I was raised by a single mother who had six children, including my twin brother and me. My mother had her first child at fifteen, and ever since then, all the challenges she faced, she faced alone. My father was never completely absent, but he wasn't always permanent either. Growing up, college was something my family never spoke about or took seriously because no one had been able to go or finish if they started. When my twin brother and I graduated from high school, we both wanted to attend college, but our mom couldn't afford to send us both. My brother decided to put his dreams on hold so I could pursue mine, and that was one of the hardest decisions I've ever faced. As I navigate through college, I carry the weight of his sacrifice with me. I feel a strong responsibility to ensure that he didn’t set aside his dreams for nothing. I push myself through college, motivated by the fear of disappointing him and my family if I am unable to complete my degree. This upcoming semester has brought new challenges. My father is trying to help with the costs, but he hasn't been able to secure the money. Due to this, I am at risk of not being able to return to school. The possibility of losing everything I've worked this hard for is truly overwhelming. But it's also motivating. It reminds me of why I started chasing this dream to begin with. To break the cycle my family has been caught in for generations. Between watching my mother struggle to raise six kids by herself and watching my father struggle with finding a job, a house, bills, and more after being released from prison, I have seen unwavering determination in the face of hardships. Every obstacle they've faced has fueled my anger and determination to keep going, no matter how impossible things may seem. Being a first-generation college student means entering an unfamiliar world on my own. While I know my family will always support me, I also realize that going to college is stepping into uncharted waters for us. They don’t fully understand the pressure and the time commitment involved in college. It feels like I’m working twice as hard with only half the resources compared to others. This scholarship would not only allow me to continue my education but also bring me closer to breaking a generational cycle. My journey hasn’t been easy, but it has shaped me into someone who refuses to give up.

The question, “When can we go to our dad’s?” was a frequent one throughout my childhood. My father was not completely absent from our lives as we were growing up; he always tried his hardest to be there for us both physically and financially. However, there were times when he had to work longer hours or extra days, including weekends when he was supposed to have my twin brother and me. This often led to us not being able to see him. Due to this, there were many days when I found myself alone in my room, questioning why my father acted the way he did and why my life had turned out as it had. However, my mother often reminded me that my father's mistakes didn't have to negatively impact my life. She encouraged me not to dwell on how things might have been different if his past had been better. And that is only one way she has helped me become the person I am today. My name is Chloe Adams, and I am the youngest of six siblings raised by a single mother. Growing up, most of my belongings were hand-me-downs since I had four older sisters. My mom worked tirelessly to ensure that none of us felt deprived of a “traditional” childhood experience or that we missed out on the things most kids our age had at that time. She became a mother at the age of 15, and even then, she was a wonderful parent to my oldest sister, sacrificing her teenage years to take on the responsibilities of motherhood. As she grew older and had more children, her determination and selflessness only strengthened and expanded endlessly. My mother always taught us to learn from her past and her mistakes, urging us to live our lives differently and better than she did when she was younger. She has always regretted not going to college and pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse. However, her greatest regret is that none of her children attended college. My twin brother and I understood the importance of being different from our parents and siblings. We were determined to continue our education and break the generational cycle of not going to college or having children at a young age. I always knew that college would be expensive, but I was particularly aware that sending two kids off to college in the same year on a single parent’s income would be nearly impossible. After graduating from high school and being accepted into multiple colleges, I chose to continue my education at Wingate University. While I wanted to savor the moment of being the first in my family to attend college, all I could think about was whether my mom could afford it and how both my brother and I would be able to attend the schools we wanted. However, that feeling of worry didn’t last long. My mother reassured me that everything would be okay and that it wasn’t my responsibility to worry about things that a parent should handle. My mother has always reminded me that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, no matter how different my path may be. This scholarship will help me continue my education and pursue my dream of advocating for wrongfully imprisoned people of color, like my father. Though I didn’t have the traditional family structure, my family was loud, messy, and loving. Thanks to my mother’s hard work, I learned to chase my dreams, even when my journey differs from societal expectations.

When I was in kindergarten, I dreamed of being a princess. In elementary school, I wanted to be a veterinarian like the character Doc McStuffins. As I matured and entered middle school, my aspirations changed, and I wanted to be a detective like Olivia Benson from "Law and Order." However, when reality set in and I started high school, it became important for me to seriously consider who I wanted to be after graduation. You might be wondering how a princess, a veterinarian, and a detective are connected to this essay and how they have influenced my life. When I was younger, I dreamed of being a princess, which I believe was influenced by the adults around me saying, “You can be anything you want to be when you grow up.” I was particularly inspired by Doc McStuffins, a character who had hair and skin like mine. I had never seen anyone who looked like me on screen before, and I admired how she treated her stuffed animals with such compassion and love, reflecting my feelings for my toys. Olivia Benson is more than just a character on a TV show; she has been a role model for me. She embodies kindness, assertiveness, and dedication. Most importantly, she is an advocate for victims of abuse. Watching Mariska Hargitay portray Olivia Benson on screen, I was inspired by how she spoke to victims. Even though the show is scripted, the way she stands up for victims, on and off screen, sparked my passion for becoming a lawyer and advocating for those in need. Although I was inspired by her advocacy for victims of abuse, my passion lies more with those who experience systematic abuse, like my father. When I was a baby, my father was wrongfully imprisoned for 5 to 8 years. This situation forced my mother to become a single parent, raising six children alone while working multiple jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. Since I was so young, when my father was imprisoned, I never fully grasped the impact his absence had on our family until I grew older. During my senior year of high school, I began to understand how my father’s imprisonment affected our family and my future. I thought his release would improve our financial situation, but I was wrong. He has struggled to find stable work due to his criminal record, making it hard for him to secure housing as well. Despite this, he often pretended everything was fine, trying to provide my twin brother and me with a stable life. My mom worked tirelessly to support us, and it was important for me to show her that her efforts were worthwhile. I was determined to be the first of her children to attend college, even though I worried about the financial burden it might impose on her. She encouraged me, reminding me that I wasn’t responsible for their past mistakes. My parents have greatly shaped my outlook on life. My mother highlighted the significance of hard work, inspiring me to keep pushing forward even in the darkest times. Similarly, my father reinforced the importance of resilience, teaching me to never give up, regardless of how challenging the situation may seem. Together, their guidance has provided me with a strong foundation to face life's obstacles. Not only will this scholarship reduce the financial burden on my mother. More importantly, it will help me achieve my goal of ensuring that men and people of color, like my father, do not have to face the same struggles he experienced.

As a teenage girl, my journey has been marked by adversity, but it's adversity that fuels my determination to make a difference. Growing up, my family faced the harsh reality of wrongful imprisonment when my father was unjustly incarcerated. Although my mother and father were never together, his imprisonment led my mother single-handedly to raise my twin brother and me. During the years my father was confined behind those unyielding walls, I was but a child, naive to the depth of his trials and tribulations. His struggles, a distant reality, were veiled from my youthful comprehension. Yet, as the hands of time have ushered me into my eighteenth year, my eyes have been pried open to the harsh truths that incarceration bestows upon a person. Witnessing the aftermath of prison's grip on him has been a revelation, stirring within me a profound awakening. It is this very awakening that has ignited a fire in my soul, compelling me to transform the anguish my father endured into a catalyst for purpose, for change, and for hope. Throughout high school, I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to my academic pursuits. I selected courses that promised to construct a robust groundwork for the ambitious future I envisioned. My mother, in the face of financial pressures, became a paragon of tireless effort and unwavering commitment to ensure that my twin brother and I had the resources we needed to thrive. Her relentless dedication and the sacrifices she made served as a powerful lesson in resilience and perseverance, deeply ingrained these values within me. Witnessing her strength and resolve only fortified my determination to not merely succeed, but to excel in honor of her efforts. As graduation approaches, I am overwhelmed with a pressing need to chase after my dreams. After being accepted into many schools, the decision of where I continue my education is crucial as this decision will affect the education I gain while pursuing my bachelor's degree in criminal justice, viewing it as a pivotal step towards my ultimate ambition of specializing in wrongful conviction law as a lawyer. The journey before me may seem intimidating, yet I will not allow trepidation to be an obstacle. My father's steadfast resilience and his unshakeable faith in justice, despite numerous adversities, serve as my wellspring of courage. After his incarceration, my father instilled in me the strength and determination that propels me forward to champion the cause of justice. In my pursuit of justice, I am driven by a desire to ensure that no family has to endure the pain of wrongful imprisonment. I am determined to challenge the systemic injustices that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and to be a voice for those who have been silenced by a flawed system. But my journey is not just about seeking justice for others—it's also about reclaiming my narrative. My father's imprisonment does not define me, but it has shaped my determination to create a better future, not just for myself, but for those who have been denied justice. Although my father is my number one inspiration, individuals like Bryan Stevenson, who tirelessly advocate for justice and challenge the inequalities embedded in the legal system, inspire my journey as well. Their courage in the face of adversity serves as a beacon of hope, reminding me of the transformative impact one person can have on the lives of many.