Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I graduated from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas on May 26th. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the upcoming Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. I choose this degree because it will open many opportunities for advancement in my field of study. As a criminal justice major, I want to help others and be a change agent for my community, a champion for those who are afraid to use their voice. So many times, we see or hear on the news issues of social injustice, racial profiling, and Black Lives Matter. I want to be a community pillar that helps build bridges between law enforcement and citizens. I want our people to know that policing has a positive side to it and it is not always negative. We all know that police typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing criminal activity. I want to focus on community-oriented policing that is positive and non-punitive, bridging the way for citizens to build trust and integrity in police officers. A platform that encourages all to communicate their concerns in a non-violent but passionate way. I also want to build a platform and educate others about financial literacy and how to gain generational wealth. Generational wealth is so important, and I need to be able to “Pay it Forward,” as others on this scholarship platform seek to help others fulfill their dreams. I want to be able to teach others about being debt-free and achieving the "American Dream." I want us all to begin our careers, purchase homes, and start to build generational wealth for our families. What better way to do that than by being a public figure in my community that citizens admire? Criminal Justice can be that avenue that opens doors for law enforcement as well as bring awareness about financial literacy. Attending college will allow me to experience and reap the fruits of my labor and feel successful. My degree will allow me to foster a community of trust between law enforcement and citizens and educate others like me about generational wealth, the importance of going to college debt-free and acquiring homeownership. Being a change agent for my community and bringing awareness to financial literacy are the right steps to help ALL achieve their goals.

Stacey Abram's courage and dedication inspired me to register with spreadthevote.org to encourage members of my community to register to vote. All of her efforts made minorities understand and realize that the “Vote Matters.” Due to her work, I became heavily involved in voter rights and making sure citizens of all colors were registered to vote. I volunteered with my mother’s sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, going out in my community, and encouraging citizens to vote. There were voter registration drives that I assisted with during the presidential election, and I continue to exercise my activism through voter awareness platforms at the local level. As a leader in my community, I continue to volunteer in social action movements against police brutality. I advocate for justice for all and attend marches to show my support. I’ve participated in the Trayvon Martin March here in Houston, as well as the George Floyd Marches for social justice. As a criminal justice major, I want to help others and be a change agent for my community, a champion for those who are afraid to use their voice. So many times, we see or hear on the news issues of social injustice, racial profiling, and Black Lives Matter. I want to be a community pillar that helps build bridges between law enforcement and citizens. I want our people to know that policing has a positive side to it and it is not always negative. We all know that police typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing criminal activity. I want to focus on community-oriented policing that is positive and non-punitive, bridging the way for citizens to build trust and integrity in police officers. A platform that encourages all to communicate their concerns in a non-violent but passionate way. I also want to build a platform and educate others about financial literacy and how to gain generational wealth. Generational wealth is so important, and I need to be able to “Pay it Forward,” as others on this scholarship platform seek to help others fulfill their dreams. I want to be able to teach others about being debt-free and achieving the "American Dream." I want us all to begin our careers, purchase homes, and start to build generational wealth for our families. What better way to do that than by being a public figure in my community that citizens admire? Criminal Justice can be that avenue that opens doors for law enforcement as well as bring awareness about financial literacy.

Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I graduated from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas on May 26th. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the upcoming Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. My first challenge was in 2nd grade when I was diagnosed with Dyslexia. Then, in the 6th grade, I was diagnosed with an SLD, a Specific Learning Disability, in the areas of Basic Reading and Fluency, Math Calculations, Written Expression, and a condition of Dyslexia. My story is special to me because, although I had challenges, I prevailed even though the odds were stacked against me. For the longest time, I thought something was wrong with me because I struggled to read with fluency and comprehend the content in both reading and math. Once I was diagnosed, I began to feel as though I was stupid and dumb. I felt very embarrassed in high school when the teachers would try to support me and want me to use my accommodations. Usually, I was removed from the classroom for small group testing, and that angered me. My teachers would call my mother and let her know I would refuse the built-in supports that were there for me to help me be successful. After my Mother spoke with me and explained to me the benefits of having support, and that the teachers were there to help all students and not just me, I learned that I was my enemy. I began to slowly adjust to my accommodations and was more accepting of the support. I began to receive help with my academics both inside and outside of the classroom. The teachers I had were phenomenal and taught me how to successfully use my accommodations to my advantage. I became familiar with Snap and Read, a program that allows me to use text-to-speech to simplify reading and vocabulary. I was also introduced to CoWriter, which is a word prediction and spelling program that once I speak, the program can translate the information and transfer it into the correct spellings, which helps with my Dyslexia. With the help of my teachers, I continue to achieve goals that I never thought I would be able to reach. I even lettered in Varsity football without missing a single game due to my grades. I graduated with a grade point average of 3.325 and in the 2nd quartile of my high school class. Who would have ever thought that I would have maintained a "B" average in high school? I am now ready to pursue college and give it all that I have. I will register with the Student Accessibility Center and take advantage of the accommodations that are available to me. I am the last of 5 siblings to graduate high school. I have 2 older siblings who have already graduated from college and there will be 3 of us in college when I graduate. Although I faced many learning obstacles, I have defeated and surpassed many goals that others felt I was not supposed to attain. I graduated with endorsements in both CTE and Business and Industry. I know there will be many more obstacles ahead of me, but I will face them head-on, and strive to do my best. I will register with the Student Accessibility Center and take advantage of the accommodations that are available to me. I am ecstatic about attending SHSU and I can’t wait to continue my educational journey.

Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I graduated from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas on May 26th. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the upcoming Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. I choose this degree because it will open many opportunities for advancement in my field of study. As a criminal justice major, I want to help others and be a change agent for my community, a champion for those who are afraid to use their voice. So many times, we see or hear on the news issues of social injustice, racial profiling, and Black Lives Matter. I want to be a community pillar that helps build bridges between law enforcement and citizens. I also want to build a platform and educate others about financial literacy and how to gain generational wealth. Generational wealth is so important, and I need to be able to “Pay it Forward,” as others on this scholarship platform seek to help others fulfill their dreams. My plan for achieving this goal is to always remember to embody the “American Dream,” by first understanding that education is important, and I must attend college debt-free so that I can acquire homeownership in the future. Applying for the "Bright Lights Scholarship" will make it possible to help with my college tuition. I have been approved for financial aid, but it will not be enough to pay my tuition for the Fall 2023 semester. My goal is to graduate college debt-free, so acquiring as many scholarships on my educational journey will help me reach my goals. Many times, the scholarships can be renewed if the candidate meets the requirements. Scholarships can take the place of having to apply for high-interest loans, which could create a financial burden in the long run. College is so expensive, and many low-income and middle-class families cannot afford to pay tuition. Applying for this scholarship will help to level the playing field and make it equitable for not just me, but all students to be able to attend college. This scholarship will give me hope that I can achieve my goals and the “American Dream” without worrying about how I am going to afford to pay tuition. It can take the stress away from having to worry, study, or work while in college. Attending college will allow me to experience and reap the fruits of my labor and feel successful. My degree will allow me to foster a community of trust between law enforcement and citizens and educate others like me about generational wealth, the importance of going to college debt-free and acquiring homeownership. Being a change agent for my community and bringing awareness to financial literacy are the right steps to help ALL achieve their goals.

Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I graduated from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas on May 26th. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the upcoming Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. I choose this degree because it will open many opportunities for advancement in my field of study. As a criminal justice major, I want to help others and be a change agent for my community, a champion for those who are afraid to use their voice. So many times, we see or hear on the news issues of social injustice, racial profiling, and Black Lives Matter. I want to be a community pillar that helps build bridges between law enforcement and citizens. I want our people to know that policing has a positive side to it and it is not always negative. We all know that police typically are responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing the law, and preventing criminal activity. I want to focus on community-oriented policing that is positive and non-punitive, bridging the way for citizens to build trust and integrity in police officers. A platform that encourages all to communicate their concerns in a non-violent but passionate way. I also want to build a platform and educate others about financial literacy and how to gain generational wealth. Generational wealth is so important, and I need to be able to “Pay it Forward,” as others on this scholarship platform seek to help others fulfill their dreams. I want to be able to teach others about being debt-free and achieving the "American Dream." I want us all to begin our careers, purchase homes, and start to build generational wealth for our families. What better way to do that than by being a public figure in my community that citizens admire? Criminal Justice can be that avenue that builds the bridge for our citizens and law enforcement, as well as bring awareness about financial literacy. Attending college will allow me to experience and reap the fruits of my labor and feel successful. My degree will allow me to foster a community of trust between law enforcement and citizens and educate others like me about generational wealth, the importance of going to college debt-free and acquiring homeownership. Being a change agent for my community and bringing awareness to financial literacy are the right steps to help ALL achieve their goals.

Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I graduated from Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas on May 26th. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the upcoming Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement. I choose this degree because it will open many opportunities for advancement in my field of study. As a criminal justice major, I want to help others and be a change agent for my community, a champion for those who are afraid to use their voice. So many times, we see or hear on the news issues of social injustice, racial profiling, and Black Lives Matter. I want to be a community pillar that helps build bridges between law enforcement and citizens. I also want to build a platform and educate others about financial literacy and how to gain generational wealth. Generational wealth is so important, and I need to be able to “Pay it Forward,” as others on this scholarship platform seek to help others fulfill their dreams. My plan for achieving this goal is to always remember to embody the “American Dream,” by first understanding that education is important, and I must attend college debt-free so that I can acquire homeownership in the future. Applying for as many scholarships as possible to help with my college tuition is key. Being debt-free is important to me when I graduate college. I want to be able to begin my career, purchase a home, and start to build generational wealth for my family. Acquiring scholarships on my educational journey will help me reach my goals. Many times, the scholarships can be renewed if the candidate meets the requirements. Scholarships can take the place of having to apply for high-interest loans, which could create a financial burden in the long run. College is so expensive, and many low-income and middle-class families cannot afford to pay tuition. Applying for scholarships helps to level the playing field and make it equitable for all students to be able to attend college. Scholarships give students like me hope that we can achieve our goals and the “American Dream” without worrying about how we are going to afford to pay tuition. They can take the stress away from having to worry, study, or work while in college. Attending college will allow me to experience and reap the fruits of my labor and feel successful. My degree will allow me to foster a community of trust between law enforcement, and citizens, and educate others like me about generational wealth. The importance of going to college debt-free and acquiring homeownership. Being a change agent for my community and bringing awareness to financial literacy are the right steps to help ALL achieve their goals.

Hello, my name is Evin Branch, and I am a senior at Klein Collins High School in Spring, Texas. I have been accepted to Sam Houston State University for the Fall semester. My goal is to acquire a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology by May 2028 and pursue a career in Law Enforcement, working my way up the ladder to becoming a member of SWAT. I was faced with many obstacles throughout my educational years. My first obstacle was in 2nd grade when I was diagnosed with Dyslexia. Then, in the 6th grade, I was diagnosed with an SLD, a Specific Learning Disability, in the areas of Basic Reading and Fluency, Math Calculations, Written Expression, and a condition of Dyslexia. My story is special to me because, although I had challenges, I prevailed even though the odds were stacked against me. For the longest, I thought something was wrong with me because I struggled to read with fluency and comprehend the content in both reading and math. Once I was diagnosed, I began to feel as though I was stupid and dumb. I felt very embarrassed in high school when the teachers would try to support me and want me to use my accommodations. Usually, I was removed from the classroom for small group testing, and that angered me. My teachers would call my mother and let her know I would refuse the built-in supports that were there for me to help me be successful. After my Mother spoke with me and explained to me the benefits of having support, and that the teachers were there to help all students and not just me, I realized that I was my own enemy. I began to slowly adjust to my accommodations and was more accepting of the support. I began to receive help with my academics both inside and outside of the classroom. The teachers I had were phenomenal and taught me how to successfully use my accommodations to my advantage. I became familiar with Snap and Read, a program that allows me to use text-to-speech to simplify reading and vocabulary. I was also introduced to CoWriter, which is a word prediction and spelling program that once I speak, the program is able to translate the information and transfer it into the correct spellings, which helps with my Dyslexia. With the help of my teachers, I continue to achieve goals that I never thought I would be able to reach. I even lettered in Varsity football without missing a single game due to my grades. I am now a senior, with a grade point average of 3.33. Who would have ever thought that I would have maintained a "B" average in high school? I am now ready to pursue college and give it all that I have. I am the last of 5 siblings to graduate high school and there will be 3 of us in college when I graduate. Although I faced many learning obstacles, I have defeated and surpassed many goals that others felt I was not supposed to attain. I will be graduating on May 26th, with endorsements in both CTE and Business and Industry. I know there will be many more obstacles ahead of me, but I will face them head-on, and strive to do my best. I will register with the Student Accessibility Center and take advantage of the accommodations that are available to me. I am ecstatic about attending SHSU and I can’t wait to continue my educational journey.

Generational Wealth to me is when parents have the means to pass down financial assets to their children and even grandchildren. Assets such as money, property, businesses, and investments. Generational wealth is significant because I see my parents’ struggle. By no means are my parents rich, they live paycheck to paycheck like most Americans. Student loan debt affects the racial homeownership gap. Loan debt is the number one reason African Americans are kept from buying homes. I read that African Americans with a college degree have lower ownership rates than white people without a high school diploma. That is ludicrous. So, attending college debt-free and acquiring generational wealth is my highest priority. My parents instilled in me the importance of saving, not acquiring unnecessary loans and high-interest rates, and how to manage credit cards. They were eventually able to purchase a house when I became a sophomore in high school. Until then, they rented houses. They both attended college and acquired school loans, which held them back from getting approved for a mortgage loan sooner. I’m the youngest of five kids aged from 17-29. My parents were not able to afford the down payment because they made just enough money together to keep them from getting any down payment assistance. So, I know their struggle. My plan to gain generational wealth is first to attend college debt-free so that I can acquire homeownership. Applying for as many scholarships as possible to help with my college tuition is key. My parents do not have the monetary means to pay for all my tuition without the help of scholarships and financial aid. I want my parents to be debt-free and enjoy the fruits of their labor. I want to eventually take care of my parents because they have done a great job of taking care of me. Everyone’s goal is to live the “American Dream.” Despite my ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and historical background, I want to achieve upward mobility and succeed. Going to college debt-free will allow me to experience and reap the fruits of my own labor. I want to foster a community and educate others like me about generational wealth and the importance of going to college debt-free and homeownership. I want to be a change agent in my community and bring awareness to financial literacy and the importance of following the right steps to build generational wealth. In conclusion, generational wealth means creating significant financial resources so that I can help set up my children and grandchildren for financial success long after I have passed away. Going to college is the next step to getting me there.