Pursuing a dual MBA in Finance and MS in AI & Business Analytics at the University of South Florida has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. As a first-generation college graduate with independent financial status, I’ve had to navigate every step of higher education without the safety nets many others rely on. Scholarships like the OMC Graduate Scholarship will be able to provide financial support an invest in a future where I can pay it forward in lasting and meaningful ways. During my academic journey, I’ve balanced full-time work in healthcare technology consulting with an ambitious graduate course load. I currently support hospitals and community health networks across the country, and my role has taught me how data, finance, and system design can make or break health outcomes. While doing this, I’ve maintained a 3.94 GPA, completed independent research, and joined a faculty-led Behavioral AI Lab. My work bridges innovation and real-world impact, but it’s not without sacrifice. I’ve already reached the tuition reimbursement cap from my employer, and I am not in a position to take on additional student loans. Each semester comes with tough financial choices, balancing coursework, project demands, and basic living expenses. Despite these challenges, I remain deeply driven by my long-term vision. My ultimate goal is to launch a financial technology company centered on equity and inclusion. I want to build accessible tools that help first-generation professionals, women of color, and underserved communities achieve financial stability and long-term wealth. That means designing platforms that offer affordable credit, personalized financial coaching, and culturally aware education tools to help users make informed financial decisions. I know what it’s like to live without a roadmap, and I want to build one for others. I’m especially passionate about bridging the gap between data and dignity. In too many cases, technology replicates existing biases instead of dismantling them. I want to be part of the change, building systems that are transparent, ethical, and intentionally inclusive. My graduate coursework in AI and finance is giving me the technical foundation I need, while my lived experiences keep me grounded in the realities that can’t be taught in textbooks. The scholarship I’m applying for would allow me to continue pursuing this dual degree without having to sacrifice academic opportunities due to financial strain. It would help relieve the pressure of tuition costs so that I can focus fully on my research, consulting projects, and leadership development. But more importantly, it would help me continue the work I’ve already begun through paying it forward. I actively mentor other students from first-gen or low-income backgrounds and regularly share my story in workshops, peer networks, and online forums. I believe deeply that representation matters, especially in tech, finance, and AI, where decisions shape the future. If awarded this scholarship, I will not only carry it with pride, but I’ll use it as fuel to multiply its impact in my community. Education has always been the key to opening doors in my life. Each opportunity I’ve received—whether an internship, a faculty recommendation, or a scholarship, has made it possible for me to take one more step toward the future I envision. This scholarship would not just support my goals; it would extend the momentum I’ve worked so hard to build and help me keep showing up, fully and purposefully. I am committed to walking through every door I’ve earned,and just as committed to holding it open for the next person behind me. Thank you sincerely for considering my application.

I am a first-generation college graduate currently pursuing a dual MBA in Finance and MS in AI & Business Analytics at the University of South Florida. I work full-time in healthcare technology consulting and serve as a research assistant in a Behavioral AI Lab, where I help develop tools that make AI more human-centered and inclusive. My path hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has shaped the resilient, service-driven woman I am today. I grew up navigating instability, from hurricanes that displaced my family, to the pandemic that caused both of my parents to be furloughed while I was still in school. By my junior year of college, I had become the sole breadwinner in my household. I worked as a hospital technician to support both myself and my family, while balancing full-time coursework. I still remember sitting in my apartment, staring at tuition deadlines alongside my bank balance, knowing I had no one to call if the numbers didn’t add up. Despite those challenges, I’ve remained focused on making the most of my education. I’ve launched a live academic research platform that supports applied AI experiments, contributed to faculty-led research on behavioral AI, and mentored other first-gen students exploring tech and data careers. I also lead volunteer efforts through my company’s Black employee resource group, including Special Olympics support, 8 Cents in a jar Financial Literacy mentoring, inclusive healthcare outreach, and DEI initiatives in tech. These experiences reflect my belief that success means nothing unless you’re using it to uplift others. My passion for STEM is rooted in a vision of access. Too often, our communities are left behind in both technology development and access to its benefits. I’m determined to change that. I want to build platforms that democratize financial knowledge, provide credit-building tools, and bring investing literacy to communities that have long been excluded. My goal is to create a financial technology company that blends data science, financial education, and AI to empower underserved families with the tools to build wealth. The dual degree I’m pursuing is not only equipping me with technical and business skills, it’s giving me the credibility and confidence to lead change. I've maintained a 3.94 GPA while working full-time and engaging in academic research, service, and mentorship. I’m committed to making every step of this journey meaningful, not just for myself but for the communities I represent. In the long term, I want to continue mentoring Black women in tech and finance, helping them navigate systems I had to figure out on my own. My dream life includes not just professional success, but peace, being able to own a home without debt, help my family without strain, and use my education to open doors for others. I want to build systems that restore dignity, not just create profit. This scholarship would bring me one step closer to completing my degree without financial hardship. More importantly, it would help me continue the work I’ve already started paying it forward for the next generation.

The life of my dreams is one where I’ve transformed the odds I’ve faced into opportunities for others. I’ve weathered harsh realities, back-to-back hurricanes, family emergencies, car accidents, unexpected repair costs, and transferring schools during the global pandemic. By my junior year of college, I became the sole breadwinner in my household after both of my parents were furloughed. Despite being a full-tuition scholarship recipient, I was faced with taking on life expenses early. During the pandemic, I worked as a hospital technician full-time to help support myself and my family. I still remember sitting alone in my apartment, staring at tuition deadlines alongside my bank balance, knowing I had no one to call if the numbers didn’t add up. As a first-generation college graduate with independent financial status, I’ve had to keep going even when the path wasn’t clear. My dream is to build stability, security, and purpose for myself, and then use what I’ve built to uplift others who, like me, grew up without a safety net. I am currently pursuing a dual MBA in Finance and MS in AI & Business Analytics at the University of South Florida, while working full-time in healthcare technology consulting. Balancing a rigorous graduate program with full-time work hasn’t been easy, especially after reaching the limit of my employer’s tuition reimbursement. Still, I’ve worked hard to maintain a 3.94 GPA while completing independent research, launching a live academic AI platform, and joining a faculty-led Behavioral AI Lab. I’ve had to navigate every semester without family financial support, often balancing academic responsibilities with real-world challenges and long hours. In the life of my dreams, I no longer have to choose between ambition and stability. I see myself leading a financial technology company focused on expanding financial literacy and access in underserved communities. This company would provide tools for wealth-building, accessible credit, and hands-on education for those who’ve historically been left out of financial systems. My goal is to create sustainable pathways to opportunity for others, especially Black women and first-generation professionals like me. My dream also includes peace: owning a home without debt, supporting my family without financial strain, and thriving in a career rooted in purpose. I envision myself mentoring the next generation of women in tech, finance, and data, helping them navigate systems I had to figure out on my own. I want to speak openly about my journey and use it to equip others not just with hope, but with a real strategy. Education has always been the key to possibility in my life. Scholarships like this one don’t just fund my education, they allow me to keep building a future that’s bigger than myself. I’m committed to walking through every door I’ve earned, and just as committed to holding it open for the next woman behind me.