My mother grew up in Haiti and lived there until she was 17 years old. She made the bold decision to travel to the United States alone in search of stability and security—all while pregnant with her first child, my older sister. Since then, she has devoted her life to raising four other children on her own, sacrificing much of her youth and leaving behind the life she once knew. When I think back on my childhood, one word comes to mind: distant. Every May throughout elementary school, I remember being given Mother's Day worksheets titled "All About My Mom." I used to stare blankly at the questions asking me to recall my mom's favorite color, food, her age and traits. I simply didn't know the answers because I didn’t know my mother. Yet, even then, I never blamed her for being absent. She made sacrifices so that my sisters and I could have opportunities she never had. My mother would leave for work early in the morning before my sisters and I even woke up for school and often would not return until 11:30 PM at night—every single day. I remember every morning my two older sisters waking me and my two younger sisters up, packing our lunches, ironing our uniforms, and walking us to a school that was nearly 40 minutes away. At just 15 and 13 years old, they carried responsibilities that belonged to parents. “Study so you don’t end up like me” would be engrained in me. Despite the exhausting 12-hour shifts that kept her away from home and caused her to miss much of our childhood, my mother always emphasized the importance of education. No matter how tired she was, she reminded us to keep school at the center of our lives. Because she became a parent at such a young age, she never had the opportunity to pursue higher education herself. She often believed that not having a college education contributed to the financial struggles she faced throughout her life. Pursuing a college education has always been important to me because of the opportunities it creates. I have come to understand the power higher education has to change the trajectory of someone's life. Watching my mother's hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices shaped me into the motivated person I am today. Her resilience continues to inspire me to work toward goals that once seemed out of reach. Currently, I attend Southern Connecticut State University and major in Communication Disorders. I am excited to one day join the 3.8% of Black speech-language pathologists and help increase representation within the field. Through this career, I plan to provide services in low-income communities and advocate for those who are often underrepresented or overlooked. In school and healthcare settings, I want to be a voice for children and families who may otherwise go unheard. I hope to help reduce disparities, promote understanding, and ensure that every individual receives the support they deserve. I want to advocate for children from bilingual households who may be misunderstood, as well as the little boys and girls whose AAVE, or Ebonics, may be misdiagnosed as a speech or language disorder rather than recognized as a dialect. Through empathy, advocacy, and representation, I hope to improve outcomes in underserved communities while helping create a healthcare system where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued.

When I think of a legacy, the first thing that comes to mind is security and stability—security and stability that future generations after me will be able to benefit from while also feeling inspired to believe that they, too, can play a role in changing the future and shining their own light. As an upcoming junior at Southern Connecticut State University majoring in Communication Disorders with a concentration in Speech-Language Pathology, I am building my legacy through education and leadership experiences. Each semester, I seek opportunities on campus that help me grow as a leader while building meaningful connections with others, although I was not always this confident. Throughout high school, I was afraid to step outside of my comfort zone, which started with being the only Black girl in my honors classes. Although I excelled academically, I often feared being fully seen by my peers. Entering college, I made it my mission to challenge myself, grow, and become comfortable with being seen—the very thing I once feared most. At the end of my freshman year, I was awarded the “Outstanding First-Year Student Award” from Southern Connecticut State University for my commitment to leadership and service. To me, this award represents the late nights filled with self-doubt, the courage it took to put myself out there, and the determination to continue growing despite fear. Receiving this recognition reminded me that growth truly begins when you are willing to believe in your potential and serve others before yourself. The business I hope to create one day is a nail business, something I actually began during the summer before my freshman year of college. What first inspired me to start was my desire to save for college while also creating an outlet for my creativity. I had no prior entrepreneurship experience—I had never even run a lemonade stand as a kid—so I started with nothing but determination, creativity, and guidance from the internet. Using $500 from my savings account, I purchased nail supplies from Amazon, created an Instagram account for my business, and began to post every set I did on myself, which eventually began attracting clients. What started in my bedroom eventually became something much more meaningful than a source of income. During appointments, conversations that started with a simple “How are you?” would grow into discussions about life, faith, personal struggles, and future goals. Those conversations made me realize how important it is for people to simply feel heard, supported, and understood. This scholarship would help me continue my studies in Communication Disorders so that I can become a speech-language pathologist and expand the impact I hope to make beyond my business. I want to be a listening ear for those who need support, not only for their physical health, but for their emotional well-being as well. I shine my light by stepping outside of my comfort zone and inspiring others to do the same. Although I do not come from a family of entrepreneurs, I became the first in my family to take that leap of faith. Watching me build something of my own has encouraged my younger sister to pursue her dream of opening a hair studio that helps women feel confident in themselves. I constantly encourage her to use the resources around her, believe in her abilities, and not be afraid to start before everything feels perfect. I hope my journey shows others that their dreams are possible and that even small acts of encouragement and connection can leave a lasting impact.