful societal impact. It represents a continuation of my educational journey, providing me with the tools and opportunities needed to excel in my chosen field and contribute to the betterment of society. As I embark on this exciting journey, I am excited to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, confident that graduate school will be a transformative and enriching experience that aligns with my personal and professional aspirations.

My future holds greatness, stability, 6 figure businesses, a healthy marriage; owning a popular resturaunt where all my family could work and profit from that I can pass down generations, and a very successful lifestyle so that I don't have to live paycheck to paycheck like my family, a life where I'm able to get any and everything that I want and not have to worry about how bills are going to get paid, or what I'm going to eat for dinner, the life I envision for myself is prosperous.

My brother Lorenzo J Murray, committed suicide June 27, 2023 the day before I was scheduled to leave for summer school. My brother was dealing with a toxic relationship that he decided he could no longer face. He was only 20 years old. I was, and Is still very hurt by this. Loosing my twin was my worst ever nightmare, I wouldn’t wish this pain on my worst enemy. Me and my brother did everything together, from playing the game together, taking our school photos together, and just living and growing up in the same household. If you saw my brother you would see me, we were two peas in a pod. Although my brother only lived on this earth for 20 short years he was able to make so many friends and touched so many people by his kindness and compassion he had. My brother so so selfless, he would give you the shirt off of his back. It makes me so happy to know that everyone could count on him for anything, but it also hurts my heart that I would be able to talk to him or hug him ever again. These past few days has been really hard for me, leading up to his funeral. I stayed in his room for three days straight crying my eyes out wishing that I could wake up from this nightmare, or that I could go back in time. I wasn’t able to attend summer school due to having to plan my brothers funeral, and to take care of his kids and take care of our parents. Everyday I wake up with the reality of not having my brother and it hurts my heart. Being at home doesn’t feel the same without him here. I feel so empty and so incomplete without him. But what keeps me going is the fact that he always said how proud he was that I was in college. It made my brother so happy to see me chasing my dreams. I found out after his death that he talked about me to all his friends and to his coworkers, and to hear that just made me cry tears of joy. So now that he has passed away my only mission is to finish school and continue to make him proud. My advice to someone that’s going through a similar situation, is to think of the good times. Think of the memories that you had with your loved one when they were on this earth and let it be bring peace and happiness. Thank God that he allowed your loved one to apart of your life. Remember that at first it won’t be easy, some days it may be hard for you to sleep and some days you may see something that reminds you of them and it will make you smile. Don’t ever beat yourself up thinking that it was something that you could have done to prevent it. Most importantly make sure that you get up. Don’t lay around in the dark and cry. Get up and chase your dreams, because your loved one wouldn’t want you to not move on with your life. Remember that your loved one is watching over you in heaven, and will be so proud of you to live on. Know that it will get better as time goes on, and remember that they may not be with you physically on earth but their spirit is with you, and you will see them again.