I always have had a fascination with the tech world, but I was afraid to dip my feet into the water. As time went on, I developed a fondness for machines and technology. I became a member of the Robotics Club in middle school by default because my older brother was the president. Computer science piqued my interest during my junior year of high school. A teacher I grew close to invited me to attend her coding class and I became hooked after that. The class altered my way of thinking and I realized I wanted to work towards a career in computer science or robotic engineering. Technology is evolving every day, but there will always be a desire to reinvent and improve. There will always be something new to learn. The tech world is such a broad place with opportunities for everyone. After receiving my degree, I plan to work for an entertainment company and build animatronics for movie sets or amusement parks. I visited the Disney park this past summer and there they had a talking robot in the King Kong ride. As I watched everyone react to the way it moved and spoke, I knew that was what I wanted to do. There is so much space for change and opportunity. Technology is everywhere, but diversity is not. Talent is distributed evenly in the world, but opportunity is not. Inequality of opportunity is frequent in the Black community in everything from access to quality education, safety from police brutality, career progression, and much more. For as long as I can remember, education has been the most important thing you can get. Beaten into me at a young age, education is the way you can make a difference. Education is the foundation for success. Growing up in poverty you aren't given that many options and you’re expected to make use of what you have. Often people become the product of their environment, creating generational curses. But education is the key to getting out and making a difference. This is one of the reasons why I believe I am a good candidate for the scholarship. I know the value of learning and appreciate being taught by others. Breaking my family's curse is what drives me. I know I do not want my future generations to grow up the way I did. I strive to be the change in my community and my family. Everyone has ambition and potential, but not the resources. Everyone has a dream, but there are so many obstacles in front of them that they just give up. I refuse to be the girl with wasted potential. I am going to pave my path and write my own future. This scholarship would not only help me achieve my goals but also allow me to make my family proud.

An education is the most important thing you can get. Beaten into me at a young age, education is the way you make a difference. It is the foundation for success. Being raised in poverty, you aren't given many options, but education is the key to getting out and accomplishing your goals. Some individuals are quick to move out of their communities for a more polished one instead of staying and helping it become better. Often people become the products of their environment, creating generational curses. Breaking my family's curse is what drives me. If given the opportunity, I would invest in my community to improve it. As a result of furthering my education, I would be able to give back to my community and my family. When driving through my neighborhood, I see a lot of abandoned lots and houses. I would buy the property and build the homes up. I want to open a rehabilitation center where I could assist people on their journey to getting back on their feet. I would help them get stable so the cycle continues. Passing my knowledge down so they can thrive and then help someone else. All of us has ambition and potential but not the resources. Talent is distributed evenly in the world, but opportunity is not. Inequality of opportunity is frequent in the Black community in everything from access to quality education, safety from police brutality, career progression, and much more. My goal would be to set them up for success and show that everyone deserves a second chance. I believe that there is enough money and resources to eliminate poverty. My community lacks funding and engagement. I would build establishments like bowling alleys, grocery stores, and parks to give the children somewhere to go. We will all put money into the community so there can be more stores, libraries, fire stations, and schools in the area. Lastly, I ultimately want to open up a prison in an effort to reshape the correctional system. Many citizens get wrongfully imprisoned and become homeless once released. The system doesn't correct anything. It treats people like animals and then is shocked when they act like animals. Prisons are inhuman and do not help reeducate the inmates. My goal would be to reform the troubled and give them the guidance they need. There have been too many advances in this lifetime to not give back to the people in need. If a man can walk on the moon, then a man can help his neighbor. This world is full of negative things, and I would like to help promote the positive.

I love learning and acquiring new skills. Growing up as the youngest of four, I learned something new every day, from Algebra equations to sneaking snacks when my mother was not looking. My siblings have been the most influential people in my life since I was born, and the days spent with them were never unproductive. I have always been a good student because of them. I was able to adapt easily and quickly. Now that I have grown up, I have the indispensable need to learn something new. I am the youngest of four children raised by a single mother. I remember playing around in a motel room with my older brother doing things that children do, not realizing that was the only form of shelter my mother could afford for us. Even though my mother had to choose between paying the cable bill and putting food on the table, she never let a birthday go past without getting us a present. She never gave up no matter what happened. Her sacrifices have allowed me to chase my dreams and reach for an impossible future. As time went on, I developed a fondness for machines and technology. Even streets and the interstate amaze me. Imagine the brilliant minds that sat down and strategically designed all the remarkable things we take for granted. When I started high school, I took a coding class that altered my way of thinking. I want to figure out what makes a phone work or what makes a clock tick. I realized I wanted to work towards a career in computer or robotic engineering. Technology is evolving every day, but there will always be a desire to reinvent and improve. There's always going to be something new to learn. Technology is everywhere, but diversity is not. Talent is distributed evenly in the world, but opportunity is not. Inequality of opportunity is frequent in the Black community in everything from access to quality education, safety from police brutality, career progression, and much more. This scholarship would not only help me pursue my dreams but also become a role model for young girls who look like me. Growing up in poverty, you’re expected to make use of what you have. Often people become the product of their environment, creating generational curses. Breaking my family's curse is what drives me. I know that I do not want my future generations to grow up the way that I did. I strive to be the change in my community and my family. Everyone has ambition and potential, but not the resources. Everyone has a dream, but there are so many obstacles in front of them, so they give up. I refuse to be the girl with wasted potential. I am going to pave my own path and write my own future. Post graduation, I would like to become a robotic engineer and help build the next wave of machines that would be able to detect diseases before they spread, help the elderly live easier, or even a device that keeps children's minds at ease while their parents are away. There is so much space for change and opportunity.

I love learning and acquiring new skills. Growing up as the youngest of four, I learned something new every day, from Algebra equations to sneaking snacks when my mother was not looking. My siblings have been the most influential people in my life since I was born, and the days spent with them were never unproductive. I have always been a good student because of them. I was able to adapt easily and quickly. Now that I have grown up, I have the indispensable need to learn something new. I am the youngest of four children raised by a single mother. I remember playing around in a motel room with my older brother doing things that children do, not realizing that was the only form of shelter my mother could afford for us. Even though my mother had to choose between paying the cable bill and putting food on the table, she never let a birthday go past without getting us a present. She never gave up no matter what happened. Her sacrifices have allowed me to chase my dreams and reach for an impossible future. As time went on, I developed a fondness for machines and technology. Even streets and the interstate amaze me. Imagine the brilliant minds that sat down and strategically designed all the remarkable things we take for granted. When I started high school, I took a coding class that altered my way of thinking. I want to figure out what makes a phone work or what makes a clock tick. I realized that I want to work towards a career in computer or robotic engineering. Technology is evolving every day, but there will always be a desire to reinvent and improve. There is always going to be something new to learn. I genuinely want to help build the next wave of machines that would be able to detect diseases before they spread, help the elderly live easier, or even a device that keeps children's minds at ease while their parents are away. There is so much space for change and opportunity. Technology is everywhere, but diversity is not. Talent is distributed evenly in the world, but opportunity is not. Inequality of opportunity is frequent in the Black community in everything from access to quality education, safety from police brutality, career progression, and much more. Growing up in poverty, you are expected to make use of what you have. Often people become the product of their environment, creating generational curses. Breaking my family's curse is what drives me. I know that I do not want my future generations to grow up the way that I did. I strive to be the change in my community and my family. Everyone has ambition, purpose, and potential, but not the resources. Everyone has a dream, but there are so many obstacles in front of them that they give up. I refuse to be the girl with wasted potential. I am going to pave my path and write my future.

I love learning and acquiring new skills. Growing up as the youngest of four, I learned something new every day, from Algebra equations to sneaking snacks when my mother was not looking. My siblings have been the most influential people in my life since I was born, and the days spent with them were never unproductive. I have always been a good student because of them. I was able to adapt easily and quickly. Now that I have grown up, I have the indispensable need to learn something new. I am the youngest of four children raised by a single mother. I remember playing around in a motel room with my older brother doing things that children do, not realizing that was the only form of shelter my mother could afford for us. Even though my mother had to choose between paying the cable bill and putting food on the table, she never let a birthday go past without getting us a present. When times were tough, she never held her head down. Her sacrifices have allowed me to chase my dreams and reach for an impossible future. I am fully aware the odds of my success are lower than the next person, but if my mother could raise four children by herself, I can find a way to forge my path. People looked down on me because of my background, my appearance, or my way of thinking, and I tried not to let it get to me. I remained focused and graduated as the Valedictorian of my class. Now I am off to college with a bright future ahead of me. As time went on, I developed a fondness for machines and technology. Even streets and the interstate amaze me. Imagine the brilliant minds that sat down and strategically designed all the remarkable things we take for granted. When I started high school, I took a coding class that altered my way of thinking. I view everything as giant puzzle pieces that I have to make fit perfectly. I want to figure out what makes a phone work or what makes a clock tick. I realized that I want to work towards a career in computer or robotic engineering. Technology is evolving every day, but there will always be a desire to reinvent and improve. There is always going to be something new to learn. I genuinely want to help build the next wave of machines that would be able to detect diseases before they spread, help the elderly live easier, or even a device that keeps children's minds at ease while their parents are away. There is so much space for change and opportunity. Technology is everywhere, but diversity is not. Talent is distributed evenly in the world, but opportunity is not. Inequality of opportunity is frequent in the Black community in everything from access to quality education, safety from police brutality, career progression, and much more. I could be on the same path with someone else in this world, but they might have the resources to reach the goal that we both share that I do not possess. I am passionate about my education. The sky's the limit as long as you are smart enough to reach for it. I intend to earn a degree in computer engineering and work towards a career in the STEM field. I want to contribute to the growing diversity in the industry and open doors for other young black women like me.

I'm the product of a broken love story. I’m a product of a cracked, but not broken home. My dear parents were full of love until they weren’t. My parents got divorced when I was a baby and for a while it was okay. For a while, I could tell there was something different, but I didn’t mind because I still had my mother and my father. As the years faded by, so did my father. It went from traditionally seeing him every day to seeing him every other year. Try not to let it affect me, but it changed me before I could even talk. Try ignoring it, but it’ll always be in the back of my head. I know it bothered my mother, presumably still does to this day, but she’ll never reveal it. She's consistently been the most courageous person I’ve known and that's why I’m able to sit here and type this essay. She's the reason I’m going to college, and I’m going to make a difference. As I’ve gotten maturer, I’ve grown fond of machines and technology. Even the street ways and the interstate amaze me. Just to imagine the brilliant minds that had to sit down and strategically design all the remarkable things we take for granted. I view everything as giant puzzle pieces that I have to make fit perfectly. I see a phone and I want to figure out what makes it work. I try to figure out the right coding and wire to make a robot function properly. After I graduate high school, I plan to go study at Jackson State and work towards my bachelor’s in computer engineering. I genuinely want to help build the next wave of machines that would be able to detect diseases before they spread, help the elderly live easier, or even a device that’ll keep your toddler's mind at ease while you're away. So much opportunity and welcoming space for change and I want to be a part of that. When I become established in my field of work, I plan on giving back to my community. I want to open up a rehabilitation center where I could assist willing people to get back on their feet. I want to open up an animal shelter because I’m tired of seeing animals being mistreated. Lastly, I ultimately want to open up a prison as an effort to reshape the correctional system. I also have this idea for a restaurant that has robot waiters. They would take the orders and bring out the food, but humans would be in the kitchen. I just find that fascinating. While I’m at work I try to come up with the plans for the restaurant and determine how the robots would move around, how they would know what to do, and how to make the idea appealing to customers. But for now, all I can do is dream big, plan for what's ahead and try to make the people around me better and bring them along for the ride.