When I think of integrity I think of doing the right thing even when no one is around. To me integrity is honesty, keeping my word, owning up to my mistakes, and being dependable. Other people can count on me to follow through on what I say I am going to do. I have learned that just claiming to have integrity is not enough. You must prove it through your actions. Responsibility, perseverance, service, and respect are all values that are important to me. My family, church, and organizations I have been involved in have helped shape my values. I was raised by a single mother and have seen the things she has sacrificed and worked hard to provide me with opportunities to succeed in life. What my mom has taught me is that when things get tough you don’t give up, you keep pushing towards your goal. Integrity and responsibility are values that I have put into practice while serving on the technology team at Kent Baptist Church. Making sure the livestream for church runs smoothly happens behind the scenes, but people are relying on us to do our job. Not only do I have to show up, but I must also pay attention. If something goes wrong, I need to know how to fix it so that we can relay the message to our church members at home. There have been multiple times when something broke during a service and it was my job to stay calm, troubleshoot the problem, and keep working until it was resolved. Those situations have taught me that people can rely on me to do what’s needed. Even if nobody is there to see the work you put in to finish the job. Service is another value I try to practice every day. Things I have been involved in through my church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Kappa League, and other volunteer opportunities have taught me you do not have to do something extravagant to provide value. You can simply volunteer your time, help someone who may need it, or be willing to serve. Values have helped me through many challenges in life. One of those being, as I was getting ready for college my family encountered financial issues. Instead of letting those challenges make me believe I would not be able to reach my goals, I remained committed to graduating high school, earning scholarships, and preparing for life at Morgan State University. Today, I am a Computer Science major at Morgan State University. In the future, I want to use my education to reach other young people and help them learn about technology, coding, and digital skills. I know integrity will play a role in my career and help shape who I become. I want everyone to know that if I say I am going to do something they can rely on me to do my best and follow through with what I said I would do. Showing up and doing the right thing is what integrity means to me. Doing what’s right, standing by what you value, and using what you have to help others.

My dream is to change the way youth perceive technology. I want young people to see technology as something you can build, and not just something you use daily. As I start my journey as a Computer Science major at Morgan State, I want to learn and grow enough to further my career. My goal is to get the skills and experience I need to be successful in my career and use the knowledge I gain to help others along the way. I grew interested in technology by simply enjoying working on computers, playing video games, and exploring. My family grew used to me fixing their computers, so I became known as the “IT guy” of the family. Technology has also allowed me to serve my church, Kent Baptist Church. I help on the tech team and assist with live streaming services. Through these experiences I found that technology is something I enjoy, and can use to serve others. One of my biggest mentors is my mother. She has sacrificed and done whatever she can to ensure I have had opportunities to be successful. She has shown me that your true success is not measured by what you do for yourself, but what you are willing to do for others. My time spent with Kappa League also helped shape who I am. They taught me about leadership, responsibility, and most important how to give back. After college I hope to start or help an organization that focuses on getting young people interested in coding, computer science, and other technology related fields. Coding and computer science can be difficult to learn on your own, and some students might not have the same resources or opportunities as others. I want students to know that there are careers in technology that they can have. Whether through mentoring, teaching beginner coding classes, or just speaking with students I want to show youth that there are opportunities for them in technology. The education I will receive at Morgan State will allow me to do more than just get a degree. I will gain the skillset and knowledge to allow me to turn my hobbies into something that can help others. If someone sees me working in the field of technology, I want them to know that they can do it too. I may not change the world, but I can help change a persons life. By letting them know that opportunities in technology exist for them as well. My end goal is to build a career in technology that I enjoy, continue to serve my community, and one day help provide opportunities for others. I want my legacy to be more than what I can do for myself, but how many people I can help.

An obstacle I have had to overcome in order to reach higher education was wondering if my family would be able to support me financially throughout the college process. Throughout high school I worked very hard to keep up with my grades, be involved, give back to my community, and prepare for life after high school. But as I began to realize how much closer I was to graduation I also began to realize how expensive college is. From tuition, room and board, books, technology, transportation, and other expenses it can be really tough to receive financial support, especially if you have fallen on hard times. My mom unfortunately lost her job which limited the income we had in our household. She later found another job but it still caused my family and I a lot of stress. We weren’t sure how we would be able to afford everything for me to be able to go to college. There were times where I could have gave up or started to stress about if I would even be able to go to the university of my choice. Instead of letting those negative thoughts take over and affect my studies I allowed them to push me to work harder. My mother was my inspiration through my obstacle. She always told me to believe in yourself and know that nothing is permanent if you keep fighting. Even though we were struggling she never gave up on me or my dreams of going to college. She spent hours researching colleges, helping me fill out scholarship apps, helping me with financial aid, and searching for ways to help me pay for college. My mom showed me that when times are tough like this you just have to keep pushing. She showed me this by example. No matter how hard life got you have to push through. She always told me that your degree will be defined by how you reacted to the obstacles you faced, not by the obstacles themselves. Growing up I watched her work her hardest and make sacrifices while still staying positive the entire time. Volunteering in my church, volunteering in my community, and being involved in leadership programs such as Kappa League kept me thinking about my long term goals. I also surrounded myself with so many mentors and positive people that it allowed me to stay determined to reach my goals no matter what got in my way. Due to my mothers motivation I attend Morgan State University studying Computer Science. Me and my family have learned to never take anything for granted and we have become more driven to succeed. Even though we faced an obstacle that made us believe we wouldn’t be able to afford college we pulled together as family and over came it. Obstacles are temporary and they do not determine your future. If you have faith and stay determined while working hard you can overcome any obstacle that is put in your path. Don’t let anybody dull your shine!

After attending Morgan State University and majoring in Computer Science, I believe that higher education will allow me to build the foundation I need to turn my dreams into a reality. By receiving a college degree, I will learn the tools, skills, experiences, and professional network necessary to further my career in technology. Not only will higher education allow me to chase my dreams, but it will allow me to serve others. Higher education is an investment that I will make in myself and my future. It is also a chance to leave a lasting impact on others. Technology has always been a subject that interested me. I enjoy seeing how technology can be used to make life easier and solve problems. Whether it was helping family members fix devices or learning about how programmers use technology to create new programs that benefit people. Naturally, my passion for technology led me to my desire to major in Computer Science. By furthering my education, I will learn programming, software development, and other technical skills such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science. Not only will college allow me to chase my dream of becoming a technology professional, but it will allow me to become part of a field that is shaping the world we live in. My dream is to one day use technology to open doors for others. As I was growing up, I realized that not everyone came from a home with computers, or even reliable internet access. Nor did everyone have the opportunity to learn about technology at a young age. Students are extremely hindered if they don’t have access to technology which can negatively affect their education. With my education, I hope to help close the digital divide by creating programs that will allow me to teach kids and young adults coding, digital literacy, and other computer skills. If I can teach students these skills, they will have more opportunities to pursue STEM in their careers and change their futures for the better. Community service has shaped who I am. Community service and leadership are two other aspects I want to continue to pursue once I begin my college journey. Volunteering in my community through my church, volunteering with community service events, serving on the Kent Baptist Church technology team and being a part of Kappa League have shown me the importance of serving others. Not only have these experiences shown me that I enjoy helping people, but they have taught me what it means to be a leader. Leaders help others succeed and allow their talents to be used for the good of your community. I know that higher education will allow me to leave a positive impact on others. Technology has given me so many opportunities and I hope to be able to give that back to others by opening doors. By pursuing my dreams and serving my community, I hope to create better opportunities for generations to come. Receiving a scholarship would reduce some of the stress of paying for college, allow me to focus on reaching my goals and graduate debt free.

I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in STEM because I’ve always enjoyed troubleshooting and figuring out how things operate. From fixing a computer for one of my family members to learning about computational thinking in AP Computer Science Principles to browsing and testing out new technology, I love the fact that one solution can simplify life for so many people. STEM allows me to take my curiosity and create answers that allow people to live better lives. This fall, I will be attending Morgan State University and majoring in Computer Science. I understand that technology will continue to impact every aspect of our lives. Whether we are talking about healthcare or education, automobiles or communication, I know that there will always be a way to use technology to improve the world we live in. My goal is to be on the forefront of creating those solutions while also ensuring that everyone has equal access to those improvements no matter where they are from or how much money they have. One thing that I have noticed growing up is that not everyone is given the same access to technology. Some students are able to work from home on high-speed Internet, have up-to-date computers, and have been exposed to learning how to code. Other students do not have those privileges. That technological gap can hinder students’ ability to learn and limit their career options before they even graduate high school. I want to use my career to help bridge that digital divide. Whether I end up working in software development, cybersecurity, or any other STEM career, I also hope to give back to my community. One of my goals is to start a program to help teach kids coding, digital literacy, and other technology skills. I want students to see that there are opportunities for them to create their own websites, develop their own apps, use tech to solve real-world issues, and have a career in STEM, if they want to pursue those opportunities. Through volunteering in my church, community organizations, and Kappa League, I have learned that true leadership means serving others. What better way to impact our community than to empower the next generation? Volunteering has taught me that change will last when you use what you know to lift someone else up. Throughout my career, I hope to mentor students, volunteer with local STEM outreach programs, and help create opportunities for young people to unlock their full potential. For me, a STEM degree is not just a way to further my career, it’s also a way to help open doors for others. With technology, I hope to create opportunities that allow me to touch the lives of others and better my community through innovation, education, and inspiration.

I want to positively affect the world through better use of technology, education, and service. Technology has given me the opportunity to solve problems and change lives. By majoring in Computer Science at Morgan State University, I hope to continue to learn about how technology can not only benefit myself but others. My dream is to use technology to allow others to take advantage of opportunities like those I have been given. Ever since I was young, I noticed that not everyone had the same technology available to them as I did. Not everyone has access to reliable internet or computers. Not everyone is exposed to the ability to learn how to code and use technology to their advantage. I hope to one day start a program that allows students to learn technological skills. Learning how to code, do cybersecurity, and have computer literacy can help open so many doors for students and help them prepare for technological careers. Community service has helped shape who I am. I have been volunteering at my church, Kent Baptist Church, since I was little. Through that, I have learned to help others and step up when I am needed. Being active in my church allowed me to develop leadership skills, discipline, and a strong commitment to serving others. Doing service has always been something I strive to do. Whether it was volunteering in my church, doing service projects, or helping classmates during church service with technology problems. I helped out at my youth and community closet by helping those who needed assistance picking out clothes or finding sizes. Through these acts of service, I have learned that you can change someone’s day or life by doing small tasks. I want to continue to learn how I can better serve those around me. If I can teach a child something new or help out a family in need by giving my time, I want to learn how to do that. Technology can do so many positive things as well, but we as people have to ensure we use it to the best of our abilities. I would love to be part of creating artificial intelligence that helps solve real-world problems. I want to use technology to allow people from all backgrounds to benefit and have access to opportunities. I want young students to look up to me as a role model and know that they can be successful if they work hard and stay committed to their education. By teaching others and helping people better themselves, I can open doors and help create opportunity. Together we can help better my community and the world.

I am currently a senior at Bishop McNamara High School. I am a hardworking student who plans to use my education to not only create great opportunities for myself but also for those in my community. 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 education and how it can open doors to a better life. If you asked 100 teenagers what led them to volunteer in their community, most would probably say they started volunteering because of a parent or 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. Community service has helped shape who I am. I've been volunteering at my church since I was little. Through that, I have learned to help others and step up when help is needed. Being active in my church allowed me to see how leadership begins with serving others. One of my favorite activities within my church is helping the technology team. We provide live-stream services for people in our community who are unable to attend in person. Volunteering with the church's technology team allowed me to see how technology can connect people. I also learned many valuable skills, such as teamwork, responsibility, and dependability. When others are counting on you to do your job, you learn to take things seriously. This experience helped me decide to pursue a career in technology. One example of community service I've done outside of my church is being a part of the Kappa League. Kappa League allows me to help package care bundles for men who might need them. That experience opened my eyes to how small gestures can impact another person’s life. I have also volunteered at Heaven’s Tender Touch Day Care. I would help watch and take care of some of their younger children. I learned how to be patient and responsible at a young age, thanks to that daycare. I try to make an impact in my community by being reliable, helping out when needed, and giving back. In college, I will major in Computer Science. At home, I am the “IT guy.” I love the logical thinking that comes with working with technology. After college, my goal is to teach children to code or develop computer skills, especially for kids who do not have access to computers or the internet, as I did growing up. I want to show how technology skills can create opportunities and open doors that they thought were closed, and give them the confidence to have faith in their gifts and abilities. This goal will help me continue to help out in my community. As I focus on my goals, I’ve learned not to take opportunities for granted and to do my best in all that I do. It would be incredibly inspiring to know that the Shepherd E. Solomon Memorial Scholarship Committee believes in me. Receiving a scholarship would reduce some of the stress of paying for college and allow me to focus on reaching my goals. I think I have made an impact in my community by consistently showing up, helping people, and dedicating my spare time to serving those around me.

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.