2. In this past year, I've gone through countless hardships with school and life at home. It all started last summer, July 17th to be exact, 2 days before I turned 16 and got my driver's license, as a 15-year-old, that is quite literally all one could dream about. On this day, we were out with my cousins since they had spent the night with us, and my dad decided to drive us out to where I would be taking my test. Filled with excitement, my dad let me drive around, getting the feel and know-how of the place, when out of nowhere, he received a collect call. My excitement quickly turned into curiosity as to who this could be; it was my cousin's father. This singlehandedly changed the course of my whole entire year. Weekends spent taking care of our 3 cousins, all under the age of 11. Most weekends since my parents would work, it would be my 16-year-old self, my 14-year-old little sister to watch and take care of 4 little kids, including our little brother, who was 8 at the time. At my wits’ end halfway through the semester, with no one else I could go to, I just sat down one night and cried. I couldn’t bear the weight of school, balancing AP classes, sports, and life at home, and in that moment, I cried out to God like I had never before. All my life, I have been involved in the church; both of my parents are elders in the church, and I have always grown up knowing who God is. But for me, this was the first time I found God for myself, who he truly is, and my identity in who he is. During this time in my life I thought that sports defined me, or that my mistakes defined me, or that my academics defined my, and all of these fake identities started to way down on me trying to mainain various reputations, but in that moment God spoke to me, and told me that I can lay down all of those burdens at his feet, and that he will pick them up. This is a time when I have truly grown closer to God.

My name is David Masaku. Growing up with immigrant parents, we didn’t have much when I was little, but they instilled in me that hard work and having a strong faith in the lord will get you far, from an early age. When I was about 8, my mother had passed her american citizenship test due to hard work and unwavering faith in lord (the same one that she had grown me into). At 13, my dad had finally got his green card after being in the United states for 21 years illegally and multiple requests to the embassy. I believe that because we continually prayed to the lord for these things, that he blessed us in return. Because they had to fight to gain their rights to stay here in America, they transversely push me to fight so that they -and I- can build a legacy for not just my family that is to come, but also for all the first generation African-migrated Americans who are aspiring to be successful. Earlier I mentioned my work ethic; I push myself to be 1% better every day in everything that I do; Whether in sports, academics, music, or even at my job. I try to push myself to be the best version of myself everyday and to be even better than I was yesterday. Why I work so hard to do this is because (especially in sports) I never had the talent that others had. I never was given the same opportunities as most were growing up in Tulsa because I didn’t have parents who had connections or deep roots to where we stay. So I push myself not only to be better than myself, but so that I can also be better than the next person. What also drives me is my dream: to become a civil engineer. When I was younger, people used to ask me what I wanted to be in life, and I would always answer “ I want to be an engineer, a person who does construction.” which would strike a lot of people as odd; Nevertheless, as a kid I was always interested in building train tracks, building legos, using linkin logs, and as time progressed, I went from using those toys to doing additive manufacturing with friends in school. No matter what it was, as long as I got to build something from the ground up, I was content. This still drives me today to make my dream of going to college and studying civil engineering come true. So, If you ask me, what am I going to do if I win this scholarship, I will work my hardest to change the world with the money that I have won, I will continue to sharpen my skills, and I will become a civil engineer. This will be a step closer to building the legacy that my parents started when they migrated here. I need this so that my dream becomes one step closer to reality. This is what drives me.

My name is David Masaku. Growing up with immigrant parents, we didn’t have much when I was little, but they instilled in me that hard work and having a strong faith in the lord will get you far, from an early age. When I was about 8, my mother had passed her american citizenship test due to hard work and unwavering faith in lord (the same one that she had grown me into). At 13, my dad had finally got his green card after being in the United states for 21 years illegally and multiple requests to the embassy. I believe that because we continually prayed to the lord for these things, that he blessed us in return. Because they had to fight to gain their rights to stay here in America, they transversely push me to fight so that they -and I- can build a legacy for not just my family that is to come, but also for all the first generation African-migrated Americans who are aspiring to be successful. Earlier I mentioned my work ethic; I push myself to be 1% better every day in everything that I do; Whether in sports, academics, music, or even at my job. I try to push myself to be the best version of myself everyday and to be even better than I was yesterday. Why I work so hard to do this is because (especially in sports) I never had the talent that others had. I never was given the same opportunities as most were growing up in Tulsa because I didn’t have parents who had connections or deep roots to where we stay. So I push myself not only to be better than myself, but so that I can also be better than the next person. What also drives me is my dream: to become a civil engineer. When I was younger, people used to ask me what I wanted to be in life, and I would always answer “ I want to be an engineer, a person who does construction.” which would strike a lot of people as odd; Nevertheless, as a kid I was always interested in building train tracks, building legos, using linkin logs, and as time progressed, I went from using those toys to doing additive manufacturing with friends in school. No matter what it was, as long as I got to build something from the ground up, I was content. This still drives me today to make my dream of going to college and studying civil engineering come true. So, If you ask me, what am I going to do if I win this scholarship, I will work my hardest to change the world with the money that I have won, I will continue to sharpen my skills, and I will become a civil engineer. This will be a step closer to building the legacy that my parents started when they migrated here. I need this so that my dream becomes one step closer to reality. This is what drives me.

My name is David Masaku. Growing up with immigrant parents, we didn’t have much when I was little, but they instilled in me that hard work and having a strong faith in the lord will get you far, from an early age. When I was about 8, my mother had passed her american citizenship test due to hard work and unwavering faith in lord (the same one that she had grown me into). At 13, my dad had finally got his green card after being in the United states for 21 years illegally and multiple requests to the embassy. I believe that because we continually prayed to the lord for these things, that he blessed us in return. Because they had to fight to gain their rights to stay here in America, they transversely push me to fight so that they -and I- can build a legacy for not just my family that is to come, but also for all the first generation African-migrated Americans who are aspiring to be successful. Earlier I mentioned my work ethic; I push myself to be 1% better every day in everything that I do; Whether in sports, academics, music, or even at my job. I try to push myself to be the best version of myself everyday and to be even better than I was yesterday. Why I work so hard to do this is because (especially in sports) I never had the talent that others had. I never was given the same opportunities as most were growing up in Tulsa because I didn’t have parents who had connections or deep roots to where we stay. So I push myself not only to be better than myself, but so that I can also be better than the next person. What also drives me is my dream: to become a civil engineer. When I was younger, people used to ask me what I wanted to be in life, and I would always answer “ I want to be an engineer, a person who does construction.” which would strike a lot of people as odd; Nevertheless, as a kid I was always interested in building train tracks, building legos, using linkin logs, and as time progressed, I went from using those toys to doing additive manufacturing with friends in school. No matter what it was, as long as I got to build something from the ground up, I was content. This still drives me today to make my dream of going to college and studying civil engineering come true. So, If you ask me, what am I going to do if I win this scholarship, I will work my hardest to change the world with the money that I have won, I will continue to sharpen my skills, and I will become a civil engineer. This will be a step closer to building the legacy that my parents started when they migrated here. I need this so that my dream becomes one step closer to reality. This is what drives me.

My name is David Masaku. Growing up with immigrant parents, we didn’t have much when I was little, but they instilled in me that hard work and having a strong faith in the lord will get you far, from an early age. When I was about 8, my mother had passed her american citizenship test due to hard work and unwavering faith in lord (the same one that she had grown me into). At 13, my dad had finally got his green card after being in the United states for 21 years illegally and multiple requests to the embassy. I believe that because we continually prayed to the lord for these things, that he blessed us in return. Because they had to fight to gain their rights to stay here in America, they transversely push me to fight so that they -and I- can build a legacy for not just my family that is to come, but also for all the first generation African-migrated Americans who are aspiring to be successful. Earlier I mentioned my work ethic; I push myself to be 1% better every day in everything that I do; Whether in sports, academics, music, or even at my job. I try to push myself to be the best version of myself everyday and to be even better than I was yesterday. Why I work so hard to do this is because (especially in sports) I never had the talent that others had. I never was given the same opportunities as most were growing up in Tulsa because I didn’t have parents who had connections or deep roots to where we stay. So I push myself not only to be better than myself, but so that I can also be better than the next person. What also drives me is my dream: to become a civil engineer. When I was younger, people used to ask me what I wanted to be in life, and I would always answer “ I want to be an engineer, a person who does construction.” which would strike a lot of people as odd; Nevertheless, as a kid I was always interested in building train tracks, building legos, using linkin logs, and as time progressed, I went from using those toys to doing additive manufacturing with friends in school. No matter what it was, as long as I got to build something from the ground up, I was content. This still drives me today to make my dream of going to college and studying civil engineering come true. So, If you ask me, what am I going to do if I win this scholarship, I will work my hardest to change the world with the money that I have won, I will continue to sharpen my skills, and I will become a civil engineer. This will be a step closer to building the legacy that my parents started when they migrated here. I need this so that my dream becomes one step closer to reality. This is what drives me.

My name is David Masaku. Growing up, I have always been around music; whether it may be listening to it or making some. As of right now, I am now in my junior year of high school, and I am taking sound engineering and my local trade school. In whatever I do at school, I always have an earbud in my ear. Junior year has been quite a struggle with the many classes that I have as well as the extracurriculars that I also participate in, but music has been a way to help me persevere through the stress that school provides. I am always listening to something not only as a way to escape, but as I am actively listening, I am always looking for things that I can add to my own music. Earlier I mentioned that I make music, I play the guitar and the piano for my church and having that opportunity to play in high school has helped me to sharpen my skills as a musician. Taking Sound engineering has also helped me develop a good ear for different types of music. Whenever people say they love a specific genre of music, that is not me. I love all different types of music; country, Rap, Afro-swing, Brazilian, even Rock, I love all of it. Any music is a form of art which I love and have learned to respect. Playing for my church this year has helped create good chemistry with the people I play with, constantly learning people's habits, what the drummer does whenever he has a break, what my guitarist's favorite scale to play riffs with, Its helped me with all of that. It helped me to know what to play and when. While with Sound engineering, it has helped me to learn frequencies and what EQ, reverb or compressor combination works well on what instrument of voice. Sound engineering has also sparked a new-found love for producing music ion a studio as well. At first, it was a hard concept to get learning how to use different software like ProTools and Logic, but making connections with other small producers in my school has helped me grow in that area of music composition. Although I don't have the most expensive setup at my house, I make it by with what I have. I taught myself how to use Bandlab at home and now I produce music for a friend of mine. Overall, In my high school experience, from listening to music, to making music. I'd say that music has had and is still having a big impact on my life. The reason why I need this scholarship is to fuel my dream of one day become a big producer, I know that if I keep working and if I meet more people, that I will get far In this dream that I have. If you give me this scholarship, my dream will become one step closer to a reality.

My name is David Masaku. I feel like the reason I deserve this scholarship (or the reason to enter this college) is because of my hard work ethic that I have built over time. Growing up with immigrant parents, they have instilled this trait in me since an early age. Because they had to fight to gain their rights to stay here in America, they transversely push me to fight so that they - and I - can build a legacy for not just my family that is to come, but also for all the first-generation African-migrated Americans who are aspiring to be successful. They always encouraged me to stay focused and stay grounded, to understand that the obstacles I face now are just stepping stones toward greater achievements in the future. Their sacrifices and perseverance have shaped my character and inspired me to never take anything for granted. Earlier I mentioned my work ethic; I push myself to be 1% better in everything that I do, whether in sports, academics, music, or even at my job. I try to push myself to be the best version of myself every day, and not only that but to be even better than I was yesterday. Why I work so hard to do this is because (especially in sports) I never had the talent that others had. I never was given the same opportunities as most were growing up in Tulsa because I didn’t have parents who had connections or deep roots to where we stay. So I push myself not only to be better than myself, but so that I can also be better than the next person. This mindset has been the foundation of my drive and has kept me motivated even when things seem impossible. I know that only through relentless effort and dedication will I be able to overcome the challenges in my path. Why I want to go into civil engineering used to be a pretty hard question to answer. A part of me just said, “I want to go into civil engineering just because I like building things.” But after a few years, and many career fairs and hard thinking, I realized that I want to go into civil engineering because I want to change the world. Quite literally, I get to place a stamp of asphalt into the ground. Not only that but the fact that many people will drive on the things that I have created. I find joy in the process of road-making, doing the designing, waiting on the construction, and seeing as time passes and the progress being made. This is why I want to go into civil engineering: I want to have a tangible impact on society, to contribute to infrastructure that will serve people for generations. Building something that can stand the test of time and improve people’s lives is what excites me about this field. So, if you ask me, what am I going to do if I win this scholarship, I will work my hardest to change the world with the money that I have won, I will continue to sharpen my skills. I will take every opportunity to learn from those around me and grow as an individual and as a future professional. This will be a step closer to building the legacy that my parents started when they migrated here. I will not waste this opportunity, and I will honor my family’s sacrifices by achieving the success that they dreamed of for me.

Growing up with Kenyan immigrant parents, I have witnessed firsthand the immense sacrifices they have made to build a better life in a foreign land. My parents' journey began with a bold decision to leave behind the familiar comfort of their homeland, embracing the uncertainty of a new country with boundless optimism. Their journey was not just a physical relocation; it was a leap of faith, driven by the promise of opportunity and a desire to provide a better future for their children. My father had originally come to get his bachelor’s degree in aviation engineering from a college in Philadelphia, PA, but shortly after his arrival, their immigrant program shut down. This forced my dad to try hard to find a new school that would accept him and his immigration status which led him to Tulsa, OK where we currently live. My mother, on the other hand, had pretty much smooth sailing as far as getting her master's degree in pharmacy at ORU. but after she had graduated, she realized that she had a heart for teaching so she became a substitute teacher at Marshall’s Academy in Tulsa. Both of their stories showed me the importance of resilience and the ability to quickly adapt to your surroundings, In conclusion, having immigrant parents from Kenya who have made a decent living in America is a profound and inspiring experience. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of a better life. My parents' journey has shaped my identity, instilling in me the values of hard work, education, and cultural pride. Their legacy is a reminder that no dream is too big, and no obstacle is insurmountable when one is driven by hope and determination.

Netflix has impacted me significantly by bringing one of my favorite animes of all time to its platform: Naruto. Everyone has their first anime that they fall in love with, and for me, it was Naruto. I initially fell in love with the show's comedy. It was hilarious because, at the time I started watching, the characters were about the same age as me, and their jokes mirrored the ones I would make. Many of the scenes in the earlier stages of Naruto were so pure, and every episode brought me closer to the climax (Sasuke running to Orochimaru's lair). Beyond the comedy, Naruto helped me escape reality every once in a while. I won't lie; there were days when I would binge-watch 20 episodes in a single day. This is a testament to how captivating the show is. Soon, all my friends started watching it, and we would have conversations about what we thought would happen next or what funny thing a character did. This show brought my friends and me closer together. As my friends and I matured in our anime journey, we explored other series such as Hunter x Hunter and the Dragon Ball trilogy. Despite this, I found myself returning to rewatch Naruto. The show excelled in so many ways. Its impact on me and those around me is unforgettable. There is a saying: "You never forget your first anime," and I believe it is true. Your first anime shapes you and influences the people you connect with. Naruto was more than just a show; it was an experience that bonded me with friends and provided countless hours of enjoyment and escape. Its characters, storylines, and humor resonated with me deeply, leaving a lasting impression. Even now, as I revisit the series on Netflix, I am reminded of why I fell in love with it in the first place. The availability of Naruto on Netflix has rekindled my appreciation for the series. It allows me to relive the moments that made my adolescence memorable. Netflix has made it convenient to access this beloved anime, ensuring that the magic of Naruto continues to influence and inspire me. The ability to share this experience with a new generation of viewers and fellow fans only enhances its value. In conclusion, Naruto's presence on Netflix has profoundly impacted my life. It has brought back cherished memories, strengthened friendships, and provided a comforting escape. The show's humor, characters, and engaging storylines have left an indelible mark on me, reaffirming the adage that you never forget your first anime.

Everybody has their first anime that they fell in love with. For me, the first series that I loved was the series Naruto. At first, I fell in love with the show's comedy. It was so funny because at the time, I was watching, they were about the same age as me so the jokes they would make were those that I would make. So many of the scenes in the earlier stage of Naruto were so pure and every episode only led me closer and closer to the Climax (Sasuke running to Orochimaru's lair). More than the comedy, it just helped me escape reality every once in a while; I'm not going to lie, there were days when I would binge and watch 20 episodes in one day, but that is just a testament to how good the show is. Soon after all of my friends started watching the show and we would have conversations about what we thought would happen next or what funny thing a character did. This show did bring me and all of my friends together. Now that all of my friends and I have matured in our anime journey and most of us have watched different animes such as Hunter x Hunter and the Dragon Ball trilogy, I have found myself back rewatching Naruto. This show was just good in so many different ways. The impact it had on myself and the people that surround me will never be forgotten. There is a saying that says " You never forget your first anime" and I think that is so true because it shapes you and the people you hang around.

Hello, my name is David Masaku, I live in Tulsa, OK. My church community is pretty small so everybody knows everybody. In my church, there is a family with a girl who had sickle cell anemia. Her name is Avery, She was a very active person and fun person to be around but when she found out, she isolated herself from the Church. We barely saw her and it affected the Church very much to be unable to see her. It affected everybody, we started having prayer nights dedicated to her, and we would call her family and make sure she and them were both okay. And after much prayer, and chemo, I am glad to say that today she is doing better. Although she is doing better, this raised question in my community, if anybody else has it? is it contagious? I had some background knowledge from my biology class about it, but I also had some questions of my own. Now, with some more knowledge, I can tell you what this disead is. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia.[2] It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells.[2] This leads to a rigid, sickle-like shape under certain circumstances.Problems in sickle cell disease typically begin around 5 to 6 months of age. A number of health problems may develop, such as attacks of pain (known as a sickle cell crisis), anemia, swelling in the hands and feet, bacterial infections, and stroke Long-term pain may develop as people get older. The average life expectancy in the developed world is 40 to 60 years. All the major organs are affected by sickle cell disease. The liver, heart, kidneys, gallbladder, eyes, bones, and joints also can suffer damage from the abnormal functions of the sickle cells, and their inability to flow through the small blood vessels correctly. The care of people with sickle cell disease may include infection prevention with vaccination and antibiotics, high fluid intake, folic acid supplementation, and pain medication. Other measures may include blood transfusion and the medication hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea).In 2023, new gene therapies were approved.A small percentage of people can be cured by a transplant of bone marrow cells. This is why I encourage people now to look for themselves what sickle cell is and how it affects the body and the effects it has. thank you for reading this.

Martin Luther King Has been a big inspiration for me. Not only because of his big 'I Have a Dream' speech, but also because of his journey with God. I will be showing you he used his voice not only to fight for equality, but also how he led so many people to christ during these situations. Martin (born Michael) was born and raised in the hard streets of Atlanta Georgia at the peak of racism. Born to Christian minister Michael King Sr. and Alberta King, MKLJ already had a background history with his faith. After attending Morehouse College (an all-male all-black school), where he got a Bachelor's degree in Arts at 19, he pursued later education at Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, Pennsylvania. During his time there, he was elected President of the student body. this is so inspirational to me because it showed me the courage this man had to take this position at a time when black people were so strongly hated. After he got his bachelor's degree in Divinity at Crozer, he began doctoral studies at Boston University. then at 25, he was ordained pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. and a year later received his PhD. As we move on to the later, more important parts of his life, we must not forget his accomplishments because it should set the standard for so many young Black men across America. This is where his legacy known by so many was initiated, at the infamous Montgomery bus Boycott in 1955 which lasted 385 days, and the white folk tried to silence him by bombing his house but he was so determined that he did not let that stop him. Martin and other civil rights activists founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The group was created to harness the moral authority and organizing power of black churches to conduct nonviolent protests in the service of civil rights reform. The group was inspired by the crusades of evangelist Billy Graham, who befriended King,[as well as the national organizing of the group In Friendship, founded by King allies Stanley Levison and Ella Baker. King led the SCLC until his death. The SCLC's 1957 Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom was the first time King addressed a national audience. I could tell you more instances where Martin used his voice to call people back to the kingdom of God, but i just wanted to give you his background and some of his earlier life and how that can be translated to today. No man could do what Martin did back in his day, but now Myself as a black man in today's society can walk with courage in my faith because of what martin did.