When I performed as Michael Jackson in the Motown Review Spring Concert in second grade, I learned how to prepare, practice, and perform. As a child of a single mother, I have learned many valuable lessons on hard work and perseverance. My mother has always instilled the value of an education and how it has the potential to open doors to a better life. She made the sacrifice to send me to private school where I could focus and be surrounded by the best opportunities for success. She sacrificed so much for me to do well and to learn more than I ever thought possible. Watching her go to work and take on so many responsibilities, always coming home for me, has taught me to not take opportunities for granted and to do my best in all that I do. My mother is a woman of many talents and I have watched her wear many hats. I have seen her be a youth mentor in her sorority. I have also seen her sing in gospel groups and even lead songs in our church. She has always made time for me even while she was pouring herself out for others. Her strength, grace, and love have inspired me to be better in all that I do. She has always taught me that success is not only what you can achieve for yourself but how you help others to achieve as well. I would love nothing more than to make her proud by showing her that the sacrifices she made for me did not go unnoticed and that I took the lessons she instilled in me to heart. At home, I am the “IT guy.” I have been doing school work on computers for years and telling my mom to shut down her computer before calling the IT guy at work for help. As a kid, I was curious and just tried to figure out how things worked. As I got older, I realized what started as helping the family with tech problems turned into a genuine interest and passion for computers. So with that in mind, I knew Computer Science was the major I was meant to have. To me, computer science is more than just learning to code; it is about understanding the process behind the code and using that to create something new. Computer Science is one of those paths where I can solve complex problems and be creative at the same time. I would like to teach coding or computer skills to children who may not have access to technology or the internet like I did growing up. I want to be able to show them how technology and tech skills can provide opportunities that will open doors they may have thought were closed and give them the confidence to believe in their gifts and abilities. If I can impact one student in such a way, then I will have been successful. I have learned about confidence, preparation, hard work, responsibility, and service. I will take what I learn and find avenues to use it for others and that will be the success that I measure my life by. As I take this next step, I will continue to grow and learn from all the opportunities around me. I can look back on my life so far and see how every experience shaped me. From performing as a young Michael Jackson to being the “IT guy” at home, I have found values and lessons that will help me on my college journey.

If you were to ask 100 teenagers what leads them to volunteer in their community, most of them would probably say that they started volunteering because of a parent or a mentor. For me, it was my mom. I've watched my mom volunteer for many years as a mentor for her sorority's youth group, sing in the church choir, and help with events at my school. She often made me volunteer to help at our church, even though I would rather not have. I later realized that helping others without getting something in return can still benefit me greatly. I'm grateful that my mother guided me to that realization early on and that she taught me to care about something other than myself. Community service is more than just something I do to graduate from high school. It is an opportunity to meet new people, gain new skills, find networking opportunities, and build a connection with your community. The neighborhoods I pass through keep me aware of the need in my community. I also sometimes do community service at Heaven's Tender Touch Daycare, the daycare I grew up in. Being able to work with children at such a young age taught me to be patient and to not lose my temper when dealing with others, which is a skill that still helps me today. Service also helps me stay connected to my community, which teaches me that my power lies in helping others, and that is why I want to use my degree to help others. I plan to receive a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Music, or both, and I am confident that this is the path that I want to pursue. Knowing that service is a lifelong commitment, I feel it would be helpful to have the resources to one day, once I have furthered my education, to go back to my community and teach coding, give music lessons, and or tutor, to help someone see their value and help them step out with courage to pursue their dreams. Through my research, I have found the life of Bishop Ron O. Beazer Sr. inspirational. The fact that he was willing to show up and give his time and energy to people is the core of what I hope to do, and I would be honored to have my name and works written alongside Bishop Ron O. Beazer Sr.