Hello, my name is Fabrice, and I would like to thank you sincerely for this opportunity to be considered for your scholarship. As an only child raised by a modest single mother in Yaoundé, Cameroon, I deeply understand the value of genuine help and opportunity. Coming to the U.S. in 2022, I had nothing but hope. The language was a huge challenge, but something far greater hit me when I least expected it… depression. Back in Africa, men’s mental health is not even a thing, so I didn’t know at all how to name what I was feeling. Between overnight shifts at Home Depot, struggling with my classes, and the isolation of being in a new country while barely affording housing and food, I felt stranded. My only comfort was my long-distance relationship with my girlfriend in Cameroon—until she cheated and left me when I needed her most. I can’t fully explain the miracle that I am still alive today. In that darkness, I turned to vaping to escape the pain, but it worsened my health and nearly destroyed me. That was when I lost my faith in God, the last thing holding me together. I still call that period “the Black Hole,” because it felt endless. Yet, somehow, I didn’t give up. I gathered what was left of my mental health, broken heart, and self-esteem, and tried again. I started reading books, reconnecting with the Bible, forcing myself to study, and even punished myself with a belt—yes, a belt—whenever I felt tempted to vape. And then what happened you may ask? I failed. I kept failing—again and again. I asked myself how to face my mom who counts on me. How to tell her that her only son and child was drowning? I failed two more classes, fell back into addiction, lost motivation to pray, and felt worthless. Still, I kept moving. Then on January 29, 2024, I noticed something new: I hadn’t felt the urge to vape for a while. I still remember that day because I marked it down in my journal. I had started jogging to heal my lungs, and the cravings had weakened. My efforts were not in vain. I was improving in my classes, praying more often, and feeling a quiet sense of peace. I realized that I hadn’t been failing backward—I had been failing upward. Each setback shaped me. Today, I am proud to say I have been vape-free for over a year, free from alcohol, and much stronger mentally and spiritually. I had paused college, but I’m back now—and that’s why I need your help, dear benefactor. These struggles reshaped my purpose. I know the value of continuous efforts, and the weight of failure. I want to use technology to expand free online education and create spaces where young men can understand themselves and their mental health. My journey taught me that success isn’t escaping pain—it’s transforming it into purpose. I’m not asking for a handout, but a hand to climb with—a chance to prove that resilience, once given direction, can light the way for others. I survived my darkest nights so that I could bring light to others—and with your help, I will.