My Name is Darrell Morgan III a collision student attending Lincoln Tech Indianapolis from 8/26 to 6/27 and i am thankful for this opportunity. This scholarship will help relieve me of recurring financial stressors surrounding my life. with my family’s financial situation, they will no longer be able to assist me in paying for my education, leaving me to figure things out on my own just as classes approach. I will use this scholarship to advance my community and also my chosen field not only by showing people who look like me or who are in a similar situation as mine that being successful is possible in a way our environment isn’t used to, but i will show people how to express themselves through what they love to do. I have a lifelong art background and didn’t become interested in cars until i got behind the wheel. I’ve always been a good artist with pen and paper, a digital graphic designer, and a clothing designer but collision repair and custom body work on cars is another lane that helps express myself and who i am while also making a living. We all have things we love to do but there’s not always a clear path into careers revolving around what we love, and i have a great eye for seeing the potential in things people see as everyday themes, or deem as regular. Instead of glorifying patterns throughout history, we can continue to expand as a community by working around the gifts that god has instilled in all of us. During the end of my high school senior year, and throughout the summer, i have always known what i wanted and my ideal life, but i never knew how to get there and im still figuring it out. When thinking of what i wanted to be in this one life that i get, a question appeared into my mind. “what do i want to be known for?” Then i started to think of what i love and god guided me to art and cars. I wanted to be a known artist, and i wanted to be known to always ride in something clean and inspiring. I was originally set on being a graphic designer because i was essentially known for being an artistic mind, but then i started to think. I’ve always had to turn what i had into something great. i’d draw on blank clothes to imagine myself wearing things i couldn’t afford. That became my superpower. I loved turning nothing into something and i got so good at it, i began turning nothing into something nice. Then something beautiful. i fell in love with finding beauty in the things i owned versus constantly seeking something new. That is the blueprint for what i do now. I love the idea of taking a beaten down car and turning it into something that average human eye wouldn’t dare to think of. I don’t play safe when i design. I take calculated risks and they only pay off more and more as i grow. Then i began to inspire others with my ideas. My designs often leave people in awe and make people want to replicate what i do best which is create. Seeing others smile has always been the number one thing that makes me feel good and smile throughout my whole life. This industry is a new chance to expand on what i stand for as an artist and as a lover of all things cars. I stand out from other candidates not only due to skill or things that i’ve accomplished. I have a quality that is rare to find within people in today’s society. I prioritize making others feel special and feel like someone rather than finding validation in my own achievements. People often pretend to care about others or only do the right thing because there is eyes on them, but i do it because it keeps me alive. It brings me true adrenaline and happiness in a way i couldn’t bring myself whenever i help people. God has always given me the correct words to help others and it’s only ever made me tear up in joy to see how i’ve impacted someone and helped them through their struggles and journeys. No matter where life takes me, im always gonna keep doing me and doing what’s right. Lights on or off. I bring a positive impact to anyone i meet and my kindness doesn’t have a schedule; my kindness is me.