The first time I realized what I was being called to do, I was sitting in an under-resourced school watching children do the best they could with far less than they deserved, and I knew I could never walk away from that reality. I am a senior Bachelor of Social Work student at Lincoln University of Missouri, an HBCU that has shaped my leadership, faith, and commitment to service. I currently serve as President of the Student Social Work Association and have served as President of Phi Alpha Honor Society for Social Work that has allowed me to help rebuild organizations that once disappeared from campus due to lack of continuity. I am someone who believes that leadership means showing up, creating opportunity, and making sure something lasts even after you leave. My passion for social work comes from hands-on experiences with children, families, and communities who are often overlooked by systems that are supposed to support them. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by becoming a school social worker who fills gaps, advocates for equity, and ensures that children are not forgotten simply because of where they come from. Working with under-resourced youth is at the heart of everything I do, especially children in schools that lack the services and support they need to thrive. I have worked in East St. Louis and Brooklyn, Illinois, including with Lovejoy School, a small community school serving preschool through twelfth grade that does not have a social worker and has limited academic and extracurricular resources. In environments like this, students are often asked to adapt to shortages rather than being given what they need, including combined grade-level classrooms and limited academic support. Through my work in schools, I have supported children with reading, comprehension, confidence, and cultural awareness, particularly through programs like Freedom School, where academic growth and identity development were equally prioritized. I am deeply patient with children and committed to helping them understand not only how to read, but how to believe in their own ability to succeed. My goal as a future school social worker is to be the consistent, caring presence that advocates for students academically, emotionally, and systemically, especially in communities where resources are scarce. My commitment to social work is also grounded in community engagement, faith-based service, and advocacy around difficult but necessary conversations. After participating in mission trips, including work in New Orleans engaging with individuals experiencing homelessness, I returned home and helped organize annual prayer walks in East St. Louis that include direct outreach, hygiene distribution, and meaningful conversation. As a campus leader, I revived and expanded social work organizations by prioritizing fundraising, visibility, and programming, growing membership and creating events like a graduate school fair that connected students to future opportunities. In addition, I believe sexual violence is an issue that requires more open dialogue, accountability, and survivor-centered responses on college campuses and beyond. While my poetry spans many themes, I have written pieces addressing sexual violence as part of advocacy, education, and competitive spaces that call attention to social injustice. As a future social worker, I plan to address sexual violence through prevention education, policy-informed practice, and creating environments where survivors feel believed, supported, and empowered to speak.