Where does trash belong? A plastic bag has no place floating around a highway, no place lying on the grass of a park, but also no place in a dumpster. So it goes from the consumer to the dumpster to the garbage truck to the expansive wasteland of the landfill, where it joins 6.3 billion metric tons of more plastic waste to pollute where we dare not to look. Landfills are similar to a child claiming to have cleaned their room while all they did was put all the scattered toys and trash under the bed. While the room appears clean, a small mess is made. How many rounds of this dance would it take to accumulate 6.3 billion metric tons? While sustainability solutions surround ideas of new products that stand the test of time and that can be alternatives to single-use products, I believe an approach that prioritizes getting rid of the waste we already have will make a significant difference in the environmental science field and in the world at large. I want to become a data analyst in environmental research. That is why I am studying Mathematics and Physics at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. With support from the John Young Scholarship, I will be able to pursue my goals while focusing more time on what is important. While I work three part-time jobs as a full-time student, I am still unable to afford the cost of tuition without going into crippling debt. There is also a significant cost associated with research. My financial need paired with my drive guarantees that this scholarship opportunity will not be wasted on me. In the summer, I will be completing a Data Cloud Analyst internship at Zeta Global where I will learn about data analysis through experience. I had applied to 320+ jobs before I secured that internship because I was determined to make my dreams a reality. I am very involved on my college campus. I am a big sister in the Alpha Omega Epsilon professional sorority for women in engineering. I am a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. I am the Outreach Coordinator of NYU's Queer Union. I am a tutor in the school's AmericaReads chapter where I teach math and literacy to public school students. I was a cadet in Air Force ROTC where I held leadership positions such as the Fundraising Officer, Class Commander, Adjutant Assistant, and Uniform Room Assistant. I am not a natural-born leader, but by immersing myself in such opportunities, I grew into the role. Research needs leaders who are not afraid to go against the grain to achieve necessary results. The world needs leaders who are not only qualified but also determined to make an impact. I believe that with my passion, drive, and acquired skills, I can be one of those leaders who can make the world a better place.

Where does trash belong? A plastic bag has no place floating around a highway, no place lying on the grass of a park, but also no place in a dumpster. So it goes from the consumer to the dumpster to the garbage truck to the expansive wasteland of the landfill, where it joins 6.3 billion metric tons of more plastic waste to pollute where we dare not to look. Landfills are similar to a child claiming to have cleaned their room while all they did was put all the scattered toys and trash under the bed. While the room appears clean, a small mess is made. How many rounds of this dance would it take to accumulate 6.3 billion metric tons? While sustainability solutions surround ideas of new products that stand the test of time and that can be alternatives to single-use products, I believe an approach that prioritizes getting rid of the waste we already have will make a significant difference in the environmental science field and in the world at large. I want to become a data analyst for the environmental research field. That is why I am studying Mathematics and Physics at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. Finding a balance between studying a dual degree full time, working three part-time jobs, pursuing several extra curriculars, and doing research independently is nearly impossible. But because I believe in myself and the value of my goals, I will not stop in my pursuit. With support from the Morgan Levine Dolan Community Service Scholarship, I will be able to pursue my goals while focusing more time on what is important. While I work, I am still unable to afford the cost of tuition without going into crippling debt. There is also a significant cost associated with research. My financial need paired with my drive guarantees that this scholarship opportunity will not be wasted on me. In the summer, I will be completing a Data Cloud Analyst internship at Zeta Global where I will learn about data analysis through experience. I had applied to 320+ jobs before I secured that internship because I was determined to make my dreams a reality. I am very involved on my college campus. I am a big sister in the Alpha Omega Epsilon professional sorority for women in engineering. I am a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. I am the Outreach Coordinator of NYU's Queer Union. I am a tutor in the school's AmericaReads chapter where I teach math and literacy to public school students. I was a cadet in Air Force ROTC where I held leadership positions such as the Fundraising Officer, Class Commander, Adjutant Assistant, and Uniform Room Assistant. I am not a natural-born leader, but by immersing myself in such opportunities, I grew into the role. Research needs leaders who are not afraid to go against the grain to achieve necessary results. The world needs leaders who are not only qualified but also determined to make an impact. I believe that with my passion, drive, and acquired skills, I can be one of those leaders who can make the world a better place.

I almost burst into tears one Tuesday morning. I had spent the night before working on several assignments and studying for a quiz knowing I had an early workday ahead of me, but knowing the necessity of these tasks. Hesitantly, I turned off my 6am alarm and got out of my comfortable bed, knowing I had an 8am shift with classes immediately after. This was in December, which meant that unfortunately for me, I had to leave the comfort of my dorm room to endure a cold commute to work. At 12pm, I left my teaching assistant job in Charles A. Dorsey Community School to attend my chemistry and math classes at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering where I am a Physics and Mathematics major. When classes were over at 4pm, I went into an empty study space in the library to log on to zoom where I tutor for Tiny to Tall Tutoring remotely. And luckily, I finished before 6pm so I wasn't too tired to complete the next set of assignments. While this was just one Tuesday in my life, most of my weekdays are like that. Working my two teaching jobs while keeping up with assignments and classes. On the weekends, I have to go to Jersey City where I work at a mall. I'm also involved in my school's campus, being the Outreach Coordinator of NYU'S Queer Union and a big sister in Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority. Juggling responsibilities such as these is quite the task, but completely necessary to fund my education, the cost of living, and my dreams of being a Data Analyst in the future. I am committed to my dreams so much so that I applied for over 300 internships before I secured my summer internship as a Data Cloud Analyst Intern for Zeta Global. Working multiple jobs while being a full-time student has forced me to be good at time management. I do not have the luxury of snoozing my alarm more than once or of taking time off work to focus on school. As such, I have to plan out my days over a week in advance and I have to turn down some fun opportunities because they clash with my priorities. My teaching jobs have helped to build my confidence and have helped me recognize how learning takes place and how I can better assist people with their learning goals. It is the responsibility of a Data Analyst to interpret data that might seem complex into useful information that can solve problems. By working with a student demographic, I am able to design lesson plans that cater to the needs or problems of the student. I believe these jobs are not time wasted, but time spent harnessing important skills like communication, patience, and comprehension. The Donna M. Umstead Memorial Work Ethic Scholarship is such an amazing opportunity, especially because it speaks to my experience of having to work while having a demanding life. I believe my work ethic ensures that this scholarship opportunity will not be wasted on me. I understand the importance of education and this scholarship can help push me to the next step, rewarding my hard work and easing the financial burden of tuition.

While it will not take a whole weekend to watch "Sausage Party", it is time well-spent to clear your schedule! With the movie's complex themes of existentialism, disillusionment, and organized religion, it takes a lot of time to process the movie's true meaning. Outside of its absurdist take on the meaning of life, "Sausage Party" offers a lot of laughs. The movie's philosophical approach to critiquing religion and the policing of virtue is usually dismissed due to the raunchy comedy. The movie starts off in a grocery store where the shopping items sing joyfully at the idea of being chosen by the gods (shoppers) to go to "the great beyond". "The great beyond" is an obvious analogy for heaven. In being chosen by the shoppers, the items transcend the store and into the outside world, where they can join the gods similar to the religious take on life after death. The food items like Frank the sausage and Brenda the hot dog bun follow rules similar to religious virtues of chastity, humility, and praising their gods so that they can get into "the great beyond". The foundation of their beliefs begins to shake when Honey Mustard gets returned by a shopper. Honey Mustard has been disillusioned about "the great beyond", that the items were being eaten and used, not loved and cherished by the gods. As he tries to warn the others, they dismiss him as crazy, as a conspiracist. Honey Mustard represents those who are disillusioned to the truth about religious ideals and those who are dismissed for sharing that truth. As Frank, Brenda, and the gang make their way to seek the truth, they begin to break free of ideals that were holding them back. Sammy Bagel Jr, a Jewish bagel, and Lavash, an Arab slice of pita bread, interact in a way that is representative of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is through this journey towards the truth that Sammy and Lavash begin to see that their cultural prejudices should not dictate how they navigate their own relationships. Frank learns the truth of "the great beyond", that it was made up by the non-perishable foods to make the items more at ease with being used. Barry, another sausage, gets bought by a human and goes on a journey of his own where he discovers that the gods can be killed. Upon sharing this information with the other grocery items, they successfully kill the gods. Friedrich Nietzsche, a philosopher who fueled existentialist thought, said, "God remains dead. And we have killed him. Yet his shadow still looms". After killing the gods, the grocery items ponder on what is left for them, a hole in their existence left by the previous existence of a god entity. To fill the hole, the items begin to engage in gratuitous debauchery. Perhaps this is hedonistic in nature as pleasure becomes the ultimate goal of the groceries. But this becomes the assigned meaning of life for them. At the end of Sausage Party, existentialist philosophy is emphasized as the groceries form meaning for themselves instead of relying on the thoughts of organized religion. That's a lot for a movie named "Sausage Party". And that's why I think you should clear your weekend to watch this movie.

If I could watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would be Disney's 1997 "Hercules". It is such an inspiring rendition of the Greek myth of the legend of Hercules. I watched this movie first when I was in elementary school as it told the tale of someone whose strength and social ineptness made him alienated from others. My academic strength and lack of social skills also made me not have any friends. Hercules was such a relatable character to me because even when he grew older and stronger, he was still an awkward kid at heart. I rewatched the movie in my adolescence, when I was discovering my musical talent. The beautiful songs like "I Won't Say I'm in Love" and "Gospel Truth" guided me to joining a youth choir where I grew into a passionate singer. I know the lyrics to all the songs by heart! It is nice to know that even without the context of the movie, the songs can stand on their own. As my interest in Greek history and ancient philosophy began to manifest when I was 12 years old, I would refer back to the movie and smile at the mythological easter eggs left by the writers, showing their attention to detail. As I began to explore digital art and animation as a hobby, I watched and observed the beautiful art style of the show. And even now that I am almost 20 years old in college, I still watch the movie. I find myself inspired by how Hercules perseveres to reach his goals in spite of the trials he faces. Hearing him sing makes me truly believe that even I can "go the distance". The movie never fails to make me teary-eyed. With themes like love, identity, family, and betrayal, the movie never fails to be relevant. It never fails to capture my attention and take me to a world beyond this while keeping me grounded in reality. And there is, of course, the comforting aspect of watching a cartoon that I have rewatched so many times. I am taken back to a safe place where my worries cannot get to me. I still find the same jokes funny, I still find the sad parts moving, and I still find something to gain from such a movie. While the meaning of "Hercules" changes for me after each watch, I always find myself comforted, inspired, and seen by the movie.

The coldness soon broke out into open chiding. One grievous failing of Elizabeth’s was her occasional pretty and picturesque use of dialect words—those terrible marks of the beast to the truly genteel. It was dinner-time—they never met except at meals—and she happened to say when he was rising from table, wishing to show him something, “If you’ll bide where you be a minute, father, I’ll get it.” “‘Bide where you be,’” he echoed sharply, “Good God, are you only fit to carry wash to a pig-trough, that ye use such words as those?” She reddened with shame and sadness. “I meant ‘Stay where you are,’ father,” she said, in a low, humble voice. “I ought to have been more careful.” He made no reply, and went out of the room. The sharp reprimand was not lost upon her, and in time it came to pass that for “fay” she said “succeed”; that she no longer spoke of “dumbledores” but of “humble bees”; no longer said of young men and women that they “walked together,” but that they were “engaged”; that she grew to talk of “greggles” as “wild hyacinths”; that when she had not slept she did not quaintly tell the servants next morning that she had been “hag-rid,” but that she had “suffered from indigestion.” These improvements, however, are somewhat in advance of the story. Henchard, being uncultivated himself, was the bitterest critic the fair girl could possibly have had of her own lapses—really slight now, for she read omnivorously. A gratuitous ordeal was in store for her in the matter of her handwriting. She was passing the dining-room door one evening, and had occasion to go in for something. It was not till she had opened the door that she knew the Mayor was there in the company of a man with whom he transacted business. “Here, Elizabeth-Jane,” he said, looking round at her, “just write down what I tell you—a few words of an agreement for me and this gentleman to sign. I am a poor tool with a pen.” --- Chapter XX, The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy “Transference”, in psychology, demonstrates the tendency of people to redirect their emotions from the source to an unrelated subject. Transference can be seen in the way Michael Henchard, in Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge interacts with his estranged daughter, Elizabeth-Jane. His unrelenting scrutiny and “growing dislike” for her shows that perhaps it is not truly about what she says or does, but his own internal feelings of class, gender, and himself. With the use of word choice and selection of detail, Hardy depicts a strained relationship between Henchard and Elizabeth-Jane that can be analyzed through Marxist and psychoanalytic lenses, and its multifaceted nature speaks to the true complexity of this father-daughter dynamic. Although her way of talking is described as “pretty and picturesque”, they seem to be “terrible marks of the beast” to members of the upper class, like her father. Her dialect is for someone “fit to carry wash to a pig-trough”, as Henchard puts it. She responds with humility and this reflects the humility of her background. Henchard is also higher in the sociopolitical ladder as he is the mayor. Where he represents the high-class authority, Elizabeth-Jane of the working class finds herself quickly submitting to his scrutiny. In a capitalist society, people of the lesser socioeconomic standing try to imitate the behavior of upperclassmen in order to attain upward mobility. Elizabeth-Jane must assimilate the speech and handwriting and other behaviors of the wealthy to appease her father’s prioritization of status. Henchard expects her to distance herself from her humble background as seen in the displeasure he has in the way she engages in manual labor and kindly interacts with the help. These changes are seen as “improvements''. Rather than being a loving relationship, Henchard's insistence on a classist ideal while also pushing away Elizabeth-Jane shows how no amount of physical proximity will create a bond between the two characters. Hardy’s calculated selection of detail justifies the use of a psychoanalytic lens, one that can trace Henchard’s hypercriticism of his daughter to be a projection of his own insecurities. Seen as a “gratuitous ordeal”, Henchard’s displeasure with his daughter’s handwriting is deemed unnecessary. He admits that he himself is not good at writing as he says: “I am a poor tool with a pen”. Him being upset with the way she writes while also admitting that he cannot write well shows how he sees his shortcomings in her and instead of engaging in introspection or self-improvement, he takes it out on her. Her willingness to change for him does not make his harshness subside. Rather, he regards her with a “growing dislike”. Henchard was once a poor seasonal farmer and now he has arise to the position of a wealthy mayor. As someone who was able to achieve upward mobility, Henchard remains “her bitterest critic”. He recognizes the behaviors of the lower-class that have been deemed unfavorable and seeing them in his daughter angers him. Perhaps she serves as a reminder of the person he used to be: the person he gave up in order to fit in with the wealthy. Her ability to “command” this desirable personality does not appeal to him though he was the one who initiated the change. This mismatch in the way he rejects what he demanded shows that he is dissatisfied with his own life. He is unsure of the person who he has become and transfers these emotions on to the way he interacts with his estranged daughter. Elizabeth-Jane being younger puts her in a position of hopefulness and naivety that comes with youth. Her hopes that he would be more accommodating if she assimilated high-class behaviors seems to irritate Henchard, causing him to alienate her even more. So not only does she seem to represent his poor past, but she also serves as a poster of all he lost to be in this position. His dissatisfaction with her, and possibly himself, poses a question of what is more important: wealth or happiness?

"We all came into this world alone, and we die alone" is a message I heard growing up and something I internalized. In doing this, I never asked for help and I struggled whenever it was necessary. When the burden became too much to bear, I would never lean on anyone. I would just quit. Unless I could pay for a service with money, it felt weird to rely on someone. And when I entered my school's TRIO (Upward Bound, Talent Search, Student Support Services) Scholars program, I carried that mindset. These people were not helping me because of some altruistic inclination, they were helping me because it was their job and they were paid to. That was until I met ShawnTina, my TRIO Scholars advisor. ShawnTina showed genuine kindness in a way I can never repay. But she has also made it clear that it should not be transactional. When I was stressed out with my schoolwork in my first semester at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering, ShawnTina made helpful suggestions to lift the burden. She even suggested that I might benefit from changing my major and leaving the school of engineering altogether. Leaving engineering would mean I would leave the TRIO program, as well. She prioritized my wellbeing over anything else. When I was venturing into self-discovery and personhood, ShawnTina introduced me to a world of makeup that emphasized my self-expression. When I was having troubles with my family to the point where I had to leave home and support myself, ShawnTina helped me to work things out mentally and physically. She helped me furnish my new apartment by reaching out to her network of people. Her resourcefulness and kindness helped me get a queen-sized desk, a desk, a rug, and kitchen utensils, all for free. When I'm having a hard day and I need someone to talk to, I am just able to walk into her office and do just that. In experiencing all these acts of genuine kindness, I now realize its more than acceptable to ask for help. And one who denies you of that, when it costs them nothing, is not a friend. I never thought I should count on other people because I grew up being told that family was all I had, all I could rely on. ShawnTina has dismantled the years of lies I had been told. A true friend can become family. And life is too hard to intentionally opt for isolation. ShawnTina has facilitated a safe space for me to let my guard down and for me to grow emotionally. Even something as simple as blending my makeup out when I didn't know it was lopsided shocked me. It means a lot to me that someone who sees my struggles offers to lend a hand without having to be asked. A human heart is costly, but a genuine heart would take the wealth of the entire world to buy.

My dad’s insistence on helping my siblings and me with our math assignments was a memorable staple of my childhood. I recall the times I waited late into the night for him to come back from work because I knew he would be able to quickly solve the questions I found difficult. My dad’s little lessons taught me not only math concepts but also a cycle of learning that involved: attempting, accepting I did not know, reaching out for help, observing, asking questions, and then attempting again. This cycle of learning took me from struggling with the intricacies of long division to breezing through Applied Calculus in Aviation. What might be described as a mix of sentimentality and passion drove me to study Mathematics and Physics at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. Where I find a challenge, room for improvement, and the general feeling of enthusiasm are in calculus. From Integrated Calculus for Engineers to Multi-Dimensional Calculus, I find myself learning more and learning that there is more that I do not know. This struggle only pushes me to venture further into the unknown. Alongside my major, I am involved in several of my school's black organizations such as the Black Student Union, National Society for Black Engineers, and Black Girls Code. I am currently a teaching assistant at Colored School No. 1 (The Charles A. Dorsey Community School), the first African American school in Brooklyn, New York. I teach black and brown students of underprivileged and immigrant backgrounds. Needless to say, I am consistently showing up for my community. I do not want my involvement to end post-graduation. With my degree, my goal is to use Data Analytics to solve environmental sustainability problems that plague the world at large but specifically, my hometown in Lagos, Nigeria. Because Lagos is such a big city, pollution is expected. But what continues to be ignored is the rate at which smaller, underfunded communities like Makoko bear a disproportionate amount of the city's garbage. It is common to see landfills just feet away from where children play or where people sleep. Due to a lack of advocacy and overall neglect, circumstances such as these do not get much attention. Targeting pollution does not just end at throwing trash where it needs to be. To target pollution, it would be more impactful to target its root causes: overproduction and poor waste management. It is important to note that making new, more sustainable materials will not reduce the 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste that the world has accumulated. Effective data analysis can produce accurate measurements of our current pollution situation, provide realistic standards that we must reach to help our communities, and ideal solutions to meet those standards. Data analytics is not just about pointing to the problem. It provides solutions that, if done correctly, can save the world.

I have struggled with uncontrollable thoughts of self-harm for as long as I can remember. The urge to throw myself down the stairs, bash my head into a wall, or stand in the way of traffic would plague me as I walked through life seemingly unbothered. The thoughts, which I later learned were obsessions, became so normal that I just accepted that it would be a part of my life to think this way. To banish these thoughts, I would blast music loudly and walk quickly. I would keep track of the marked crosswalk, trying to place a timestamp of where I was and how far I would be until I fully crossed the road, and if I forgot what place I was in time, I would go through the rest of my day in distress, looking for another crosswalk. These were my compulsions. I sought help, I spoke with my therapist about these thoughts but she noted them as odd, offering no help or conclusions. It took me catching myself about to put my leg in front of a train to get a helpful direction to better mental health. I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and honestly, I was relieved. I finally knew the problem, I was not trying to hurt myself, I was suffering from persistent intrusive thoughts. My mental health struggles became even worse when I left school in New York to go home to Nigeria for the winter break. My younger brother had outed me as a lesbian to my family. My family, extended members included, took a stand to tell me how this "lifestyle" conflicted with their values as Nigerians and as Christians. I was subject to public humiliation, verbal and emotional abuse, and the threat to discontinue my education. To protect myself, I had to lie my way through the rest of that holiday, I had to adopt the clothes of my worst self, a closeted gay. Against my parents' wishes, I am back at New York University studying to get my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. I am aware of how unsafe it is for me, psychologically or physically, to go home. And this is the struggle I am currently facing. I am preparing to financially support myself. My family has decided against financing my education further because I'm a lesbian. I am unable to do this on my own and the Elijah's Helping Hand Scholarship might be the difference between me graduating and leaving all my ambitions behind. These ambitions exceed just getting a degree. I am passionate about the field of data analytics and how it can help further the current research in environmental sustainability. Data analytics takes raw data and turns it into evidence to plead a case. My case is that the current state of environmental degradation is due to overproduction, poor waste management, and, ultimately, capitalism. While this might be obvious to some, an option not explored enough is to control the current state of waste instead of attempting to make more sustainable materials. The accumulation of 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste does not simply go away because reusable materials are made available. The underfunded and often neglected research on how we can deal with the current waste appeals to me and has become my life's goal. To do that, I must continue my education and continue to expect more out of my life despite the odds being stacked against me.

I always knew I would come to America to complete my education. For two generations, the women in my family traveled from Nigeria to the United States to pursue a higher education. And on August 2023, it was my turn. I maintained an air of confidence but deep down I was terrified. With my parents unable to get a visa, I was really on my own. It was a constant struggle from being homesick to my parents struggling to exchange currencies to the consistent culture shocks. I had never been so strongly confronted with my identity as a dark-skinned black woman until then. I had no friends, I was crying to my parents almost every day and all I wanted to do was go home. Spending breaks and weekends alone made my isolation sink in even more. Going home for the winter break revitalized my sense of belonging and readied me for another semester of battling American education. I was more confident in the idea that I was not only competent but also in the wrong environment. I transferred from the white Arizona to a more inclusive New York University. It was there I found my current network of African immigrants who had similar social struggles to mine. We continue to lean on each other and we express the issues we face. With these experiences in mind, I have been inspired to aim for a well-rounded education. My goals are to get my degree, to form meaningful friendships, and to use these to improve the current state of my home. As a Mathematics in Engineering major, I have a broadened perspective on the fundamentals of problem-solving. I would love to use this to solve Nigeria's and the world's issues of environmental pollution. A mathematical approach to environmental solutions would look like eliminating the non-essentials. While some might call this simplifying, using "if-then" statements to identify problems could lead to the most complex of solutions. If the current means of waste disposal bring about poor quality of life and environmental degradation, then we must change our approach. If people will only consume what is produced, then the means of production must be controlled. While so many solutions have been made available, we continue to be confronted with the same issues. The effort into recycling and buying less plastics becomes null if more of it continues to be produced. Although my proposed solutions are not yet concrete, I plan to take an industrialized approach to our pollution problem. What do we do with the plastics we already have? How do we stop ourselves from making more? With clear objectives and tools like mathematical modeling, engineers like myself have the opportunity to create real change. I am currently studying these concepts independently while also fitting relevant classes into my degree plan. I would not choose to leave my home and struggle through such a rigorous academic program, just to come back empty-handed. I know the value of my contributions to the field of environmental science and how it can greatly impact not just my home but the world at large.

I always knew I would come to America to complete my education. For two generations, the women in my family traveled from Nigeria to the United States to pursue a higher education. And on August 2023, it was my turn. I maintained an air of confidence but deep down I was terrified. With my parents unable to get a visa, I was really on my own. It was a constant struggle from being homesick to my parents struggling to exchange currencies to the consistent culture shocks. I had never been so strongly confronted with my identity as a dark-skinned black woman until then. I had no friends, I was crying to my parents almost every day and all I wanted to do was go home. Spending breaks and weekends alone made my isolation sink in even more. Going home for the winter break revitalized my sense of belonging and readied me for another semester of battling American education. I was more confident in the idea that I was not only competent but also in the wrong environment. I transferred from the white Arizona to a more inclusive New York University. It was there I found my current network of African immigrants who had similar social struggles to mine. We continue to lean on each other and we express the issues we face. With these experiences in mind, I have been inspired to aim for a well-rounded education. My goals are to get my degree, to form meaningful friendships, and to use these to improve the current state of my home. As a Mathematics in Engineering major, I have a broadened perspective on the fundamentals of problem-solving. I would love to use this to solve Nigeria's and the world's issues of environmental pollution. A mathematical approach to environmental solutions would look like eliminating the non-essentials. While some might call this simplifying, using "if-then" statements to identify problems could lead to the most complex of solutions. If the current means of waste disposal bring about poor quality of life and environmental degradation, then we must change our approach. If people will only consume what is produced, then the means of production must be controlled. While so many solutions have been made available, we continue to be confronted with the same issues. The effort into recycling and buying less plastics becomes null if more of it continues to be produced. Although my proposed solutions are not yet concrete, I plan to take an industrialized approach to our pollution problem. What do we do with the plastics we already have? How do we stop ourselves from making more? I am currently studying these concepts independently while also fitting relevant classes into my degree plan. I would not choose to leave my home and struggle through such a rigorous academic program, just to come back empty-handed. I know the value of my contributions to the field of environmental science and how it can greatly impact not just my home but the world at large.

My dad’s insistence on helping my siblings and me with math assignments was a memorable staple of my childhood. I recall the times I waited late into the night for him to come back from work because I knew he would be able to quickly solve the questions I found difficult. My dad’s little lessons taught me not only math concepts but also a cycle of learning that involved: attempting, accepting what I did not know, reaching out for help, observing, asking questions, and then attempting again. This cycle of learning took me from struggling with the intricacies of long division to breezing through Applied Calculus in Aviation. My passion for math has led to my current major, Mathematics in Engineering. With a concentration in Computer Science, I can bring innovative solutions to the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Reports of security breaches with valuable information show a gap in the industry for high-tech solutions. I have always wondered about how complex algorithms can improve current cybersecurity issues. Learning more about math and technology assures me that no problem is insurmountable with the right amount of work put into it. The cycle of learning taught to me in my childhood will prove applicable in the cybersecurity workspace, as troubleshooting and testing are the building blocks required to find proper solutions. However, the opportunity to immerse myself in such an education will prove difficult without substantial financial assistance. The excitement of getting into NYU’s mathematics program was overrun by the reality of my financial situation. In a low-income household, the sky’s limit is unreachable when compared with even more restrictive financial burdens. The McDuffie Software Engineering Scholarship represents an opportunity for me to continue my education as a budding engineer with less financial strain. After graduating, I plan to become an officer in the U.S. Air Force as a Cyberspace Operations Officer. Serving in a cause greater than myself with high stakes and the opportunity to solve problems seems like a rewarding career. With my current involvement with Air Force ROTC, I am working towards that career. It is a matter of national and international security when cybersecurity breaches occur within government agencies. Protecting that information may be protecting the U.S.'s. and its allies' interests. The rigor, opportunities for leadership, and the life lessons I learn from such an environment prove to me that I am making the right choice. The task of being a high-performing student and a cadet is difficult, but when considering the extent of my dreams, I wouldn't have it any other way.

When given the opportunity, I would love to combat elderly abuse. I have had my grandmother living with us for quite some time and she has been a lot to work with. She has dementia but she also has severe paranoia that someone is stealing from her. Her erratic behavior and heavy dependence on others make me realize she could so easily be taken advantage of. Not everyone has the privilege to feed an extra mouth and be in constant surveillance of a new dependent, not everyone has the patience to repeat conversations over and over to ensure at least some semblance of retention, not everyone has the discipline to take care of themselves, let alone the discipline to take care of someone else. So we leave our elderly in nursing homes, sometimes out of the goodness of our hearts but other times. . .it is out of something much darker. The most prominent form of elderly abuse is neglect. Leaving the "old bag" for someone else to take care of, leaving them in an unsanitary environment, leaving the elderly is so easy to do. It is so unfortunate to see that people who have served all their lives are now being dumped in understaffed, unsanitary nursing homes. The helpless are so easily cast aside with no memory of their contributions to society. They are quickly dismissed as "crazy", instead of being treated with the respect they deserve. Yes, there is not much dignity in having to wear adult diapers, not much dignity in not remembering that you just ate five minutes ago, not much dignity in crying because of a trauma that your brain cannot even begin to piece together. There is not much dignity in the things that come with old age, but look at the life lived! For instance, my grandmother was the youngest of six children. Her mother loved to travel and this gave my grandma the idea of immigrating from Nigeria to America. It was there that she worked to make her dreams a reality. She loved to dress fashionably and design the same way. I see it in her eccentric dressing even in her disoriented state. She worked her way into becoming a U.S. citizen and now enjoys a pension plan that she does not even remember. It is natural to age but the characteristics embodied in youth live on. We would not be able to observe this behavior or acknowledge their contributions if we fail to see that the elderly have built up value over the years. Not only have I acknowledged this social issue, but I have also made it my mission to combat it. My career path does not align with this goal but I still hold it dear to my heart. When presented with the opportunity, I will start a security company that specializes in surveillance. We will investigate care facilities, ensure up-to-date living conditions and set aside a good portion of time to engage with the elderly. Screening of the people who work at such facilities is absolutely necessary. Surprise visits and inspections can be used as a tactic to prevent pretense. The elderly are not getting younger and neither are we. We must build a society where EVERYONE is valued, no matter how dependent.

In elementary school, I really hated mathematics. The question of where stupid numbers could be applied to real-life was a mystery to me if it did not involve counting money. Sitting in class staring at my multiplication table enraged me because I felt like I was wasting time. This anger was quite pretentious as I spent hours letting my mind wander, writing out long lines of addition to test my limits, and cheering myself on when I was getting it right. Understanding math really boosted my confidence and although I was a very extroverted child, I always found a friend in math. The numbers spoke louder to me than my peers. I would save my homework until I got home so that my dad could help me with it because math was his specialty. My brothers and I used to make fun of him as all he could help us with was math homework but now I have come to appreciate it. He was the one who introduced me to the wonderful world of mathematics and I cannot forget the wave of satisfaction and pride that comes with finally understanding a concept that I had been struggling with for what felt like eons. But struggling was such a big part of my learning experience. I used to be discouraged seeing bad grades because I was a gifted student and I only got positive reinforcement when I succeeded. I developed a paranoia that made me immediately drop something I was not good at and only focus on my strengths. This did not allow me to learn. Although my strengths were strong, my weaknesses were catastrophic. Senior year absolutely humbled me as all my previous strategies were not working. I could not ignore algebra and trigonometry as I had done before. Calculus is the build-up of all the concepts learned in mathematics over the years and skipping over some hindered my ability to understand anything. My passion for mathematics was waning and it worried me. I was not making any progress. “You’re getting the calculus right, it’s just the algebra and trigonometry parts that you’re missing, Destiny,” my Calculus teacher said to me when I met her in office hours. This was it–the time to put aside my laziness and pride because passion is not always easy. I started from seventh grade integrated math videos and worked my way up. I am far from done with learning but that’s the exciting part! Science came from trial, error, and patience. I look forward to mastering my craft and still learning more after that. And now the little birdie must fly. From trivial trigonometry to complex calculus, none of these are least important as I continually build on previous knowledge. I want more. I want to pursue greater heights than the ones that have been made available to me. I want to see math come to life as it always does in the field of technology. I want to change the world with the subject I had once ridiculed. I demonstrate an undeniable willingness to learn even when it is not convenient. I do not know everything but that does not mean I won't try to! There is a long road ahead and I believe my willingness to learn will take me to greater heights.