The list of black leaders and their empowering roles would go and go. Trailblazers such as George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King Jr, Sojourner Truth and so many more paved the way for black people. My grandmother is someone in my life that has inspired me. She was originally born in Guyana and moved to New York to look for a better opportunity. She was a single mother, registered nurse, and interior designer living in the Bronx. She worked incredibly hard and made sure everyone around her was well off. After reaching the age of 66, she decided to move to Florida. Loxahatchee reminded her of her hometown, a that's what she fell in love with. My grandmother bought land and built her own house in 1994. My grandma is a reminder that even when the odds are against you, you must keep going. She didn't let where she came from define where she ended. My grandma was very stern and disciplined. She would cut her grass, plant her mango trees, ackee trees, and so much more. She built the house out of love. Not to mention, the house that she built is the one that I'm typing this application in. With many renovations, you won't be able to tell this house is 30 years old. Although this application is meant to be based on one person, I couldn't help but mention one more person who is a leader in my eyes. My dad. He has always inspired me to be different. He was the youngest of 5 siblings and just trying to be the best basketball player. At the time, his parents were separated and only the firstborn boy received all the attention and money for college. My dad dropped out of school and continued to play basketball for fun while picking up jobs to support his mom and siblings. Once he realized there was no chance of him going to the NBA, he started training other people in the park for basketball. He helped train Kenny Anderson (former NBA Star) as well as others. Not only would he coach, train, and referee, he would teach life lessons to those around him. I never understood why he had so much passion for a sport that he couldn't excel in, but he told me "Danni, in life, you have to put others first and spread the things you know to better someone else". That has stuck with me ever since. To this day, at the age of 60, he is still a referee, and basketball trainer (hoping to become a high school boys varsity head coach) Considering that's all he wants in life for himself, I'm willing to make that happen. After all the tournaments where the conversation is deeper than basketball, are where you truly get to know the players and that seems to be his favorite part. Now and then, he will get a call from former players and exchange a good laugh. My grandmother taught me how to get it for yourself and my dad taught me to put others first.

Kindness is something this world seems to lack. Nowadays, people are so rude and unhelpful. That behavior is disgusting and needs to be changed immediately. My parents always taught me to give to others. My mom made sure I participated in food drives and made blessing bags. Blessing bags are bags full of snacks, toothpaste, a toothbrush, washcloth, soap, and other essentials a homeless person might need. My dad taught me that even just checking in on people or making a small act of kindness goes a long way. Now that I'm an adult, I continue these habits and influence my friends to do the same. Life is hard but I'm blessed to be where I'm at with the things I have. I've made more blessing bags and keep them in my cars so that I always can give. I also believe that you reap what you sow meaning what you put out is what you get back. A couple of weeks ago, I bought Chick-fil-A and was on my way back to work to eat it. Once I got off the highway, there was a man with a sign that read "Hungry, anything will help". I gave him my sandwich and continued to work hungry. Although I needed it, he needed it way more and I felt better knowing I made a difference for someone. Later that day my friend treated me to dinner just because. Last week, my friend and I stopped at the gas station before going holiday shopping. We intentionally went in there for a honeybun but realized there was a homeless man outside who looked in need of something. We quickly bought him a sandwich and water bottles. When I gave it to him, he looked confused, but then a smile appeared. He said thank you and seemed very grateful. I'm just happy I was able to help him. When my friend's family's car broke down, I helped their family by taking his younger brother to and from school for a year while giving my friend a ride to and from work. Funny enough, that whole family has received a ride from me over 3 months. They felt they could depend on me so much, they hired me into their family business. I could sit here all day and tell you many times I was helpful and kind but that wouldn't do much. What I will tell you are some of the things I want to do when I finish my degree and real estate course. I would like to give back to the community by offering scholarships, back-to-school drives, food drives, toy drives, nonprofit daycares, more schools and so many more. I want to also help build up local and small businesses. For now, I will continue to do what I can by spreading more kindness and being helpful. I'm a full-time college student and full-time employee, so I don't have the most money or time, but it doesn't take much to be kind. I wish more people would realize this. Be kind, and safe, and make a difference!

Billie Eilish has easily become one of the greatest artists and there's no surprise how she accomplished this at her very young age. Billie makes songs that her fans can resonate with. She has so many great songs, but my top three would be "What Was I Made for", "Lovely", and "Wildflower". "What was I made for" was featured in the Barbie movie in 2023. Once I heard that song, my emotions immediately were all over the place. You can just listen to her lyrics and her notes and feel the passion when she sings this song. It's more than just being a Barbie doll. I started to think about what my passion was and what God created me to do in this world. I started to look back at when I was happier and what changed me. I attempted to find things that made me happy and found more friends that made me smile. There are times when I don't know how to feel. Am I overreacting? Am I doing enough? Am I going to be successful? Even though this song was "For a Barbie Movie" I'm so grateful that this song was made. My second favorite song by Billie Eilish is "Lovely". I feel as if this song was made for overcoming depression. This is another song where you know what she's talking about because you have felt the feeling she sings about. Although this song was released in 2018, I didn't listen to it until 2021 because that's when life seemed to hit me the hardest. Once again, you can just feel the lyrics and the emotions. This song describes trying to get out of what seems to be an unhealthy mental space and it is very hard. The lyrics "Need a place to hide, but can't find one near" means trying to hide from the depressed thoughts but not being able to. I feel like depression is looked down on, especially by older generations, but this song helped me and let me know that I'm not alone. Lastly, my third favorite song would be "Wildflower". This song is about a being in a messy relationship where the partner isn't fully over their former partner. Unfortunately, I felt this song, every last lyric described my relationship. After crying my eyes out to this song about 10 times in one, I felt better to know that I wasn't alone. It helped me remember that life happens and it's okay. He and I are great friends now and maybe he just needs to fully heal from a relationship that broke him before staying in a relationship and hurting me. I'm sad I didn't get a chance to see her in a concert during her tour this year, but as soon as I see her performing in Florida, I will buy two tickets because my friend also loves her music. I'm incredibly thankful for artists like Billie Eilish who remind us that we are human and that in life, there can be many ups and downs.

"Once you turn 16, you should have a job, maintain good grades, and handle more responsibilities. " I can't even tell you how many times my dad expressed that to me. My dad taught me to always be ahead and use my resources to their maximum potential. He also encouraged me to make connections with people even if I didn't quite know them. "Don't follow other people's steps, God made you different for a reason" is something he would preach to me daily. I took what he said and applied it to school, jobs, and my everyday life. School was never a problem for me and helping my classmates just came naturally to me. I had friends who used to make comments about a trampoline park where I worked. They would say it wasn't beneficial and I worked way too much. Funny enough, that trampoline opened many doors for me. I was promoted twice in less than 8 months and became a manager at the age of 17. My leadership and eagerness to better the company made them feel that they could trust me to make a difference. I was able to master Customer Service, Park Operations, Human Resources/ Staffing, Problem Solving, and Leadership Skills. I changed my perspective from it being just a job and started looking at it as the foundation for my future. I would encourage the staff members to find their passion and find jobs that will better their knowledge. I would tell them to apply for scholarships and gain certificates to strengthen their background. After working there for two years, I decided to move from the entertainment industry to the construction industry. The reason is, I want to become a real estate investor. I envision myself building single and multi-family homes, so what better way to learn the ins and outs of construction than to work for an actual company? I work for a plumbing company, but I don't do hands-on work in the field. I work more on the operations part, so I deal with projects, bids, job walk-throughs, social media advertising, company networking, sales, and customer relations. By networking with general contractors, not only does the plumbing company get more business, I get more resources. I grow connections with the people I meet and they mention me to more associates. I'm blessed for all the knowledge I'm able to gain and feel like I often need to share what I learn to enlighten others around me. I explain house flipping, wholesaling, buying a home as a first-time home buyer, scholarships, certificates, and ways to find better jobs. I will apply all the skills that I have learned to open doors for others. I want to work with the City of West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach to make more homes for the less fortunate. I wanted to give back through scholarships for students in need of ways to pay for schooling. Life is hard enough, but a little help can go a long way.

At the age of seven, I wanted to be a math teacher. I would complete my math work two weeks ahead of the rest of the class because I genuinely enjoyed doing it. I would beg my parents to quiz and time me on math questions usually regarding multiplication and division. I never struggle in any subjects, so I assumed that teaching would be a great fit for me. Once I got to middle school, my mind changed completely. I learned that the pay was extremely low, and teachers are not appreciated as much as they should be. They are expected to teach your kids manners and responsibilities, but they only get paid to teach them. After gaining this knowledge, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer but could not decide what kind. Sadly, that same year I lost my eldest brother to gun violence in New York. After months of the case being under investigation, it broke my heart that there were still no answers. I did so much research and still nothing. That day I decided I wanted to be a public defender and fight for those who are less fortunate. Months passed, and the suspects were found, but my brother was still gone. I later changed my mind again. I decided to go into the business career path. I am currently enrolled at Palm Beach State Majoring Business Administration while also finishing real estate school on the side. My goal is to build homes for the less fortunate and create businesses where I not only hire people but teach them the ins and outs of how the world operates. School, just like the rest of the economy, is getting more expensive and I want to help others that cannot afford it. Whether it is job fairs, webinars, podcasts, etc., I want to be the key that opens millions of doors for millions of people all around the world. Currently, I work at Dr. Rooter Plumbing in Palm Beach County, and I have been able to learn dozens of pieces of information regarding the construction industry that will help me down the line when I build my businesses and homes. I aspire to flip homes, earn commission by selling homes, build many communities, create multiple businesses, break barriers, and enlighten others. With my perseverance and dedication, I have faith that I will overcome any challenges I encounter. In any case, what I wanted to be as a child is no longer my career path due to life and experiences. Nevertheless, my plan will never be as marvelous as gods plan, so I will continue to follow the path that he set for me.

I never understood why there is so much evil and hate in the world. You may often hear our peers say, "What has the world become?" Times have changed and people are not who they say they are but there is room for change. Hello, my name is Danielle Bennett, and I am attending Palm Beach State College in South Florida pursuing a degree in business administration. Growing up as a Black American in Loxahatchee Florida has made me look at the world differently. From dirt roads, large acres of land, and stores that were at least three miles away, life felt nothing like the TV shows. People were blatantly rude and often would not hold the door when leaving the stores, in fact, I had the door shut in my face while approaching it. At least 90% of the homeowners were white, 7% were Hispanic and 3% were black. Neighbors would not wave or be friendly, they often just stared. My Grandmother who was Born in Guyana bought land and built her own house (The same house I am authoring this essay in) when she moved from New York in 1994. My grandmother was a very independent woman and did not let the color of her skin stop her from anything. She had faith and believed in God to make a way if it was meant for her. Sorry, we took a little detour, but back to me. All the schools I attended were white and my parents pushed me extremely hard to keep my GPA above 3.5 through all the years. There were times where I felt like they were too hard on me, but then they would remind me that because of the way I look, I must work just a little bit harder if I want to stand out. I took that and ran with it. In my Junior year, I was working two jobs and tutoring a classmate while taking seven classes. (Some were just extra classes on FLVS so it could boost my GPA). I wanted to attend school to gain knowledge and leave college ready to enlighten my youth and peers. Unfortunately, college is not accessible to everyone, but with my resources, I would like to instruct people on YouTube. Whether its stocks, crypto, savings, investing, everyday problems, financial solutions, or even getting closer to God, I want to make a powerful impact on the world. I am also in real estate school and working a full-time job at a black owned plumbing company. With my knowledge of those previously listed, I would teach others how to wholesale, Flipping Properties, Airbnb Arbitrage, General Contracting, Plumbing Estimations, and even how to start up a business - of course when I get mine started up. Why should the less fortunate struggle? Why should anyone struggle because of the color of their skin or the language they speak? What makes me sick is that U.S.A mentions "United We Stand, Divided We Fall" but we rarely can be in a room space together without something happening. This world is scary, and I would want to bring a child into this dysfunctional place. I want to make a difference and motivate people who look like me to fight against the odds and better each other.

Black excellence is something we hear a lot Nowadays, but what does it really mean? You see, black excellence isn't just a saying that should be thrown around. I'm appalled and the against the fact that even our own brothers and sisters have given up on us. Growing up, my parents always spoke about giving back and giving to those who didn't have. Many people think what you give has to be physical or like a typical gift. They are wrong! Simply sharing your knowledge and time will go a long way. After I graduate with my Business Administration degree and secure my Real Estate license, I look forward to becoming a mentor for Black people all ages for the Business aspect as well as Real Estate. I want to break down every topic of business which includes paying off debt, securing jobs that are actually helpful, networking, owning their own business, investing in properties, having more than 3 sources of income, and so much more. I want to work with the government so our children can learn subjects such as paying taxes, mortgages, loans, setting up investments like Roth IRAs, and career advice. I also plan on opening affordable housing in different areas of south Florida as well as mentoring people for free. There is enough money for everyone so there's no point of being stingy with it. The idea is to help those in need to get on their feet and make changes. Think of it this way. If there is a single parent of 3 under the age of 9 with no where to live, how do they work? How do they get there? Who watches their kids and takes them to school? Who makes sure that they are okay? Please don't be close minded, men just like women, can be a single parent. These are the same people desperately need help, but the government limits them. Can we normalize helping others? Especially our kind. I often think about how different my life would have been if my family didn't receive help from others at time. I'm grateful for everything and feel that god gave me my purpose of enlightening and motivating others. So with that being said, I plan on using my education to build a better path for Black people in the business world by mentoring them on the business aspects that billionaires keep amongst themselves and spreading the knowledge of how to become financially, mentally, and spiritually rich.

Am I a fan of LeBron James? What type of question is that? LeBron James is my favorite basketball player of all time. My dad is a basketball coach, referee, and trainer so the love for basketball runs in the family. Now keep in mind, I was born in 2004 and didn't watch basketball until 2011 so I wasn't there for the prime time for others players such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. But what made me a fan of LeBron was his passion. I couldn't imagine leaving my home team (The Cavs) and the fans burn my jersey and express the fact that they hate me. It takes courage to stand up for yourself and make the decision that's best for you. He saw a better opportunity with the heat, so he took it despite the backlash he received. LeBron is also a NBA star who gives back to his communities both in Miami and Cleveland. Now the question of who is the greatest basketball player of all time is something that everyone will debate. Although Bill Russel has 11 rings and Michael has 6 rings, we have to remember the competition back then was different. You had these NBA stars on the same team dominating everyone in the league. LeBron has surely showed with his stats and continuous stamina as to why his is the greatest player of all time. LeBron brought the league things they didn't even know and set the record high for all players coming into the league. He showed that you don't have to be the next Larry Bird or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The GOAT himself states, "There is a lot of pressure put on me, but I don't put a lot of pressure on myself. I feel if I play my game, it will take care of itself." Amazing, yes, that's one way to describe LeBron James.