I grew up attending small private Christian schools, both of which were diverse, with no more than 20 students per grade level. In my sophomore year, I attended Hazelwood Central, a public school with 300-400+ students per grade level, online. While Hazelwood Central was more diverse in the past, it has evolved into a predominately African-American student body over the years. After learning virtually during my sophomore year, going into my junior year in person was quite a shock. Being in a building that big was very different from my previous learning environments. However, I finally got the “high school experience”. I went to football games, joined clubs and sports, attempted to fit in, and succeeded. It took me most of the year, but I finally found the people that I connected with. After being in public school for a year I felt a bit more confident in myself. I had made friends and also learned how to focus on myself when needed and accomplish my own goals, no longer afraid of being alone. Having been a student-athlete, taken two AP classes, and maintained my position in the top 10% of my class, I felt successful and presumed that I was ahead of most of my peers. Then I was accepted into the Washington University Summer Academy program. For five weeks, I studied at a Top 20 school surrounded by people that did not look like me. I knew that WashU had a majority of White and Asian student body. Still, when I walked into orientation to see that I was not only the only black girl but the only black person in my program, it became very discouraging. Knowing that black women are rarely seen or invited into prominent spaces such as this, it felt like a blessing that I was even accepted, but also very strange. I started to second guess myself and ask if I belonged. My classmates talked about their 30+ ACT scores and the 4’s and 5’s that they received on their AP tests, and the imposter syndrome began to kick in. Did I deserve to be here? Did they choose me because of my academic excellence or just to have a bit of diversity? While everyone in my program was so kind, there were recurrent times when I would ostracize myself because I believed that their kindness was just an act. I ended up having a gratifying experience but only after I affirmed to myself that I belonged and began to regain confidence in my ability to succeed no matter what challenge I faced. The experience not only allowed me to see what life would be like once I entered college but also allowed me to realize two things: the importance of simply believing in myself and learning to acknowledge my strengths as well as work on my weaknesses. It was also during this program that I conducted a research project on Beyonce and analyzed her impact on the African-American community through her music. This experience only furthered my passion to empower my community by one day starting a mental health initiative for young African-American men.

“There’s no such thing as limitation, I exceed expectation”. As a young black woman with dreams bigger than life, these words speak to me very deeply. I am often told that I should just stick to one thing and steer clear from being a “jack of all trades and a master of none”. My response is always the same, “I would rather be a jack of all trades than a master of one”. Yet, being a “jack” at something means that you aren’t very good at it. I know that I have many talents, and even though I may not be the best at them, I am sure good enough. Because of this thinking, I have started to refer to myself as a “spade of all trades”, as the spade suit is often the strongest. I know that my dreams will be brought to fruition because I have the power to do so. I exceed expectations. There is nothing holding me back. “And some of us chase the glory, some just do the best we can”. Sometimes we can often compare our journey to others' success. I know that this is something that I do very often. I am at a stage in life where I am learning to focus on myself and my personal goals, no longer fixated on social media and who I think I should be, but rather on who I truly want to be. This song is titled “Free” by Perri Jones. Even though these specific lyrics stand out, this song resonates with me and often brings me to tears. It tells of a young girl finally being comfortable with herself and how she lives her life. She is confident and loved. Respected and at peace. Satisfied and revered.

I grew up attending small private Christian schools, both of which were diverse, with no more than 20 students per grade level. In my sophomore year, I started attending Hazelwood Central, a public school ranging from 300-400+ students per grade level, online. While Hazelwood Central was more diverse in the past, over the years it has evolved into a predominately African-American student body. After learning virtually during my sophomore year, going into my junior year in person was quite a shock. Being in a building that big was very different from my previous learning environments. However, I finally got the “high school experience”. I went to the football games, joined clubs and sports, and attempted to fit in, and I succeeded. It took me most of the year, but I finally found the people that I connected with. After being in public school for a year I felt a bit more confident in myself. I had made friends and also learned how to focus on myself when needed and accomplish my own goals, no longer afraid of being alone. Having been a student-athlete, taken two AP classes, and maintained my position in the top 10% of my class, I felt successful and presumed that I was ahead of most of my peers. Then I was accepted into the Washington University Summer Academy program. For five weeks, I studied at a Top 20 school surrounded by people that did not look like me. I knew that WashU had a majority White and Asian student body. Still, when I walked into orientation to see that I was not only the only black girl but the only black person in my program, it became very discouraging. Knowing that black women are rarely seen or invited into prominent spaces such as this, it felt like a blessing that I was even accepted, but also very strange. I started to second guess myself and ask if I belonged. My classmates talked about their 30+ ACT scores and the 4’s and 5’s that they received on their AP tests, and the imposter syndrome began to kick in. Did I deserve to be here? Did they choose me because of my academic excellence or just to have a bit of diversity? While everyone in my program was so kind, there were recurrent times when I would ostracize myself because I believed that their kindness was just an act. I ended up having a gratifying experience but only after I affirmed to myself that I belonged and began to regain confidence in my ability to succeed no matter what challenge I faced. The experience not only allowed me to see what life would be like once I entered college but also allowed me to realize two things: the importance of simply believing in myself and learning to acknowledge my strengths as well as work on my weaknesses. It was also during this program that I conducted a research project on Beyonce and analyzed her impact on the African-American community through her music. This experience only furthered my passion to empower my community by one day starting a mental health initiative for young African-American men.

I grew up attending small private Christian schools, both of which were diverse, with no more than 20 students per grade level. In my sophomore year, I started attending Hazelwood Central, a public school ranging from 300-400+ students per grade level, online. While Hazelwood Central was more diverse in the past, over the years it has evolved into a predominately African-American student body. After learning virtually during my sophomore year, going into my junior year in person was quite a shock. Being in a building that big was very different from my previous learning environments. However, I finally got the “high school experience”. I went to the football games, joined clubs and sports, and attempted to fit in, and I succeeded. It took me most of the year, but I finally found the people that I connected with. After being in public school for a year I felt a bit more confident in myself. I had made friends and also learned how to focus on myself when needed and accomplish my own goals, no longer afraid of being alone. Having been a student-athlete, taken two AP classes, and maintained my position in the top 10% of my class, I felt successful and presumed that I was ahead of most of my peers. Then I was accepted into the Washington University Summer Academy program. For five weeks, I studied at a Top 20 school surrounded by people that did not look like me. I knew that WashU had a majority White and Asian student body. Still, when I walked into orientation to see that I was not only the only black girl but the only black person in my program, it became very discouraging. Knowing that black women are rarely seen or invited into prominent spaces such as this, it felt like a blessing that I was even accepted, but also very strange. I started to second guess myself and ask if I belonged. My classmates talked about their 30+ ACT scores and the 4’s and 5’s that they received on their AP tests, and the imposter syndrome began to kick in. Did I deserve to be here? Did they choose me because of my academic excellence or just to have a bit of diversity? While everyone in my program was so kind, there were recurrent times when I would ostracize myself because I believed that their kindness was just an act. I ended up having a gratifying experience but only after I affirmed to myself that I belonged and began to regain confidence in my ability to succeed no matter the challenge. The experience not only allowed me to see what life would be like once I entered college but also allowed me to realize two things: the importance of simply believing in myself and learning to acknowledge my strengths as well as work on my weaknesses. This experience only furthered my passion to empower my community by one day starting a mental health initiative for young African-American men. I would like to provide them with the tools that they need to live a better quality of life such as group therapy sessions, media resources, and access to therapists and other mental health professionals that can assist them, all free of charge. To accomplish this, I intend to graduate high school with summa cum laude honors and go on to earn my bachelor’s of psychology at an HBCU. I also intend to minor in African - American studies or have a concentration in mental health. After this, I will go on to obtain my doctorate, hopefully, free of charge.

As a young black woman who has experienced feeling as though she does not belong in an institution, I know that Spelman College will be the place for me. Spelman College is the #1 Private HBCU in the United States, it is also the most expensive. A liberal arts college that is the #1 producer of Black Women who completes Ph. D.s in STEM fields. It is an honor and my dream to attend Spelman as I would like to obtain my doctoral degree of psychology, however, my family's income does not necessarily match this. I would excel at Spelman College and grow immensely as a young woman if I were to attend. Majoring in Psychology and minoring in Writing would allow me to accomplish my dreams and reach my goal of starting a mental health initiative for young African American men. I do not see myself going elsewhere for higher education than Spelman College. This is why I spend every day applying for scholarships and keeping up my 3.9 GPA average so I can attend this illustrious institution. I am a part of the National Honor Society, an up-and-coming small business owner, and a member of Senator Brian Williams Youth Advisory Board. I have been recognized several times for my academic excellence and I know that receiving this scholarship will only help me further that. The last thing I want to do is graduate college with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay back, automatically putting me in financial distress right off the bat. Winning this scholarship would allow me to take off a bit of that financial burden for which I would be forever grateful.

I am a hardworking straight-A student-athlete who is a part of the National Honor Society. As a student who has recently taken summer college courses at Washington University in St. Louis, I was able to complete them with high grades successfully. I am also a half-day student at a technical high school where I am earning an education in fashion design. In the mornings, I attend my core classes, which consist of two AP courses, at my home school. I am also an aspiring entrepreneur and lover of reading and helping my community. I often try to participate in community service events such as community fashion shows, the Special Olympics, and community runs/5ks. This is why I spend every day applying for scholarships and keeping up my 3.90 GPA average so I am able to afford higher education. An up-and-coming small business owner and Senator Brian Williams Youth Advisory Board member. I have been recognized several times for my academic excellence and I know that receiving this scholarship will only help me further that. The last thing I want to do is graduate college with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay back, automatically putting me in financial distress right off the bat. Winning this scholarship would allow me to take off a bit of that financial burden for which I would be forever grateful. I plan to serve my community by starting a mental health initiative. The Young Men’s Mental Health Initiative (YMMHI) will serve as a resource for young black men to “obtain a more positive mindset towards life, themselves, and others”. I would like to provide them with the tools that they need to live a better quality of life such as group therapy sessions, media resources, and access to therapists and other mental health professionals that can assist them, all free of charge. In order to accomplish this, I intend to graduate high school with summa cum laude honors and go on to earn my bachelor’s of psychology at an HBCU. After this, I will go on to obtain my doctorate, hopefully, free of charge. While this is my main career goal, I do see myself as a “jack of all trades”. I am also very passionate about fashion design and writing. I hope to go on to also become a #1 New York Times bestselling author, as well as open my own online boutique. I would like to also have a brick-and-mortar building as a part of my own version of Black Wall Street. While employing other small business owners, I can achieve a safe, fun strip mall for people to interact with and support their community. Of course, I would love for there to be a bookstore, supplying mainly authors of color, while also adding a barber/beauty salon, a restaurant, an art gallery, a gym/yoga studio, and a bakery among other shops. I deserve this scholarship because I envision myself as having academic excellence. I am goal-oriented and passionate about my dreams because I know that I can achieve them with a bit of financial help. Even though my future is full of success for myself, it is the kind of success that benefits others as well. I want to give back to my community, and I feel that my purpose in this world is to help others in any way I can. I deserve this scholarship because I know how to take advantage of an opportunity and use it for the best purpose possible.

I plan to serve my community by starting a mental health initiative. The Young Men’s Mental Health Initiative (YMMHI) will serve as a resource for young black men to “obtain a more positive mindset towards life, themselves, and others”. I would like to provide them with the tools that they need to live a better quality of life such as group therapy sessions, media resources, and access to therapists and other mental health professionals that can assist them, all free of charge. To accomplish this, I intend to graduate high school with summa cum laude honors and go on to earn my bachelor’s of psychology at an HBCU. I also intend to minor in African - American studies or have a concentration in mental health. After this, I will go on to obtain my doctorate, hopefully, free of charge. Through the Young Men's Mental Health Initiative I hope to make a change in the world by promoting a positive atmosphere. I intend for the initiative to be a welcoming place for all that need it. I feel that mental health issues and developmental disabilities are topics that affect us all and need to be destigmatized. To do this, I intend to have several different forms of therapy and support to make sure that every person that enters the program finds something that works for them. This way, we can truly make a change in their young lives and instill in them the importance of taking care of themselves and ensuring that they have a community that cares for them as well. This will help them establish healthy habits as they grow into adults, which will lead to a generation of people who are not only physically healthy but mentally healthy as well. I deserve this scholarship because I envision myself as having academic excellence. I am goal-oriented and passionate about my dreams because I know that I can achieve them with a bit of financial help. Even though my future is full of success for myself, it is the kind of success that benefits others as well. I want to give back to my community, and I feel that my purpose in this world is to help others in any way I can. This is why I want to start the initiative. I deserve this scholarship because I know how to take advantage of an opportunity and use it for the best purpose possible.

I plan to serve my community by starting a mental health initiative. The Young Men’s Mental Health Initiative (YMMHI) will serve as a resource for young black men to “obtain a more positive mindset towards life, themselves, and others”. I would like to provide them with the tools that they need to live a better quality of life such as group therapy sessions, media resources, and access to therapists and other mental health professionals that can assist them, all free of charge. In order to accomplish this, I intend to graduate high school with summa cum laude honors and go on to earn my master’s of psychology at an HBCU. After this, I will go on to obtain my doctorate, hopefully, free of charge. While this is my main career goal, I do see myself as a “jack of all trades”. I am also very passionate about fashion design and writing. I hope to go on to also become a #1 New York Times bestselling author, as well as open my own online boutique. I would like to also have a brick-and-mortar building as a part of my own version of Black Wall Street. While employing other small business owners, I can achieve a safe, fun strip mall for people to interact with and support their community. Of course, I would love for there to be a bookstore, supplying mainly authors of color, while also adding a barber/beauty salon, a restaurant, an art gallery, a gym/yoga studio, and a bakery among other shops. I deserve this scholarship because I envision myself as having academic excellence. I am goal-oriented and passionate about my dreams because I know that I can achieve them with a bit of financial help. Even though my future is full of success for myself, it is the kind of success that benefits others as well. I want to give back to my community, and I feel that my purpose in this world is to help others in any way I can. I deserve this scholarship because I know how to take advantage of an opportunity and use it for the best purpose possible.

I plan to serve my community by starting a mental health initiative. The Young Men’s Mental Health Initiative (YMMHI) will serve as a resource for young black men to “obtain a more positive mindset towards life, themselves, and others”. I would like to provide them with the tools that they need to live a better quality of life such as group therapy sessions, media resources, and access to therapists and other mental health professionals that can assist them, all free of charge. To accomplish this, I intend to graduate high school with summa cum laude honors and go on to earn my master’s of psychology at an HBCU. I also intend to minor in African - American studies or have a concentration in mental health. After this, I will go on to obtain my doctorate, hopefully, free of charge. Through the Young Men's Mental Health Initiative I hope to make a change in the world by promoting a positive atmosphere. I intend for the initiative to be a welcoming place for all that need it. I feel that mental health issues and developmental disabilities are topics that affect us all and need to be destigmatized. To do this, I intend to have several different forms of therapy and support to make sure that every person that enters the program finds something that works for them. This way, we can truly make a change in their young lives and instill in them the importance of taking care of themselves and ensuring that they have a community that cares for them as well. This will help them establish healthy habits as they grow into adults, which will lead to a generation of people who are not only physically healthy but mentally healthy as well. I deserve this scholarship because I envision myself as having academic excellence. I am goal-oriented and passionate about my dreams because I know that I can achieve them with a bit of financial help. Even though my future is full of success for myself, it is the kind of success that benefits others as well. I want to give back to my community, and I feel that my purpose in this world is to help others in any way I can. This is why I want to start the initiative. I deserve this scholarship because I know how to take advantage of an opportunity and use it for the best purpose possible.