I've always had to deal with teachers or students who seemed upset by my accomplishments. It didn’t happen constantly, but it occurred enough times to make me raise an eyebrow. I was doing what everyone else was doing—maybe even better—because I worked so hard in my academics. Yet somehow, my grades were often targeted, which was strange considering I consistently earned straight A’s, or at the very least, an A-minus. As a Black student, I could tell that—not all, but some—of my teachers felt a certain way about me and my willingness to compete academically. My parents had to have repeated conversations with too many of my teachers, just so we could understand what I was supposedly doing wrong. But my parents, determined to get to the bottom of it, always managed to get the teachers to admit their mistake. It usually ended with something like, “I forgot about that assignment,” or another shallow excuse. It was always such a strange experience, and I could never understand the need to push me back for no real reason. But it taught me something valuable: to stand up for myself and for others who look like me or face similar struggles, no matter how they appear. There’s no reason to hate on someone who is simply trying their best. The only thing you can do is cheer them on. Thanks to my parents, I was able to move forward despite my teachers push back. Without them, many of my grades would have been dropped for no reason. They don't automatically take the side of me teachers. They know what I'm capable of and they are willing to defend me if I have done wrong. They are like this because they push me harder than any one else—because they see my potential. If I do wrong they are the first to let me know, and make sure I improve for it. Because of my parents, they taught me that everyone should feel accepted and understood. Determination and grind will lead you down the right path and ensure greatness. They taught me that as long as I put my everything into what I love, I will eventually reach greatness— and they'll be right next to me every step of the way. I want to ensure that everyone knows they have a place in the world—to be unapologetically themselves, to feel proud of who they are, and to know that their efforts matter.

Once I heard the news of my cousin passing away, It felt like my whole world completely fell apart. She had felt alone, and I wish I could go back and constantly be by her side—to remind her that shes not alone. After she took her life, it create a huge rift in the family. Everyone was pointing fingers, little of us taking any kind of responsibility. It was the kind of behavior that made her feel alone in the first place. At first, It distracted me from any kind of success. I just wanted to be huddled in my room, as my thoughts ran loose. I felt little to no motivation to do anything productive, and my parents were in a state of shock. I needed the support of my household to pull myself together again—to be reminded of my goals. My dad had cared for her when she was younger, taking her to all kinds of sporting events that the boys her age would go to. He would go on about how much fun she would have, and her go-getter kind of tenacity. So despite my sorrow, she wouldn't want to see me all depressed, and stuck. For her, and my family, I had to be the one to pick up the responsibility, and make us greater. I didn't let my family's flaws pull me back, and I took steps towards greatness to make her proud. I pushed hard in basketball, competing with my AAU teammate every practice, and pushing hard during games. That mindset shaped my academics and art. I maintained a 3.9 GPA so far—earned honor roll for all 4 years of high school, and challenged myself with several AP and concurrent enrollment classes. At the same time, I pursued art as my passion, with my work featured in three art shows. I joined a tackle football league to finally let out all of my pent up frustration. My only focus was to rise above the competition, which led me to becoming Quarter back only my second year of playing—while still having that fire to make tackles as a line backer. I miss her a ton, and I wish I could speak to her one last time. To make sure that I'm on the right path that would make her proud. I want to ask her about her feelings, and her thoughts, even though it's far too late. One day I will make a large change, and bring my family with me. I'll remind the children who feel alone that there is someone there for them, more than happy to be a support.

Math is such a universal language, it truly controls the world around us. In everything we use see or maybe even hear has some sort of mathematical reasoning behind it. I want to go into college for computer engineering—I believe it's going to leave a huge impact on our society, and I want to be able to be there for that change, and involved in the good. Math is such a huge teacher in life, and whether you love it or not its lessons stick with you. It teaches logic, patience, and repetition. Which are important qualities to have in life regardless of what you do. Everywhere around the world can connect through math—no matter how diverse the background, it can bring us understanding. Math has been a sole reason for our many inventions and big breakthroughs. It is the reason we can continue to develop as a people, and every year we gain a deeper understanding of it. I think math at first is seen as intimidating, but it's really a window to the possibilities of our universe. I want to be involved in that future—and help develop great movements for my people. I want to go into computer engineering. It is a fast growing part of the world and I want to be involved with the future. Computer science will continue to grow into larger with wider ideas in the future, and I want to be able to shape that future for good. I want to be part of the early development of structures or ideas before they become physical.

As an African american, we already withhold many stereotypes and feelings for being inferior in fields such as those. Though despite the push back I continue to fight for what Im passionate about. Math is such a universal language, it truly controls the world around us. In everything we use see or maybe even hear has some sort of mathematical reasoning behind it. I want to go into college for computer engineering—I believe it's going to leave a huge impact on our society, and I want to be able to be there for that change, and involved in the good. Math is such a huge teacher in life, and whether you love it or not its lessons stick with you. It teaches logic, patience, and repetition. Which are important qualities to have in life regardless of what you do. Everywhere around the world can connect through math—no matter how diverse the background, it can bring us understanding. Math has been a sole reason for our many inventions and big breakthroughs. It is the reason we can continue to develop as a people, and every year we gain a deeper understanding of it. I think math at first is seen as intimidating, but it's really a window to the possibilities of our universe. I want to be involved in that future—and help develop great movements for my people. As an African American, being the only black person in my AP classes only pushed me to prove what I was capable of. I could tell that—not all, but some—of my teachers felt a certain way about me and my willingness to compete academically. My parents had to have repeated conversations with too many of my teachers, just so we could understand what I was supposedly doing wrong. But my parents, determined to get to the bottom of it, always managed to get the teachers to admit their mistake. It usually ended with something along the lines of, “I forgot about that assignment,” or another shallow excuse. Though that push back never slumped my love for math, and its possibilities. I want to prove that no matter the background, math can reach anyone with a passion. And to prove to people similar to me that you should never step down in order to please someone who wants you below them. I strive for change and greatness and I want to inspire those around me, and live up to those I looked up to.

Math is such a universal language, it truly controls the world around us. In everything we use see or maybe even hear has some sort of mathematical reasoning behind it. I want to go into college for computer engineering—I believe it's going to leave a huge impact on our society, and I want to be able to be there for that change, and involved in the good. Math is such a huge teacher in life, and whether you love it or not its lessons stick with you. It teaches logic, patience, and repetition. Which are important qualities to have in life regardless of what you do. Everywhere around the world can connect through math—no matter how diverse the background, it can bring us understanding. Math has been a sole reason for our many inventions and big breakthroughs. It is the reason we can continue to develop as a people, and every year we gain a deeper understanding of it. I think math at first is seen as intimidating, but it's really a window to the possibilities of our universe. I want to be involved in that future—and help develop great movements for my people. I want to prove that no matter the background, math can reach anyone with a passion.

Basketball has been one of the biggest teachers in my life. I started playing around the age of eight, and as I grew, it became a huge test on my endurance. Competition intensified, practices stretched longer, and I felt like I was in this dip—barely keeping up with my team. It felt like I was falling apart. Basketball truly tested my endurance. Though no matter how hard it got, I couldn't let go of the sport I loved so much. Pushing through those moments taught me resilience, and to love the results that came with it. It showed me that running for hours straight made me stronger, making every cramp and every exhausted gasp for air worth the effort I was putting in, even if progress wasn't being made right away, I knew to just trust myself and work hard. AAU was my very first test of love—and it pushed me hard physically, and emotionally but I was obsessed. This was one of my first experiences with a coach so passionate, and competition miles ahead of me. I didn't realize how bad I actually was, and this was my awakening. It made me want to work harder, and practice more even outside of AAU. I honestly felt a bit out of place, but my coach reminded me that good players come with work, I just had to keep grinding. My parents also didn't pay when it came to my game. They told me honestly and straight, but even more so supported me. They pushed me on days I felt low, or needed some motivation to keep going. It pushed me to become better, and midway through my AAU career I became one of the starting 5. Later on I used the lessons and skills I learned from AAU to get me ready for high school. High school was another journey on its own. I was a very hard worker in academics, the lowest grade I had was an A-. It was challenging dealing with athletics and then grades, but knowing I had basketball after school kept my head in the right place, and reminded me that great things come with hard work. Basketball taught me more than just the sport—it taught me resilience, mental toughness, the drive to keep going, and more importantly, not to give up just because its hard. I want to continue playing basketball for as long as I can. Its something that has shaped me to be who I am, and I truly appreciate and love the sport for all its done for me. As a senior in high school, I plan to leave every I have on that court.

I've always had to deal with teachers or students who seemed upset by my accomplishments. It didn’t happen constantly, but it occurred enough times to make me raise an eyebrow. I was doing what everyone else was doing—maybe even better—because I worked so hard in my academics. Yet somehow, my grades were often targeted, which was strange considering I consistently earned straight A’s, or at the very least, an A-minus. As a Black student, I could tell that—not all, but some—of my teachers felt a certain way about me and my willingness to compete academically. My parents had to have repeated conversations with too many of my teachers, just so we could understand what I was supposedly doing wrong. But my parents, determined to get to the bottom of it, always managed to get the teachers to admit their mistake. It usually ended with something like, “I forgot about that assignment,” or another shallow excuse. It was always such a strange experience, and I could never understand the need to push me back for no real reason. But it taught me something valuable: to stand up for myself and for others who look like me or face similar struggles, no matter how they appear. There’s no reason to hate on someone who is simply trying their best. The only thing you can do is cheer them on. When I achieve a greater education, I want everyone to feel accepted and understood. Determination and grind will lead you down the right path and ensure greatness. I don’t want any more young Black students to feel different just because of their appearance. I want to ensure that everyone knows they have a place in the world—to be unapologetically themselves, to feel proud of who they are, and to know that their efforts matter.

The world around me is my biggest inspiration, whether its interaction, or the weather outside, or maybe on how I'm feeling that day. The things that happen around me inspire me to make art. My art is a reflection of the world and struggles around me. I use it as a mirror to my heart and emotions. I use my drawings as an outlet, and a voice to how I am feeling.

Art has always been a part of me—woven into my identity since childhood. While other hobbies came and went, collecting dust in corners or closets, art remained constant. It was never just a pastime; it was a lifeline, a quiet companion that offered me space to explore, express, and evolve. From the moment I picked up a pencil or brush, I felt something deeper than entertainment—I felt connection. Growing up, I was surrounded by artists whose talent far exceeded mine. I admired them, but I also felt a pang of jealousy. Which I do admit, I felt jealous for multiple things, but in this case, it didn’t hold me back. It pushed me forward. I wanted to improve, to earn my place among those whose work I respected. That jealousy became fuel, driving me to work harder, to practice longer, and to challenge myself creatively. I didn’t always succeed, but I always tried. Art is quieter than other pursuits. It doesn’t shout for attention—it waits patiently. It’s also more demanding than people realize. It tests your patience, your confidence, and your willingness to start over again and again. But through those challenges, art taught me resilience. It taught me how to sit with frustration and turn it into growth. It taught me how to believe in my voice, even when it felt small. Over time, my dedication led to recognition. I’ve had the honor of having my work featured in three art shows, and I received an honorable mention in the district art show. These moments were affirming, but more importantly, they reminded me that my art has something to say. My work reflects my experiences as an African American student and speaks to the struggles and triumphs of others like me. It’s a way to express identity, culture, and emotion when words fall short. There is nothing more that I love more than art. the only thing that holds me back is my financial situation. I will be the first of my family to make it into college if all goes how I want, and I continue to work hard. Though finance is an undeniable fact, and I do not want my pursuit in art and my love for it to be stunted because of something I unfortunately cannot help. I want to communicate my ideas to the world around me, and become a motivation for those around me that are constantly living with struggles similar to mine.

That mindset shaped my academics and art. I maintained a 3.9 GPA so far, earned honor roll for all 4 years of high school, and challenged myself with several AP and concurrent enrollment classes. At the same time, I pursued art as my passion, with my work featured in three art shows. In 2023 I had an art piece make it into my school's art show. Later in 2025, two different pieces of mine made it into another school's art show, one got honorable mention, while the other got 2nd place. Then I got honorable mention in the district art show. None came easily at all, there were so many good picks and so many talented artists. Though the long hours of self doubt, and failed pieces, made that moment feel earned. Art has been a crucial part of my life, I live in art through music, nature, and even the sports I play connect me into ideas for each piece. To me, nature is art and vice versa. Art isn't just what is put on a canvas, but things we consider to be breath taking, more than just what it is. It becomes something we want to replicate and show those around us. Each color, contour, and line tell their own stories. I can almost feel some of my pieces like a breath of fresh air. One of my pieces that got into the school art show with honorable mention showed the connection between human movement and water. It almost represents the figures fight with the waves, as he fights the opposite way of the crashing stream. I love that piece because I find it so fascinating with all the ideas and meanings people can come up with. Nature is such an inspiration for my art and a natural teacher. As a child I could always lean on art as an outlet. It became more than pencil on paper, or a paint drop on cardboard, It became my deepest love and passion. I want to pursue my love of art into college, and become an illustrator, and make comics and other works of art. I want to make my love of art my career in the future, so I adapted many kinds of art mediums, like digital, watercolor, charcoal, and more. I want to continue to learn as much as I can in order to really pursue my goal of making art my career. It will always truly be my first love

Growing up, I quickly learned what it felt like to be pushed back. Whether it was people doubting me, underestimating me, or circumstances that made the road harder, I hated the feeling of being told I couldn't do something. That frustration lit a fire in me. Instead of giving up, I developed a drive that went against the grain to prove to myself I was capable of anything. Basketball has been one of the biggest teachers in my life. I started playing around the age of eight, and as I grew, it became even more of a test on my endurance. There were times where I was overwhelmed and stressed. It felt like I was in this dip, barely ahead of the competition. Though no matter how hard it got, I just couldn't let go of the sport I love so much. Pushing through those moments taught me resilience. It showed me that running for hours straight made me stronger, making it worth it. That determination carried over to football, and for the longest time I was so deeply fascinated with football, even more scared, until I was told I couldn't do it. I joined a girls tackle football league almost instantly, because I wasn't going to be told no in something I thought was amazing. It was so very physically challenging, and one of the hardest things in my life, but I couldn't shake my infatuation. After my second year, in 8th grade, I started as QB. I remember waking up every morning practically shaking from nerves, but I loved that position so much, and played it even today as a high school senior for varsity. Eventually, we won two championship rings after all the blood sweat and tears. That mindset shaped my academics and art. I maintained a 3.9 GPA so far, earned honor roll for all 4 years of high school, and challenged myself with several AP and concurrent enrollment classes. At the same time, I pursued art as my passion, with my work featured in three art shows. In 2023 I had an art piece make it into my school's art show. Later in 2025, two different pieces of mine made it into another school's art show, one got honorable mention, while the other got 2nd place. Then I got honorable mention in the district art show. None came easily at all, there were so many good picks and so many talented artists. Though the long hours of self doubt, and failed pieces, made that moment feel earned. My hardest challenge is the financial aspect. My family is low-income, and I feel the stress of money everyday. No matter my determination, I know opportunities will come at a price I cannot afford. Though I feel blessed every day with what I can do. My circumstances don't define me, but motivate me. This scholarship represents more than financial support, it represents my chance to build the future I've been fighting for since I was a kid.

Growing up, I quickly learned what it felt like to be pushed back. Whether it was people doubting me, underestimating me, or circumstances that made the road harder, I hated the feeling of being told I couldn't do something. That frustration lit a fire in me. Instead of giving up, I developed a drive that went against the grain to prove to myself I was capable of anything. Basketball has been one of the biggest teachers in my life. I started playing around the age of eight, and as I grew, it became even more of a test on my endurance. There were times where I was overwhelmed and stressed. It felt like I was in this dip, barely ahead of the competition. Though no matter how hard it got, I just couldn't let go of the sport I love so much. Pushing through those moments taught me resilience. It showed me that running for hours straight made me stronger, making it worth it. That determination carried over to football, and for the longest time I was so deeply fascinated with football, even more scared, until I was told I couldn't do it. I joined a girls tackle football league almost instantly, because I wasn't going to be told no in something I thought was amazing. It was so very physically challenging, and one of the hardest things in my life, but I couldn't shake my infatuation. After my second year, in 8th grade, I started as QB. I remember waking up every morning practically shaking from nerves, but I loved that position so much, and played it even today as a high school senior for varsity. Eventually, we won two championship rings after all the blood sweat and tears. That mindset shaped my academics and art. I maintained a 3.9 GPA so far, earned honor roll for all 4 years of high school, and challenged myself with several AP and concurrent enrollment classes. At the same time, I pursued art as my passion, with my work featured in three art shows. In 2023 I had an art piece make it into my school's art show. Later in 2025, two different pieces of mine made it into another school's art show, one got honorable mention, while the other got 2nd place. Then I got honorable mention in the district art show. None came easily at all, there were so many good picks and so many talented artists. Though the long hours of self doubt, and failed pieces, made that moment feel earned. My hardest challenge is the financial aspect. My family is low-income, and I feel the stress of money everyday. No matter my determination, I know opportunities will come at a price I cannot afford. Though I feel blessed every day with what I can do. My circumstances don't define me, but motivate me. This scholarship represents more than financial support, it represents my chance to build the future I've been fighting for since I was a kid.

Growing up, I quickly learned what it felt like to be pushed back. Whether it was people doubting me, underestimating me, or circumstances that made the road harder, I hated the feeling of being told I couldn't do something. That frustration lit a fire in me. Instead of giving up, I developed a drive that went against the grain to prove to myself I was capable of anything. Basketball has been one of the biggest teachers in my life. I started playing around the age of eight, and as I grew, it became even more of a test on my endurance. There were times where I was overwhelmed and stressed. It felt like I was in this dip, barely ahead of the competition. Though no matter how hard it got, I just couldn't let go of the sport I love so much. Pushing through those moments taught me resilience. It showed me that running for hours straight made me stronger, making it worth it. That determination carried over to football, and for the longest time I was so deeply fascinated with football, even more scared, until I was told I couldn't do it. I joined a girls tackle football league almost instantly, because I wasn't going to be told no in something I thought was amazing. It was so very physically challenging, and one of the hardest things in my life, but I couldn't shake my infatuation. After my second year, in 8th grade, I started as QB. I remember waking up every morning practically shaking from nerves, but I loved that position so much, and played it even today as a high school senior for varsity. Eventually, we won two championship rings after all the blood sweat and tears. That mindset shaped my academics and art. I maintained a 3.9 GPA so far, earned honor roll for all 4 years of high school, and challenged myself with several AP and concurrent enrollment classes. At the same time, I pursued art as my passion, with my work featured in three art shows. In 2023 I had an art piece make it into my school's art show. Later in 2025, two different pieces of mine made it into another school's art show, one got honorable mention, while the other got 2nd place. Then I got honorable mention in the district art show. None came easily at all, there were so many good picks and so many talented artists. Though the long hours of self doubt, and failed pieces, made that moment feel earned. My hardest challenge is the financial aspect. My family is low-income, and I feel the stress of money everyday. No matter my determination, I know opportunities will come at a price I cannot afford. Though I feel blessed every day with what I can do. My circumstances don't define me, but motivate me. This scholarship represents more than financial support, it represents my chance to build the future I've been fighting for since I was a kid.