I imagine that I’m probably a lot like the other applicants you’ve had the opportunity to consider. I can’t say that I’m necessarily smarter, possess significantly more integrity, or that I’m sure I work harder than anyone else aspiring to apply for this scholarship. However, if you have any belief that past behavior is a good predictor of future outcomes, I can say with confidence that I like my chances. My mother had the first of my seven siblings when she was 15. She was HIV-positive before I was born. I never had the opportunity to meet my biological father. I was 6 when my brother Jerome was killed. I was 10 when my mother passed away. I spent my childhood being raised in federal housing by my grandmother. My siblings were spread out and I saw them rarely. Several have been incarcerated. When I finished elementary school I was lightyears behind my classmates. I guess this is the part where I explain how tough it was and why my experiences make me special but that’s not the path I choose. My mother never finished school and she certainly didn’t pursue higher education. She engaged in activities that ultimately ended her life. But my mother’s journey isn’t an excuse for me. It has helped shape who I am. It has reinforced the importance of education. I yearn for a different life. I chose the STEM pathway. I chose to be an engineer. Without my mother’s hardships, I may not have found my true determination. For 13 years my grandmother was my guardian. She operated in a very different space. Her focus wasn’t on academics but instead preventing me from following my mother’s path. Rather than raising me to break the cycle with excellence, she locked me down and taught me that everything outside of the door was dangerous. But her view of the world allowed me to open my eyes and my heart so widely. Without my grandmother, I would never have been able to see this world through my unique lens. In my elementary school years, teachers could see how my struggles at home were affecting my academic performance. My grades were very low. Year after year, the teachers decided to promote me to the next grade. Their attempt to give me breaks resulted in a horrific academic foundation that affected me through middle and high school. I had to learn to work twice as hard as my classmates to make the same grades. When they had three hours of homework I had six. I would have to go online and try to teach myself enough basics to complete assignments. I'm so blessed to have had this experience. It has taught me how to break down challenges into manageable parts and 'eat the whale one bite at a time. Through these challenges, I found a love for engineering, and how I could connect and learn from diverse groups. I learned through engineering that I am not alone and that it's okay to ask for help and be a team player. Engineering has pushed me to be the best version of myself and to inspire others. I want to become an engineer and then take what I've learned and give back. I hope to become a teacher during my engineering career. I want to give hope to minorities in STEM and remind them that they have the aptitude, and I hope to be the opportunity so they can become the most successful version of themself. I want them to feel loved and appreciated.