Pursuing a college education has always been important to me because of the opportunities it provides. Over time, I have come to understand the positive impact higher education can have on changing the trajectory of someone's life. Part of my motivation to excel academically comes from a setback I faced at a young age. In second grade, I struggled significantly with both math and reading—so much so that I had to repeat the entire school year. At that age, I did not fully understand what was being communicated to me, but I remember feeling like a complete failure. My tears were heard by God, and He replaced my frustration with motivation. I completed two months of summer school, repeated second grade, and worked harder than ever before. After that experience, I vowed to continue working hard and to treasure my potential. Years later, all of that effort paid off. I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA and ranked in the top 10% of my graduating class. Since then, I've been pursuing my goal of earning a bachelor's degree in Communication Disorders and eventually obtaining a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Looking back, when I reflect on my high school experience, the best way to describe it is "enclosed." By "enclosed," I mean that I stayed within the boundaries I had created for myself. And it wasn’t until the summer after graduation when I realized I didn’t have any actual accomplishments outside of the classroom. My extracurricular involvement was limited. Throughout high school, I volunteered twice at my local elementary school, teaching financial literacy to second-grade students. I played junior varsity soccer during my junior year and gave a speech as an alumni speaker at my former elementary school after graduating. That was it. My world revolved around the classroom. My younger self sought to work hard in the classroom and excel and that box was officially checked off. However, I became so focused on excelling in my studies, I missed out on exploring an entire world filled with opportunities. I realized my next step was to step outside of that box. I sat with myself throughout the summer and found myself filled with regret. Rather than allowing that regret to discourage me, I decided to fuel it into motivation. I made a promise that my college experience would be different, and that change would begin by saying yes to opportunities that I would have avoided in high school. At the end of my freshman year, I was honored to receive Southern Connecticut State University's Outstanding First-Year Student Award for my commitment to leadership and service. To me, this award represents 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 believe in your potential and take chances. As an aspiring speech-language pathologist who hopes to work with children, I have remained actively involved in my local elementary school community. I have had the privilege of volunteering as a mentor for a third-grade student and participating in morning reading activities with young children. In addition to these volunteer experiences, I have balanced two on-campus jobs as a Program Coordinator and a Presidential Scholar Ambassador in my university's President's Office. Higher education has provided me with opportunities to develop leadership skills, serve others, and achieve personal goals that once felt out of reach. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of serving others. I have grown in patience, developed greater confidence in myself, and strengthened my ability to support those around me. Most importantly, I have learned the value of human connection. As a future speech-language pathologist, I hope to help individuals regain their voices after a stroke, support children who struggle with communication, and empower people to express their thoughts, needs, and emotions. During some of the most challenging moments of a person's life, I hope to play a role in restoring confidence, independence, and connection. This scholarship would help me continue my studies in Communication Disorders, so that I can go on to grad school and expand the impact I hope to make within my community. I want to be a listening ear for those who need support, not only for their physical health but also for their emotional well-being. By helping others find their voices, I hope to create a lasting positive impact that extends far beyond the therapy room.

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.